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“No game, magistrate,” Jude’s valet said. “She is indeed Lady Cadwell’s sister. His Lordship will confirm as much when he regains consciousness.”

“What happened to him?” Lettie gasped, looking a Jude.

“Are you saying Lord Cadwell married a peasant?” Magistrate Hunt said.

“What does it matter?” Maggie lifted her chin. “I am a countess now, and you will treat my family and me accordingly.”

The magistrate paled slightly. Clearing his throat, he said, “My apologies, my lady.” Then he turned to the footman and said, “Unhand the woman, immediately!”

The footman released Lettie, and she ran into Maggie’s arms. “Is Lord Cadwell…dead?” she asked.

“No, thankfully, only injured. I’ll tell you all about it inside. But first, you must tell me why you are here. What has happened?” Maggie said, ushering her sister indoors while her husband’s doctor and valet carried Jude inside.

“’Tis Mama. She took to drink after Papa died—mostly gin on account of it being cheap.”

Maggie nodded. She’d noticed as much during her last encounter with her mama.

“She goes out sometimes to the tavern or wi’…men. But she always comes home. Except last night…”

“What?” Maggie asked, her heart racing.

“She didn’t come home. Late this morning, they found her…lying at the bottom of a ravine. She’d fallen on her way home.”

“Did she hurt herself?” Maggie asked, even though she knew the dreaded answer already. One didn’t tumble down a ravine in the dead of night and survive.

“She be dead!” Lettie said, another sob escaping her throat. “I didn’t know what to do. I left the twins wi’ Emily an’ came here ready to beg Lord Tidworth to let me speak w’ you. Then I saw the gates stood open, so I walked into the house. ’Twas then that footman grabbed me.”

“Never mind him,” Maggie said, drawing her sister close. “You’re safe with me now. You’ll all be safe with me.”

Chapter Fifteen

Six Months Later

Yorkshire, England

Jude hugged Maggie tightly as they gazed out of the window and watched Teddy and Oliver chase each other in the garden with Emily whilst on a break from their lessons. The boys, like Lettie, were fast learners and were making great progress with their studies.

“They love it here,” Maggie said. “I never thought I’d see them so happy.”

“I never thought I’d be this happy,” Jude said, smiling at his wife. “You’ve given me a family.” He’d not hesitated to take on all four of her siblings as his wards. They had rescued Hattie too, taking her on as Maggie’s lady’s maid. She had not wanted to keep Agnes, and Jude had let the woman go with a good recommendation.

“My lord,” Jude’s valet said upon entering the drawing room. “There’s a woman here to see you and Lady Cadwell. She refuses to give her name, but says she has important information to impart.”

Jude and Maggie both turned away from the window.

“She wants to see us and refuses to give her name?” Jude said. “That is most strange.”

“Indeed, my lord. And she wears a black veil.”

Mrs. Dove-Lyon immediately sprang to Jude’s mind.

Maggie must have thought the same because she said, “Do you suppose it’s the Black Widow? What on earth is she doing in Yorkshire?”

“I don’t know. But we shall soon find out. Send her in,” he said to Joseph.

Seconds later, their veiled guest entered the drawing room, and Jude saw right away from the woman’s plum-colored dress that she was not Mrs. Dove-Lyon, who wore only black.

“Thank you for agreeing to see me,” the mystery woman said. “I’ve waited many months to speak with you.”