“But I could tell he resented me. I thought it was for the same reasons Piety did, that I was the usurper and never meant to become involved in the affairs of the dukedom. But he hates all nobility.”
“There! He’s stopped by the river.”
Dane brought his curricle to a halt and jumped down to tie the reins to a tree. “Stay in the carriage, Sandrine.”
“I will not.” She opened the door and dismounted. “Remember what happened last time you said that?”
“Stay close behind me, then, and don’t make any sudden moves. He might have a firearm.”
“Do we have a firearm?”
“No,” Dane said grimly.
“Don’t come any closer,” Cleveland warned. “I have a pistol.”
“That answers that question. Now will you go back to the carriage and wait for me?” Her face was brave and determined in the moonlight.
“I won’t. We’ll risk this together.”
“I’m serious,” Cleveland said. “One more step and I’ll fire.”
“Are you waiting for a ship?” Dane asked.
“They’ll be here any moment.”
“Turn yourself in, Cleveland. I’ll be lenient if you return the donations.”
“That money belongs to charity,” Sandrine said.
“I’ve been siphoning money from the dukedom for decades now,” Cleveland said. “This is the final installment I’m owed. You’ll never see me again.”
“I thought it was my brother who was mismanaging our fortune.”
“Oh, it was him. He was crooked as they come. Inventing charities and keeping donations for his selfish purposes.”
“Then, it was you who hired those men.”
“I saw a chance for enrichment, and I took it. Just like every nobleman does, not caring who they harm, who they ruin. Your father was the one who taught him the racket. Once I discovered what was happening, I was disgusted. I could have reported them to the authorities, but who would believe me? The word of a scarred steward over a peer of the realm? I never stood a chance. I had to stand up for myself. Create my own opportunities.”
“Why don’t you put down the pistol, Mr. Cleveland,” said Sandrine softly. “I don’t think you really want to take that money from those who so desperately need it, more than you do.”
“And risk a hangman’s noose?” He waved the pistol, and Dane stiffened. “No, I’ll be on my way. I was planning to leave late at night when you were asleep, but when you confronted me I had to make a run for it.”
“Will you deprive the poor and the defenseless? I appeal to your better nature, Mr. Cleveland.”
“I have no conscience, and neither does Lord Dane. You think that he would deliver this money to charity? He’s just like his brother. All he cares about is wealth, power, bedding beautiful women, and lording it over the rest of us.”
“You’re wrong. Lord Dane is nothing like his brother. He’s a good man. May I tell you a story, Mr. Cleveland?” She didn’t stop to give him a chance to respond. “It’s about a little boy, five years of age, whose mother died in childbirth. A boy whose older brother hated him because he’d caused his mother’s death. This older brother was cruel to the little boy who worshipped him. His mind became warped by grief, and by hatred. He didn’t deserve his brother’s hatred, and he doesn’t deserve yours.”
“And I’d like to tell you a story as well,” Dane said. “It’s about a little girl who grew up in a small seaside village. She had a mother who lived her life in fear of everything. Shewouldn’t allow her daughter to have friends, or go swimming in the sea, or even leave the house, sometimes for weeks at a time. And so that little girl found a doorway that led from her yard into the secret garden of an ancient manor house. And she spent days alone in that house, befriending ghosts. She felt a bit like a ghost herself, disembodied, haunting her own life. That little girl stands before you, a grown woman who’s learned to stand up for herself. To make new friends, real ones this time, and to love fiercely. For some reason, she says that she loves me. She has a heart big enough to love the world. And if that girl says that I can change, I must believe her.”
“Very touching, you two,” Cleveland snarled. “You think by talking and stalling you’ll come up with a daring plan to steal back the money. Or perhaps you informed the authorities and they’re on their way? I didn’t think so. Here’s my ship now.”
A small vessel arrived offshore, and a rowboat was launched to collect Cleveland.
“The only chance I have of surprising him is when he climbs into that rowboat,” Dane whispered to Sandrine. “I’m going to lunge for him. When I do, I want you to run behind that rock and stay covered in case there’s gunfire.”
She nodded. “Don’t get shot, Dane.”