Not when she loved him so.
“You are pathetic,” Silas said to Lewis calmly, hoping to God that he would be able to get the effect he desired. “How do you feel, knowing that at the end of the day, all your efforts were for naught? You let your hatred for me blind you so much you could not see that you were being used. Congratulations, you will finally get to bring me down. Except that you won't get to enjoy your victory because you are the one who will be made responsible for my death.”
Lewis looked like a lost child as he flinched, backing away from them.
“That’s… that was not the deal. T-They said – they told me –”
“He was quite a delight to work with, your cousin,” Lukas noted with a carefree shrug. “He listened well enough, and hispompous attitude and pride kept him from seeing that he was merely a dog. We greatly appreciated his enthusiasm.”
“Much like you did, I’m sure, when he made several efforts to sabotage your businesses.” Marion nodded.
“Oh yes, those moments were very entertaining. Especially that time he posed as an inspection officer at the docks in a bid to try and steal your goods?” Lukas recalled with a grin.
Marion laughed and clapped her hands with glee. “That was definitely my favorite of his attempts. He ended up being chased by a dog owned by one of your staff and fell into the water. It must have been a sad day, wasn’t it, my lord?”
Lewis looked close to tears, thanks to their mockery, and Silas felt no sympathy for him. He deserved much worse, and the Duke was going to ensure that the Marquess was duly punished for his crimes.
“Anyway, goodbye, Silas,” Lukas grinned and fired a shot.
He had not really noticed that the Duke had been steadily moving backwards while they laughed at Lewis, and so he was prepared for the first shot, quickly dropping down as the bullet whizzed over his head and running to hide behind a stack of barrels.
“Come, now,Your Grace,” Lukas mocked as he walked around the ground. “There is no point hiding. Just come out and let us finish this once and for all –”
“Silas!”
The Duke’s eyes widened at the sound of his name from a voice he had at one point looked forward to hearing for the rest of his days. A chill ran down his spine, and he did not spare himself a single thought as he screamed,
“Agnes, no! It’s a trap!”
True to her character, she did not listen and ran inside. Silas looked behind his hiding spot in time to see the housekeeper stick her foot out, tripping Agnes to the floor. His breath faltered as Agnes remained on the floor, unmoving. Marion sighed in irritation and stepped over his betrothed’s body, speaking dismissively.
“I am truly sorry, Lady Agnes. We had hoped to keep you apart from this issue, but you consistently insisted on maintaining such tenacity. It is unladylike, and hopefully, this will teach you better.”
Silas walked towards them slowly, his eyes firmly fixed on Agnes as he spoke lowly, his senses dulled by his anger.
“I will kill you. All of you.”
“Bold words for a dead man. Lukas, kill him already so we can leave.” Marion sniffed, turning away.
“With pleasure –” Lukas began, faltering at the sounds of footsteps coming in their direction.
He exchanged a panicked look with his sister, and she stared back at him with wide eyes, sparing Lewis a scathing glance before she took Lukas’ hand and led him out of the stable house through the other exit. Silas rushed to Agnes’ side and lifted her up into his arms, patting her cheek gently in hopes of rousing her.
His footmen arrived, and for a moment, Silas felt at a loss for what to do. He needed them to get those traitors, but he couldn’t think of how knowing that he also needed to get Agnes help. The grounds of the field were swarming with people, and they could be anywhere –
“I know where they are going,” Lewis said suddenly. “I know how they planned to escape.”
Silas held Agnes closer, his eyes spotting Simon in the midst of his footmen, and he jerked his head in the direction of the door.
“Fetch a physician. Quickly.”
After Simon left, his gaze shifted to his cousin.
“Why should I trust you after everything you’ve done?”
Lewis shook his head, his tone bearing a note of urgency.
“You shouldn’t. But you were right – I was selfish. I have been selfish, and I let my desires run too wild, and they have cost me everything. I … I do not hope that this will earn your forgiveness. I just merely wish to try and help for a change rather than cause problems.”