for that, Lady Benna,” he said in his gruff voice.
She smiled at the sound of her childhood name. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come. Where are you staying? That rotten Diggle is the one who—”
“Shhh, now, my lady. Er, Your Grace,” he hastily corrected. “It’s not good for you to be so worked up, lass.”
“I’m sorry, Tom. It’s just that I’m so glad to see you. I thought you might have—” She frowned and pointed to a worn cloth bag at his feet. “What is that?” Her voice rose. “Are you leaving tonight?”
“I have to go, Your Grace, but I wanted to talk to you, first.” His wrinkled old face seemed to collapse in on itself. “There’s something foul goin’ on, Lady Benna. It just ain’t safe here—not for you. I don’t want to leave you, but I don’t know what to do.”
Benna felt almost dizzy with relief at his words; she wasn’t alone, after all.
“I overheard my cousin last night—that was why I came looking for you early this morning and found out you’d been sacked. He plans to force me to marry him, Tom. And afterward he’s going to lock me up somewhere until he can—Well,” she admitted, “I’m not sure what his plan entails, something to do with my trust, I daresay.”
Tom didn’t look surprised. “Oh, lass,” he said, the words almost a groan.
“I know that he’d rather kill me but he obviously can’t do so and inherit my trust.” She scowled. “Or something like that. I’ve been such a fool, Tom. I never paid any attention to any of the details back when David explained it to me. I just don’t recall what the terms are. But Michael is my guardian, so I daresay everything is under his control.” She frowned. “Or perhaps he believes everything will automatically go to him after we are married?” Benna shook her head. “I don’t know what the law is, but you can rest assured that he has looked into it.”
Tom chewed his lower lip. “Well, I don’t know nothin’ about that, lass. But you’ve got that aunt and a few other cousins, can’t you—”
“They are dependent on Michael and would never believe me, anyhow. After all, what proof do I have of anything? No, I need to get away from here—quickly. Where could I hide, Tom?”
“But this is madness, Lady Benna. Surely there must be some relative—or perhaps a family friend—”
“You know how things have been here. The last time I went anywhere was years ago. Since Papa died nobody but David, Michael, and a few of their friends have visited, and those I’ve avoided like the plague.” She laughed and it sounded more than a little hysterical. “I’m only realizing now that living such an existence has left me terribly vulnerable.” She groaned. “My God, Tom! He is going to do all this in less than a week and I can’t think of any way to stop him other than to get away. And if you are gone, then who do I have to help me?”
He nodded. “I’m headin’ to my older brother’s place,” he said. “You could come with?”
“I think that is the first place Michael will look—both for you and me—if I were to disappear right after you do.”
“Aye, I reckon you’re right. We could go somewhere else—London, maybe—and I can find work and take care of us while you do … well, whatever it is you need to do.”
The thought of what he was suggesting was terrifying. But not as much as the thought of being married to Michael.
Benna’s mind raced; she simply couldn’t think straight with the fear of Michael hanging over her head. She met Tom’s worried gaze. “I think that’s a good idea. Papa’s old solicitors are in London, Norris & Ridgewick. I met the old man once—Mr. Norris—when he came up from London a few years ago. He had dinner with us. I’m sure he would remember me. I know that David used somebody else for his new will, but I have a feeling my trust is still with Norris & Ridgewick—although I don’t know anything for sure. Do you think we can get away without my cousin catching us?”
“He’ll be looking for an older man and a young woman—not an old man and a lad.”
Benna blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Remember when you came with me to the auction in Edinburgh?”
How could she forget? It was the last time she’d left Wake House. Her father had brought her along to visit