Chapter thirty one
"You two look terrible! Were you eaten by sharks or something worse?" The words were said by the only person capable of inflicting pain when comfort was needed; Earl Robinson.
He gawked at the Duke and the lady, dripping wet and adorned with what looked like sea weed as they half ran to them.
Philip Forland squeezed his hair and immediately stepped on the stirrup of his horse, mounting it efficiently and pulling the reins in his grip, "I would not have had to be a fish today if you all had done as told!"
Genuine confusion settled upon them as they all frowned, obviously trying to make sense of what he meant.
But then something more demanding sought their attention. As they looked back in through the gates they'd just left, a man pointed a finger towards at them all. Soon after, a small group of guards followed his direction and began chasing after them.
At that point, nothing delayed them. Philip reined his horse into the walkway and set it trotting at full speed.
His allies followed suit sooner than not.
It was a few minutes later and they'd already been out of sight and were riding up the hill to their mansion.
It was one night they swore to forget. But to the Duke of Anfield as he stole several glances at Monica, he enjoyed something about it deep down that he wasn't yet sure of.
***
They all slumped into various seats with no plan to rise.
The Marquess was the only one standing, seemingly excited as he stalked into the house, "Why are you all acting like women? Tonight was a big step for us!"
"You did not jump down a hundred feet tower and land in a loch with seaweed in your mouth," Philip replied with his eyes closed.
Monica was still searching for something in her fabric, "I even think I have a fish inside me!"
Jason opened his mouth to declare how disgusting she sounded when Mark Roman stepped in with prominent sweat beads on his forehead.
"My Lords... my lady," he bowed slightly and scratched his head afterwards. He had a weary look on, proving he had something disturbing to say.
"You look like you've seen a ghost Mark," Monica stated.
Just as the footman was about to reply, a feminine voice shouted from the kitchen, "Welcome home my love!"
All seven men frowned at first because that was a surprising statement to make... and later because the voice was painfully familiar.
Monica even stopped looking for the fish in her garment and looked up.
Amidst the silence, Elizabeth's steps became the dominant sound in the living room. As she walked gracefully through the kitchen doorway and joined her hands in utmost pride, the blonde faced all of them, "Good day my Lords." A moment of silence went on with a grin on her face, glancing through all occupants until they settled on the Scottish, "And Monica."
As she expected however, they all needed time to swallow what was happening. And time was what she granted them.
But one thing was sure...the faces around did not look pleased.
Especially her cousin of course.
Monica creased her forehead before heaving a frustrated sigh, then turned around to stalk towards the stairs. However she left some words behind, "You never said you would bring your fiancee to this suicide mission Your Grace." Her voice was flat and noticeably angered, making the blonde smile satisfactorily. Obviously she wouldn't let that slide.
"You are not supposed to be here as well Monica," Elizabeth said sternly before the damsel had gone far. When the lady she spoke to turned around to frown at her in confusion, she added, "You should be serving your term in prison after killing my brother of course."
And her motive was achieved...
"The Viscount is dead?!" Nax dropped his mouth open and glanced from lady to lady. While Monica narrowed her eyes angrily at Elizabeth, the others had fear stamped on their faces like color itself...and of course confusion.
Confusion on what Monica had to do with this.
Duke of Anfield rose from his seat slowly, glowering and slightly offended, "And what does Monica have to do with that?! We have been away for over four days!"
Although insane, the Scottish had a small smile. Purposely, she swirled her hips around and began walking back to her cousin. At a point, she noticed Elizabeth's gaze admire her exposed body shortly, before striving to keep with the eye contact. "You dare accuse me of homicide," Monica snarled, "And what exactly do you think I'd gain by killing your brother?"
Elizabeth let the question hang for a while mainly because she had no answer. In the midst of the silence, Marquess of Bellingham made an 'o' shape with his lips as he inclined his head, "But I do not understand. How can two Viscounts be murdered within a short while?"
Monica was listening quietly at all the others, her glare going to her cousin now and then. She waited patiently, studying how the situation was going to turn out without any defense from her side. This was the point she felt trust should do the talking.
Nax was not looking at anything in particular, but it was obvious the news affected him most. "We've just been gone for four days," he started with a shrug before looking up, "How?!"
Now that was a question Elizabeth could answer. "To be honest sire," she sighed, "He died the day of your departure. I sent a butler to your home but he returned unconscious."
She stopped and looked at Jason Ferma. When the latter looked away knowingly, she continued, "But then I decided later on not to put too much pressure in it until later; because I realized it was going to do more harm than good. So I saved it till my arrival. Did you really think you could run away? Her last question was directed towards Monica.
The damsel's glare was twice as angry and genuine as hers, but her control was mastered and sharp. She thought of how insane it would sound if she declared that the prim blonde killed her brother for absolutely no reason just to push the blame to her. The lady before her appeared too weak and innocent for such an act, an irony of who she really was.
And by God, it took all the self-control Monica had to avoid squeezing the life out of her before the Monarchs.
Jason on the other hand did not see this coming. He saved her twice before because he knew he could. But now he had run out of ideas. "Are you certain of what you say Elizabeth," The Earl tried to keep the hatred he had for her away from his voice, "I mean what reason would Monica have to kill Micheal?"
"And do you have proof," Nax offered, although his voice was spiced with a touch of anger. By now, he has slipped out his sidearm and begun stalking to both ladies, "Say so and the killer takes his last breath."
He received a glare from Monica that lasted just for a moment before she decided to walk away from the company.
She forgot that Elizabeth wasn't done being a devil though, "Well of course Nax, I was there myself."
"As a witness or a murderer," The Scottish found herself spit before she could think twice. Darn protocols or what sounded reasonable. The Monarchs could think whatever they want for all she cared. Once again, she turned around and neared the blonde again until she was just a breath away from her, "You kill your brother, accuse me of it, help me run away, just to accuse me of it later?! What in God's name have I done to you?"
"You accuse me of killing my own brother," Elizabeth retorted unflinchingly. With the way she carried out every move of defense, even Monica almost thought she was right. Now she felt someone had finally outsmarted her in con. The murderer...claiming innocence right before an eye witness with zero amount of fear was admirable, even to Monica herself.
"That is enough!" Everyone heard the order being barked from behind and even without looking, it was obvious it came from the Duke.
Both ladies managed to break the glares they had on each other to look at him.
The lad took his shoulder length hair behind his ears and seemed to be struggling to keep control through hard breathing, "I have no clue as to what the story behind this is. But today was not pleasant at all! And I don't want to talk about it."
Now he paused. But soon after, his hyperactivity increased when he started pointing, "Jason has a severe injury! I have sea water in me! And finally two women in my home who can't just keep shut! What could be worse?"
He had ordered the silence he wanted. At least for now the air was calm, though the tense aura still hung. "Goodnight!" He said finally and conclusively, silently marking an end to the argument. With a look of frustration on his face, he strode towards the stairway and left them.
The two women shared the last wave of glares before walking away on each other. Earl gave Jason a hand and helped him out.
However, Nax and the others remained, shocked and angry. Nobody knew what the real story was. But one thing they were sure of is...the thought of Monica killing Micheal seemed very unreasonable to swallow.
***