Chapter 18

Killian forced himself to walk away from Hannah with the promise he would meet her in a few short hours and convince her to marry him or go mad in the attempt. Alfred Cavendale's timing was terrible, but Killian couldn't let this opportunity escape. Hannah may be worried for his safety, but he was a skilled warrior, and far better matched against a man of Alfred's size and strength than her. He couldn't allow Hannah to face a potential murderer when it was within his power to confront the culprit himself.

‘Lieutenant General Killian! What a fortuitous happenstance. You are just the man I hoped to find.' Alfred extended his hand for a firm shake.

‘Well, mission accomplished. Here I am.' Killian stretched his mouth in a fake smile.

‘I must apologise to you for my egregious behaviour earlier. I still haven't recovered from Patrick's loss. Sometimes I am taken over by black moods. Please forgive me.'

Killian grasped for something to say. Did Alfred's black moods also include periods of murderous rage? Or had he been mistaken? Was Alfred just a grieving brother? ‘Of course.'

‘I hate to pull you away from the ball, but we had a stallion delivered to the stables. I would love to get your opinion. Allow me a chance to make a second impression upon you. Hopefully a better one, this time.' Alfred smiled. His face appeared younger when not creased with an arrogant scowl.

If Alfred Cavendale was the killer, Killian needed hard evidence against him. If he was innocent, Killian needed to clear his name quickly so they could find the monster behind these murders.

Looking critically at Alfred, he had the soft lines of a gentleman who spent more time drinking with his cronies at White's than engaging in nefarious crimes. But even a man like Alfred could overpower a much smaller individual. Someone like Sarah Bright. Or Hannah. Alone, in the stables, Killian could use any manner of persuasion to coerce the man to tell him the truth. And he needed the truth. Or Hannah would make good on her promise and put herself in grave danger. Really, he had no choice.

‘I don't think the title-seeking mothers can blame us for a brief absence from their daughters.' Killian gestured to the stairs and followed Alfred down.

They strode out the front door, and Killian slapped Alfred on the shoulder. ‘I've been thinking about our conversation the other day. I don't think your reaction was all that unforgiveable.'

Alfred tipped his head to the side. The son had inherited his father's profile. ‘Really? Thank you. It's rare to find such understanding.'

Killian categorised the weapons on his person. He calculated how long it would take him to subdue Alfred and get a confession. ‘You lost your brother. Someone you admired. Someone who may have been favoured by your father.'

Alfred's chin thrust forward, his lips hardening in the light of a full moon. He stopped a few feet from the barn. ‘Did Father tell you that?'

Killian swallowed, sensing that he stood on a precipice. Anger seethed in Alfred's eyes. ‘He hinted as much.'

Alfred barked out a laugh as he pushed open the stable door. Sweet hay, musty horse, and the pungent scent of manure enveloped them. ‘Of course he did.'

For a large man, Alfred moved with deceptive speed. Killian saw the glint of Alfred's pistol in the moonlight as the man spun around, but he marked the man's movement too late to block the blow.

Killian's temple exploded in pain as the world went dark.

‘Hannah, you look marvellous.' Ivy squinted at Hannah's hair then nodded in approval. ‘Wonderful job, ladies.' She smiled at the maids in dismissal.

‘Oh, bother.' Millie muttered a moment before Miss Anna Hastings and her mother swept into the room.

Hannah tried not to laugh as Millie silently gagged into her fan.

Lady Hastings pushed her daughter in the general direction of Hannah, Ivy, and Millie.

‘Ah, Miss Cavendale, I was hoping we could talk. Privately. It is my wish to develop a much closer friendship with you.' Miss Anna's simpering smile made Hannah want to pinch the girl just to see a real emotion.

Ivy's shoulders grew rigid. ‘There is nothing you can't say in front of my friends, Miss Anna.'

Miss Anna Hastings reached a pale hand to her powdered throat nervously twining her fingers in a delicate gold chain.

Hannah's gaze caught on the uncanny replica of an unfurling lily dangling in the hollow of Anna's throat.

Dear God. The lily necklace.

Hannah turned to Miss Anna Hastings. ‘What a lovely necklace. Is that a lily? Pray tell where you found such a charming rendering?'

Miss Anna Hastings's eyes widened as she covered the necklace with her hand. She glanced at Ivy before looking away. ‘I shouldn't say. It was a token of affection given to me by a certain gentleman who…'

‘Dear God. It's Alfred, isn't it?' Ivy gasped.

‘He asked me not to say. It is a secret, you see. But if he knew you approved, perhaps…' Miss Anna's voice drifted off as Hannah's world tumbled from its axis.

Irrevocable evidence that Ivy's brother was a diabolical killer. All of the pieces fell together in perfect symmetry.

Alfred was the member of a secret society that inspired fear in her fearless patroness. A society that threatened his safety when the body was found.

Alfred interviewed Sarah Bright for the service job at the Cavendale house.

Alfred gave Sarah Bright's necklace away to his sweetheart.

And Alfred came looking for Killian.

What if he knew of Killian's suspicions? What if he was intent on killing the only man Hannah could ever love? She had asked Killian not to confront Alfred alone, but had the stubborn man listened? Doubtful.

‘Blasted hellfire!' Hannah hissed.

‘I beg your pardon?' Miss Anna asked, aghast.

Hannah gripped Ivy's hands. ‘I'm so sorry. But I must go.'

Hannah could only hope Ivy didn't follow her. She couldn't let the pale, delicate woman watch as Hannah killed her brother.

Hannah ran down the main stairs and almost crashed into Betty.

‘Betty, what on earth are you doing here?' Hannah took in her maid's tumbled hair and wrinkled uniform. ‘Is that hay in your apron?'

Betty's usually pink cheeks paled. ‘I was in the… oh no!' She burst into tears.

Hannah didn't have time for her maid's histrionics, nor could she abandon the distraught girl. ‘Are you hurt?'

‘I must tell you something. And I know I'll probably get the sack for it, but… I was in the stables with… with…'

‘Spit it out, Betty. I'm hardly going to fire you because you enjoyed a bit of fun in the stables with young Sam.'

Betty's eyes widened, and her mouth fell slack. ‘How did you know? You're not going to dismiss me?'

‘Of course not. But I'm looking for Lord Killian on an urgent matter. If you are well, I really must go.'

‘But that's just it, miss. I came to speak with you about Lord Killian.' Betty gripped Hannah's arm as tears filled her eyes.

The swelling music in the ballroom dimmed. The glittering lights faded to grey. Hannah's blood froze in her veins. ‘Tell me. Immediately!'

Betty paled further at Hannah's vicious tone. ‘I saw him with Lord Alfred Cavendale. In the stables. Sam and I were in the hayloft when… oh, Miss Hannah. It were right terrible.'

Betty quickly explained that Lord Killian and Alfred entered the barn, then Alfred knocked Killian out, dragged him to a trap door and disappeared below the stables.

There was no time to waste. Hannah needed to save her duke.

‘Betty, stay here. I must go.'

‘Not to the stables, miss. Not by yourself. You wouldn't believe the look he had in his eyes. He's mad, I'm sure of it.'

‘I must go, Betty. All will be well.' Hannah squeezed Betty's hand then turned and ran.

I will save him.

She had to save him, or nothing in her life would be well again.

Hannah raced out the front door, skidded on the gravel drive, and sprinted to the stables, all while cursing her delicate kitten-heeled slippers.