Ladies of Deception 02 - Misleading Lord Martineau (14 page)

“
It won’t work,” Elliot stated matter of factly.

“
Why not?”

“
Because it would only be construed as a bribe and eventually he’d be back threatening us once more. Do you really think that a little money would keep that miserable man away from us forever? And besides, he’s not just angry at the financial ruin our mistake cost him, he has a personal vendetta with me as well.”

“
You know each other?” Felicity asked him, doubtful that that could be the case.

“
Unfortunately we do. I knew him briefly when we were but lads, his father was hired by my father to do some carpentry work on our stables.”

“
But why would he hate you for that?” she asked, confused.

“
Because I stopped him from having his way with one of the servant girls. My father banned both him and his father from our estate and refused to allow his father to finish the work he had contracted him to do. He refused to pay him or give him a letter of recommendation; apparently that’s where the loathing comes from. Not only did I cause him extreme humiliation then, but I unknowingly ruined his inheritance by what I did to you as well.”

“
Oh Elliot,” Felicity moaned. “Why does everything have to be so complicated?”

“
I don’t know, love. I’m ready for life to calm down and for fate to allow us to be together. I just want to be with you.”

“
But what if something happens to you tomorrow? There’s got to be another way to deal with Clinton than by putting your life in mortal danger. What will Edith and I do if we lose you?” her voice cracked at the thought of losing the man she loved.

Elliot pulled her onto his lap and held her, “Nothing’s going to happen to me, I promise you that.”

“You can’t guarantee that Elliot, you’re not God. I’ll hate you forever if something happens to you.”

Seeing no other option he murmured against her hair, “It’s a risk I’m going to have to take.”

Early dawn, Friday April 29
th
, 1814

Elliot was preparing to say his goodbyes to a sullen Felicity while Pierce was busy preparing the pistols for the duel. Both Hope and Felicity were in unusually foul moods that morning and both of their anger was directed at Elliot. He felt guilty for asking Pierce to be his second knowing full well the possible risks it could entail, but he was his closest friend and the only person he would trust with such a task. He refused to let himself think of any other possible outcome besides victory, knowing that if anything were to happen to Pierce, Hope would never forgive him and if anything were to happen to him, Felicity would be unforgiving as well as brokenhearted.

He was standing in the entrance of the house looking at the two women as they glared back at him unabashedly. He turned first to Hope, “I know by now that I’m sounding redundant, but I honestly am sorry that I involved Pierce in this whole ordeal.”

“Then call the whole thing off,” she snapped back.

Elliot heaved a heavy sigh, “I can’t, my honor is at stake, a gentleman doesn’t just back out of a duel once it’s been called,” he pointed out for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Well my husband’s life is at stake, have you no care?”

“I do care, and that’s why I’ve promised to bring him safely back to you.”

“How can you promise that? You have no idea how this will go.”

“I know, but you’ve got to trust me,” he pled. “Pierce wouldn’t have agreed to act as my second if he truthfully thought his life would be on the line.”

Felicity snorted, “Men are so foolish and arrogant.”

“I agree,” said Hope, crossing her arms stubbornly across her rotund belly.

Elliot was exasperated, “Look, everything will end up well, you’ll see. In the meantime why don’t you take Felicity and Edith shopping on Bond Street. Help them select a new wardrobe and charge everything to my account.”

“Oh, like that’s supposed to help distract us?” Then turning to Felicity, Hope said sarcastically, “Why don’t we go entertain ourselves with shopping while the men we love are out fighting for their lives?”

“
Sounds reasonable,” Felicity snorted inelegantly.

Elliot chose to ignore their sarcasm and turned to Felicity, “I promise I’ll come home to you and make you my wife as soon as possible.” Felicity folded her arms across her chest and stuck out her bottom lip in a pout, refusing to look at him. She couldn’t abide the thought that he might never come home to her, that he might never be her husband.

Ignoring Hope and propriety, he pulled Felicity into his arms and kissed her. Her arms eventually fell away from her body as she sought to hold onto him as if she would never let him go. “Elliot please don’t let anything happen to you. If anything happens I’ll—”

“Hate me forever, I remember. But no matter what happens, I’ll love you forever.”

“I love you too,” she sobbed as she clung to him once more. It was with great reluctance that he pulled away and left, hoping in his heart of hearts that his promises were true and that nothing would happen to neither him nor Pierce.

