Chapter Forty-Three
Eleanor
Lady Mary was devilish at tying knots. But with the threat to put a bullet in Eleanor’s face if the knots weren’t to Miss Abbott’s liking, Eleanor could hardly blame her friend.
Eleanor twisted her wrists, hoping to find a weakness in the bonds, but only managed to scrape her skin.
“No one will believe I killed Lady Mary.” The muff she’d set on her lap when Miss Abbott had directed her to sit in this hard, wooden chair and put her arms behind her back for Lady Mary to tie slid to the side.
Eleanor tucked both legs up to steady it.
Miss Abbott finished her own knot around Lady Mary’s wrists.
They sat in the Great Room before the stage, two chairs pulled from their spots against the wall for them to sit in, the rest of the floor bare.
Full night had fallen, and the only light came from the candle in the wall sconce that Miss Abbott had lit.
“I think they will.” Miss Abbott tied one of Lady Mary’s ankles to the chair leg, just as she’d had done to Eleanor, then stood.
She plucked her reticule off the ground and slid her pistol inside.
“Poor Miss Lynton had already suffered the loss of one beloved parent. She wasn’t going to allow her mother to be victimized by Lady Richford.
Not when the viscountess had already caused her mother so much distress years ago.
” She shrugged. “It’s perfectly believable. ”
Lady Mary snorted. “Only to your deranged mind.”
Something warm trickled down Eleanor’s thumb.
She swallowed, the back of her throat aching.
Perhaps if she covered her hands in blood she’d be able to make them slippery enough to escape her bonds.
“It won’t work. I have an alibi for the night Bannister was killed.
I was with someone, and he’ll know the truth. ”
Even in these circumstances, Eleanor’s cheeks heated at her admission.
It wasn’t from shame. No, now that she faced death, she could look at her actions with Frederick from a different perspective.
Now when she knew the chances of ever seeing him again were slim, she knew that pushing him away had been foolish.
He was a good man, forced to make a horrible choice between loyalty and duty.
She had no regrets about the man she’d taken to her bed.
She only regretted having to bring up such an intimate matter to the woman who was going to kill her.
“Were you now, you jade?” Miss Abbott smiled slyly. “And here I thought you were ever so proper. But that does hinder my plan.” Pursing her lips, she hummed lightly. She looked for all the world as though she were debating what to have for supper, not how best to kill two more people.
Miss Abbott sighed. “I might not be able to blame you for the murders, but with you two gone, at least I’ll have time to sort my affairs before traveling to the Continent.
Your mother should hang, and then, when talk of the killings has become but a memory, I can return.
It isn’t optimal, but one must make the best choice from the options available. ”
“You’ve never made the best choice,” Lady Mary said. “You’ve blackmailed and killed when the best choice would have been to walk away. You will be caught, because you’re too reckless to remain unnoticed for long.”
Miss Abbott bent over, placing her palms on Lady Mary’s thighs. “I’ll be gone. No one will catch me.”
“Maybe not for this crime, but there’ll be another.” Lady Mary tilted her head, a snowy strand of hair escaping its knot. “You’ve always pushed the bounds of society, and now you’ve transgressed the ultimate one. You’ve killed. And you liked it.”
Eleanor could see Lady Mary was right, that Miss Abbott would never be able to settle into a quiet life.
She’d continue to hurt people, to wreak havoc, until she was eventually caught.
She didn’t know if pointing that out to the woman, irritating her further, was smart in this particular moment, however.
Miss Abbott straightened. “You’ve already had one fire. One of those protesters who started it has come back to finish the job.” She lifted one shoulder. “It’s such a shame you two weren’t able to escape.”
And with one last smile, Miss Abbott strode to the wall, took the candlestick, and left the room.
Leaving them in complete darkness.
“Well, this is a fine pickle. Any ideas?” Lady Mary asked.
“Can you turn your chair so you can reach my muff?”
There was a moment of silence. “Your what now?”
Eleanor rolled her eyes, the gesture pointless when no one could see it. “My hand muff. On my lap. There’s a knife inside. If I try to maneuver behind you, I fear it will fall to the floor.”
“Right.” Lady Mary didn’t even question why Eleanor had a knife in her muff, just set about scooting her chair.
Eleanor looked to the darkened doorway, praying the scraping noises wouldn’t bring Miss Abbott back to investigate. Her worry was cut short when the leg of Lady Mary’s chair smacked into her knee, making her eyes water. She gritted her teeth through the pain. “Can you reach it?”
“Yes.” Lady Mary’s voice was strained. “I just about…. Got it.” There was a moment of silence. “How do I get the knife out of the muff? It won’t do us much good covered in fur.”
“Perhaps if I use my knees…?” Eleanor gripped the muff between her legs. “Can you scoot forward?”
More squeaking and thumping ensued until Lady Mary said triumphantly, “It’s free.”
“All right. Try to hold it upright.” Eleanor started her own noisy progress, turning her chair so she and Lady Mary were back to back. She felt around until something sharp pricked her arm. “Found it. Hold still. And don’t drop the knife.”
Lady Mary huffed. “Just get to work.”
Eleanor tried to saw at her bonds. It was difficult. Her position didn’t give her much leverage to work her arms up and down. The best she could do was hold her wrists pressed to the blade and try to rise up an inch or two before plopping down.
Her thigh muscles strained. She cut her skin as much as the rope. But eventually she felt one of the ropes around her wrists loosen.
“Hurry.” Lady Mary whispered. “She’s coming back.”
Eleanor looked to the doorway. A dim glow framed it, and her heart sank. It was either Miss Abbott returning holding her candle, or the fire she’d set was getting close. Either way, it was too late.