Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me
Chapter 3
Ned and Veronica have bad news for Roxton, Challenger and Jessi. Marguerite meets the abductor.
Marguerite watched stoically, as Ned showed the policemen out. She did not feel Veronica's arm around her or hear any of her words. She slowly disengaged herself away from Veronica and walked, as if in a trance upstairs. The first place she headed for, was Greta's room.
Marguerite opened the door and stood in the doorway. She stared at the crib in the middle of the room. It had not been slept in all night.
Marguerite had become edgier and edgier, as the hours ticked away the previous day. Finn never stayed out with Greta this long! It was when she could see that Veronica was clearly worried, that true panic began to set in.
The police were summoned. Veronica called Malone. The park was searched and Greta's baby carriage, and a piece of cloth reeking in ether, was found on a bench in a desolate section of the park.
Marguerite sat in a rocking chair and picked up a teddy bear off of the floor. Greta had not taken to this particular toy very well, thus, this was why it had been left behind. She stared at the stuffed animal for a long while, then began rocking in the chair. That is what she was doing, when Ned and Veronica entered the room. Ned looked at Veronica helplessly. She put a hand on his arm and walked over to her. She kneeled down on to the floor.
'The police will find Greta and Finn. You can't give up.'
Marguerite stopped rocking and looked down at her.
'This is my fault, you know? I thought I had settled all accounts...someone didn't agree.'
Ned's eyes widened in surprise. 'You can't be thinking this has to do with someone from your past? Marguerite, I don't believe in coincidence. I think this has to do with whatever is going on with Challenger and Roxton!'
Marguerite stood up abruptly. Veronica almost fell back.
'Are you kidding?! How the hell would some ape killer have the presence of mind to put ether on a cloth? This was planned! Finn just happened to get in the way, but it was my baby they wanted! This is some kind of payback I'm sure!'
Marguerite flung the bear into the crib! Veronica eyed Ned nervously.
'Marguerite, Ned is going to pick up Roxton, Challenger and Jessi this afternoon.'
Marguerite sighed heavily. 'God! What is Roxton going to think when he hears about this? That I'm doing my usual bang up job!'
Ned shook his head. 'This is a kidnapping. You didn't just leave Greta somewhere.'
'That's right,' Veronica said. 'And I do think you have a point. This thing probably isn't about the trouble Roxton and Challenger are in. You need to figure out who could still be unhappy with you, Marguerite. We'll tell the police.'
'And they'll get my baby back before God knows who kills her? Or Finn?'
Veronica didn't answer. Ned looked away. Marguerite gave them both a sardonic smile.
'Of course. Neither one of you are fortune tellers. It's unfair of me to ask you to predict such an obvious outcome.'
'Marguerite!' Ned said warningly.
'No! Go and pick them up. I'll be fine. We'll help them and somehow get through this.'
Veronica walked over to her. 'The police said that we'll probably be receiving a ransom note. There is nothing we can do until then. So, just stay here. We'll tell the others about what is going on here.'
'They'll want to help,' Ned reminded Marguerite. 'Especially Roxton.'
Marguerite said no more. She just nodded, then wiped a tear away. Ned and Veronica encircled her in a quick, group hug. They then disentangled themselves.
'Go,' Marguerite whispered. 'I'll be fine.'
*****
Finn had awakened disoriented and scared. She hadn't felt like that since she left New Amazonia.
When she became aware of her surroundings, it was then that she knew she had to act fast. She slipped off her everyday wear, picked up a pair of gardening shears and began slicing. Soon, she had an outfit similar to the one she used to wear on the plateau.
If she was going to find Greta, Finn knew she had to be comfortable when she killed. And she was willing to to just that.
From peeking through the slats in the cellar door, Finn realized that the cellar was on the property of some kind of farm house. That and she heard a cow.
Finn began pacing. She had already decided that she was going to take care of her abductor as soon as he returned for her. And God help him if he had done anything to Greta! She knew she wouldn't be able to face Marguerite ever again, if any harm had come to her baby.
