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“He asked your mother for money, but she said no.” Hermione gulped, clearly frightened by her words. “He said afterward that he would have to find another way topersuadeher to change her mind.”
“You think he could do this?” Antony said with horror.
“He was going to remove her from the situation,” Fergus concluded. “Without her, Antony, you would have been more likely to give him the money, surely?” Antony didn’t want to say yes, but as Hermione was the Earl’s daughter, he might well have caved in the end.
“Still, your father?” Antony turned his head back to Hermione.
“I don’t want to believe it, truly I do not, but…” Hermione’s eyes had unshed tears in them.
“He was the one that gave you that bruise, wasn’t he?” Antony asked, waiting with fear for her answer. She nodded, clearly unable to say the words. “Where is he?”
Antony turned and ran from the corridor, aware that behind him Fergus was following, along with Hermione and Lady Phoebe bringing up the rear. It didn’t matter how many times Fergus tried to call him back, shouting for his attention; he had to see the Earl of Branigan, at once.
Antony tore through the house, searching rooms with a restless and furious energy, knocking over chairs and banging doors that ricocheted off walls. He eventually found the Earl standing in the drawing room, looking out at the sunset that was dropping down over the cliffs above the ocean.
“You did this?” Antony accused, marching across the room toward him.
“Did what?” the Earl asked. Antony couldn’t bear the pretense of innocence. He took hold of the lapels on the Earl’s jacket and shook him with it.
“You would deny it now? We know it was poison. The doctor confirmed it.” Antony snapped the words.
“Poison? She was poisoned? With what?” the Earl asked, shaking his head back and forth. Antony nearly struck him in his anger.
“Antony!” Fergus’ voice snapped, and he pulled on one of Antony’s arms, trying to drag him away. “If he did this, then he will face a court for it. He will pay the price for his crime.”
“Crime? What crime?” the Earl asked, appearing quite in despair. He turned away from Antony and Fergus, looking toward Hermione and Lady Phoebe as they hurried into the room. “He said the Dowager Duchess has been poisoned; is it true?”
“It is,” Hermione said quickly, frowning. “Then… you did not do it?”
“No! How could you think that?” he asked, stumbling back.
“How could we not?” Antony barked the words, trying to grapple out of his brother’s grasp. “For one thing, I know you are manipulative enough for it. Have you not controlled your daughter from the day you stepped into this house?” He watched as the Earl had the grace to look ashamed. “What about that bruise on her wrist?”
“I… I wasn’t myself when that happened. I was out of control,” the Earl said, his hands quivering as he lifted them to cover his face.
“Then you have not tried to harm her ever again?” The small sound Hermione made told Antony everything he needed to know.
“You are clearly capable of the cruelty,” Antony finally managed to tear himself away from Fergus’ grasp and hurried forward, taking hold of the Earl’s lapels once again. “Just because my mother refused to give you money, you tried to poison her?”
“I could never do such a thing!” the Earl’s voice was so loud that Antony felt his eardrums tremble. “Truly. I could never do that. I am horrified to hear she has been poisoned. I have seen death close enough, Your Grace. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
“Antony,” Fergus’ voice was near. “I think he is telling the truth.”
“Then who did it?” Antony said, whipping his head away. Behind Hermione and Lady Phoebe, the doctor appeared in the doorway. “You said it was poison, doctor?”
“Yes, cyanide, I fear,” the doctor said gravely. “She is settled now. I think she might be out of the woods.”
“Then can we see her?” Antony said.
“She has asked to see you both. She is awake,” the doctor said with a small smile. Relieved to hear it, Antony hurried forward; he felt Hermione take his arm as he went, running alongside of him.
When they reached the landing, and the door came into view, it was ajar as though the doctor had not closed it behind him. Startled to see it so, Antony pushed open the door.
The sight that came into view made Antony stumble. Mrs. Atkins was standing over his mother with a glass of something in her hands, trying to force it down Rose’s throat as she struggled against Cordelia.
