Chapter Thirty-Six

Marcus had been staring at Kat’s pallor for the entire trip to London. He’d never seen her so quiet or so pale before. She’d always appeared fearless. Seeing her this vulnerable with the thought that she could also lose her aunt was gut wrenching, and at that moment there was nothing he wanted more than to kill the assassin for terrifying her. Justice be damned.

He still felt conflicted about her knowing Nathaniel was alive and not saying anything, even though he did understand why she’d done so. Thinking of Nathaniel and the fact that he was alive brought with it a bundle of emotions. Joy, relief, frustration, hurt… And the fact that his brother was immersed in the Chameleon’s dealings up to his damn neck didn’t help the situation one bit. Marcus would have to find him, and sooner rather than later, especially as he seemed to be on a quest for vengeance against those who’d set him up.

It was hard to imagine his carefree and fun-loving brother out for blood, but like Kat said, he had obviously changed. Marcus wondered if the brother he’d known and grown up with had died that night after all.

As the carriage pulled up at the curb of the Montrose residence, Kat didn’t even wait for it to come to a full halt; she’d bolted out the door before Marcus even knew what she was about. He chased after her as she ran up the entrance steps, and nearly careened into her as she froze at the top, staring at the open front door.

She turned to him with eyes wide with an expression he’d never seen in them before. Fear. “Fenton never leaves the door open… It’s always locked.”

Marcus pulled out his pistol and glanced into the entrance hall. There were no servants about, which was ominous in itself. He heard the scrape of steel against leather and glanced at Kat. She’d drawn out her dagger and now instead of fear there was unbridled fury all but radiating from her every pore.

Straightening to her full height, she took in a deep breath. “If the assassin is still here, don’t get in my way, Marcus.” There was a flat coldness to her eyes.

“You’re not a killer. And we need the Chameleon alive to vindicate Nathaniel.”

“If the Chameleon has dared to hurt my family, I will kill him.” She spun around and stepped over the threshold. “So, like I said, don’t get in my way.”

Stepping into the hallway, Marcus followed her, fighting his instinct to take the lead, knowing that this was her domain, and her family, and that for her own sanity, she needed to take charge. But he would get in her way if he needed to. She wasn’t a cold-hearted killer and if she stepped into that territory, she would live with the regret of it always.

Without a sound, they both walked through the entrance and down the hall toward the back area of the house. The sound of people, both crying and talking, echoed down the corridor. Following the noise, Marcus saw a crowd of servants gathering around a doorway up ahead.

One of the footmen noticed them and stood to attention. “My lady! It’s Fenton. He’s been shot.”

Kat broke into a run down the rest of the hall, and the crowd of servants parted for her and Marcus as they came to the door. Lying in the middle of the room was Kat’s butler, bleeding from his chest.

“No, no, no,” Kat cried, rushing into the room and over to Fenton’s side, dropping her dagger on the floor. “Fetch a doctor! Hurry!” The men beside Fenton moved aside to allow Kat to be next to him and she took over pressing down on the cloth someone had already thought to push against his wound.

“A doctor is on the way, my lady,” a maid murmured, tears streaming down the woman’s face.

“What happened?” Marcus asked to the room at large.

“There was a loud bang, my lord,” one of the footmen answered, his eyes bright with tears, too. “We all came rushing in and found him like that. I fear we were too late.”

“Where’s Lady Montrose?” he asked.

“No one knows, sir.” The man shook his head. “She and the young earl have disappeared.”

…

Kat could barely see for the tears pooling in her eyes as she stared down at Fenton’s pale face.

Her hands were already coated red with his blood as she pressed down on the cloth over his chest. Part of her knew it was too late, and she could feel his life slipping away from her. Just like Victor. “No. This isn’t happening.” Her voice broke on the last word.

God couldn’t be so cruel as to take her family away from her again. Not Fenton. Not her rock. Not the man who used to sneak her sweets and biscuits when she was young. The one who would pick her up after a fall and dust her off. The one who was always so proud of her achievements and reserved his smile just for her.

“Fenton, please don’t leave me.” She leaned over him and whispered in his ear, her heart breaking into pieces, “Please don’t go… Please, I need you.” She raised her head, tears streaming down her face as she looked around the room at large. “Damn it! Don’t just all stand there! Get a doctor here now.” Her voice broke again on the last word, because she feared it was already too late. “Fenton, don’t go. I can’t do this without you. You promised Victor you would always look out for me. And you’re always true to your word. So, you have to fight! Do you hear me? Fight, Fenton!”

“Kat.” Marcus’s voice sounded as if from a great distance away. “He’s gone, Kat. You need to let him go.”

“No! He can’t be gone. Not Fenton,” she yelled, shaking Marcus’s hand from her shoulder. She couldn’t believe that. She wouldn’t. Fenton was too strong. He was always there for her. And she loved him like a grandfather but had never had a chance to tell him that. “Fenton, come back! Please come back to me…” Great heaving sobs wracked her body as she collapsed on his chest and hugged him like she never had before.

