Midnight Star (Star Quartet 2)

Montgomery’s voice came softly now, closer. “Elizabeth?”

Chauncey whimpered, then cried out again.

“Bring her out, Baron. I’m not coming inside that hellhole.”

Chauncey sent her husband a look of panic and consternation.

Think, you fool! “Baron’s not feelin’ good, sir!” Did he sound like Jasper? Please, God, let it sound so to Montgomery. “He’s pukin’ his guts out. The girl’s nearly a goner. Give us our money and she’s all yours!”

“Bridges, is that you?”

Bridges. Jasper Bridges! How kind that name sounds.

“Yep. Ye’re wastin’ time.”

Delaney held his breath. He heard footsteps drawing nearer and nearer. Keep coming, you bastard. Keep coming!

He nodded to Chauncey, and she cried out again. Surely, she thought frantically, he can hear my heart pounding.

Montgomery appeared in the tunnel entrance. “Elizabeth,” he said, taking a step inside.

“I’m here.”

“As am I, you miserable son of a bitch.” Delaney stepped forward, his gun firmly trained on Montgomery.

Montgomery had no time to pull the derringer from his vest pocket.

“No, don’t try it, Montgomery.”

“Where’s Baron?” he asked, his mind fastening on one fact he could grasp.

“Neither he nor Jasper concern you further,” Delaney said.

Montgomery drew a deep breath, his eyes adjusting to the gloom of the mine entrance. “The short message—’twas from you,” he said.

“Yes. I had to get you out of Nevada City.”

Chauncey had said nothing; she was staring at the man she’d known all her life, trusted implicitly until just months ago. Oddly, he looked much older than she remembered. And not as heavy as she remembered his being. His eyes shone through the thick lenses, and she could see his fear and . . . resignation. She asked very softly, her voice breaking, “Why did you kill my father?”

Paul Montgomery turned slowly to face her. “I had no choice,” he said simply. “It seems that all choice has been wrenched from me since that time.”

“No choice,” she repeated. “But my father loved you! Trusted you! I called you ‘uncle’!”

“Your father was something of a fool,” Montgomery said, contempt entering his voice. “All his life he assumed that money was there for the asking. Only the best for Sir Alec! While he was enjoying himself at Oxford, I was slaving as a damned clerk with barely enough food in my belly! Oh yes, he was my friend. He discovered quickly enough that he needed me, needed my ability to handle his money. He even lowered himself enough to call me by my first name after only five years of acquaintance. But never was I invited to dine with his fancy guests! And if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have been raised so very well. All the finest you had! Beautiful home, servants, stables! Damn you, why didn’t you marry Sir Guy! Why?”

She gave an odd, strained laugh. “No choice,” she said, her voice a thread. “I was also raised to hold honor dear. A penniless young lady doesn’t hold a gentleman to his offer, you know.”

“I didn’t want to kill you too, Elizabeth, but—”

“I know,” Delaney interrupted coldly, “you again had no choice. You knew she would discover the truth.”

“That’s right,” Montgomery said in a strangely calm voice.

Delaney could see Chauncey’s pale face, see her eyes dilated. He had to spare her this. He said abruptly, “Chauncey, I want you to leave now. Go wait by the horses.”

“But—”

“Go now. Obey me.”