She turned at the sound of footsteps. Finn picked up the gardening shears with one hand, then arranged the clump of clothes that were left, with the other. She puffed them up, then covered them part way with an old blanket. As she heard the lock being removed off of the cellar door, Finn hurried over to the darkest corner she could find, and laid in wait, gardening shears ready....
****
Ned and Veronica stood by his automobile, searching faces in the distance. The only ship that had docked around this time, was one called The Cornerstone. It was Ned's hunch that this would be where they would meet up with their friends again.
'Look!' Veronica yelled in a low tone, as to not call attention to herself. She nodded in a certain direction. Ned's eyes followed her head.
Roxton was walking with a middle-aged woman, whom he was escorting down a step. There was another man wearing a hat that was low brimmed. The color of his beard was unmistakable.
'Easy,' Ned warned Veronica, 'let's just make our way over to them casually.'
Veronica only nodded. Together, they linked hands and weaved in and out of crowds, until they finally reached the three. Veronica kept an eye out, while Ned told them to follow them back to his automobile.
Roxton, eyed Challenger, who peered at Jessi. The three of them took great pains to pretend as if they were not with Ned. A couple stopped to speak to Ned, as they were making their way towards the designated automobile. Veronica was forced to stop and smile as well. Roxton chuckled on the inside. He loved Veronica dearly, and while her element of surprise was phenomenal in the jungle, here in society, her poker face clearly needed work. Marguerite would have to work with her on pretending to be interested in mundane conversation, even when it bored her.
Luckily, Ned was able to extricate himself out of the meeting, while pulling on Veronica's arm. They walked some distance behind Roxton, Challenger and Jessi. It was not until the three of them reached a row of parked automobiles, that they stopped, having no clue as to which one was Malone's.
Veronica hurried ahead of Ned, breaking her casual walk. She nodded at an automobile two spaces away. Ned looked around, then helped the three of them into the backseat. Then Veronica hurried into the passenger seat, while Ned hurried around to the driver's side.
Once inside, Veronica threw her arms around Challenger, Jessi and Roxton. She sniffed.
'I feel like I'm seeing my family again, for the first time in a long time.'
Ned smiled sadly at her. It was his biggest regret that she didn't feel as welcome and as secure in his world than the one they left. Veronica never voiced these feelings, but he always could read her like a book. And his mother's dreadful behavior hurt him as much as it had to hurt her.
Jessi noted the look Ned gave Veronica, and correctly guessed that Veronica had not found civilization as enamoring as she would have hoped. She squeezed Veronica's hand.
'We feel the same way too, dear.'
'Yes, of course.' Challenger echoed. 'I'm sorry to be so much trouble.'
'Trouble? You? Never!' Ned smiled. 'It is good to see you all again. I am up to speed as to why you are all here. Marguerite insisted that we bring you to her estate.'
At the mention of Marguerite's name, Challenger and Jessi gave Roxton a sidewise glance. Roxton did not notice. He was staring at Veronica.
'What's wrong?' he asked sharply.
Veronica looked at Ned. Ned returned her look, then faced Roxton.
'We have another problem, beside clearing you all.'
Challenger leaned forward. Jessi put a hand on her chest. She could see from Ned and Veronica's expressions, that some sort of tragedy had occurred. She didn't know if her heart could take much more. Watching her home burn down, listening to those awful people chant about how her George was a murderer, hiding in some cabin on the water for days on end...now what?!
Veronica touched Roxton's hand. 'Greta and Finn have been kidnapped.'
Jessi gasped. Challenger looked at Roxton. He put a gentle hand on his shoulder. Roxton's eyes were unreadable.
'When?' he asked. His voice sounded almost strangled.
'Yesterday afternoon.' Ned said cryptically. 'Finn took the baby out for a walk and never came back. The police found a rag soaked in ether and the baby carriage.'
'Ether!' Challenger couldn't help but cry out. 'Good God! Then this wasn't random?'
Veronica now shook her head. 'Marguerite thinks someone from her past has done this. I doubt very much any of this is related to this ape man business.'
Roxton squeezed Veronica's hand back. 'Take me to Marguerite.'
Veronica nodded, then looked over at Ned, who quickly started up the automobile.
