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“Yes, I was told of their failure to get either of you. Those men have been reprimanded.”
“How did you know I was in town—and Phillip, for that matter?”
How much had happened since Tabitha had last spoken with Andrew? But she knew better than to speak. For now, Vance seemed to relish the upper hand he had, and it had loosened his tongue. Maybe now they would get some answers.
“My dear Holcombe,” Vance said, “I pay very well to know everything about everyone. Your local magistrate was kind enough to inform my men that you had left. That information was free. As for Crestwood, I have connections at the docks, which informed me.
How far did Vance’s influence and power reach? Tabitha gave a slight tug on her arm, but Vance’s grip had not loosened.
“I will see to it that you are finished for good, Holcombe. There is to be a formal inquiry into the death of the late duke with a sworn affidavit signed by Mr. Herr stating that you paid him to poison your brother. There is another from the previous duchess whom you so ruthlessly seduced into being a part of your plan to murder her husband. The courts will believe her in a second.”
“Where is Miranda?”
“At the moment, I don’t know. Seems she was spooked and has run off. But for her help, I promised her the money that was so cruelly denied by her brother-in-law.”
Andrew shook his head. “You’ll never get away with it. There are too many loose ends. My grandmother knows what went on. She’ll never swear that I planned William’s murder.”
“The ramblings of an old woman who was known to favor you over your brother? Not the best source of honesty.”
“If this is all about me, then let Tabitha go. She has nothing to do with this.”
Tabitha had remained quiet, listening to everything and growing more horrified by the minute. To plan such an elaborate scheme was a sign of pure madness.
“But this is about Tabitha. In fact, it started with our dear Miss Crestwood, if you recall.”
Her stomach dropped. So she was to blame for this entire fiasco.
“You have interfered with my plans one too many times, Holcombe, so now I will repay the favor and destroy your plans of happiness.”
With that, Vance pressed the pistol harder into Tabitha’s head. She let out a small cry.
“Don’t you dare hurt her.” Fear laced Andrew’s voice. It was the first time Tabitha had ever heard him scared.
“What are you going to do? I have the upper hand, and I plan on enjoying this moment. After tonight, there will be no further obstacles to my plans.”
Tabitha closed her eyes, ready to hear the discharge of the gun, but she heard something else instead.
“There’s still one obstacle left,” a voice said from behind Lord Vance.
Phillip.
Vance turned around to see who spoke, and at the same time Phillip yelled to Andrew, “Now!”
Andrew charged for Tabitha. Vance and Tabitha were both taken aback, and in the next second, she was out of Vance’s hold, on the floor with Andrew on top of her. At the same time, Phillip had charged Vance. The two men struggled, but Phillip had the element of surprise and knocked the gun out of Vance’s hand. Phillip gave Vance a direct blow to the face, which knocked him unconscious.
Andrew pulled Tabitha to her feet.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
“I’m fine.”
She hurried over to her brother and embraced him. Andrew came over and the two men shook hands.
“Perfect timing. How did you get in without being noticed?”
“There is a hidden door behind the curtains. I came to meet you when I heard voices. When I realized it was Vance, I knew I had to find a way to help. Then I remembered that Tabitha and I used to play in the passage when we were children. Luckily, the doors still opened, and here I am.”
“I don't think I’ve even been so scared in my life than when I saw you with a gun to your head,” Andrew said to Tabitha, holding her close to him once again.
