Page 5 of Cruel Shame

“For your sake, it had better be a harmless toy because I intend to press charges against you for threatening my granddaughter.”

Myra’s face crumpled, and she burst into hiccuping sobs. “Lady Liddell said Elizabeth would be sent away if she got caught with drugs. I offered to take the blame, but she said the archbishop would separate us if I confessed to selling cocaine.”

Orlando and I exchanged a glance. The longing in his eyes said he wanted to cross the room and wrap me in his arms, but with so many cuts along my arms and legs, I was in no mood to touch anyone.

“What did she say?” asked Mr. Burgh in a softer voice.

Myra hesitated, and I clenched my teeth. Any pity I might have felt for the girl vanished as my mind filled in the blanks. How could anyone fall so deeply for a creature demented enough to sell drugs to little children? Elizabeth had zero redeeming features. She was cruel, arrogant, and according to Myra’s earlier reaction, she strung people along and withheld physical affection.

I shook my head. The only thing attractive about Elizabeth was her fortune, and my arrival at Templar had put that under threat.

“Miss Highmore, you cannot protect others if you want leniency,” said Mr. Burgh.

Myra gulped back a sob. “Lady Liddell said she would give her blessing to a civil partnership between Elizabeth and me if I saved both our reputations and got Lilah to confess.”

“And you believed her?” I asked.

Her face blanked. “What?”

“She’s married to the Archbishop of Scotland, who leads an institution opposed to gay marriage,” I said. “She has only one daughter who she’s trying to marry off to a prominent family. What makes you think she would follow through and let Elizabeth be with you?”

“It’s true,” said Orlando. “Lady Liddell contacted my grandfather when I was ten. He sent me here to become the next Lord Liddell, and so did the families of several other boys.”

Myra’s eyes darted around the room. I wasn’t sure if she was looking for an escape route or a way to burrow out of her current hole, but she seemed to be thinking through her options. Eventually, her fingers loosened from around the gun, which clanked to the wooden floor, and my shoulders slumped. What a bloody mess.

“Police.” A heavy fist rapped on the door, and marksmen clad in black armor appeared at the open windows.

I held out my palms but couldn’t raise my hands too high because of the cuts.

“It’s alright, officers,” said Mr. Burgh. “Mr. Nevis has apprehended the shooter, and she’s just released the gun.”

Myra nodded from the floor, and Orlando stepped back.

The officer at the door strode across the room and helped Myra to her feet. In a low voice, he placed her under arrest for the possession of a prohibited weapon and fastened handcuffs around Myra’s wrists.

Orlando wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Are you alright?”

I swallowed hard. “They weren’t so gentle when they were arresting me, and I hadn’t even done anything wrong.”

He pressed his lips to my temple. “At least one of them will get what they deserve.”

Mr. Burgh walked up to us and offered his hand. “Thank you, Mr. Nevis. If you hadn’t arrived when you had…”

“It was my pleasure, sir.” Orlando took his hand, and they shook.

Mr. Burgh’s gaze dropped down to me. A mix of emotions flickered across his features—rage on my behalf and relief that I had escaped Myra’s clutches with my life. “I need to accompany Miss Highmore to the station,” he said. “Will you stay with Mr. Nevis and the twins until I return?”

All the tension I’d been holding tight released in a rush, and a lump formed in my throat. “Ye—”

“Help me.” Myra threw herself against the wall and rolled onto the floor. “Lilah Hancock lured me into her room and tried to shoot me in the head. I fought back and snatched the gun from her fingers. Now, her boyfriend and grandfather wrestled me to the ground. They’re saying I was the attacker!”

Chapter Three

My shoulders drooped, and I gave Myra the filthiest stare I could muster. The witch-faced wretch shot me a triumphant smirk before walking out with the policeman, only for his partner to step toward me.

“Miss, you’ll have to accompany me—”

“She’s lying,” said Orlando. “I entered the room to find Myra Highmore holding the gun, not Lilah. ”