Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Once Thomas was fully clothed—he found a shirt with sleeves wide enough to accommodate the bandages on his forearms and forewent a suit coat—he and Tricia left his bedchamber. He grabbed the first servant he saw.
“Where is Mr. Longbottom?” Thomas asked.
The servant widened his eyes. “I don’t know. Isn’t he in your chamber?”
“I wouldn’t have asked you that question if he were.”
Tricia nudged him. “Thomas, control yourself.”
Thomas drew in a deep breath. She consoled him. Softened him. Brought him back down to earth.
“Please see if you can find him,” Thomas said evenly. “The future countess and I shall be in her chamber. Please find us when you locate Longbottom.”
“Of course, my lord. I’m sure I shall find him shortly.” The servant sauntered off.
Thomas turned to Tricia. “Let us run to your chamber. We can put you in a dress.”
Once they reached Tricia’s bedchamber—her mother and Kat were not around, thank God—she quickly stripped off the robe and slipped into a lavender morning dress. Before they could leave, there was a knock on the door.
Thomas opened the door, and there stood the servant they had just talked to.
“My lord,” he said. “A stable boy found Mr. Longbottom.”
“Is he all right?”
“Foxed,” the servant said.
“Foxed?” Thomas shook his head. “The man doesn’t even imbibe.”
“Apparently he did today, my lord.”
“Someone must have forced him out of my chamber and made him drink,” Thomas said. “Find the physician. He’s needed in my bedchamber. I want to see Jonathan Jameson, Lord Victor Polk, and Viscount Polk right away. I’ll see them in the men’s retiring room, since my study is not an option.”
Tricia squeezed his arm. “Thomas, please. You’re still recovering.”
He shook his head. “I have stamina for this, my love. Trust me on that one.” He sighed. “Tonight will be the last dinner of the house party, and the guests will leave tomorrow. By then, Jonathan will have found out what happened to Montague and will disappear. I want to find him and get his story before he has the chance to do so.”
Tricia frowned and gazed at the beautiful ring, which thankfully had not slipped off in all the struggle that had occurred in the earl’s bedchamber. She took a deep breath in and sighed. “I understand, my love. But please be careful. Neither of us has any idea of how deranged your cousin may be.”
He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I am aware, my angel. Have no fear. I will see you as my countess. Make no mistake about that.”
“What did you use?” Thomas asked Jonathan. “What did you use to poison my father?”
Jonathan blinked several times. “I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“And I suppose you’re going to tell me the three of you had nothing to do with the fire in my study last night?”
The viscount scoffed. “Of course we didn’t, Ashford. How could you think such a thing?”
Jonathan, however, looked at his feet.
“Polk, Victor, we’ve been friends for a long time. I can’t imagine that one of you started that fire.” Thomas stood and pointed at his cousin. “But Tricia recognized your voice, Jameson, and heard you mention that you were my cousin. She didn’t recognize the other voice, which makes me think it probably wasn’t you, Polk. But perhaps your father was involved.”
“For the love of God, Thomas,” Polk said. “We’ve been neighbors since we were both in nappies. How could you possibly think…”
“It occurred to me that you may have been unknowing participants.” He turned to Jonathan. “How did you get the viscount and his son involved? How were you able to get them to slip poison into my father’s food?”
Thomas saw a flash of hurt in Jonathan’s eyes before he stood up from his chair, his face pale.
“Thomas,” Jonathan said in a shaky voice. “You truly think I’ve got the blood of your father on my hands? He was my uncle!” His voice broke midway, and he had to clear his throat before he could continue. “You think I used the viscount and his son as my puppets?”
“To get my earldom,” Thomas said. “Those jewels you’ve been handing out like sweets are counterfeit, Jonathan. I had a jeweler look at them. You’re flaunting riches that don’t exist. You got rid of my father, and last night you wanted to get rid of me before I produced an heir.”
Jonathan fell back into his chair, looking stricken. “No, the fire… You don’t understand, Thomas, it wasn’t for you. And of course we didn’t know Lady Patricia was in there. You don’t understand. I would never... I couldn’t... You’re talking about family, Thomas! Don’t you see?”
But Thomas was unstoppable now, his anger and hurt pouring out in a torrent of words. “See what, exactly? That my cousin has become a snake? That you’ve lied to us all, manipulated us all?”