“A dead well,” Wentworth said.
The well Geoffrey had mentioned, which meant they were in the grove of trees behind the folly.
“It used to supply some of the manor’s water, but my brother had it closed off when a man from Town told him the water was bad.”
Liliana’s head came up. Could that be how her father had met Geoffrey’s?
“Here we are,” Wentworth said as they turned another corner. The folly’s dome stuck up over the tree line now.
The adrenaline that had been flowing through her now settled like a sickness in her belly. Soon Wentworth would know that she’d lied to him, and who knew what he’d do then? Please, Geoffrey. Be there.
And yet part of her prayed he would not be. Geoffrey couldn’t be expecting an armed man, much less his uncle. He’d be taken completely by surprise. If Wentworth were as desperate as she suspected, he might not blink at harming Geoffrey, too. Whatever she had to do, she couldn’t let that happen.
Wentworth led her to the back entrance. He reached out and tried the door, jiggling the latch when it wouldn’t give. “Damn it,” he said, kicking the door.
Here was her opportunity to enforce his misconception that she was after the treasure for herself. She pulled the key Geoffrey had given her from her pocket. “Here. I filched the key before I left Somerton Park.”
Wentworth turned and looked at her over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing in a speculative gaze.
Liliana tried for a smarmy smile.
He snatched the key from her outstretched hand and turned to open the lock. “You know, Miss Claremont, you’re craftier than I’d thought,” he said, the words sounding much like a compliment, but to Liliana, they rolled over her like slime. “I knew you were clever, of course. And I was quite impressed by the way you cozied up to my nephew, but going so far as agreeing to marry him publicly and then running off only to double back and double-cross him? Sheer genius.” He chuckled as the lock clicked open.
His words evoked dueling emotions. On the one hand, relief that for now, at least, Wentworth seemed to buy her story. On the other, anguish at the thought that Geoffrey might take her actions the same way.
Once Wentworth ushered her inside, he reengaged the double-sided lock and pocketed the key, killing any chance she might have to run. He directed her to open some shutters for light. “Only the ones in the back that can’t be seen by passersby.”
As the room lightened, Liliana knew she’d run out of time. She’d need to be convincing, stall as long as she could. She decided to be aggressive.
“Now,” she said, whirling around as if to convey a great hurry, “we need to find where Geoffrey hid the letters.”
“Letters?” Wentworth asked, his face screwing up in confusion.
“Yes,” Liliana snapped. “The coded letters your brother and my father exchanged. My father divulged where he hid the corselet in his last missive, but before I could decipher it, Geoffrey took the letters and hid them here in the folly. That’s why I agreed to marry him. To buy more time at Somerton Park until I could figure out where he stashed them. When we find the letters, we find the treasure.” Hopefully the search would take some time, giving either Geoffrey a chance to get there if he was coming, or her a chance to think of another plan.
Liliana turned her back on Wentworth and pretended to search the shelf in front of her. He didn’t move for some time, and Liliana held her breath, certain he’d finally seen through her. But then she heard a shuffling gait followed by the sounds of Wentworth rifling through Geoffrey’s desk.
She prayed she wasn’t simply delaying her own demise.
Outside the back window of the folly, Geoffrey froze, the words floating from the open sash kicking him in the gut.
That’s why I agreed to marry him. To buy more time at Somerton Park until I could figure out where he stashed them. When we find the letters, we find the treasure.
And yet…
In his heart, he knew they weren’t true. Not entirely, at any rate. Though he wasn’t certain why Liliana had agreed to marry him—was afraid indeed that she’d agreed only so she could stay long enough to retrieve her evidence—he was the one who’d decoded Liliana’s father’s letters, and he knew very well there was nothing about the location of the treasure in them. Liliana was shamming someone in there, and he’d wager it was his uncle. Which meant Liliana could be in danger.
Geoffrey fought to keep panic at bay. He’d need a clear head if he were to be any help to her. Instincts honed over a dozen years in the military took over. He edged closer to the window, hoping to get the lay of the battlefield before him.
He caught sight of Liliana, only feet from him, and anger threatened to burst through his tight control. Damn his uncle for putting her through this. Liliana’s face was pale, and her hand shook as she moved books around on a shelf. She was trying to hide it, but Geoffrey could see her fear growing.
Movement drew his eye to the right, and Joss came into view, pulling items out of Geoffrey’s desk drawer and piling them on the surface.
A glint of metal caught the light, buried beneath the papers Joss was haphazardly tossing onto the desk. Could that be a gun? Had Joss threatened Liliana with the weapon? Rage fired his brain, but Geoffrey tamped it down. Knowing Liliana was in immediate danger changed his battle plan entirely. He gauged the shuttered window. Could he get the tip of his own pistol through the slat and fire, killing Joss or even just wounding him enough that he was no longer a threat to Liliana?
He considered the angle of the slat and knew it would be impossible. The shot would have to be fired up and would be well over Joss’ head, giving Joss ample opportunity to pull his own weapon and either fire back at Geoffrey or fire at Liliana.
There was no time to return to the house for reinforcements, either.
He’d have to take the man by surprise, then. If he kicked in the back door, Joss’ attention would be on him, giving Liliana the chance to run or at least hide. She didn’t deserve to be caught up in this. She never should have been. His uncle had done her a horrid disservice, and so had he. He’d apologize a thousand times when this was all over. For now, he needed to save her life and end this thing with his uncle.
Geoffrey slowly ducked below the window and crept toward the back door.
Gooseflesh rose on Liliana’s arm. Geoffrey. He was near. Though she couldn’t see him, her body told her it was so. He’d come.
A shadow caught her eye from the left. She glimpsed dark hair moving toward the back door just beneath the window. He was going to try to come through the back door, but it was locked. Even if he’d brought a key, the sound of it clicking the mechanism would give him away.
Liliana’s heart kicked into a fluttery rhythm. Geoffrey couldn’t know his uncle was armed. He would be shot for sure, and it would be her fault. She was the one who’d run away, who’d allowed herself to be lured into Wentworth’s carriage. She’d led the villain here, counting on Geoffrey to save her, knowing it was her only chance.
But she would not be responsible for Geoffrey’s death. She’d have to create a distraction when he came into the room. If he were quick thinking, he could take advantage of Wentworth’s distraction and get to safety.