Both Pierce and Elliot were unusually quite as they rode to a remote piece of land just outside of London, the place where the duel was supposed to take place. Neither of them spoke but both of their thoughts were churning wildly in their heads. Elliot gnawed on his nails betraying the confidence he had tried to exude for Felicity and Hope while Pierce fidgeted in his seat, unable to sit still with his thoughts.

Finally Pierce spoke, “I pray this turns out well. I really don’t want to have to carry your dead body home to Felicity.” Elliot just looked at him and solemnly nodded without saying a word.

By the time they arrived at the prearranged location, the sun was just barely beginning to make an appearance in the sky. They could see a carriage and knew that Clinton had already arrived. They alighted from the carriage, Pierce carrying the box containing the pistols, and walked over to where Clinton was standing with his second. It was as if Elliot was looking at the man for the first time, taking in his repugnant appearance entirely for the first time since that fateful day in their youth. As he took his time looking him over he decided he was not impressed. He was shorter than Elliot and much thinner with fine blonde hair that curled in wisps around his ears above a pockmarked face. Elliot’s confidence was instantly bolstered as he sized up the pathetic competition. Turning to inspect his second, he gasped.

He recognized the man immediately as the man who had assaulted Felicity at the docks, his appearance instantly angering Elliot. He turned to Clinton and fumed, “How do you know this man, were you the one who set up the attack on Felicity?”

Not even managing to look surprised by the accusation, Clinton casually picked at a sore on his face as he spoke, “Let’s just say that he’s a good friend who on occasion has done some business transactions on my behalf.” Though his answer was vague, it was as good as an admission to Elliot. He refrained from striking out at Clinton though his natural inclination was to do so, instead bottling up his anger to allow it to brew for the upcoming battle.

Pierce unhinged the box holding the pistols and, still harboring resentment for the pain the weasel had inflicted on him previously, said bitterly, “Tell your second to come inspect the weapons so we can get this over with.” The portly man huffed as he walked over to where Pierce was standing. They each removed a pistol and began inspecting it in silence.

Elliot remained next to Clinton and asked between clenched teeth, “How do you want this to be fought, till first blood or to the death?”

“Preferably till your death, I’ve waited a long time to get my revenge on you, for justice to be served. I thought I’d already avenged you once but this time I’ll witness your death with mine own eyes.”

Elliot looked at him confused, “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Clinton seethed, stalking predatorily towards Elliot, “That you were already supposed to be dead. I went to great pains to insure that I eliminated you from my life years ago so imagine my surprise when I see you riding to Felicity’s rescue, it was as if I’d seen a ghost.”

Elliot was unnerved by what Clinton was saying. He felt his blood simmering in barely contained fury beneath his skin. “You thought you had already killed me?”

“Of course I thought I had killed you—if I had known you were still alive I would’ve finished the deed ages ago. But I can’t say I was too disappointed when I learned that at least your father was killed in the carriage accident I purposefully caused, your mother was just an added bonus I suppose.”

Elliot sat staring at him with his mouth agape. He couldn’t comprehend what this vile man was saying. He had never had any reason to believe his parent’s death was the result of anything other than a tragic carriage accident. He had mourned their deaths and at times he missed them terribly, but he had always found comfort in the fact that he truly believed it had been their time to go, but now with Clinton’s admission he wasn’t so sure.

Clinton laughed at Elliot’s bewildered expression, pleased that he had caught him off guard. “You honestly had no suspicions? I don’t know what pleases me more, the fact that no one suspected any foul play or the fact that I get to be the one who broke the news to you. I had taken great pains to know your whereabouts and quickly learned that you frequented Almack’s on Wednesday evenings. I followed you one week to ensure that you were in attendance, then waited patiently down the road for you to leave. When I saw your carriage depart I began following you home. I admit I was slightly baffled when you headed towards the country instead of towards your house in town but I was too anxious to see you dead I didn’t pause to think about such trivial details. It was I who fired the shot that startled the horses. I didn’t wait to see the final result; I just assumed that it was you in the carriage and that you’d meet your demise. As disappointed as I am to know that it wasn’t you I killed, I am still pleased to know that you’re despicable father received his just rewards, and now is my chance to finish you off.” Clinton smiled evilly before noting, “The look on your face is priceless.”