****
Marguerite wandered around the park in which Finn and Greta had disappeared, aimlessly. She didn't know what she was looking for or whom. She did know that she just couldn't sit around the house and do nothing.
No one had attempted to contact her about a ransom. That scared her more than she could stand. For that meant that this was not done for money, but for pure malice. And malice usually meant death.
Marguerite sat on a bench, wondering if Malone and Veronica were with Roxton, Challenger and Jessi. Probably. And that meant that they knew that Greta was gone. They knew that she had failed to protect her own child.
It began to turn slightly chilly. She was about to get up from the bench, when out of the corner of her eye, a ruddy looking man sat down beside her. He looked vaguely familiar. He was wearing an overcoat, and was hugging himself.
Marguerite began to stand up, when the man's arm snaked out and his hand caught her around the wrist! Marguerite snatched her wrist back!
'How dare you! I ought to...'
Marguerite then stopped cold. 'Barnaby?'
'Hello, Marguerite. Long time no see. Is this how you've been spending my father's money? Oh, I'm sorry. You're a Von Bubrik now, aren't you?'
Marguerite now knew she was staring at the man that had kidnapped Greta and Finn. She cleared her throat, and tried to sound nonchalant.
'Barnaby? Barnaby Krux, how have you been all of this time? I'm sorry I had to leave London so quickly, after getting back from that plateau..so, how have you been?'
'Broke! No thanks to you and that worthless expedition you funded with my father's money!'
Marguerite rolled her tongue around in her mouth.
'Barnaby, why does it always come down to the same thing with you, hey? Your father, left his money to me, his wife, his rightful heir. If you had behaved yourself, you might not have been cut out of the will...'
'You bitch!' he seethed. 'I was cut out of the will, because you told my father those tales about my making advances towards you! Beatrice left me, you know? After she heard those lies you went around spreading!'
Marguerite couldn't help but smirk. Yes, she had lied on Barnaby. And she wouldn't have done a damned thing differently, if she had it to do over again! Barnaby was always watching her, whispering poison about her in Harry's ear. Hiring investigators to prove that she had lived under another name, or had another husband from long ago. She had had to stop him, or she would've been watching her back for the rest of her marriage.
Marguerite finally told Harry quite a convincing lie about Barnaby, one that included tales of rejected sexual advances. She even threw in something about his then wife Beatrice, not 'warming up his bed enough' as being the reason Barnaby used for his unwanted passes.
After that, Harry not only didn't believe another word from his only son's mouth, but, he disowned him. Beatrice wanted to know why Barnaby had been cut off, and Harry told her. She then left him. When Harry died, Marguerite inherited everything.
Yes, it was a nasty thing to do, and she couldn't believe she had forgotten that Barnaby was still out there somewhere, seething.
'Where is my baby? And the woman that was with her?' she sneered.
Barnaby smiled. His teeth were almost rotted out. He must've been utterly destitute when Harry died. Marguerite didn't care to find the time to spark up any compassion for him.
'I don't know what you mean.' he said coyly. He stood up.
'Like that tone of voice there, Marguerite? It's how you sounded when I begged you to tell my father the truth! Now, you're going to beg for your child's life!'
Marguerite tried not ot betray the fear in her voice when she spoke.
'What do you want?' she asked coolly.
'I want the inheritance that you squandered! I want what's rightfully mine. I'll be in touch.'
It was as he was turning away, that Marguerite lost all control! She reached out and grabbed his arm, spinning him back towards her.
'Where are they?! Tell me you haven't killed them! Tell me you haven't killed my....'
She then stopped abruptly. Barnaby's coat had come undone and Marguerite could see that he had a gaping wound on his chest. He seemed to be losing a lot of blood.
'What has happened to you? Where is my baby?!'
'Have my money tonight, Marguerite! Have it or that bastard you had out of wedlock with Lord John Roxton, will never see a first birthday, do you hear me?!'
Barnaby turned and walked off, trying to block out the pain. That bitch he had left in the cellar caught him by surprise this morning. Marguerite would find out soon enough that she had escaped. That was fine. Because she had gotten away alone.