“I’m so sorry, Fenton.” Her words were a blubbery mess, but part of her desperately hoped he could still hear her. “I failed you. I wasn’t here to protect you and I should have been. I should have been protecting my family.”

She lost track of how long she stayed holding him to her, her tears mingling with the crimson of his blood as she cried over him. Her heart had never felt so empty and so barren. She could have told Fenton anything, and he would have listened and offered council without criticism or censure. He was always there for her, like no one else had been. And now he was gone, taken from her in an instant. And he was never coming back. The thought was like someone had slashed through her heart, leaving her completely alone and so very empty.

But someone hadn’t slashed through her heart; instead, they had shot Fenton in the chest. They’d taken him from her with a single bullet. “Who did this?” she yelled to the room at large.

Everyone was just a blur as she glanced up at the servants in the room, but they were all shaking their heads and murmuring we don’t know. Well, someone had to know. Someone had gotten inside and shot Fenton. Black burning fury started to replace the desolation. It must have been the Chameleon.

“Kat?” Marcus said, gently shaking her, and she remembered that she wasn’t so alone. But life was fragile, and Marcus could be so easily taken from her, too. She couldn’t survive having her heart broken again. “Daisy and Samuel are missing.”

His words were nearly the last nail in her coffin. But instead of succumbing to the crushing weight of grief, fury burned deep within her as everything became clear. She had to annihilate the Chameleon, piece by piece, until he felt the same pain she did.

She lifted her head and took one last look at Fenton. She bent down and kissed his weathered cheek and had to push down hard on the devastation threatening to spill out as her chest tightened in pain. “Rest easy, my dear friend. You’ll always be in my heart. And now you can take care of Victor, who I’m sure has missed you greatly, as I will.” She dashed away the further tears from her cheeks.

Gradually, the room and everyone within slowly came back into focus and she heard several maids crying behind her. Glancing at their stricken faces, she knew they felt Fenton’s death keenly. He’d been a rock to the entire household, too, running a tight ship, but a very happy one. She stood up, catching sight of herself in the mantle mirror. She was covered in Fenton’s blood and her eyes were glassy.

“I’m so sorry, Kat.” Marcus’s deep voice was like a balm to her soul, but it also terrified her how she was coming to need him. Especially as those she cared for always seemed to be taken from her. “Why don’t you rest? I’ll sort everything out here.”

“I’ll only rest after the Chameleon has suffered as I have.” She took in several deep breaths and gathered herself, resisting the urge to bury herself in Marcus’s arms. She had to be strong and she had to get through this. She would get through this. Fenton would expect no less of her. Even the thought of his name brought more tears to her eyes, but she ignored them. “Now what did you mean Sam and Daisy are missing?”

“Your staff tell me they haven’t been seen since they heard the gunshot.”

Everything inside of her felt unbearably tight and for a moment she just wanted to collapse and sink into the beckoning darkness, to a place where she couldn’t feel anything. It all seemed too much. But she couldn’t give up, that’s not how she’d been raised.

“Brentley?” she called out to the underbutler who Fenton had been training and would take his place now. Oh God, even the thought of not calling out the name Fenton again had her gasping for breath. It felt so surreal. How could Fenton be gone?

Brentley stepped forward, his eyes bright with tears. “Yes, my lady?”

Seeing the man standing there, grief in his whole posture, gave her some strength. Fenton had been well-loved amongst the servants and he would want her to lead them in his absence. “Fenton trusted you to do his job if the need arose. I’ll rely on you to do the same. Now more than ever we must pull together.”

Breathe, Kat, just breathe, she kept reminding herself each time it felt like she was going to collapse.

The man stood tall. “I will not let you, or Mr. Fenton, down, my lady.” His jaw was tight just like hers was. “You can count on that.”

“I know it,” she replied. “Now, we must find Lady Montrose and Samuel, then after they are safe, we can start questioning everyone about what happened to Fenton.”

“Find me?” Daisy spoke from the doorway. “Why do you need to find me, I’ve just returned.”

Kat had never been so relieved to see her aunt. Rushing up to her, she wrapped her arms around her in a fierce embrace. “Thank goodness you’re safe.”

“Why wouldn’t I be safe?” Daisy said, pulling back from Kat, a slight frown marring her brows. It was rare for them to embrace. “What’s wrong, Kaitlyn? You never cry.” She looked beyond Kat and her eyes fell to Fenton. “Oh my goodness. What happened?”

“Fenton has been killed.” The words came out effortlessly, but inside they echoed in her head like an avalanche. “Is Samuel with you, then?” Kat took in another deep breath. She could do this. She could. She had to.

