Chapter 14 #2
The glass swirled slowly, spinning the contents into a vortex of amber and gold. It was as if the motion itself tugged Ludlowe’s mouth down into a smug sneer. “Changed tailors recently?”
The earl pressed his eyes closed for an instant and cursed himself for an even bigger fool that before.
In his haste to inform Augusta of his discovery, he had not considered that the obscure tailor would reveal his inquiries so quickly.
And he had accused her of acting without thinking of the consequences!
Ludlowe brushed a speck of dust from his embroidered waistcoat and went on.
“The nodcock couldn’t wait to let me know how such an arbiter of style as yourself had admired my choice of silk.
That was careless of you, Dunham. But then again, you have never showed much aptitude for cleverness.
Too busy using other parts of your anatomy. ”
He paused once again, this time to refill his glass. “The ladies, no doubt, shall miss you. However, before I speed you to your Eternal rest, I need several answers.”
Marcus’s lips curled slightly. “Is that so?”
Ludlowe seemed to miss the note of irony.
“Yes. At first I thought your speeches were a mere whim, but now it appears you know all too much about my activities for it to be coincidence. Who else is involved with you? Who was it that discovered the piece of my waistcoat? The damn brat struggled like a demon, and I didn’t dare linger once I’d knocked him unconscious, as several of the nearby farmhands were about to quit for the day. ”
“Careless of you, Ludlowe.”
This time the mockery was unmistakable. The other man’s mouth hardened.
He stood up and sauntered over to where the earl was lying.
“You’re in no position to make glib taunts,” he snarled, delivering a vicious kick to Marcus’s ribs.
“You’re also going to tell me the identity of that other rabblerouser who is stirring up the public’s interest. Firebrand—” He fairly spat the word out.
“That bastard is even more trouble than you are. But I shall deal with him soon enough.”
The earl gave a curt laugh, ignoring the stab of pain in his ribs. “Firebrand? Why, no one knows who he is.”
“The two of you share too many ideas not to have had some contact with each other. My guess is you know very well who the cur is.”
He shrugged. “What makes you think I would tell you even if I did?”
Ludlowe reached out and pressed the muzzle of the gun hard up against Marcus’s temple and cocked the trigger.
“Hardly a threat with teeth, seeing as I am to shuffle off this mortal coil regardless of whether I speak or not.”
The barrel struck him in the mouth, drawing a spurt of blood.
“Oh, there are ways to make you talk, Dunham, and believe me, I shall enjoy every minute of it. Have you ever seen the thin scalpels the Chinese use to flay the flesh from troublesome peasants? In another hour, you will be begging me to put a bullet in your brain.”
Ludlowe picked up deadly-looking knife from a side table while keeping his pistol aimed as Marcus’s heart. “Now, I’ll give you one last chance to tell me what I want to know. If you do, I’ll promise to make your death a painless one.”
Marcus appeared to give the offer deep thought for several moments. A resigned sigh followed. “Oh, very well. I suppose it is pointless to fight the inevitable. You seem to have been smarter than all of us.”
Though the chances of escaping seemed to be slipping away, he sought to keep the man talking.
Something might occur that would allow him to make use of what he learned.
“There is one thing I should like to know. How do you manage to run such a deucedly clever operation without anyone discovering what you’re up to? Where do the children end up?”
Unable to resist the chance to gloat in his triumph, Ludlowe came to stand closer to the earl’s prostrate form.
“Actually it was quite simple. …” He went on to explain in great detail how he chose where to strike, how he organized his henchmen and how he effected the transport of the kidnapped children north.
“You were getting quite close to the truth,” he finished. “The brats go into several mines where none but the smallest bodies can work. It makes, shall we say, for a profitable arrangement for everyone.”
“Save for the children,” muttered Marcus under his breath. In a louder voice he added, “Very clever indeed. Let me guess—the mines belong to Herter and Gollert?”
Ludlowe grinned. “Thurgood and Manning.”
“Ah.”
“And now the name of your informant in the country. And that miscreant Firebrand.”
Marcus shrugged. “As I told you, he could be anyone.”
Ludlowe lashed out a vicious kick, drawing an audible grunt. As he drew back his boot to deliver another blow, the distinct click of a pistol being cocked sounded from somewhere near the heavy damask drapes.
“That’s quite enough, Ludlowe.”
Caught off guard, with his own weapon dangling carelessly in one hand, the man staggered back a few steps.
“Goddamn spawn of Satan!” muttered Marcus.
