“Tell her you’ve come to warn her,” he added. Even better. He liked the idea of instilling fear in Juliette. Because of her and her husband, Brandon had spent the past four years chained in an asylum. His mind had been lost, sedated, and caught in its own silent prison. Now he wanted vengeance for what had been done to him.
He didn’t want Juliette anymore. No, he wanted her to watch while he killed the people she loved. First her husband. Then her sisters and parents.
And last, her daughter.
Brandon smiled as he remained within the carriage. He’d waitedfour years for this, and he relished the idea of making Juliette endure everything he’d suffered.
But his sister returned entirely too soon. There was a blend of relief and anxiety on her face. Even Richardson appeared grim when he allowed her to enter the carriage first.
“They aren’t there,” she said in a rush. “They left a day ago.”
“Where?” he demanded.
“I don’t know—” she started, but was cut off by Richardson.
“Castledon.” The man met Brandon’s gaze. “She went with Lord Falsham to visit her sister Amelia, who lives at Castledon, a few days south of here, near Yorkshire.”
“Did she?” It was better than he’d hoped for, for he could then kill her youngest sister.
Sarah paled. “Youaremad,” she whispered. “And you feel no remorse for what you’re about to do.”
“None whatsoever,” he agreed. “They took everything from me. It’s time they paid the price for it.”
Brandon ordered the driver to travel south, toward Castledon. It didn’t matter to him that it would take days to arrive. He wanted vengeance, to kill those who had taken his life from him.
As far as he was concerned, the consequences didn’t matter. So long as the Andrews family was dead, he would be satisfied.
Amelia’s gown was soaked from the rain, but the chill she felt had nothing to do with the cool weather. She tried to untie her bonnet, but the ribbons were knotted, and her hands were shaking.
She found her sister waiting for her in the parlor. Juliette stood, her face filled with worry. “Are you—is the earl—all right?”
Amelia nodded but couldn’t seem to find the right words.
“Where is he now?” her sister prompted.
“At the gamekeeper’s cottage. He n-needed a moment alone.”
“And so do you.” Juliette took her by the hand. “Show me where your bedchamber is.”
Amelia started to walk up the stairs, her tears falling down her cheeks. This day had been the worst of all. Though she’d known David would be devastated, as she was, she wouldn’t let herself believe that Christine could die. But he seemed so certain of it.
When they were alone, Juliette pulled her into a hug. “Don’t cry, Amelia. Paul will find out what’s wrong with Christine, and he’ll do everything he can to make her better.”
“I do pray that she’ll get well,” Amelia said, pulling back, “but I’m more worried about David.”
“Grace has gone with her nurse for a while, so you can tell me everything.” Juliette locked the door and went to sit down.
Amelia couldn’t stop herself from spilling it all out and having a good cry. “I used to think my life was going to end like a fairy tale. That I would marry the viscount, reform him, and we’d be wealthy beyond our dreams.” She accepted the handkerchief Juliette offered her. “But then I saw the villain he was. Lord Castledon saved me from Viscount Lisford and married me, but I was so naïve to think that there could be more between us. He only married me out of kindness. Not love.”
“Are you unhappy being married to him?” Juliette asked in a low voice.
“I thought I was happy,” Amelia hedged. “But he’s never made a secret of the fact that he only remarried to provide a mother for Christine.” She dried her tears and eyed Juliette. “I’m not much of a mother, am I?”
“I’d say you’re doing quite well,” Juliette corrected. “Christine seems to like you very much.”
“I think Lord Castledon blames me for her illness,” Amelia confessed. “He was so angry when I told him I sent the first doctor away. But all the man wanted to do was bleed Christine. He would have made her worse.” A dull ache caught her heart. “And now, if she dies, my husband will never forgive me.”
“It’s not your fault,” Juliette insisted.