****
Ned had barely turned off the automobile, when Roxton jumped out of the car and hurried up towards the front door of Marguerite's estate. Veronica hurried after him. Ned stayed behind with Challenger and Jessi.
'This is quite an estate.' Challenger noted, eyeing a particular shrub.
'It is.' Jessi agreed. 'The three of them could be quite happy here.'
Challenger and Ned smiled at Jessi, who sucked in a breath when she saw the garden. It was beautiful.
Meanwhile, Roxton had thrown open the door, before Veronica could catch up to him. A servant, and a woman that Veronica vaguely recognized as someone who owned a neighboring estate, were standing in the drawing room.
'Ms. Layton? Hello. I'm Elizabeth Thomas. I live on the estate behind Ms. Von Bubrik's.'
Veronica nodded. 'Yes, of course. I'm sorry.'
Ms Thomas nodded in return. 'I heard about poor little Greta. Do the authorities know of who would do such a thing?'
She was asking the question of Veronica, but her eyes were on Roxton.
'Uh, no. Marguerite is not here?' Veronica asked, looking at the servant.
The servant shrugged slightly, her eyes on Roxton as well.
'She went out for a walk. No notes have arrived about little Greta yet.'
Roxton looked at Veronica. Good Lord! Marguerite was waiting for a ransom note?! His eyes fell on a photograph of Greta that sat on a fireplace mantle. He began to pace hoping Veronica could get rid of these women as soon as possible!
But Elizabeth Thomas walked up to him, offering her hand.
'Hello? I don't believe we've been introduced. Are you a relative of Ms. Layton's? Are you here for the upcoming nuptials?'
It was then that Roxton thought of what to say. Keeping in mind what he knew from Veronica's letters to him, Roxton smiled down at Elizabeth, accepted her proffered hand, and kissed it.
'I am a relative of Ms. Von Bubrik's. I am her long lost husband, returned from the dead.'
Veronica's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open! Ned, Challenger and Jessi walked in just as the words left Roxton's mouth. Ned rolled his eyes, shaking his head. Challenger smiled. But Jessi smiled a special smile, as if to say 'you naughty boy'.
Veronica's eyes gleamed as well. This seemed to be the perfect answer for Roxton and a way for him to slide into the household easily.
The servant looked to Veronica.
'My God ma'am! Is this true? Is this the husband the mistress thought was dead? Greta's father?'
All Veronica could do was nod.
Elizabeth put a hand over her heart.
'This makes this whole event, all the more tragic.'
Roxton nodded. He couldn't have agreed more. He was about to say something else, when a loud rustling outside of a set of terrace doors, caught their attention. Ned walked over and opened them. Finn fell into the room.
'My God! It's Finn!' Ned cried.
Veronica rushed over to her. Roxton joined them as well. Challenger pushed past all of them and tended to her. He then looked up. She was dressed in something similar to what she had worn on the plateau.
'She'll be alright. She's just exhausted. Help me get her upstairs.'
Ned picked her up. Roxton stepped in front of him. He then touched Finn's face.
'Finn?'
Finn's eyes fluttered. She looked at Ned first and smiled. She then looked over at Roxton.
'Hey Roxton...Greta....' she then passed out. Challenger and Ned hurried upstairs with her. Jessi wrung her hands together.
'I think I'll see if I can do anything to help.' she said, before following them out of the room. Elizabeth pointed after her.
'Who was that that other man and woman?' she asked of no one in particular.
Veronica ignored her and touched Roxton's shoulder. He turned around to look at her.
'Finn is accounted for. Now all we need to know is where Greta and Margue....'
The front door opened, and a harried Marguerite rushed in, then stopped short. Her eyes locked with Roxton's, before looking at Elizabeth, who was smiling.
'My dear, what a bittersweet day this must be for you. To lose your child and regain your long lost husband in one day. Someone should write a book about you.'
'My husband?' Marguerite asked, eyeing Roxton. Roxton smiled back, then walked over to her.
'Yes, your husband.' he confirmed, before reaching his hand behind the back of her head, and pulling her into a kiss.
