An Artful Deception (24 page)

“
Mrs. Parker?”

The woman appraised Katharine much as she would a stick of furniture and said, “I knew it would come to this one day. Now I shall be your better and you will do as I say.”

Katharine backed toward the window and said, “I do not understand. Why have you agreed to help Lord Graynor?”

Mrs. Parker pulled a smile that did not reach her eyes. “He cheated me out of marriage once, long ago, after my husband died and left me on my own. Your uncle dallied with me, promising to make me his wife. And then he left me whilst he went to London to gamble and have his fun. But he needs me now, you see. He needs my help and the only way he could get it was to invite me here to marry him on the same day that you marry his son.”

Katharine held out her bound wrists. “Will you not change your mind? Surely your woman’s heart could not allow you to sentence me to a loveless marriage with so worthless a mate as Cedric.”

Mrs. Parker stared at her coldly. “You are greatly mistaken. I have disliked you ever since I saw you flirting shamelessly with Lord Philip, as though you were better than the rest of us, though I pitied you some, thinking that you were as foolish as I, believing you could make one of them marry you. And now that I know the truth, I pity you none at all.”

Tears blurred Katharine’s eyes. “He does love me and I love him.”

She had no doubt that Philip would eventually come for her. But what if it were too late? If she were forced to endure a forced marriage to Cedric for several months or even a year, what could be done? Perhaps by that time, she might even carry his child. The thought made her stomach churn with distaste.

Mrs. Parker fixed her with a hard stare. “What a misfortune that you are parted from your love. You have grown up wealthy and spoiled. You deserve your misery as much as I deserve happiness.”

She faced her reflection in Katharine’s mirror. “Do I not look lovely in this blue organdy? I intend to think only of my own good fortune. By the end of this day, I will be mistress of this manor.”

Katharine shuddered to think of Mrs. Parker taking the place of her own mother. She felt suddenly too weary to stand and sunk into the chair beside her dressing table. She felt as though she were suffocating as her unwelcome fate pressed close around her, demanding her to acquiesce. Yet she could not, would not resign herself to be Cedric’s wife. Yet what was she to do?

Mrs. Parker strode briskly over to the wardrobe that still bore a few of her frocks. “We must ready you to meet your groom. Too bad there was no time to arrange a wedding trousseau.”

She did not sound the least sorry as she began to rummage through the few remaining gowns. She pulled out a pale pink silk and thrust it upon Katharine’s lap. Then she produced scissors from her pocket and set to work upon Katharine’s bindings. When she had freed Katharine she commanded her to hurry and don the frock. Katharine did as she was told, and then seated herself once more at her dressing table to brush out her hair.

Mrs. Parker paced impatiently. “Hurry up. The gentlemen are expecting us to join them for breakfast.”

Katharine had remembered what lay inside the shallow drawer of her dressing table. She slipped her hand inside and withdrew a silver letter opener. She secreted it in her handkerchief and rose to follow Mrs. Parker down to breakfast.

The men did not bother to rise when the ladies joined them. In fact, they barely paused to offer a good morning before returning their attention to the sausage secured upon their forks. Mrs. Parker did not appear bothered by the lapse of manners, so happy was she to be seated as a proper lady at the grand table.

Lord Graynor ran an inspecting eye over Katharine’s appearance. “You look lovely, my dear. A little pale, perhaps, but that is to be expected of a tender young bride-to-be.”

Katharine refrained from reply as she forced herself to eat a bit of sweet bread and sausage. After a few bites, she abandoned the effort, for her stomach felt as unsettled as her nerves.

The announcement that a young gentleman had arrived brought conspiratorial smiles to the faces of Lord Graynor and his son. “Ah, our clergyman. Show him to the parlor and we shall assemble there,” said the elder.

Katharine clutched the letter opener that lay in her lap. How she would use it, she was not sure. Yet she felt comforted by the cold metal that lay at her touch.

Cedric came to her chair and, with a hand under her arm, urged her to her feet. Her uncle had gone ahead with Mrs. Parker. Katharine was just prepared to put the sharp opener to Cedric’s ribs and demand her freedom when her uncle reappeared. His confident smile was replaced by a nervous frown. He wiped his hands against his trousers and said, “It is that meddlesome Philip, demanding to see our fair cousin.”

Katharine rose to her feet, only to be blocked in her flight by her uncle. He clapped his hand over her mouth and muttered viciously. “Cedric is to get his gun and stand where he can get a clear shot of your young man. You will tell Lord Philip that you are here of your free will and that you wish for him to go away. If you do not do exactly as I say, he will not leave here alive. Do you understand?”

Katharine nodded, watching as Cedric sprinted to get his weapon.

Lord Graynor released Katharine and motioned for her to precede him. “Remember what I have told you.”

Katharine thought that her knees would buckle when she saw Philip waiting for them in the parlor. She longed to flee to his arms, to beg him to take her away. Yet she was mindfully aware of Cedric, crouched behind the door frame, gun pointed at Philip’s chest.

“
Do have a seat, Lord Philip,” Lord Graynor invited. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?”

Philip scowled. He cast an anxious glance at Katharine and said, “You know perfectly well why I am here. You have kidnapped Katharine and I demand that you release her.”

Lord Graynor raised his brow. “I have done no such thing. Lady Katharine has returned of her own volition. It seems that, in the end, she could not bear to be parted from her home. She is to be married to my son this very morning.”

