The Cursed Countess (The Daring Drake Sisters 1)

Dread filled him. His mind swirled with images of Tessa dead in her prison cell. He pushed the footman out of the way and ran down the stairs until he reached the salon. “Downing, what is it? Is she all right?”

Downing stood and nodded. “Yes, sir. Lady Stanhope is well. I checked with her guard and she slept all night undisturbed.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“Langport hasn’t stopped by, then?”

“Langport? Why would he stop by at this hour?”

Downing cleared his throat. “Perhaps you should sit down, sir.”

“What the bloody hell is going on?” The sense of dread he awoke with continued to grow until

frustration took its place. He clenched his fists tight to keep from throwing something.

“Worthington is dead.”

“What?” Oh God, Tessa would never get out of prison now. What the bloody hell had he done?

Downing nodded. “At his own hand from all appearances.”

“Suicide? But I was there last night,” Jack muttered as he eased into a chair. “He seemed a little mad but considering all that had transpired I thought it was a normal reaction. I never would have left if I thought he was going to commit suicide.”

“There’s more.” Downing smiled. “He left a confession stating that it was his idea and that he had never told Miss Harte what was really in the vial. He also admitted to killing Lady Langport.”

He breathed a sigh of relief and then frowned. “How is Langport?”

A commotion at the front door stopped Downing’s reply. Voices grew louder as they approached the room. “I will see him,” the man’s voice rang out.

“My lord, at least let me see if he is at home.”

“Who is it?” Downing asked quietly.

“I’m not certain but if I’m not mistaken, we are about to find out,” Jack replied.

“He will be home for me.” Langport’s tall frame filled the door to the salon. “You bloody bastard, what did you do to him?”

“Langport, come in and sit down,” Jack said as Downing rose and reached for the pistol in this waistcoat pocket.

“I know you saw him last night, what did you say that made him kill himself?” Langport shouted.

“I only asked him what he had heard since he attended the arraignment while I was informing Lady Stanhope’s family about her arrest.” Jack paused and then continued to speak softly. “When I arrived, he was already deep in his cups. After he answered my questions, I departed to speak with Miss Drake again. I had no idea what had happened until Mr. Downing arrived a few minutes ago.”

Langport reached for the back of a chair to support himself. “First Sabita and now Father,” he mumbled.

“Langport, please sit down and have some tea,” Jack said as a footman brought the tea in on a tray. Without waiting for an answer, Jack poured some tea and handed it to the marquess...now the new duke, although Jack doubted he wanted to be reminded of that this morning.

Langport came around the seat and sat before sipping his tea. “This is truly dreadful tea, Raynerson.”

Jack sipped his tea and thought it tasted quite delicious. Looking over at Downing, he said, “So she will be released this morning, then?”

“I don’t see why not. I will need to show the magistrate the confession and hopefully his lordship will come with me to attest to his father’s writing.”

Langport nodded slowly. “Of course, Tessa had nothing to do with this mess.” He paused before adding in a scornful tone, “Other than being the object of my father’s affections.”

Jack bit his tongue to keep from saying something he would regret. Every man grieved differently. He doubted Langport needed to be told his father must have been slightly mad to go to this length over a woman. But he couldn’t help but wonder what would cause a man to kill off the husbands of a woman he loved only to help her marry another. “Why?”

Both Downing and Langport asked at the same time, “Why what?”