Oakford flinched. “But then you showed up, Willowby,” he said after a moment where he seemed to be gathering himself. “You were seen, and Caldwell was enraged. He despised you already and he wanted you dead. I crept out, hoping to intercept you. When you climbed the wall, I-I shot you.”
Lucas stepped backward and felt the reaction in the very leg this man had shot. “Youshot me?” he whispered in disbelief.
Oakford nodded. “I hoped that if I injured you, it would be enough for Caldwell. I fired the first shot so I could pretendI’dbeen injured, and then hit you. I assumed once you fell and saw me lying there, you would be distracted. I planned to bravely rouse myself, rush to your aid and get you out, and Caldwell would buy himself time and money by finishing the job.”
“You nearly killed me,” Lucas said.
“No,Caldwellnearly killed you,” Oakford corrected. “He guessed that there was something afoot and came down after me. He shot you in the shoulder. I knew that was a far more serious wound. I convinced him that I would finish you and that he should go back to his dealings. But he was scared then, paranoid, certain that anyone could be against him.”
“He shot the others at the house,” Lucas whispered.
“Yes,” Oakford said, and swallowed. “He killed them all. When I heard him start firing, I tried to get you up, get you moving. But I’d hit you wrong and you were conscious from the fall. Your leg was bleeding profusely. I tied off the wound and was about to go when Caldwell returned. He wanted you dead, Willowby, so I fought him.”
Lucas folded his arms. “Excuse me if I do not thank you for that.”
“You shouldn’t,” Oakford said. “Caldwell ran after we fought, and I gathered up all the information about his contacts and…and the money he had hidden for the exchange for the weapons.”
Lucas drew back. “So it was still all about the bloody money.”
Oakford shrugged. “Easy for you to say, one who has always had it. Ineededit. And I knew that if Caldwell didn’t have it, he could do far less damage in the interim.”
“Brave,” Stalwood said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Oakford’s nostrils flared slightly, but he continued, “Caldwell ran when he saw riders coming. Only I wasn’t certain that he wouldn’t turn back, turn on me. It was a split-second decision as the rest of the agents flooded in. I grabbed one of the servants, switched out clothes and personal items so that the body would look like mine.”
“You mutilated that man’s body,” Stalwood said in horror. “And slithered off like a snake.”
“Youcoward,” Lucas snapped. “You could have stopped this that very day if you’d only turned yourself in and told everyone the truth.”
Oakford clenched his jaw. “I suppose I am a coward. I didn’t want to be swept up by this. To be transported or hanged. To have Diana sullied by what I’d done.”
“So instead you devastated her?” Stalwood shook his head, and his expression was twisted with rage and disbelief. “You bastard.”
“Why come back now?” Lucas asked. “You must know you won’t be set free just for turning yourself in or turning on Caldwell.”
“Because of Diana,” Oakford said, stepping forward. “Caldwell knew I was alive—he’s been trying to find me for months. He wants the information and the money I stole. He’s desperate for it. I’ve been in hiding, but watching his every move. Only a few days ago, his eye turned elsewhere. Toward you, Willowby.”
Lucas froze. That was exactly why he’d returned to Society, to draw the attention of the man who had nearly killed him. “He heard I was back in the ducal home,” he said. “Did he think I could identify him?”
“He knew you were clever enough to put it all together,” Oakford said. “And because of the fact that Diana was with you, he may even believe I was helping you.”
Lucas lunged forward. “You think he believes Diana is in on your scheme. Thatsheis the key to finding you.”
He nodded. “Yes. He might not think she knows I’m alive, but he must assume that she could be key in drawing me out. And if it is true that the two of you are…close…perhaps bringing you to him in the bargain.” Oakford moved to Lucas and caught his arm with both hands. “Please tell me that my daughter is safe in your home. Watched by Stalwood’s men when you are not with her.”
Lucas glanced at Stalwood. “N-no,” he stammered as fear gripped him. “She was…she overheard us talking about our suspicions about you at the Abernathe party a few days ago. She left. Went back to your home here in London.”
Stalwood sucked in a breath. “Did you not think that dangerous?”
“I sent a guard to watch over her, but I had no idea it was as bad as this. I had no idea her father was alive. If the bastard wanted to get to me, he could come for me at any time. I was the bait, not her. Christ, we have to get to her, to move her someplace safer. Now!”
All three men moved for the door together, and as they burst into the foyer, Stalwood’s butler stepped into their path. “Your Grace, you had a message forwarded from your home a quarter hour ago.”
He held out the paper, and Lucas grabbed for it in frustration. His mind swirled on Diana now and her safety. He couldn’t think of anything else.
“We need horses, Jessup, immediately,” Stalwood snapped.
The butler’s mood changed in an instant. His posture changed into a military one and he scurried off to call for the mounts. As he did, Stalwood turned to Lucas. “What is the letter?”