Trying to regain a modicum of composure Elliot spat, “You’re a wicked man.” Then his eyes took on a faraway look as he replayed the night of his parents’ death over in his mind. “I remember that night clearly—my mother wasn’t feeling well and so they decided to retire early. They had arrived at Almack’s before I did so their carriage was blocked in. I offered them the use of my carriage so they wouldn’t have to wait for theirs to be moved, knowing it would be much faster. I had no idea that it was my life that was supposed to end that night, none.” He was quite for a moment while he thought about the moment the devastating news had been delivered to him, the moment he learned that both of his parents had died.

When his thoughts finally drifted back to the present, he looked at Clinton with new eyes, a fresh brand of hatred filling his heart. “I fail to see how you think that any of this is going to improve your life. Murdering innocent people and attempting to ruin Felicity’s life will not make yours any better, why can’t you give it up?” He asked. He would’ve been completely confused by the sheer hatred emanating from Clinton’s being if he didn’t mirror the emotion almost identically.

“
I want revenge,” Clinton screeched. “I want to know that the two people who ruined my life are both as miserable as I am. I’ve wanted you dead since the moment you humiliated and ostracized me when I was only a boy. Felicity ruined the only hope I had of a better life and she’s suffered a portion of her punishment—she got a small taste of what it felt like to have nothing when she was in my care. It was satisfying to see the spoiled lady locked away with nothing to her name, humiliated and treated worse than chattel, but though those years were gratifying, it’s not enough—I want vengeance.”

Elliot couldn’t have cared less whether Clinton had attempted to kill him or not, or that he had just admitted to killing his parents. The fact that he had ever treated Felicity with such disdain was enough to spur him into action. He lunged for Clinton, grasping onto his jacket and pulling him dangerously close to his face. “What did you to do her?”

“
Nothing she didn’t deserve I assure you.”

“
I’m going to kill you!”

Clinton threw his head back and laughed a maniacal laugh that sent chills down Elliot’s spine. When he finished his devilish laugh, he looked into Elliot’s eyes and hissed, “I’d like to see you try. I don’t think you have it in you.”

“I’ve never been tempted to kill another human being before, but I assure you that I’m plenty motivated right now.”

“
Save it fer the duel,” Clinton’s second barked, walking towards the pair after having completed the inspection of the pistols. “Let’s get this dratted thing over with so I can get on with my life. I have business to attend to.”

“
Not so fast,” Pierce said, stepping forward, both pistols clutched tightly in his hands. “I heard Clinton’s admission and I’m sending for the authorities. You’re not dueling this man, he’s going to prison.”

“
He won’t go without a fight, he wants me dead,” Elliot fumed, anxious to get on with things.

“
He can fight all he wants, but it’s not going to do any good. I’ve unloaded the pistols so we’ll just have to hold him back with our bare hands while my driver goes for the Bow Street Runners. We’re both witnesses to his confession that he killed your parents—his life is over.”

Clinton’s eyes widened at what Pierce was saying. He made a split second decision to turn on his heel and attempt to run away. Luckily Elliot was alert, his body ready to spring into action as he lunged forward and tackled Clinton to the ground. He immediately felt a large thud on his back as Clinton’s second jumped on his back to try and thwart him from capturing his friend. Elliot was sandwiched between the two vile men but he refused to give up his hold on Clinton, despite the fact that his breath was getting forced out of his lungs.

Pierce watched the men in action and didn’t hesitate to come to Elliot’s aide. He quickly discarded one of the pistols on the ground and reached for the fleshy bulk of a man that was on top of the pile. He yanked him off by his collar, catching him off guard. He rolled the man onto his back on the ground and straddled his hulking form with his long, muscular legs. He cocked the remaining pistol in his hand and held it to the man’s head.

Laughing mockingly the man said, “I’m not scared of no empty pistol. Ye said yerself that ye unloaded it.”

Pierce smashed the barrel of the pistol forcefully into the man’s temple, “I wasn’t foolish enough to unload both of them and leave myself unprotected against a self proclaimed murderer. Did you really think I was that stupid?”

The man’s eyes widened in horror. Leaving the pistol in place, Pierce turned to check on Elliot. He was struggling to keep Clinton pinned down securely, but Pierce watched amusedly as Elliot inflicted a crushing blow to the side of his head that stilled Clinton instantly and made him easier to manage.

“Think you can hold him down till help arrives?” Pierce asked.

“
He shouldn’t give me much more trouble, but if he does I’ll hit him again.”

Pierce smiled, “You’ve gotten physical in your old age—first Lord Wadsworth and now him.”