The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson (grave mercy .TXT) 📕

I’d hit a nerve. He began to pace. “You can take your curst insinuations and leave my house this instant—with your escort.”He stopped suddenly to grasp my arm. “After all, he’s the master of avoiding anything unpleasant.”

Caught up in Lord Kendal’s wave of anger, I let him drag me like a dog to the corner of the hedgerow where, like lightning,a fist sprang from the shadows, striking him square in the face. I had to jump away to avoid his limp body as it flopped ontothe gravel like a sack of flour.

Honora screamed.

Piers shook out his hand, a curve gracing his lips. “I think Kendal is right. It might be about time for us to leave, Miss Halliwell.”He turned to Honora, his eyes more determined than I’d ever seen them. “Miss Gervey, you may accompany us back to the house,or we’ll be happy to send someone back to help you.” He flicked his fingers in the air. “And your illustrious fiancé.”

Piers offered his arm, but Honora refused, trouncing off in the direction of the house, an expression of pained irritationacross her face.

Fighting my own level of shock, I tried to keep my voice low, but it was nigh impossible. “What were you thinking?”

“I didn’t like how he was manhandling you.”

I gasped. “Then you were watching us the whole time.”

“As I told you I would.” Concern swept over his features, and he pulled me close.

I should have thrust myself away the second he did so, but I didn’t move, not at first. It was almost as if my muscles weremomentarily paralyzed, but not unpleasantly so. His arms were safe, familiar even, and my heart galloped.

I heard him expel a breath of relief. “Charity.”

Then we were moving, shuffling, inching away from each other.

He ran a hand through his hair. “Did he hurt you in any way?”

I touched my previously injured shoulder. “No, I don’t think so. But what about him?”

“He’ll be fine, besides the devilish headache he’s bound to have when he awakes.” Piers knelt at Kendal’s side, jabbing hisfinger into the earl’s waistcoat pocket.

Shaking off my rampant emotions, I knelt as well. “What are you doing?”

“Help will be here soon enough. Thought I might do a little snooping.” He ran his hand down his face before resting his fingerson Kendal’s lapel. There, twinkling in the moonlight, was a small silver collar jewel. “What’s this?”

We leaned in together, the etched dragon taking shape in the dim light.

Piers met my eyes. “The Gormogons. Look, it even has the same Persian ivy border as the one in the journal. Quick, check hisother pockets.”

I dipped my hands into Kendal’s jacket, and I was rewarded with a folded slip of paper. I held it out, spreading it open atonce.

Kendal,

Lest you forget, I have access to your loyalty pledge. Don’t fail us or the cause. We need each other in times of success but, more importantly, in times of trial. We’re trusting you to carry on as planned.

Piers refolded the note. “It seems we were right. Only, this is a bit worse than I anticipated. ‘The cause’? I begin to fearthis secret society is larger than just the four friends Avery indicated.”

A shiver scaled my neck. “What if the group never dissolved like your father thought it did? Could it not have carried onin secret?”

“Possibly, but when pressed, my father admitted that the group did little of anything, originating merely to oppose the Freemasons.There would be no reason for it to continue.”

“Unless they found a purpose, something to unite them?”

“Avery has always been an idealist. If he thought he might make changes in Britain for the good of society, he would definitelywant to be a part of it.”

The sound of footsteps lit the air and we glared at one another. Like lightning, Piers shoved the missive back into Kendal’spocket.

Two servants burst through the opening in the hedgerow just as Piers gently patted Kendal’s face. “Wake up, my good man.”

Kendal moaned, then opened his eyelids. He was confused at first, his gaze darting about the garden, and then his eyes narrowed.

Piers stepped back to allow Kendal’s servants to assist him to his feet, then whispered to me, “See, he’s well enough.”

His confidence was intoxicating, yet what had he set in motion with his rash behavior? “Oh, Piers, he’ll call you out again,and then what?”

“I’ll be sure to meet him at dawn this time.”

Kendal stepped forward, the fire in his stare for Piers alone. Silence roamed the bushes like a tiger, coming to rest at Kendal’sfeet. “You’ll meet me for this, Cavanagh.” He wiped a spot of blood from the edge of his lip. “Considering our past, perhapswe should forgo the seconds and finish our duel right here, right now. Swords or pistols, if you please?”

Piers didn’t flinch. “A pleasant thought indeed, but I’ve no intention of doing this in such a havey-cavey way. My secondsshall call upon you tomorrow. And I assure you, this disagreement between us shall be put to rest . . . once and for all.”

“Trying to regain some semblance of honor?” Lord Kendal spat on the ground. “Believe me, there will be no chance for an apology,not with a blow to the head. You’ll meet me on that field, or you can slink back to that cottage in Liverpool even more ofa coward than you already are. And if you fail to show up this time, you bet I’ll announce it in church.”

“I should expect nothing less . . .” Something drew Piers’s attention beyond the gardens.

It was Avery, racing across the side yard. He stopped but a few feet in front of us, winded and his face red. “Something hashappened at the stables.” He eyed Kendal for a moment, then went on. “It’s the new groom . . . He’s been murdered.”

“How? Why?” The words were out before I’d even had a moment to think.

We departed the maze as a group, but once free, Kendal took off at a run.

Piers touched my shoulder, his voice firm. “I think it best for