Page 71 of No Ordinary Lady

“Why would you ever question that?”

“I thought he was, but then something was said to suggest otherwise. That’s why I left. I didn’t trust them not to harm me. They were planning to get rid of me on the road somewhere.”

“I see loyalty runs deep in your family still. Phineas Trill, the man my mother talks about so fondly, had two sons. Noel, the heir, and Crossman, the weasel spare. Noel had the looks and charm and, as eldest, took over Phineas’ business when he died. But he’d not the head for business and relied too much on his brother for advice. Together, they turned a somewhat respectable family business into a thriving den of iniquity, thus making themself self-appointed kings of the seedy underbelly of Portishead society. There was no one and nothing that pair couldn’t profit from if they wanted too badly enough.”

“What happened to their money? My uncle roams the roads, claiming he’s next to a pauper, and he never returns to Portishead anymore. He’s never talked of any business or any trouble with the law.”

The countess smiled sweetly. “Probably because there’s a price on his head now, my dear, for murder.”

Marian reeled in shock. “And my father? What became of him?”

“Dead, by your uncle’s hand, over a greater share of the business. Your mother died much earlier,” Lady Scarsdale informed her. “Of shame, no doubt, on your mother’s part. All the money and gilt furnishing in her parlor couldn’t disguise the facts or salvage her reputation after the rumors spread about their methods of getting everything they ever dreamed of.”

“Why did Granny not tell me all this when I first arrived? Why didn’t she have me arrested?”

“Mother feels strongly about certain matters. She believes everyone deserves a second chance, and we gave you that. You failed when you tried to steal from my son tonight,” she said, glaring at Marian pointedly, and then at the money stacked on the table between them. “I’ve had my eye on you the whole time you’ve been under this roof, waiting for your true nature to emerge.”

Marian bit her lip. “I want to leave.”

“You could have gone at any time before this and without the funds you tried to steal from my son,” Lady Scarsdale complained, taking a sip of her tea, and setting the cup down again.

“I wanted to get as far away as I could. Before my uncle thinks to look for me here,” Marian said. “He should pay for his crimes, but I don’t want to see it, or have Danny’s wedding spoiled by unpleasantness.”

“I assume my son already knows about your bad habits.” The countess lifted one brow mockingly. “Afraid you’d hang with your uncle? I’m sure you’ve stolen from others and done worse?”

“I’m only a thief, madam. I only ever did what I was told, or for my next meal. I never physically hurt anyone,” she promised. “If you let me go, I’d never go back to my uncle or near the people who work for him. They’re the truly dangerous ones. Tommy and Beatrice were planning to take over Danny’s group by force when I left.”

“Yes, I know about them. Crossman has always kept a pair of accomplices ready to shoulder the blame,” Lady Scarsdale said, sitting back with a smirk. “Orphans, tempted by the promise of riches and raised to do his bidding. And funnily enough, they never seem to end up with any money in their grasping hands. It’s only they who wind up in prison, where they’re brought to account largely for his actions.”

Marian gulped. Her thoughts turned to young William, and she feared for his future even more without her. She did not want him to end up in prison, but she hoped the others were caught and sent to trial for their violent crimes.

If she ever got away from Lady Scarsdale’s elegant prison, she’d go in search of the boy. Take him with her somewhere safe, where they could live away from temptation and never bother anyone again.

“My lady, I know nothing of blackmail, or any threats made against you and your family over the years. I was a child when I went with Crossman. When I was taken by him and raised a certain way. I had never heard of your family before I arrived here, in fact. I’m not your enemy, madam…but I could be your greatest ally. I know my uncle’s habits and, more importantly, his many aliases and hideouts.”

“Why should I trust one word that comes out of your mouth?” the countess snapped.

Marian could tell a good sob story that would make other women weep, but the countess appeared not to be like other women. She was strong-minded, cynical, and not easily swayed by a glib tongue. “Because I made a mistake when I followed your son home. I thought…well…something foolish. Now that I know him better, and you, I would never let anyone harm him or the people he loves.”

“Oh well, if that is the case, you won’t mind spending the night right there, and very quietly,” the lady said, and then smiled as if she knew Marian wouldn’t last the whole night without complaining or attempting an escape.

Marian didn’t like the idea of being kept a prisoner, even in a cell as comfortable as this. Captivity did not suit her nature one little bit. Yet, compliance might be the only thing that could convince the countess to consider her trustworthy by morning and win her freedom. She’d rather not be sent to trial, or to hang along with Crossman and the others.

If the countess was going to have her arrested, wouldn’t she want everyone to know?

But Marian was fairly confident Lady Scarsdale hadn’t told anyone about her capture.

Marian wriggled in the armchair, then glanced down at the inviting, thick rug on the floor beneath her bound feet, then at the window, which didn’t admit a single draft, and inhaled the lightly perfumed air. She let out a soft sigh. Her future, her life, was entirely in the countess’ hands now. “I’ve slept in worse places.”

“Have you?”

“I won’t sully your ears with the details of my early life. I know you don’t care,” she said without any malice. “But could you close the door on your way out? I’m told I sometimes talk in my sleep, and I don’t wish to disturb you more than I already have.”

The lady, however, sat there sipping what remained of her tea, studying her like an insect captured under glass. Marian wriggled a little bit more, but then lowered her head and tried to fall asleep while the countess was still in the room.

“When?”

Marian raised her head slightly. “When what?”