The Husband Poisoning Society, Chapter 31

Lynn knew where Duke Xander’s office was located and led us there. Two guards sat outside the door. And they started and drew their swords as we approached. Fiona drew her flintlocks and stared at the men. They stopped.

“Gentlemen, if you could tell Duke Xander that he has guests.” Fiona said.

One guard turned and bolted down a side corridor. Fiona fired, but the man had rounded a corner and the shot tore a chunk of stone from the wall instead.

She dropped the flintlock and produced another pistol. She pointed both at the remaining guard. 

“We are now pressed for time. I would rather not kill you. Do not give me reason to do so.”

Vincent scooped up the dropped pistol and began to reload it. The guard nodded and knocked on the duke’s door. The door swung open, and Duke Xander emerged in a rush.

“Who is shooting?” He yelled. Then he saw us and stopped. “You are here.”

I nodded, “You have our Duke. There is going to be an attempt made on his life. It may have happened already. We aren’t going to let him die.”

Duke Xander scanned the assembled group of us, his eyes coming to rest on Fiona’s pistols. 

“Shall we discuss this in my office?” He asked. 

I nodded. 

Fiona looked at the guard. “Run. We have no need of you.”

The guard ran. 

We entered Duke Xander’s office. He collapsed into an enormous leather wrapped chair behind a heavy desk made of a dark wood I didn’t recognize. 

“My men are already seeking reinforcements. You have very little time.” Duke Xander said.

“We have some time,” I answered. “Most of your men are out in the city, looking for us.”

“True. But not so much that you can banter with me. What do you want?”

“Has Duke Delmar been poisoned?” I asked. 

“Not as far as I know. And I would know if that had happened. Why do you fear poison?”

“I had a vision. You know I didn’t kill the duke.” I paused, and considered how to word things without implicating Lynn. “You know that there are opposing factions. Somebody is trying to turn this towards war.”

“Yes, I know. Forces conspire to force our nations into war. And my only weapon against such a war was offering you as an acceptable sacrifice.”

“Who are they?” I asked.

“My brother and the barons under me. They seek to undermine me. They have been using House Alfson as their running dogs.”

“Who’s house Alfson?” I asked.

“We are.” Laila said, bringing a hand to her mouth. “That’s my house, my father’s house.”  

“And your mother’s house.” Duke Xander said.

“Mother would never be part of this.” Laila said.

“Poison is a woman’s weapon.” Duke Xander said. 

“Ada allowed Sven to beat her, rather than turn us in.” I said. “She wouldn’t do that if she were part of the conspiracy.”

As we were speaking somebody pounded on the door of the office. 

“What is it?” Duke Xander called.

“Your grace. The foreign duke. Something is wrong.” 

“What is wrong?” Duke Xander said. 

“He seems sick.” A pause. “Perhaps poison. He is vomiting.”

“Damn. Summon a doctor. Immediately.”

“And there it is.” I said.