“No. I was out paying some calls and I left him here.” Daisy’s eyes instantly tightened. “He is here, isn’t he?” She asked her question to the room at large, her whole body starting to shake like a leaf in a strong breeze.

“No one has been able to find him since we heard the gunshot.” Brentley spoke for the group. “I have men searching, but nothing yet. One of the maids saw him running across the lawns in the backyard shortly after the shot, and the back door was wide open, so we think he ran away scared, as he’s done in the past. I’ve sent men outside looking for him.”

“He’s missing?” Daisy screamed, bending forward and gripping her waist. “Oh God, I can’t breathe.”

Marcus strode over and held on to Daisy’s elbow. “Let’s assist her across the hall,” he said, guiding Daisy out of the room and into the room opposite.

Kat was loath to leave Fenton just lying there, but she nodded.

“Just breathe, Lady Montrose,” Marcus soothed as he gently assisted Daisy onto the chaise longue in the next room. “Just breathe.”

Kat sat beside Daisy and had to will herself not to break down, too. The thought of Samuel missing was nearly more than she could handle. But she couldn’t break. She had to stay in control and think clearly, for them all. “It’s all right, Daisy. He’s most likely hiding somewhere in the garden, like he did on New Year’s Day when they set off some firecrackers in Vauxhall Gardens, remember?”

Daisy closed her eyes and nodded.

“Can I have a word?” Marcus asked as he straightened and looked at Kat.

She nodded and followed him over to the doorway. “You’re going, then?” She’d seen him dart a glance at the doorway.

“Do you think Samuel is safe?” he asked. “If you think he’s in trouble, I’ll join the men outside and try to find him.”

She desperately hoped Sam was safe. “He’s run away before, so I’m sure he is fine. Besides, he’s not on the Chameleon’s list, is he? Though neither was Fen—Fenton.” Her voice nearly broke saying his name aloud. The pain like a hot lance stabbing through her insides.

“It’s not your fault, Kat.” Marcus lifted her chin up until she was looking at him.

“It is,” she said, knocking his hand away. “I was told the Chameleon had taken an interest in me, but I didn’t consider how that could place those I love in jeopardy. But I’ll make amends for my mistake, if it’s the last thing I do. The Chameleon will pay.”

Marcus sighed. “Killing him isn’t the way forward, Kat.”

“It’s the only way forward to protect my family.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “But I need to find Samuel first and make certain he’s safe.”

“I can stay if you want me to and help find him.”

“No. I’m fine.” She straightened up and squared her shoulders. She had to be. Coming to rely on Marcus was dangerous, she could see that now. Later, when she was alone in her room, after everyone was safe, was when she could fall to pieces, but not here and not now. And not until after she caught the Chameleon. “Where are you going?”

“Lucas is waiting in the hall for me,” Marcus replied. “He’s received word that Silas Morriset is a law clerk of a Mr. Hendridge. If we can find Morriset, we can get him to talk and perhaps work out who is behind all of this.”

“Hendridge? That’s the solicitor we use.”

Marcus’s eyes narrowed. “That can’t be a coincidence.”

“I don’t believe in coincidences,” Kat said. “Perhaps I should come with you.”

“You can if you want, but considering your aunt may well be on the Chameleon’s list, do you feel safe leaving her?” Marcus asked. “And though it sounds like Samuel has just run off somewhere, I know you’ll think of little else until he’s found safe and sound.”

“You’re right.” She nodded her head. Marcus’s energy would be best spent on finding this Morriset, while Kat stayed and protected what was left of her family. What she should have done in the first place. “Go with Lucas and find Morriset, then hopefully we can unravel this mess and stop any more deaths. I’ll stay here and protect Daisy and find Samuel.”

“Are you going to tell her she’s on the Chameleon’s list?” Marcus nodded over to where Daisy was shivering on the chair.

“I don’t know.” And she really didn’t. Her aunt was tough, and Kat rather suspected there were depths to Daisy she’d never seen, but most people tended to fall to pieces if they heard they were on an assassin’s hit list.

“I’ll get back here as soon as I can.” Then, without warning, he leaned down and kissed her for everyone to see. It wasn’t anything more than a quick press of his lips against hers, but it was tantamount to a declaration. “Stay safe, my love.”

His words stopped her in her tracks as panic wrapped around her heart. Love? What they shared wasn’t love. It couldn’t be. It was simply attraction and mutual respect for each other’s abilities. Love was too dangerous to feel. She’d loved Victor and Fenton and look where they were now. Dead.

“You too.” The words felt too generic, but there was nothing else she could say right then. Nothing she felt safe saying. Kat didn’t even want to think of what it would feel like if anything happened to Marcus.

Fenton’s death had broken a piece of her heart. Marcus’s death would burn it to ash, because she had a horrible feeling she’d done what she swore she wouldn’t and had fallen in love with the man.