Chapter 3
Ned and Veronica have bad news for Roxton, Challenger and Jessi. Marguerite meets the abductor.
Marguerite watched stoically, as Ned showed the policemen out. She did not feel Veronica's arm around her or hear any of her words. She slowly disengaged herself away from Veronica and walked, as if in a trance upstairs. The first place she headed for, was Greta's room.
Marguerite opened the door and stood in the doorway. She stared at the crib in the middle of the room. It had not been slept in all night.
Marguerite had become edgier and edgier, as the hours ticked away the previous day. Finn never stayed out with Greta this long! It was when she could see that Veronica was clearly worried, that true panic began to set in.
The police were summoned. Veronica called Malone. The park was searched and Greta's baby carriage, and a piece of cloth reeking in ether, was found on a bench in a desolate section of the park.
Marguerite sat in a rocking chair and picked up a teddy bear off of the floor. Greta had not taken to this particular toy very well, thus, this was why it had been left behind. She stared at the stuffed animal for a long while, then began rocking in the chair. That is what she was doing, when Ned and Veronica entered the room. Ned looked at Veronica helplessly. She put a hand on his arm and walked over to her. She kneeled down on to the floor.
'The police will find Greta and Finn. You can't give up.'
Marguerite stopped rocking and looked down at her.
'This is my fault, you know? I thought I had settled all accounts...someone didn't agree.'
Ned's eyes widened in surprise. 'You can't be thinking this has to do with someone from your past? Marguerite, I don't believe in coincidence. I think this has to do with whatever is going on with Challenger and Roxton!'
Marguerite stood up abruptly. Veronica almost fell back.
'Are you kidding?! How the hell would some ape killer have the presence of mind to put ether on a cloth? This was planned! Finn just happened to get in the way, but it was my baby they wanted! This is some kind of payback I'm sure!'
Marguerite flung the bear into the crib! Veronica eyed Ned nervously.
'Marguerite, Ned is going to pick up Roxton, Challenger and Jessi this afternoon.'
Marguerite sighed heavily. 'God! What is Roxton going to think when he hears about this? That I'm doing my usual bang up job!'
Ned shook his head. 'This is a kidnapping. You didn't just leave Greta somewhere.'
'That's right,' Veronica said. 'And I do think you have a point. This thing probably isn't about the trouble Roxton and Challenger are in. You need to figure out who could still be unhappy with you, Marguerite. We'll tell the police.'
'And they'll get my baby back before God knows who kills her? Or Finn?'
Veronica didn't answer. Ned looked away. Marguerite gave them both a sardonic smile.
'Of course. Neither one of you are fortune tellers. It's unfair of me to ask you to predict such an obvious outcome.'
'Marguerite!' Ned said warningly.
'No! Go and pick them up. I'll be fine. We'll help them and somehow get through this.'
Veronica walked over to her. 'The police said that we'll probably be receiving a ransom note. There is nothing we can do until then. So, just stay here. We'll tell the others about what is going on here.'
'They'll want to help,' Ned reminded Marguerite. 'Especially Roxton.'
Marguerite said no more. She just nodded, then wiped a tear away. Ned and Veronica encircled her in a quick, group hug. They then disentangled themselves.
'Go,' Marguerite whispered. 'I'll be fine.'
*****
Finn had awakened disoriented and scared. She hadn't felt like that since she left New Amazonia.
When she became aware of her surroundings, it was then that she knew she had to act fast. She slipped off her everyday wear, picked up a pair of gardening shears and began slicing. Soon, she had an outfit similar to the one she used to wear on the plateau.
If she was going to find Greta, Finn knew she had to be comfortable when she killed. And she was willing to to just that.
From peeking through the slats in the cellar door, Finn realized that the cellar was on the property of some kind of farm house. That and she heard a cow.
Finn began pacing. She had already decided that she was going to take care of her abductor as soon as he returned for her. And God help him if he had done anything to Greta! She knew she wouldn't be able to face Marguerite ever again, if any harm had come to her baby.
