“As I said, nothing to do with you. I need Greydrake to fail. I was delighted when he settled on you. I knew he would. You’re the perfect choice to aggravate the marquess. I thought the task of winning you insurmountable, but somehow, he wormed his way into your good graces.” He grimaced. “I had to convince the marquess that Greydrake is in love with you. No small task, for his lordship doesn’t believe in the sentiment. If I’d any notion you would be so easily wooed, I wouldn’t have made you an option.”
“An option?” she asked, playing for time as she worked at the stubborn clasp. “What does that mean?”
He flicked a hand toward the record room, where she’d found the page. “I created a list of suitable options. Women the marquess would approve of, but who weren’t likely to accept Greydrake. Then, I thought you never would. He must have charms not obvious to a gentleman like myself.”
Lanora resisted the urge to say she saw no gentleman before her. “He chose me from a list?” She worked to dredge up the outrage she’d initially felt. If she could convince Lethbridge she didn’t care about William, would he let her go? She took in the way he kept looking her over, like a Christmas goose. Could she convince him she would marry him? If he would put down the pistol, she would have hers out.
“Didn’t mention that little bit, did he? I told you he’s a cad. If you didn’t suffer from a feeble female mind, you would have seen as much for yourself.”
Lanora pressed her lips together in an effort to contain her anger. He was pointing a pistol at her, after all. It was hardly the time to express her feelings on the idea that she, or any female, suffered in any way as a result of possessing a woman’s mind.
“Do you mean he used me?” she demanded, helping Lethbridge come to the point.
“Of course. As he uses all women.” He grinned. “He keeps a mistress, you know. Not just one. A series of them. One after the other, as he grows bored. Just turned one out the other day. Apparently, she kept him occupied for nearly two days, after learning he’s courting you. Likely, trying to secure his affections. All she did was bore him.” His smile turned malicious. “As you will, if you wed him. As you’re boring me now. Get in the record room.” He took a step forward, menacing.
“Wait. You must tell me something first,” she cried, desperate to stall for time, to find a way to retrieve her firearm and turn the table on the hideous man.
“You’re in no position to make demands of me, my lady.”
“It’s about Mr. Darington. You represent him, don’t you?”
He frowned. “What about Mr. Darington?”
Lanora opened her mouth, but no words came out. She didn’t wish to ask about the handwriting. She was loath to give this man any information he didn’t have.
“Well?” He punctuated the word with a wave of the pistol.
Nor should she bring up the money Lethbridge had stolen. Not while his aggravation increased. She must say something, though, and soon, if his look was any indication. “He’s Lord William’s mentor.”
“Perhaps.”
That was an odd reply. “He works with my father, in Egypt.”
“The world knows that.”
“I’ve never met him, and he raised Lord William.”
Lethbridge scowled.
She was losing his interest. “I want to know more about Mr. Darington, outside what’s in the papers. That’s why I came here, to ask about him.”
His gaze slid around the room, pausing on the opening above the mantel. The painting that should cover it leaned against the wall beside the fireplace. His roving gaze dropped to the open strongbox. “How did you get into that? How did you even enter this office? I sent my clerk home and locked the door.”
Now she wished she’d let him lock her away already. “The door was open. I came in and called out, but no one was here.”
His eyes narrowed, bright with suspicion. “And the strongbox? How did you get the wills out, or know where to find them?” He moved a step nearer.
“I didn’t.” She tried to back away, but the desk halted her retreat. “How could I? I came in to look for you and found them.” She swallowed, not feigning nervousness. “I shouldn’t have read them, I know. I let my curiosity get the better of me.”
“And the girl? You said I plan to wed her. You knew.” Anger sparked in his eyes.
“No.” She shook her head. “I mean, I said it, I did, but I didn’t know before I read the will.”
He glanced at the document, as if it might reveal something. “It doesn’t say I’m to marry her.”
“It says you will be her guardian. I was guessing. It was only a supposition.”
He watched her for a long moment, pistol an arm’s length from her chest. At that range, there was no chance he would miss. Could she count on it jamming? Not something she wished to bet her life on.
