Chapter Twenty-four
The cold stone walls of Bath’s gaol slowly closed in around Adelaide as she paced her small cell.
The rough blanket, nothing like the fine linens of Lochville Manor, scratched her skin, rubbing it raw as she held it around her shoulders in a useless effort to ward off the chill of shock.
She still barely understood what had happened.
She knew she had been framed and that the evidence had been forged.
But why? Who was responsible for such a betrayal?
And why would someone be trying to hurt Marcus and set up someone else for the crime?
She thought about what Marcus had muttered about Charlotte in his fevered state and how she had believed that someone must be willing to do anything to protect themselves.
She felt surer than ever that she was right.
However, now, she was confused and frightened, and she could not collect her thoughts to figure out who it could be.
And even if she did, she was now suspected of attempted murder.
There was no chance that she would be able to prove who the true culprit was.
Whispers from around the corner made her pause. She strained to listen through the solid wooden door, her heart beating so loudly that it took her a moment to understand their words.
“… the Duke’s condition has worsened,” whispered one of the guards.
Footsteps approached, and Adelaide pressed herself against the wall of the cell to keep from being seen eavesdropping through the small window in the door.
“What if it is too late for the physician to save him?” another murmured.
Adelaide felt as though a dagger had stabbed straight through her heart.
Her fingers traced her lips, remembering their passionate kisses in the library.
Hot tears fell down her cheeks and across the back of her hand as she thought about the taint brought upon such sweet memories by the look of betrayal Marcus had given her as the constable dragged her from the room.
He had truly believed her capable of such a monstrous crime, which had shattered her heart.
However, she knew she could not blame him. The letters did appear to have been penned by her. The handwriting was not identical, but it had almost fooled her for a moment in her panicked state. She could only imagine how convincing they would have appeared to Marcus in his fevered condition.
When one of the guards grunted sharply and their footsteps became hurried and purposeful, Adelaide jumped with a start. She held her breath, trying to calm herself before she succumbed helplessly to hysteria. But a familiar voice made her nearly collapse with relief.
“Let me see my niece at once,” Helena said, her authoritative tone telling Adelaide why the guards had begun scrambling.
Adelaide leaped at the bars of her cell, sniffling as she saw her aunt.
Her heart ached when she saw that Helena’s usually immaculate appearance was replaced with mussed hair, a wrinkled dress, trembling hands, and red-rimmed eyes.
Despite her innocence, guilt racked Adelaide.
It was because of her that her aunt was so distraught.
She did not know if she could prove her innocence so that her aunt would no longer have to worry about her.
The guards led Helena to Adelaide’s cell, hovering over her shoulder. At last, Adelaide saw a ghost of the woman she knew her aunt to be when Helena glowered over her shoulder. Despite her shaky voice, her words were authoritative and her eyes were tired but cold.
“Let me in and leave us,” she growled. Only Adelaide knew that the snarl was subdued compared to Helena’s usual strict tone. Adelaide was also the only one who was not intimidated as the guards backed slowly away, shaking their heads.
“If she harms you, it’s on your head,” the first one said. The second guard remained silent as they unlocked the door to her cell.
When they were gone, Adelaide leaped into her aunt’s arms.
“Aunt Helena, please, you must believe me,” Adelaide sobbed into her aunt’s shoulder. “I would never do something like this. How could I? I never received any packages at Lochville Manor, I never left the mansion alone…”
Helena rubbed her back gently as she cried. When Adelaide heard her sniffle as if quieting her own sobs, she thought her heart would stop. She had never seen her aunt in such agony, and knowing she now was because of Adelaide was too much to bear.
“It is all right, darling,” she said softly. “I have every confidence in your innocence.”
Adelaide looked at her aunt, surprised. The evidence was condemning, indeed.
Anyone could be swayed into believing Adelaide was guilty.
However, she was also grateful. When an entire city judged her to be an attempted murderess, having her aunt’s gentle support was like a tether to safety in a life-threatening storm.
“How can I ever prove it?” she asked, wiping at tears that would not stop falling.
Helena shook her head sadly.
