Page 43 of Mistress of Misfortune

Chapter 11

It took several hours, but Thorne and his men slowly searched each floor of the hall, stationing sentries as they checked every room, bath and closet from the attics to the ground level. Once they had ascertained that no one had hidden in any part of the house, he sent his men to search the stables, barn and other outbuildings while he met with Harshad and Lucetta in the front entry hall to discuss what they had found on the first floor.

“We found no trace,” he told the housekeeper as he watched her take something from her pocket.

“I’m afraid we did.” She extended a blackened piece of metal. “I sifted through the ashes from the hearth in the study, and found it among some bits of glass.”

The proof of who had caused the explosion confirmed Thorne’s suspicions. “I must go to Starling House. Harshad, get the carriage.”

The sound of one approaching made Lucetta go to the door. She glanced back at him. “It is Meredith, and Percival.”

A moment later her cousin burst through the door and flung herself at Thorne. “Alistair, you must leave at once. I will go with you to the magistrate.”

“She is very distraught,” Percival said as he came in and closed the door. “She believes your life is in danger, Colonel. Something about a killer.” He looked around the hall. “Where are your men?”

“They are out searching the property.” Thorne stroked his hand over Meredith’s wind-tousled hair before he put her at arm’s length. “I must talk to the lieutenant now, my dear.”

“There is no time for that, truly, Alistair.” She gripped his sleeves. “I know why all these terrible things have happened.”

“So do I.” He eyed Percival as he placed the bit of metal in Meredith’s hand. “It appears one of your medals is missing, Lieutenant. The one denoting valor in battle, I believe.”

Her cousin tucked in his chin to examine his jacket front. “Egad, I think you are right.” He touched a torn ribbon. “I will have to obtain a replacement straight away.”

“No need. I found it in the hearth in the colonel’s study,” Lucetta told him. “I imagine it fell off while you were on the roof, dropping that lamp down the chimney. Just as you scuffed your boots against it.”

Percival’s expression went from puzzled to guarded. “Don’t know what you mean, Cousin.”

“I don’t understand,” Meredith said slowly, staring at the broken medal before gazing at him. “Why would you do such a thing?”

“He knew we were together in the study,” Thorne said. “Just as he knew when we entered the staircase tower. He has been hiding in the house and spying on us. He was jealous.”

Percival folded his arms. “That is nonsense.”

“I daresay it’s not the first time he’s tried to hurt you, Meredith.” Thorne walked over to the lieutenant, close enough to make him take a step back. “In the crowd at the ball he might have easily tripped you. Sabotaging your rig so that it would come apart also would prove simple. When he found the overturned rig and realized you had been rescued, he smashed it to hide what he had done. How many other times have you caused Meredith to suffer mishaps, I wonder? Dozens of times? Every time?”

A cunning look came over the lieutenant’s face. “You can’t prove any of that.”

Lucetta slowly shook her head. “Oh, Percival.”

Thorne drew back his fist and punched him squarely in the face, sending him staggering backward.

Meredith clenched her hand around the medal. “You did these things to me on purpose, Cousin? You arranged all these accidents?”

“I did nothing of the sort. The colonel is obviously mistaken.” He wiped his bloody nose on his sleeve. “I would never harm you, Meredith. You know that. I want to marry you.”

She glanced at Thorne. “My death would bring him nothing. The estate is entailed, and when my parents die Percival will inherit everything. He has no reason to want me dead.”

“I don’t believe he wished to kill you. He did these things to create chances to rescue you,” Thorne said. “What he desired was the admiration he received each time he came to save you from some terrible mishap.”

“He is deceiving you, Cousin,” Percival insisted. “I adore you; you know that. How many times have I come to your aid? Remember the poacher's trap? I freed you from that terrible contraption.”

“That may have been the only time he genuinely rescued you,” Thorne told Meredith. “As a child I expect he would have been overly praised for his heroics.”

“My parents did make much of it,” she murmured.

“Some people become so gratified by such acclaim that earning more consumes them. I have seen many such men in the Army, who will charge recklessly into great danger, all for the chance at glory.” He gestured at the lieutenant’s heavily-decorated jacket. “Yet I doubt he was awarded any of those medals. He probably purchased them or stole them from their true owners.”

“You are the jealous one, Thorne,” Percival said, sneering at him. “She will be my wife. She has always been mine.”