The Viscount

London—April 1859

L ily Bradshaw quickly rolled off the bed and bunched up the heavy blanket so it would appear that she lay there sleeping if anyone looked in. Then she crept over and huddled beside the locked door. There was no other place to hide. And then, not for long.

“Has she awakened?” a voice rasped. Though obviously intended as a whisper, it almost boomed within the near silence.

“I expect it will be a while, considering,” came the smooth, untroubled reply, hardly even muted below a normal conversational tone.

Lily had been awake for nearly an hour by her reckoning. She had lain, clutching at the scratchy blanket, frozen with fear as her eyes grew accustomed to the meager light from the small barred window set high in the door. The cell reeked of urine and despair. And it was cold. Very cold. She shivered now and deliberately slowed her breathing, knowing she could not afford panic.

“Is she in there alone?” A shadow blocked light for a few seconds as if someone peered inside, gave up the attempt to see anything and then moved away.

“Yes. We isolate new arrivals here until they can be examined and placed in the proper ward. No time for that yet, of course, since her admittance was an emergency of sorts. Would you care to see her?” Silky and dark, the tone was more frightening than that of the one growling the questions.

“Not necessary. You know what to do next?”

“Of course.” A short pause, then Silky Voice spoke again. “I will give her more of this laudanum tonight before she wakes completely. That will ensure she remains tractable. Then I will give her something stimulating to put her in top form for her examination. You have notified the proper authorities?”

“Word will be sent in the morning once I hear from you that all is in order here.”

“Excellent.”

Lily shivered and covered her mouth to stifle a whimper of terror. She was not precisely sure who her examiners were supposed to be, but from the howls and screams echoing through the walls and floors this past hour, she could make a ready guess. Someone had locked her in a madhouse and was planning to prove her insane.

Her next thought was of Beau. What had they done with her son? Surely he still remained safe at Sylvana Hall. Safe with his nurse, playing with his toys, reading his primer and doing his sums. No one had any reason whatsoever to harm a small lad of seven. But then, no one had reason to put her in an asylum, either. Or had they?

Suddenly as that, common sense caught up with her and she realized precisely who would benefit. With her declared insane, her husband’s brother Clive would gain control of both her son and his inheritance. And, as his uncle and only male relative, nothing would stand between Clive and the title. Except for the little boy who held it now.

Jonathan had died two years ago. Had Clive been waiting for enough time to pass after Jonathan’s death so that he wouldn’t rouse suspicion? Perhaps his own funds had run out. Or maybe greed had simply overcame him.

She could not say for certain whether the man with that growling whisper was her brother-in-law, but it was possible…even probable. Who else could it be?

No sooner had she thought it than she heard the voice again. “Suppose she is lucid when they arrive. In their view, two brief episodes of hysteria might not qualify as insanity and warrant…this.”

“Not to worry. She will convince them.” Lily could hear a smile in the other man’s assurance. “But we should move her immediately to Plympton’s after you obtain the writ for her committal.”

“Why not simply leave her here in London?”

She was in London? How in the world had she gotten here?

“Plympton is privately run, of course,” said Silky Voice, “and it will be easier to manage her care there than here in London. Safer, and certainly more convenient for me. I shall have the earl to deal with, as well, if all goes as planned.”

A nasty scoff. “That old lunatic? Duquesne should have put him away years ago instead of keeping him at home. So you’re to be one of his attendants?”

Silky Voice again. “Assuming Lord Duquesne hires me, which I’m certain he will. I hear he’s desperate for another caretaker. My interview with the viscount takes place tomorrow at nine and I have letters of referral. I shouldn’t think he’d be too particular, and even if he is, I am well qualified.”

“Just be certain you’re here when she is examined. I warn you, muck this up and you will not be working anywhere, Brinks. Do I make myself clear? I want her taken care of.”

Silence.

Then one set of footsteps moved away until they became inaudible.

Lily’s heart drummed so loudly, she was afraid the man remaining—Brinks, was it?—on the other side of the portal could hear it thumping.

She had to get out. Now. Before her greedy brother-in-law arranged for her permanent incarceration. But where could she go? She hated London and never came here if she could avoid it. She knew virtually no one here.

But you do, a small voice whispered inside her head. And he helped you once before.

Lily shook her head at the ridiculous thought. The only reason he even came to mind was the mention of his name just now. Viscount Duquesne had his own troubles. Why should he do anything for her?