She turned at the sound of footsteps. Finn picked up the gardening shears with one hand, then arranged the clump of clothes that were left, with the other. She puffed them up, then covered them part way with an old blanket. As she heard the lock being removed off of the cellar door, Finn hurried over to the darkest corner she could find, and laid in wait, gardening shears ready....
****
Ned and Veronica stood by his automobile, searching faces in the distance. The only ship that had docked around this time, was one called The Cornerstone. It was Ned's hunch that this would be where they would meet up with their friends again.
'Look!' Veronica yelled in a low tone, as to not call attention to herself. She nodded in a certain direction. Ned's eyes followed her head.
Roxton was walking with a middle-aged woman, whom he was escorting down a step. There was another man wearing a hat that was low brimmed. The color of his beard was unmistakable.
'Easy,' Ned warned Veronica, 'let's just make our way over to them casually.'
Veronica only nodded. Together, they linked hands and weaved in and out of crowds, until they finally reached the three. Veronica kept an eye out, while Ned told them to follow them back to his automobile.
Roxton, eyed Challenger, who peered at Jessi. The three of them took great pains to pretend as if they were not with Ned. A couple stopped to speak to Ned, as they were making their way towards the designated automobile. Veronica was forced to stop and smile as well. Roxton chuckled on the inside. He loved Veronica dearly, and while her element of surprise was phenomenal in the jungle, here in society, her poker face clearly needed work. Marguerite would have to work with her on pretending to be interested in mundane conversation, even when it bored her.
Luckily, Ned was able to extricate himself out of the meeting, while pulling on Veronica's arm. They walked some distance behind Roxton, Challenger and Jessi. It was not until the three of them reached a row of parked automobiles, that they stopped, having no clue as to which one was Malone's.
Veronica hurried ahead of Ned, breaking her casual walk. She nodded at an automobile two spaces away. Ned looked around, then helped the three of them into the backseat. Then Veronica hurried into the passenger seat, while Ned hurried around to the driver's side.
Once inside, Veronica threw her arms around Challenger, Jessi and Roxton. She sniffed.
'I feel like I'm seeing my family again, for the first time in a long time.'
Ned smiled sadly at her. It was his biggest regret that she didn't feel as welcome and as secure in his world than the one they left. Veronica never voiced these feelings, but he always could read her like a book. And his mother's dreadful behavior hurt him as much as it had to hurt her.
Jessi noted the look Ned gave Veronica, and correctly guessed that Veronica had not found civilization as enamoring as she would have hoped. She squeezed Veronica's hand.
'We feel the same way too, dear.'
'Yes, of course.' Challenger echoed. 'I'm sorry to be so much trouble.'
'Trouble? You? Never!' Ned smiled. 'It is good to see you all again. I am up to speed as to why you are all here. Marguerite insisted that we bring you to her estate.'
At the mention of Marguerite's name, Challenger and Jessi gave Roxton a sidewise glance. Roxton did not notice. He was staring at Veronica.
'What's wrong?' he asked sharply.
Veronica looked at Ned. Ned returned her look, then faced Roxton.
'We have another problem, beside clearing you all.'
Challenger leaned forward. Jessi put a hand on her chest. She could see from Ned and Veronica's expressions, that some sort of tragedy had occurred. She didn't know if her heart could take much more. Watching her home burn down, listening to those awful people chant about how her George was a murderer, hiding in some cabin on the water for days on end...now what?!
Veronica touched Roxton's hand. 'Greta and Finn have been kidnapped.'
Jessi gasped. Challenger looked at Roxton. He put a gentle hand on his shoulder. Roxton's eyes were unreadable.
'When?' he asked. His voice sounded almost strangled.
'Yesterday afternoon.' Ned said cryptically. 'Finn took the baby out for a walk and never came back. The police found a rag soaked in ether and the baby carriage.'
'Ether!' Challenger couldn't help but cry out. 'Good God! Then this wasn't random?'
Veronica now shook her head. 'Marguerite thinks someone from her past has done this. I doubt very much any of this is related to this ape man business.'
Roxton squeezed Veronica's hand back. 'Take me to Marguerite.'
Veronica nodded, then looked over at Ned, who quickly started up the automobile.
