“Not in a church of Our Lord, is my guess.”
Dominic agreed. He doubted it would suit Pike’s plans to have a wife, for there was little sign of Mrs. Hobbs inhabiting his cottage, only her dressing gown. “She let Pike into the house. Good thing we got him before he broke in again. He is a violent man.”
Samuels rubbed his bristly chin. “Yes, that was a vicious blow to poor Jack’s head.”
“I’ll drive to Gateshead tomorrow to give them a statement. We’ll leave after breakfast.”
“Right, my lord.”
Dominic went in search of Olivia, but she wasn’t in the housekeeper’s room. As he returned upstairs, he thought about what Samuels had said. Pike was certainly capable of striking Alberic down, as he did Jack. The question returned to plague him. What was Uncle Alberic doing on the kitchen stairs? Had he hidden something somewhere on the upper floors? Olivia and he had searched the attic, but perhaps not as thoroughly as they should have. Being alone with her was distracting. Where was she? Now it was done and George’s body taken to the church, he desperately wished for the comfort of her arms.
Returning to his desk, he sifted through his neglected mail. Alberic’s letter, addressed to Dominic’s mother, had arrived from Evelyn at last. With his heart thudding, he tore it open.
To my future heir, Alberic wrote.I understand that if the fates decree, in this uncertain world, it will be you, Dominic, my brother’s son. I’m sorry we never met. My culpability and guilt kept me away from my brother and his family, for which I am deeply sorry. But you are Michael’s son, and I’m sure of sterling character.
Welcome to Redcliffe Hall.
My health declines and therefore when you read this, I’ll likely be dead. If that doesn’t kill me, the man who stalks me will. I could bring in men to guard me, but I have no stomach for it. And no will to live.
The one thing that sustains me is the hope you will restore Redcliffe Hall to its former glory. Impossible for me, now. Since my accident, I fear I’m losing my wits. But not so much that I don’t know I’m shadowed by a villain intent on robbing me. Since my steward left, I’ve heard noises in the house. Someone searches for my money. I’ve hidden it well. He’ll never find it. Even if he threatens to kill me, I’ll never give up my secret. But I have to be careful. The magistrate came to see me, but I knew he thought I was out of my mind. Perhaps I am. I know I paid Jenner for the horses, and yet he swears I didn’t. I liked the man. Could he be lying? I can’t remember. My memory lets me down these days. Pike assured me I did.
Matters have worsened. Most of my servants have left. But I don’t care. I no longer need people fussing around me.
You have lost your father, Dominic. It saddened me when the news of Michael’s death reached me. You are in the army somewhere, so I’ve addressed this letter to your mother. I’m confident you will receive it. Know that long ago, I fell in love with a woman I had no right to. My peerless wife, Elizabeth. And using my position as earl, I married her, robbing your father of her love. She came willingly but never loved me as she had him. As I never stopped loving her, it is my penance for committing such a cruel act.
I may die before we meet, so must note down where I’ve hidden my valuables. I fear I will forget. There’s a false section behind a drawer in a desk in the attic. The heavily carved oak with the damaged leg. You’ll find what earthly goods I have to offer you there. Your father would know of it, of course, but he is gone.
I wish you well and hope that you will come to love Redcliffe Hall and appreciate its beauty. This is God’s own earth, the loveliest county in England, and I wish you peace here, a good marriage, children, and great prosperity.
Alberic.
Dominic sat with his head in his hands as the past washed over him. If only the brothers had mended their rift. Alberic had never known how happy his mother and father were.
The letter left him heavy-hearted. He wanted to tell Olivia. They could discover whatever was hidden inside the desk together. He finally shook his head to clear his thoughts and rang for Jack.
“Where is Miss Jenner?” he asked when the footman came in.
“She has taken the trap to the Graves’ farm.”
“The Graves’?” A gnawing physical ache filled his chest. “Why now?”
“She wishes to give some books to Mrs. Graves.”
Why the urgency? Didn’t she know he needed her? After Jack left, Dominic prowled the library carpet, rubbing the back of his neck. Was he wrong to think she loved him? Damn it, he wouldn’t run after her like a besotted puppy.
*
Mary had beenglad of the books and voiced the hope Olivia would return soon to discuss them. Olivia held their sweet baby in her arms and kissed the smooth cheek, then said her goodbyes. She didn’t know when she would see Mary again but wanted her to have the books in case it was not for a long time.
She drove the trap home in the gathering dusk. How upset Redcliffe had been by Yardley’s betrayal and death. And how desperately she longed to hold him and ease his suffering. She entered through the kitchen, where Sam gave her a colorful description of what had occurred when the parish constable took Mrs. Hobbs away.
“I never trusted that woman.”
“She was a one, all right,” Sam said. “His lordship and I will be off to Gateshead tomorrow to give our statements.”
“You have missed your calling, Sam,” she said with a smile. “You should have been a spy for the crown.”
His chuckle followed her into the corridor.
