The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (little red riding hood ebook free .txt) 📕

“You’ll hang for this, bastard,”replied Genevieve Lancaster. “But before that, why don’t you layout the details of your crimes for me.” Her face showed a newresolve.

“Watch your tone, Ginny, else I maychange my mind,” warned Tremont.

She glared daggers at him,“Very well, what are these optionsyou were rambling about?”

He smiled. “You can take a coward’sdeath and face immediate execution, or you can be more rational andmarry me. It would go a long way to ensuring stability during thetransitional period.”

“You think you can beking?”

“Someone must be,” hecountered.

“I have children,” sheanswered.

Andrew’s face assumed a mockingexpression of false pity. “There has been a terrible fire inLancaster. I am very sorry for your loss.”

Genevieve’s eyes started with tears,but her voice remained cold, “What of my daughter?”

“I have yet to decide, but if youspurn me, she will make an even better choice for Queen. She isstill young enough to provide me with heirs after all,” he saidthoughtfully.

He will kill one of usregardless, thought Genevieve,if he hasn’t killed her already.“Very well,” she said, “Execute me. I prefer thatto any alternative that includes taking to your bed.” Disgust waswritten in her features. My death mightspare her life.

He laughed, “Oh, I wasafraid you might say that. Did you think I would be noble aboutyour death? It won’t be an easy one. I’ll have my fill of youbefore I slit your lovely throat, Ginny. Then I’ll feed yourremains to the pigs, along with your husband’s. After that we’llsee what Ariadne thinks of heroptions.”

Genevieve sighed before reaching outto take a glass from the table. Her hand passed over her own tograsp the one that Elise had offered to Tremont. She drained it ina single draught.

Elise gasped and started to rise,“No!”

Andrew Tremont wasstartled. “So it was poisoned! You nearly had me, bitch.” He sneered at LadyThornbear. Looking at Genevieve he added, “Don’t think that willstop me. I’ll have my pleasure of you before you die, and yourdaughter after that.” On his feet now, he started to approachher.

“The poison is a potent one, andeasily passed through the skin. I would encourage you to do justthat,” said Elise coldly, stopping him in his tracks.

Andrew growled in frustration, but hedidn’t move. Then he barked an order to his men, “You! You doit.”

None of his men moved, fear anduncertainty in their faces.

As soon he looked away, the Queenlunged toward him, her hands scrabbling at his belt, seeking todraw his dagger. He struggled with her for a second beforepummeling her to the floor with his gloved hand. A solid kick tothe stomach made certain she didn’t get back up.

Elise drew a slim bodkin from beneathher dress as she surged toward her friend’s assailant. She nearlyreached him before one of his men clubbed her shoulder with a heavytruncheon. Something popped as she fell, sending waves of painradiating through her. Her right arm was numb, and the dagger fellfrom her grasp. Snatching it up with her left she threw it atAndrew.

Her aim was poor and it missed,slicing the Duke of Tremont’s left cheek as it passed. The worldwent black as something struck her skull, and she shudderedpainfully as more blows struck her body where she lay on thefloor.

“Don’t kill her, yet. I want to seewhether she really is poisoned.” That was Andrew’s voice, though itsounded as if he was speaking in a cave. Elise’s vision began toreturn but it was blurry and disjointed. Someone lay sprawlednearby. She assumed it was Genevieve.

“Watch them,” said the Duke ofTremont. “I’ll be back shortly. Once the palace is secure we canlock them up.”

After he had gone, the two women layin silence. Elise couldn’t be sure, but she thought there werestill guards in the room, watching them. Not that it mattered; shecould barely breathe, much less move. Some of her ribs had cracked,making it impossible to draw more than short desperate gasps ofair, and her right arm was still numb. As her vision cleared, shefound herself staring into Genevieve’s eyes. The other woman hadcrawled closer, though she was clearly badly hurt aswell.

“You shouldn’t have drunk the wine,Ginny,” said Elise between gasps.

The Queen of Lothion’s reply was slowand pained, “I knew. It was better than living if what he said wastrue.”

Elise Thornbear’s vision grew blurryagain as tears filled her eyes. “You were always braver than Iwas.”

“Not true,” answered GenevieveLancaster sadly, “You drank it first. If I have to die, it could beworse. I don’t want to be without them—or you, my best friend.” Herhand snaked out, to close around Elise’s.

Except the poison won’tkill me, Ginny, thought Elisewoefully. My body is inured to it. You’lldie without me. She didn’t say thathowever, clutching her friend’s hand instead. “We’ll be together‘til the end.”

“We’ll see them again,” saidGenevieve. “Gram and James will be waiting for us.”

“I’m sure of it,” answered Elise. Herbreath was coming easier now, though the poison was making hernauseous. She would be sick for days, even without the injuries shehad taken.

“And the children,” said the dyingqueen with a catch in her throat.

“No!” argued Elise. “I know a liarwhen I hear one, Ginny. That man was lying. They’re fine. He wastormenting you with lies.”

“Is that true?” asked Genevievedrowsily. She had taken in much more of the wine and the poison washaving its effect, causing her eyes to glaze.

“I swear it,” said Elise withconviction. She had always been a good liar. “And when Dorian getshere, they’ll pay in blood.”

“Dorian was always a goodboy.”

“Mordecai too,” said Elise.

Genevieve rolled her head a little,“My nephew is gone already.”

“No,” said Elise. “He isn’t gone farenough, not for this lot. If Dorian doesn’t kill them all, Mortwill make them wish they were dead.”

“Tell James I love him,” saidGenevieve, delirium was setting in.

Elise Thornbear felt her throat closeas her emotions overwhelmed her. Finally she choked out, “We’lltell him together.”

“You’re right. I think I can seethem…” Genevieve’s voice tapered off. She did not speakagain.

Chapter 21

Dorian sighed, his collar itched andthe midday sun wasn’t improving matters. His mother’s note had beena welcome distraction. Rose had been planning to visit Penny, areconciliation visit, and her anxiety over the matter had made