****
Marguerite wandered around the park in which Finn and Greta had disappeared, aimlessly. She didn't know what she was looking for or whom. She did know that she just couldn't sit around the house and do nothing.
No one had attempted to contact her about a ransom. That scared her more than she could stand. For that meant that this was not done for money, but for pure malice. And malice usually meant death.
Marguerite sat on a bench, wondering if Malone and Veronica were with Roxton, Challenger and Jessi. Probably. And that meant that they knew that Greta was gone. They knew that she had failed to protect her own child.
It began to turn slightly chilly. She was about to get up from the bench, when out of the corner of her eye, a ruddy looking man sat down beside her. He looked vaguely familiar. He was wearing an overcoat, and was hugging himself.
Marguerite began to stand up, when the man's arm snaked out and his hand caught her around the wrist! Marguerite snatched her wrist back!
'How dare you! I ought to...'
Marguerite then stopped cold. 'Barnaby?'
'Hello, Marguerite. Long time no see. Is this how you've been spending my father's money? Oh, I'm sorry. You're a Von Bubrik now, aren't you?'
Marguerite now knew she was staring at the man that had kidnapped Greta and Finn. She cleared her throat, and tried to sound nonchalant.
'Barnaby? Barnaby Krux, how have you been all of this time? I'm sorry I had to leave London so quickly, after getting back from that plateau..so, how have you been?'
'Broke! No thanks to you and that worthless expedition you funded with my father's money!'
Marguerite rolled her tongue around in her mouth.
'Barnaby, why does it always come down to the same thing with you, hey? Your father, left his money to me, his wife, his rightful heir. If you had behaved yourself, you might not have been cut out of the will...'
'You bitch!' he seethed. 'I was cut out of the will, because you told my father those tales about my making advances towards you! Beatrice left me, you know? After she heard those lies you went around spreading!'
Marguerite couldn't help but smirk. Yes, she had lied on Barnaby. And she wouldn't have done a damned thing differently, if she had it to do over again! Barnaby was always watching her, whispering poison about her in Harry's ear. Hiring investigators to prove that she had lived under another name, or had another husband from long ago. She had had to stop him, or she would've been watching her back for the rest of her marriage.
Marguerite finally told Harry quite a convincing lie about Barnaby, one that included tales of rejected sexual advances. She even threw in something about his then wife Beatrice, not 'warming up his bed enough' as being the reason Barnaby used for his unwanted passes.
After that, Harry not only didn't believe another word from his only son's mouth, but, he disowned him. Beatrice wanted to know why Barnaby had been cut off, and Harry told her. She then left him. When Harry died, Marguerite inherited everything.
Yes, it was a nasty thing to do, and she couldn't believe she had forgotten that Barnaby was still out there somewhere, seething.
'Where is my baby? And the woman that was with her?' she sneered.
Barnaby smiled. His teeth were almost rotted out. He must've been utterly destitute when Harry died. Marguerite didn't care to find the time to spark up any compassion for him.
'I don't know what you mean.' he said coyly. He stood up.
'Like that tone of voice there, Marguerite? It's how you sounded when I begged you to tell my father the truth! Now, you're going to beg for your child's life!'
Marguerite tried not ot betray the fear in her voice when she spoke.
'What do you want?' she asked coolly.
'I want the inheritance that you squandered! I want what's rightfully mine. I'll be in touch.'
It was as he was turning away, that Marguerite lost all control! She reached out and grabbed his arm, spinning him back towards her.
'Where are they?! Tell me you haven't killed them! Tell me you haven't killed my....'
She then stopped abruptly. Barnaby's coat had come undone and Marguerite could see that he had a gaping wound on his chest. He seemed to be losing a lot of blood.
'What has happened to you? Where is my baby?!'
'Have my money tonight, Marguerite! Have it or that bastard you had out of wedlock with Lord John Roxton, will never see a first birthday, do you hear me?!'
Barnaby turned and walked off, trying to block out the pain. That bitch he had left in the cellar caught him by surprise this morning. Marguerite would find out soon enough that she had escaped. That was fine. Because she had gotten away alone.
