The Vanishing at Loxby Manor, Abigail Wilson [best value ebook reader .TXT] 📗

days, her actions fearful at best. Then today she was out of her mind. She told me tolock my door. There was only one other person in the house besides the servants.

But what about Miles Lacy? He was in Mr. Cavanagh’s employ. Perhaps he had been utilized in another way. Miles changed his plans and departed the estate prematurely. Mr. Lacy said his nephew was scared. Miles suggested in the letter he was paid for his efforts. We’d all assumed his money came from the curricle race, but it could have come just as easily from Mr. Cavanagh.

Hugh stuffed the papers back in the envelope. “I think it best if we—”

A gunshot rent through the night air, echoing off the ancient wall. Hugh grasped my arm. “We’ve got to get out of here.”

We bolted for the cover of a nearby wall, inching toward our horses, but we were met by the barrel of a pistol glinting inthe moonlight. Mr. Cavanagh used the half wall as support as he inched forward. “Not another step.”

Hugh and I froze at first, and then he shoved me behind him. “It’s me you want. Leave Miss Halliwell out of this.”

Mr. Cavanagh smiled. “You’re not in any position to make demands, Hugh. I promise you, I won’t miss a second time, not atthis range. And don’t worry about Miss Halliwell; this particular shot is for you. I need Miss Halliwell to entice her brotherto fulfill his pledge. There are many people in America who support the French cause.”

Hugh squeezed my hand and for a breathless second I knew what he meant to do, yet I was powerless to stop him. He whisperedover his shoulder as he lunged forward. “Run.”

But I didn’t. My feet were frozen to the ground, my muscles stiff. My mind screamed, Get away, hide! But I simply stood there, my whole body shaking like that night in the tea field.

The shot was deafening. The smoke burned my eyes. Hugh stumbled back a pace. At first I hoped he’d merely reacted to the sudden sound as I had, but a large crimson stain fought its way through his shirt and waistcoat, spreading across his left chest. He touched the dark circular spot a moment, dumbstruck as he groped at me, then fell backward to the ground.

I raced to support his head, but it was no use. Mr. Cavanagh had hit his mark. Hugh Daunt was already dead.

I pushed to my feet, starting first one direction then the next, eventually stumbling back against the fractured wall. Mygaze tightened on Mr. Cavanagh, who was groping his pockets for what I could only assume was another pistol. I fled aroundthe wall’s edge and into the inner L of the abbey ruins.

“Let me assure you, Miss Halliwell, I have another pistol, and you’ve backed yourself into a corner. I’ve only to wait youout.” Mr. Cavanagh stepped into a beam of moonlight, utilizing the empty window ledge to support himself. “But I will say,bravo, Miss Halliwell. You’ve been a rather pleasant distraction these last few weeks. I had a feeling you might eventuallyfigure out everything, which is why I already sent that note to your brother informing him of my concerns for your safety.I had hoped to negotiate with you. I even tried to nudge you into the arms of my wayward son, hoping I could use that as leveragewith Arthur, but I see now none of that will be possible. Hugh will do nicely as your murderer. After all, when everyone findsout it was he who killed Seline, they shall be ripe to believe this as well.”

I edged closer to the wall, keeping to the shadows so he wouldn’t get a clear shot. “It was you who placed the brooch on theroad to Rushridge, wasn’t it? You wanted us to think it was Hugh who had killed Seline.”

“It certainly would have been easier to get him out of the way, but this will do just as well. Arthur has always hated the nobility, and if I nudge him into thinking the authorities are corrupt in the handling of both Seline’s and your murder? Believe me, your brother will be much easier to manage with the right reason to join our little revolution. His sympathies have never lain with the Crown.”

“He would not be so utterly foolish. He’s grown up from the lad you remember.” Caught between the stone remains and the river,I knew I was trapped. If only I could keep him talking, I might think of something. “And Avery—I suppose you’ve been manipulatinghim as well.” Carefully I crept closer and closer to the ledge that held the faceless statue.

“Love is always the perfect manipulator. Throw in a bit of misplaced affection for his mother, and I knew I didn’t need toworry about him. He did not want to see his mother taken to Newgate prison for attempting to kill her own husband.”

“You forced him to write that testimonial—the loyalty pledge. You told him you’d never fund a marriage between him and Priscillaotherwise, didn’t you?”

He smiled. “What a clever chit you are. Of course I did.”

I could feel the hard edge of the statue with my left hand, and Mr. Cavanagh was inching forward. He would be assured of ashot in a matter of seconds. I felt desperately for the crevice between the statue and the wall.

Piers and I were masters at finding secret places. I doubted anyone besides Avery knew of our alcove at Loxby Manor. Was thereenough space for me to slip in here? It would be terribly tight, but possible, I thought. I would have to make my move atjust the right moment. Mr. Cavanagh only had one shot, after all.

His steps seemed to hesitate as he talked, thus I kept him doing so. “What about Miles? Why kill him?”

“Who do you think helped me bury Seline? Miles found me minutes after I made the terrible mistake. I paid him, or shall I say blackmailed him, to assist me in burying her. I could not have done so alone. He would have made an easy murderer, but