“I do not know, child,” she murmured. “I came to ensure your well-being. However, I also came with news. His Grace has worsened drastically since you were brought here. His family is around him now, and it seems as if he may not be long for this world.”
Adelaide stared at her aunt in horror. She had known his condition was critical, but to learn that it was now so dire shattered any hope and resolve that remained. She burst into fresh tears, collapsing into her aunt as her grief threatened to engulf her.
“He cannot die,” she cried, her chest aching with every sob. “There has been a terrible mistake, and the real culprit is still there. In that very house.”
Helena pulled back, looking at Adelaide with confusion.
“Are you certain?” she asked.
Adelaide shook her head, fighting with all her remaining strength to compose herself.
“Someone slipped a horrible, accusatory note about Marcus beneath the door to my chambers not long after we first arrived at Lochville Manor,” she said.
“I first thought it might be Edith or even the dowager duchess since it directly implicated him in Charlotte’s murder and warned me to get away from him.
However, I am now confident that it is Lord Edwin.
I do not know how or why he is involved in what is happening to Marcus, but I know there is something quite suspicious about him. ”
Helena nodded, the fog in her eyes slowly lifting.
“Are you certain it is not Lord Thomas?” she asked.
Adelaide nodded fervently.
“I found Charlotte’s journal in the library,” she said.
“There is a letter she wrote to Lord Thomas, I believe on the same day she died. She suspected someone close to Marcus of being nefarious and dangerous, and since she was writing to Lord Thomas to meet with him and continue discussing a shared suspicion, I know it must be Lord Edwin.”
Helena’s pale face drained of any remaining color.
“He fabricated evidence against you to have you falsely accused,” she whispered as horror overtook her features.
She embraced Adelaide, kissing both of Adelaide’s cheeks.
“I love you, my dear niece. However, I believe I must return to the mansion. No one can hear your testimony while you sit here. However, I can take this information to Lord Thomas, especially if I can find this journal, and together, we might be able to get your freedom granted.”
Adelaide nodded, but she grabbed her aunt’s shoulders.
“I am grateful for this,” she said. “However, please reveal the truth before it is too late to save Marcus. I would stay here for a lifetime if it gave Marcus a better chance of recovering.”
Helena nodded, giving her niece a doting, knowing smile.
“I shall do everything I can, darling,” she said.
***
Lucy Potter stood in the corner of the room, watching Mr. Fletcher prepare another dose of the tonic for her master.
She knew it was not medicine, as she had been the one drugging his drinks for weeks under Edwin’s careful instruction.
In the beginning, she had believed she was doing the right thing.
She had had faith in Edwin’s word, believing that he would not misguide her and that she could trust the things he said to her.
She had even risked her job to intrude on the meeting the Duke had with Mr. Morrison before his untimely accident.
She did not know for sure, as Edwin had not told her anything of his plans since the day with the physician, save for giving her cold demands as to how she was to perform when he announced that Miss Barrett was guilty of the poisoning.
Tears stung her eyes as she recalled the devastation in Miss Barrett’s expression as the constable restrained her, the fear and anguish in her eyes as he dragged her, sobbing and pleading, from the duke’s chambers.
This is all my fault, she realized as the guilt neared its peak. My master is dying and an innocent woman will be punished for a crime that is not hers. And it is all because of me…
“Lucy,” Edwin said, pulling her from her thoughts.
Lucy looked up at him, thinking he would offer a kind word or reassurance, now that everyone else was gone.
“Yes?” she asked meekly, clasping her hands in front of her. However, her hope quickly died when she saw the indifference in Edwin’s eyes.
“Go fetch Thomas,” he said. “I would have his assistance with another form of ‘treatment.’ I need him feeling as guilty about Marcus’s death as Marcus felt about Charlotte. That will render him incapable of summoning the strength to do any secret sleuthing.”
Lucy stared at Edwin as realization dawned at last. His demands grew colder each time he spoke to her, and he had not touched her with any tenderness in a fortnight. She was helping Edwin kill a good, innocent man, even though it was Edwin who was the true beast.
“Miss Potter, go,” Edwin shouted, pointing aggressively at the door. “Fetch Thomas at once.”