Treacherous Temptations(70)

“You trespass, Blanchard,” Barnesley replied tranquilly. “Leave now, or I’ll see you hanged.”

An explosive blast sounded, followed by the splintering of wood. The door crashed from its hinges. Hadley entered with the smoking blunderbuss in hand.

“How very melodramatic,” Barnesley drawled.

“You have taken something of mine and I am here to retrieve it.”

Hadley’s eyes shot to Barbara, stark naked and still hugging the bedpost and then to Mary, sprawled open to everyone’s gaze. “Good God!” He handed the second pistol to James who guarded his flank. “Keep both of them in your sights.”

Hadley flew to Mary, stripping off his coat to cover her before pulling the dagger from his boot to hack away her restraints.

“H-Hadley! How did you find me? I thought never to see you again.”

“Shh, my love,” he soothed. “I came to return the money I had borrowed against your dowry and discovered you gone. Are you harmed, Mary? I will surely kill him if you are.”

“Not truly, but the things they intended—” she sobbed, quivering in shock.

He took her into his arms. “Hush now. I’m taking you away from this depraved hell.”

“The girl stays.” Sir Richard stood in the doorway, baldheaded and in his nightshirt, with a pistol trained on Hadley. “I warned you to leave, Blanchard. Though you eluded me for a time, I will now see you pay the price as the treasonous dog you are.”

Barnesley chuckled, his gazed flickering between Hadley and Sir Richard. “This continues to grow more fascinating by the minute! Damn me if I can remember when I’ve been so diverted.”

“Out Barnesley! Now!” Hadley barked. “Take Barbara with you.”

Barnesley handed Barbara the discarded dressing gown. “As much as I hate to disappoint any of my playmates, it appears our games are finished.” He extended his arm with a smirk. “Come my dear, our presence is now very much de trop.” The baron sketched Hadley and Mary a mocking bow while Barbara hissed in passing like some vindictive viper.

“Lock them up in another room until I can figure out what to do with them,” Hadley ordered James.

“But what of him?” the valet inclined his head warily toward Sir Richard.

“I have the matter in hand,” Hadley replied. James departed with a shrug, leaving only Hadley, Mary, and Sir Richard. “Drop the pistol, Sir Richard,” Hadley said. “The games are indeed over and you have lost.”

“On that we are distinctly at odds, for I could easily claim victory by blowing your head off.”

“That would be a huge mistake under the circumstances.”

Sir Richard raised a bushy brow. “What circumstances?”

“I’ve found the missing ledgers.”

Richard blanched. “You lie!”

“I do not. It was quite by happenstance that I discovered them. It seems Edwardes had them all this time, locked away with these dueling pistols. It is ironic, don’t you think, that their location might have remained a mystery had you not taken Mary.”

Mary was incredulous. “My father had them? Do you mean he was involved in the fraud?”

“I’m sorry, my dear, but it appears so.”

Sir Richard’s gaze narrowed. “If she was unaware of them, surely no one else knows of their existence, which places the situation in an entirely new light. Although I had much more elaborate plans where you are concerned, Blanchard—hanging, drawing, and quartering come vividly to mind, I see no good reason why I shouldn’t kill you now.”

Sir Richard cocked the hammer. Mary clutched Hadley’s arm.

“Come now, Sir Richard,” Hadley smirked. “Do you think me so stupid as to just leave them there? If Mary and I do not return to Welham Grove by the day after tomorrow, the ledgers will be delivered to William Pulteney at The Craftsman.”

He blinked. “Pulteney?”

“Yes, Sir Richard, to the man whose greatest desire is to obliterate the ministry of corruption that you have fostered. Imagine how much your many political foes will delight when such information falls into their hands.”

“What do you want, Blanchard?” Sir Richard lowered the pistol, defeated.

Hadley snatched it from his hand. “You will do three things. First, you will clear my father’s name and then restore my title.”

“Impossible!”

“Not at all. It only requires the King’s pardon. You have a fortnight to obtain it. Should you fail, I shall take necessary measures to clear it myself, but I daresay it won’t be pretty if I must resurrect the greatest scandal that has ever plagued this nation to do it.”

“And the third?”

“You will consent to our marriage and free her full inheritance.” He met Mary’s gaze. “If she will have me.”

Silence hung heavy, cloaking him in uncertainty.

“How can you ask such a thing?” Mary finally asked.

“You heard the girl.” Sir Richard sneered. “She still won’t have you!”

Hadley’s eyes went as dull as a snuffed candle before reigniting with rage. “Leave us, damn you!”

The baronet departed with a snicker.

Hadley grabbed Mary by the shoulders. “Why? What more must I do to prove myself?”