Once Upon a Castle - Jill Gregory [98]
Ian gave a chilling laugh. “How fitting. The first lord and the last. Both will die. You see, I gave my uncle his final dose of my special medicine.”
“Oh, Ian!” Felicity cried. “Why do you hate your uncle so?”
“If my father had been half a man, he would have killed his brother years ago. Then I would have inherited Falcon’s Lair, along with the title, instead of my wretched cousins. But at least one of us had the courage of his convictions. I will have the estate, and William’s wife as well.”
“You may have her with my blessing,” came a voice from the doorway.
William, leaning heavily on the arm of Diana Summerville, started forward.
“What are you doing in the company of my husband?” Honora demanded harshly.
Diana’s eyes flashed with an inner fire. “Bean summoned me when she couldn’t find your houseguest.”
“And you, William. How is it that you are alive?” Ian demanded. “I gave you the same dose of poison I gave your father.”
Felicity’s voice was triumphant. “Before you caught me, I gave both Lord Falcon and William an antidote. Your poison can no longer harm them.”
“You fool! I told you we should have killed the American sooner!” Honora cried. “Here, Ian.” Reaching over Lord Falcon’s bed, she tossed her lover a jewel-handled sword. “Since the poison hasn’t worked, use this to finish all of them.”
Ian caught it and advanced on Felicity. But before he could attack, Gareth dragged her roughly behind him, shielding her with his own body.
There was a time when Gareth, First Lord of Falcon’s Lair, would have been agile enough to dodge the thrusts of the finest swordsmen. But in his weakened condition he was no match for the enraged Ian St. John. The blade found its mark, piercing his chest.
As Gareth fell, there was a terrible commotion, and one of the servants belowstairs shouted, “My lord! My lord! Awake and rejoice. It is Lord Chandler, your elder son, returned from the perils of the Amazon.”
At that Lord Falcon rose up from his bed, his eyes wide, his senses alert. “Chandler lives? Can it be true?”
Like a proud old lion infused with new life, he seized the second sword. Tossing it to his son, he shouted, “Stop them, William! In the name of all Falcons!”
Felicity was only vaguely aware of the sound of scuffling, and the cries of Ian and Honora as they attempted to flee the wrath of William, Diana, and Lord Falcon. From the shouting, it would seem that the servants had joined in the chase. But she no longer cared what happened to Ian and Honora. All her energies were centered on the terrible drama being played out here. In the silence of the bedroom, she knelt and cradled Gareth in her arms.
“You cannot die, love,” she cried. “For there is something you must know.”
“I know that I have loved the finest woman ever created. Not merely in one lifetime, but in two. That is enough reward for me.”
She was unaware of the tears that streamed down her cheeks. Only one thing mattered now. It was of the utmost importance that she relay to Gareth what she’d read in the family history. He must not face eternity without being granted his fondest wish.
“All these years you have believed that Adrian, your half brother, made good his threat to wed your beloved Cara and force her to bear his son. It is true that she was forced to become his wife. She died soon after giving birth to Alexander. What you didn’t know, nor did Adrian, was that Cara had conceived the babe before their marriage and before your death.”
For a moment she felt the glimmer of heat. His eyes opened, struggling to focus. “Are you saying that Alexander was my son?”
“Yes, my love. All his descendants are yours as well. You are not doomed to an eternity of loneliness. There are generations of Falcons. Hundreds of them. They all owe their lives to you.”
He clutched her hand, and she felt the chill seeping into his flesh. “You have given me the greatest gift of all, little happy face. Now I give one to you. Know this. Though I must leave you, you will never be alone. There will be another…”
A sob rose up, threatening to choke her.