“Really, sir! Given the circumstances, you might have been a tad friendlier with your greeting,” said Augusta, her eyes never wavering from Ludlowe’s shocked face as she stepped into the circle of candlelight.” Drop your weapon,” she barked at him.
Ludlowe hesitated.
“I am accorded to be a good shot, and in fact I should welcome the slightest excuse to pull the trigger, you miserable cur.”
The man’s eyes narrowed, but he let the pistol fall to the floor.
Augusta shot a quick glance at the earl. “Are you all right?”
“I suppose I shall live. What were you waiting for—the knives to come out?” he grumbled.
“I was tempted. Perhaps a little judicious bleeding would cure your nasty temper,” she shot back. “I any case, I assumed that you wouldn’t have wanted me to interrupt before you coaxed all the evidence out of Ludlowe?” She took a step closer to him. “By the by, that was very clever of you.”
“I’m delighted to hear you approve.”
“What the devil is going on here,” cried Ludlowe in some confusion.
Augusta smiled sweetly. “The harridan has come around once again to save Lord Dunham’s neck.”
“I would have thought of something myself,” he groused. “And as for you showing up here … didn’t I make it clear you weren’t to attempt any more of your impulsive, corkbrained, dangerous stunts—”
“Well, you should be glad I did, seeing as you allowed them to pluck you from the streets so easily!” She paused for a fraction. “That was careless of you, Dunham.”
“I was in a damned hurry because I was rushing to save you.” He rubbed at the lump on his head and gave another wince.
“How did you know what I was doing?”
There was a slight cough. “Er, we’ll discuss that some other time.
Ludlowe had been staring at them in growing disbelief during the short exchange. “My God! This shrew lives at Greenfield Manor. She must be the one who told you …but I can’t believe a female would have had the brains to figure it out.”
Marcus gave a grim smile. “It is all very well to disparage my intelligence, but you made a grave mistake by underestimating Lady Augusta.”
“Not likely.” The other man had inched toward his desk.
“Augusta, watch out—” he began.
With a flick of his wrist Ludlowe sent the branch of candles flying onto Marcus’s lap.
As Augusta gasped and took an involuntary step forward, her attention riveted on the sparks and flames threatening to set the earl’s coat on fire, Ludlowe lunged at her and was able to wrest the pistol from her grasp.
“Intelligence?” he snarled, pushing her away from him. “She has no more than you do. Indeed, the two of you gudgeons make quite a matched pair.”
Marcus slowly levered himself up from the floor, having easily put out the flames.
“Think on it, Ludlowe,” he warned. “You might arrange my demise to look the work of footpads, but two deaths will raise any number of awkward questions. Let Lady Augusta go. She has no proof against you, and who is going to take the word of a sharp-tongued, old female—” Augusta’s eyes sparked with indignation. “—over that of a gentleman.”
Ludlowe gave a nasty laugh. “On the contrary, Dunham. There will be nary a troublesome question. The two of you have just given me a perfect opportunity to rid myself of your meddling with no risk to me at all.”
He paused, savoring his cleverness. “You see, in the course of doing business, I have made certain acquaintances at out-of-the-way inns who, for a price, will be happy to turn a blind eye on anything that might occur in the dead of night—even several shots.”
A mock sigh. “No doubt it will give the tabbies food for gossip for months when it’s learned that the unfortunate Lady Augusta allowed herself to be seduced by the Earl of Dunham, only to put a bullet in him when she learned he had no intention of continuing on to Gretna Green.
No one will be surprised that she was then driven by remorse and shame to take her own life.
I have already begun to compose the note—”
Augusta gave an audible gasp and staggered forward several steps. Her hand came up to clutch at her throat. “I … I am feeling very faint.”
“Catch her before she keels over,” ordered Ludlowe. His lip curled in contempt. “Hysterical harpy. You’ll soon feel worse than faint, but for the moment, I need you alive.”
Marcus reached out and Augusta fell back into his arms, so hard that her dead weight caused grunt to come from his lips. For good measure, she flailed her arms and squirmed in a fit of vapors, taking care to rub hard up against Marcus’s middle.
His arms came firmly around her waist, but one hand slowly stole under her clock. “Close your eyes and go limp,” he whispered in her ear as his fingers found the hidden pocket pistol.
In a louder voice, he called to Ludlowe. “She’s passed out cold. Allow me to lay her on the floor—she’s damn heavy.”
Ludlowe motioned for him to proceed.