“I didn’t know Eleanor until I started working at the Sheffield Manor. She was a beautiful young woman, and I was a stupid young man that felt honoured to have her look my way. After months of what I thought was harmless flirting, things began to heat up when she slipped into my room one evening. We began to have an affair that I thought was true love.”
His jaw clenched uncomfortably, and Livinia could tell he believed every word he said.
It was then that Livinia realized why Thomas had been warning her about her feelings for Benedict.
He knows what can happen.
“The affair continued for a little over a year before things took a turn for the worst. You see, Eleanor had a plan; she wanted us to be together forever, but my position and Lord Sheffield were in the way. Her plan was to marry Lord Sheffield once his parents were out of the way.
When that happened, she would fall pregnant with me or even Lord Sheffield as the father. It didn’t matter who it was, as long as there was a baby to secure the inheritance.” He shook his head sadly as if he couldn’t believe what he was saying.
“Was her plan to live with you in the manor as her husband once Benedict was gone?” Her heart ached at the thought of Benedict not being alive, yet she quickly realized that she and Thomas had dropped all forms of title and proper address. There was little room for propriety when love and loss came into play.
“I stupidly thought so, but once she went through with having his parents killed, I quickly realized that I was just another pawn in her little game of wealth.” Livinia could see the vein pulsing in his neck as he spoke. If what he was saying was true, then Eleanor was far craftier than she thought.
“So, you didn’t kill them yourself?” Her heart beat quicker as she waited for his response.
Thomas shook his head sadly. “No, but I let in the killers she had hired. I’m just as responsible for their deaths as them, and even Eleanor.”
Her blood turned to ice in her veins as she listened to him speak. Having someone confess to their part in a murder brought a chill to her body. “I still don’t understand why you want my help after all this time?”
“I think Eleanor will have Lady Theodora killed once she and Benedict are married. I wasn’t sure of it at first. She had disappeared for quite some time until the ball.” Thomas turned his head and looked at Livinia for the very first time. The look of desperation she saw reflected in his gaze made her shiver.
Lady Theodora is in danger.
Livinia finished what he wanted to say as all the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. “She realized at the ball that Lady Theodora is becoming a fine young woman. If she marries and has a child before her, then the question of inheritance will be up for debate.”
Thomas nodded as he ran his tongue over his chapped lips. “I confronted her about her sudden reappearance, but she told me that if I came forward, she would make it seem as if I had planned the whole thing on my own. She has letters from me to prove I fell in love with her.”
Livinia’s mind suddenly went to the letter she had taken. Thomas had been holding onto it not because he cherished it but because it contained the only shred of evidence that pertained to Eleanor.
“I know you took the letter; I thought my problems were over when you found it, but I hadn’t realized that His Lordship wouldn’t believe you.” Thomas placed his hands on his knees and gripped the fabric of his breeches.
Realization suddenly dawned on Livinia. “You were happy the next day after I took the letter.” She recalled the way he had been whistling in the halls.
“Even if I went to jail or lost my position because of that letter, at least Lady Theodora would have been safe. I saw just how selfish I had been when you admonished me on the staircase for not thinking more of her. She is becoming such a sweet and lovely young lady; she deserves to live a happy and long life.”
Livinia jumped to her feet as the thumping of her blood moving through her veins began to pound in her ears. “We must go and tell Benedict at once; he must hear it from both of us.” She looked at Thomas with determination in her eyes. Whatever happened to her and Benedict after he heard the news, at least Theodora would be safe.
Coming to his feet, Thomas looked her in the eyes. “I’m sorry if I didn’t see how good you are, Miss Campbell. Only someone who truly cared for the family would have gone to such lengths as you have.”
Chapter 27
Benedict looked up as the door to the parlour burst open. He had been planning on ways to track Livinia down, but she now stood before him panting for breath. The wild look in her eyes brought a chill to his bones.
“What the devil is going on here?” He hurriedly made his way towards her and gripped her arms when it looked as if she were about to faint.
“We ran … most of the way … her,” she gasped and nodded towards the door.
Benedict felt confused as he looked her over. She didn’t seem to be injured in any way, but he couldn’t shake the feelings of concern that blocked the relief at seeing her again. “Where have you been?” He shook her gently, trying to get her attention. He had spent the past five days searching far and wide for her.
A part of him had begun to fear that Thomas had run away with her. He’d gone missing just as mysteriously as she had done.
Livinia straightened a little and took a deep breath. She gripped his arms tightly, sending a shiver of pleasure down his spine. “I will explain everything I went to do; please don’t worry about me. You need to listen to what Thomas has to say.” Her eyes pleaded with him as she looked to the door once again.
Benedict frowned as fear crept into his heart; had his suspicions been right? Was she only back to tell him she was in love with Thomas? The way she had tried to convince him to read the letter she thought was from Eleanor played on his mind.
His body suddenly filled with white-hot rage at the thought of Livinia being with anyone other than him.
“Benedict, please listen to me.” She placed her hand on his chin and turned his face to look at her. “I need you to listen to what Thomas has to say and keep an open mind. I believe he is telling the truth, and if you believe him too, we must protect Lady Theodora.”
The frown between his eyes deepened.
What is she talking about?
Nothing made sense to him at present as the whirlwind of emotions he’d experienced in a matter of minutes collided in his mind. What did his sister have to do with anything?
“Do you trust me enough to listen to what Thomas has to say?” Livinia’s hand moved up his cheek as she gently caressed the stubble that had formed there.
She can’t be in love with Thomas.
He felt a strange sense of relief as he looked into her eyes. He wanted to kiss her, to sweep her into his arms and carry her to his bed, but the urgency in her voice held him back. “Very well.” He nodded before placing his hand over hers and giving it a gentle squeeze.
Relief flooded her face as she took a step back and let go of his hand. “You may come in now, Thomas,” she called to the door.
The door swung quietly on its hinges as Thomas made an appearance. He looked just as dishevelled and out of breath as Livinia had been. “Forgive me for my appearance, My Lord, but too much time has been wasted already; we need to stop Lady Eleanor before it’s too late.”
More confusion filled his mind as Benedict’s suspicions began to grow. Had Livinia been right in suspecting something between Thomas and the woman he was about to marry? He glanced to the side and noted the deep blush in Livinia’s cheeks.