Though they hailed from the same county, Lily had not seen the man in years, not since she was a child. Dark rumors concerning his shadowy dealings with society’s dregs, his apparent willingness to do anything—no matter how dangerous or outrageous—for a price, had rendered him a social pariah.

Even if that were not the case, his lack of fortune and his father’s illness would have put him beyond the pale. Not someone a lady approached for help. Duquesne was an outcast, so she had heard, living in an eyesore of a once-grand mansion on the fringe of Mayfair.

Even if she had firm promise of his assistance, how in the world could she escape this place? Though she was five feet, seven inches, tall for a woman, she doubted she possessed enough physical strength to overpower a man.

She shifted nervously and her boot heel scraped against the floor. Her breath hissed inward at the sound as she froze.

She remembered returning to the library at Sylvana Hall following her afternoon ride, removing her hat, accepting a sherry from Clive and sipping it. She disliked sherry, but his politeness had been so out of the ordinary, she had taken it. Thank God she had dashed most of it into the potted plant when he was looking out the window or she might still be unconscious. The cad must have drugged her.

If, indeed, it was Clive. The voice she’d heard was somewhat muted and teemed with an excitement Clive rarely exhibited. She simply could not be certain. Though they were far from close, she had always gotten on well enough with him, or so she thought.

Had she been brought here this afternoon? Yesterday? The day before? There were no windows opening to the outside, so there was no way to judge the time of day or night. She guessed night, since lamplight flickered through the bars in her door. But if there were no windows in that outer room, either, then it could be midday for all she knew. The bare cell was furnished with only a bed that was bolted to the wall and a small tin chamberpot. She glanced at the item now and decided it would be useless as a weapon.

Thank God they had not undressed her or removed her riding boots. One of those might work. The heels were substantial with their metal crescents tacked on to prevent wearing down of the heavy leather. She slipped the boots off, hefting one in her hand to test its weight.

She heard the footsteps of the second man. He was leaving, too! “Brinks? Oh, Mr. Brinks!” she called, drawing out his name, trying to sound distraught. Not much acting was required for that. “Could you come in?” Hopefully he would be curious as to how she had learned his name.

The sound of his departure halted immediately. Lily sensed him just on the other side of the door, listening.

She turned her face away when she spoke so he would not know she waited near it. She slurred her words. “I am so thirsty. I would do anything for a drink. Anything,” she added with a loud sigh. “I feel so tired. So…weak. Mmm.”

Long minutes passed. He hadn’t gone away. He must be considering the advisability of entering, or perhaps of administering more of the mixture that had rendered her unconscious. Come in. Come in. Now, before I lose my courage.

Her silent pleas were answered when she heard the rattle and snick of the key in the lock.

A head poked inside cautiously, then a shoulder. A hand holding a lamp.

Desperate, knowing he would soon discover that tangled blanket on the bed was not her person, Lily reached out, grabbed his hair and yanked him inside before he thought to resist. She kicked at his feet. They flew out from under him and he fell, sprawling forward with a loud grunt as he hit the floor. She struck immediately. The heavy heel of her boot cracked soundly against his temple and he lay still.

His lamp had crashed to the floor and fire leaped from the small puddle of fuel. She grabbed the blanket off the bed and tossed it over the blaze, relieved when it extinguished the flame. However, she was now in the dark again with only faint light emanating from the crack of the door that stood ajar and the small window in it.

She hurriedly ripped at the buttons on the front of her riding habit and shrugged off the jacket. Then she slipped out of her shirtwaist, skirt and petticoat. Might as well go the whole way, she thought, pulling off her chemise. Naked save for her stockings and garters, Lily began to strip the attendant of his clothing. Every stitch.

In what seemed ages and yet the blink of an eye, she managed to redress herself. His clothes fit her a bit loosely, but well enough. He was slight of build for a man, heavier than she was, though not significantly taller. His boots were too large, but she would have to make do with them since hers were obviously those of a woman. She stuffed her own silk stockings in the toes and pulled them on.

He began to stir then and she lifted her own boot, striking hard a second time before conscience could stop her. Why should she care if she hurt the wretch? Look what he’d had in mind for her!

Lily found his money and two letters. Those missives gave her an idea how she might approach Duquesne. Assuming she was successful in getting out of here.