Philip stared at Lord Graynor as though the man had struck him a blow. He averted his gaze to Katharine. “This cannot be so. You were forced to come, I know it.”

Katharine felt the blood pounding in her temple. She swayed and then steadied herself as she felt her uncle’s hard gaze drill into her. “I am here of my own will. Please, Philip, you must go,” she whispered.

He shook his head and glared at Mrs. Parker. “You are part of this. You told me she was taken to London, yet when I would have ridden to London this morning, I was told by one of my grooms that he had seen a young lady riding away in the opposite direction.”

Mrs. Parker stepped behind her protector as though daring Philip to threaten her.

Katharine could not forget the pistol aimed at her beloved Philip. She knew that she would rather spend a thousand years with Cedric than to see Philip fall in agony at her feet.

“
Please Philip, you must leave,” she begged.

He studied her, searching her face, and seemed to come to a decision. “If that is how you feel, then I shall go. And I shall wish you happiness in your decision.”

He bowed curtly.

Lord Graynor stepped forward. “I shall have my man show you to the door.”

He summoned a dour faced man who looked more like a drinking companion than a servant. Katharine wondered inanely where he had found the man.

“
See that Lord Philip is escorted safely off my property,” he ordered.

Philip glanced back at her one last time. She thought she read a promise in his gaze, for he surely knew she was not capable of this change of affection. Yet, what could he do?

She watched Philip leave, then sank to the settee and shook with anguish and relief. She was vastly relieved that he was safe. Yet, she wished with all of her heart that she might have gone with him.

Tears slid down her cheeks.

Another servant announced the arrival of the awaited clergyman. Cedric escorted him into the parlor. He was offered neither food nor drink as Lord Graynor demanded that he immediately perform the service.

“
I believe that he should see to our marriage first,” Mrs. Parker suggested.

“
Do not be a fool. The sooner Cedric marries Katharine, the sooner we are safe from any interruption that might spoil our plans.”

With a scowl, Mrs. Parker pulled Katharine to her feet. “Get up. And no tears or hysterics. The sooner you are married, the sooner it will be my turn.”

With one quick motion, Katharine drew out her weapon. She thrust one arm around Mrs. Parker’s neck. With the other, she held the sharp blade to her throat.

The clergyman gasped and shrank to the wall.

Katharine glared at her uncle. “Step aside and let me pass. I will use this if you make me.”

Lord Graynor shrugged. “Then you will save me the trouble of doing it myself. I do not intend to marry her and do not fancy having her mope about as a servant in my house.”

Mrs. Parker drew a shuddering breath. Her face went very pale. She seemed less concerned with the weapon at her throat than the breach of promise. “You never intended to marry me.”

“
Indeed I did not. Even when you were younger and prettier, I would not have stooped to marry you. I certainly would not do so when you have grown bony and sallow.”

“
You have used me ill for the last time, sir.”

In one swift motion she grasped Katharine’s hand and propelled the blade deep into Lord Graynor’schest. He gasped, eyes widening in surprise. Blood pooled near the creamy handle of the weapon. He swayed once and dropped to his knees.

Mrs. Parker released Katharine’s arm and both women stared in shock at what had been done.

Cedric stared as his father fell sideways. He knelt to examine the lifeless figure.

When he arose, his gaze encompassed the two women. “All of this estate is mine now and I shall do as I please with it.”

He advanced upon Mrs. Parker. She screamed and tried to duck away. He caught her by the neck, closing his fingers tightly around her throat. She clawed and scratched at his hands. Yet, he only tightened his hold.

Katharine pulled herself away from the violence done to Lord Graynor and tugged at Cedric’s arms. She was horrified by the satisfaction he seemed to take in this act of vengeance.

The clergyman began to protest. “See here man, you must not do this. You must stop.”

He advanced hesitantly toward Cedric.

Cedric released Mrs. Parker with a suddenness that left her staggering and gasping for breath. Katharine whirled to see that Philip had appeared, clasping his well muscled arm tightly about Cedric’s neck Three of his armed stable hands stood with him, watching Cedric struggle to break his hold.

“
If you are fond of choking your victims, let us see how you like it,” he growled.

He released him suddenly and flung him away.

Katharine helped Mrs. Parker onto the settee as the unethical clergyman wiped his brow and said repeatedly, “On my,” until it sounded like a chant from his liturgy.

Cedric righted himself and stood facing the intruders. His usually pale face was blotched with anger. Katharine left Mrs. Parker and flew to Philip’s side. “I knew you would not leave me. I am so glad that you are here.”

He drew her protectively against him. “I shall never lose you again.”

He gestured toward Lord Graynor. “Is he dead?”

Katharine swallowed hard. “I believe that he is.”

The clergyman pointed at Mrs. Parker. “That lady has stabbed him with the young lady’s letter opener.”

Philip turned to the clergyman. “Then I shall entrust you to take her back to the village to see what is to be done with her. See that you set off at once or I cannot be responsible for her protection.”

“
Yes, yes, of course.” He urged Mrs. Parker to her feet. She had begun to sob quietly and offered no resistance.

Philip studied Cedric. “As to you, I suggest that you see to your father. And if you ever come near Lady Katharine, I shall see that you suffer a penalty so severe that I shall not mention it in her presence.”