Page 96 of The Duke’s Wager

A gunshot.

* * *

Lucy could feel Edward’s body contracting at the unfamiliar sound that echoed through the house.

For a reason she did not fully understand, it stopped her in her tracks, and she turned. Next to her, she felt rather than saw Edward turning too.

Henry Beaumont stood only a few steps from them, waving a gun around wildly before pointing it at her.

“And where do you think you’re going, little Lucy?”

There was a hysterical note in his voice, and Lucy swallowed anxiously. Maria and Nicolas were right. He had truly gone mad. There was a dangerous light in his eyes, one she had seen only in flashes before.

Now it had taken ahold of him. There was no turning back.

Lucy knew that anyone in her position would be paralyzed with fear. She also knew that her usual ‘yes, father’ would do no good. Not anymore.

“It is over, father.” She lifted her chin, demonstrating far more courage than she felt. “I am no longer your possession, your frightened little girl. I’m leaving.”

The words seemed to trigger something in him, and he let out an animalistic cry before swinging the gun around wildly.

“I’m leaving, I’m leaving! That’s what you all say! That’s what she said too, but oh… I wouldn’t let her. She stood right where you are, with that same light in her eyes, and she looked at me and told me that she was leaving… that she was taking you with her! Oh, she thought I would let her… but no!”

He was rambling now, looking at a spot over Lucy’s shoulder as though he was visited by a ghost.

“I wouldn’t allow it. She belonged to me. And so did you. You still do. You are mine.”

Lucy glanced over her shoulder, peering in the direction of his gaze. He seemed to be far away.

“I do not understand. What are you talking about?

He howled with laughter at this, and when he finally spoke, his voice was ice cold.

“I am talking about your good-for-nothing mother. You remember that night, don’t you Lucy? There was a storm outside, and Henrietta refused to come to bed. Instead, she stood at that damn door so proudly… She told me that she was leaving me. That I was a monster. I begged her…”

He trailed off and shook his head, rubbing it with the gun as though he was reliving something painful.

“I begged her to stay! Ha! Me! Begged her. Like she was going to find something better… but no. Having me beg like a child was not enough for her. She just became colder, crueler, and then… I was just so angry.”

His entire demeanor changed suddenly, and he looked at Lucy with wide eyes – reminding her of a frightened little boy.

“I never meant for it to happen. I did not want to hurt her, I loved her. I adored her but she was cold and cruel, and I was so angry… and this anger took hold of me, and… I didn’t push her. She slipped! I swear to you… she slipped!”

His voice had become hysterical, and Lucy stared at him with wide eyes.

“She slipped… and I tried to catch her, but she did not want me to. No, she wanted to leave me, so I watched as she left. As she fell.”

“You…” Lucy stared at him with wide eyes. All these years, he had convinced her that her mother had jumped from the balcony – that her mother had chosen to leave her.

It was a lie. All of it.

Anger coursed through her, and she yanked her hand from Edward’s grip, her entire body trembling.

“You monster!”

Lucy was not aware of her movements, of what she was doing, of anything other than her anger for the man who had taken everything from her. She stormed forward furiously, grabbing at him, wanting nothing more than to make him pay.

The sound of another gunshot shocked through her, but she felt nothing – she only saw him. It was only when she heard the gasp behind her that she turned – in time to see Edward slowly sinking to the ground