****
Ned had barely turned off the automobile, when Roxton jumped out of the car and hurried up towards the front door of Marguerite's estate. Veronica hurried after him. Ned stayed behind with Challenger and Jessi.
'This is quite an estate.' Challenger noted, eyeing a particular shrub.
'It is.' Jessi agreed. 'The three of them could be quite happy here.'
Challenger and Ned smiled at Jessi, who sucked in a breath when she saw the garden. It was beautiful.
Meanwhile, Roxton had thrown open the door, before Veronica could catch up to him. A servant, and a woman that Veronica vaguely recognized as someone who owned a neighboring estate, were standing in the drawing room.
'Ms. Layton? Hello. I'm Elizabeth Thomas. I live on the estate behind Ms. Von Bubrik's.'
Veronica nodded. 'Yes, of course. I'm sorry.'
Ms Thomas nodded in return. 'I heard about poor little Greta. Do the authorities know of who would do such a thing?'
She was asking the question of Veronica, but her eyes were on Roxton.
'Uh, no. Marguerite is not here?' Veronica asked, looking at the servant.
The servant shrugged slightly, her eyes on Roxton as well.
'She went out for a walk. No notes have arrived about little Greta yet.'
Roxton looked at Veronica. Good Lord! Marguerite was waiting for a ransom note?! His eyes fell on a photograph of Greta that sat on a fireplace mantle. He began to pace hoping Veronica could get rid of these women as soon as possible!
But Elizabeth Thomas walked up to him, offering her hand.
'Hello? I don't believe we've been introduced. Are you a relative of Ms. Layton's? Are you here for the upcoming nuptials?'
It was then that Roxton thought of what to say. Keeping in mind what he knew from Veronica's letters to him, Roxton smiled down at Elizabeth, accepted her proffered hand, and kissed it.
'I am a relative of Ms. Von Bubrik's. I am her long lost husband, returned from the dead.'
Veronica's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open! Ned, Challenger and Jessi walked in just as the words left Roxton's mouth. Ned rolled his eyes, shaking his head. Challenger smiled. But Jessi smiled a special smile, as if to say 'you naughty boy'.
Veronica's eyes gleamed as well. This seemed to be the perfect answer for Roxton and a way for him to slide into the household easily.
The servant looked to Veronica.
'My God ma'am! Is this true? Is this the husband the mistress thought was dead? Greta's father?'
All Veronica could do was nod.
Elizabeth put a hand over her heart.
'This makes this whole event, all the more tragic.'
Roxton nodded. He couldn't have agreed more. He was about to say something else, when a loud rustling outside of a set of terrace doors, caught their attention. Ned walked over and opened them. Finn fell into the room.
'My God! It's Finn!' Ned cried.
Veronica rushed over to her. Roxton joined them as well. Challenger pushed past all of them and tended to her. He then looked up. She was dressed in something similar to what she had worn on the plateau.
'She'll be alright. She's just exhausted. Help me get her upstairs.'
Ned picked her up. Roxton stepped in front of him. He then touched Finn's face.
'Finn?'
Finn's eyes fluttered. She looked at Ned first and smiled. She then looked over at Roxton.
'Hey Roxton...Greta....' she then passed out. Challenger and Ned hurried upstairs with her. Jessi wrung her hands together.
'I think I'll see if I can do anything to help.' she said, before following them out of the room. Elizabeth pointed after her.
'Who was that that other man and woman?' she asked of no one in particular.
Veronica ignored her and touched Roxton's shoulder. He turned around to look at her.
'Finn is accounted for. Now all we need to know is where Greta and Margue....'
The front door opened, and a harried Marguerite rushed in, then stopped short. Her eyes locked with Roxton's, before looking at Elizabeth, who was smiling.
'My dear, what a bittersweet day this must be for you. To lose your child and regain your long lost husband in one day. Someone should write a book about you.'
'My husband?' Marguerite asked, eyeing Roxton. Roxton smiled back, then walked over to her.
'Yes, your husband.' he confirmed, before reaching his hand behind the back of her head, and pulling her into a kiss.
