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

I had already decided Hugh would fill that role. After all, it was his fault she’s dead.”

“But why kill Miles later?”

“He was supposed to leave the country. Kendal must have enticed the fool to stay for that ridiculous race those boys wereplotting. I never would have allowed the thing to go off, not if it helped Hugh in any way. Besides, I don’t make empty threats,my dear. Baker has been my informant in the house. Servants talk. It was quite easy to learn of Miles’s decision to remainat Whitecaster Hall. When everyone left me alone at Loxby the night of the ball, it was rather easy to make my way to Whitecasteron horseback and lure Miles from the stables. He was never all that bright.”

I gritted my teeth. We’d given Mr. Cavanagh the perfect opportunity to sneak out unobserved.

Another inch closer and my arm slipped into the depths of the opening between the statue and the wall. “When did Mrs. Cavanaghrealize you weren’t completely blind?”

“Oh, I’ve always been rather ingenious. It’s been a well-kept secret by Baker and myself for many years, although I daresaymy wife began to suspect my duplicity of late. At the beginning I saw only shadows for some time, and I knew I would neverbe myself again. I decided to utilize Avery and his intrepid friends to bring about my wishes, keeping the truth about mycondition to myself. It wasn’t hard. Those boys were ripe for a gentlemen’s club. It has only been in the past year that Ibegan pushing myself, using the night to gain strength. Now . . .”

He stopped and lifted his arm to aim the pistol, steadying his hand with his other. My moment had come.

In a flash I bent and jerked my body into the black shadow of the faceless statue, but I heard no shot. I’d moved prematurely. Mr. Cavanagh’s eyesight, however, was not good enough to track where my movements had led me. To him, it must have looked like I simply disappeared.

Gasping for breath behind the cold stone, I watched as he glanced about, dipping his head both one way and then the next,but he never directed the pistol away from the small alcove. “I know you are there somewhere hiding, probably congratulatingyourself on your ingenuity. But remember, all I must do is listen.”

I cringed, tugging my arms into my chest. Unexpectedly, the statue moved. It was only a wobble, but my heart leapt into mythroat. The large, menacing structure was somehow off balance. Perhaps that is why it had fallen on its creator in the firstplace. I wriggled my hands farther up my body and placed them flat on the statue’s smooth, damp back. Again, the mountainousstone tipped forward before rocking back into place.

It would take a great deal of effort, and I would have to time my attack perfectly, but I now had a chance. I closed my eyesfor a brief second and opened my mouth. “You’ll be hanged for treason.” I peeked around the edge of the stone.

The moonlight lit a smile on Mr. Cavanagh’s face. “How so?” He stalked forward, his gaze tight on the statue.

“Because Piers won’t rest until he knows all.”

Mr. Cavanagh placed his boot on the narrow ledge, and my muscles contracted, thrusting my body forward with every bit of strengthI had left. At first I thought the surge would not be enough to unseat the structure, but I was able to wedge my foot againstthe wall, which gave me the leverage I needed to send it crashing forward straight toward Mr. Cavanagh.

He screamed, attempting to dodge the heavy stone, but he was too slow, his movements far too clumsy. The years he’d spent lying in his room had taken a toll. The rock caught the back of his legs, pummeling him down to the grassy field below.

The inescapable sounds of the collision reverberated over the ancient walls until the last stone lay motionless and a deathlycalm descended over the once hallowed ground. I dared not move for a full three seconds, my heartbeat galloping, my breathscoming shallow and quick.

Mr. Cavanagh lay utterly still, the statue lengthwise across his middle, and I knew he would not walk away a second time.

Pounding hooves drummed their way across the meadow until I could see a small band of riders approaching fast. I slunk againstthe abbey wall, my hand pressed to my chest, until I made out one face in the shifting moonlight.

It was Piers.

Then I saw Avery and Tony . . . and Lord Kendal?

Piers began his dismount strides before his horse drew to a halt. His eyes were only for me, and I raced to meet his plungingembrace. His hand was at my neck and then my head and shoulders. “You’re not hurt, are you?”

I shook my head, and he pulled me tight once more.

He gasped for breath, his voice a ragged whisper. “Thank God. I never should have left you alone.”

My pulse ran wild as I looked up into his eyes. “How did you know to come back? And your arm!” I took a step back to assesshim. “You rode all this way?”

“Thankfully the wound has remained free of infection.” He took a quick glance at his left shoulder. “It still plagues me,but nothing could keep me away from you, not after my mother sent that terrifying note.”

“She what?”

“She sent Mr. Lacy earlier today with a letter saying she feared you might end up dead if I didn’t return at once.”

My lips parted. “Well, she was right!” Suddenly my arms felt heavy at my side. “Oh, Piers. It was your father all along. Hehad so many twisted plans. He’s a traitor and a murderer.”

Piers lowered his gaze. “I know it all. Kendal has been apprising me of his dealings while we rode to stop him. But it seemsyou already had him in hand. How did you get out here? We were riding for Loxby but heard gunshots.”

“It’s such a long story.” I touched my forehead. “Hugh is dead, Piers. Your father shot him.”

Piers went white in the moonlight as Avery walked up and gripped