“No, I don’t,” Jeremy acknowledged, and then a cruel smile stretched his mouth. “Imagine, if either of you had just been bright enough to ask to see it, you wouldn’t be in this mess. In fact, that was my one big worry when I approached you at the inn. I knew I could woo you around to the idea of marrying me.” He chuckled and boasted, “Even without money I’m a catch. Wooing was the easy part, but I worried about being asked to present the marker. However, neither of you even thought to ask.” He raised an eyebrow and said dryly, “Now who is the bright one?”

Suzette closed her eyes, mentally kicking herself several times for not thinking of that.

“I’m sorry, Suzie,” Lord Madison said glumly. “I should have thought to ask to see it.”

She blinked her eyes open and shook her head, her gaze searching out her father’s face. Seeing the misery on his expression, she shook her head again. “No. I didn’t think of it either. This is not your fault.”

“Do you want to know what the best part of it all is?” Jeremy asked, practically crowing with glee. “After I’ve married you, claimed your dower, and you’re both dead, I will ride back to London, search Dicky’s office until I find the marker and then make the estate pay up as well. I’ll get both the dower and the money from the marker.”

Suzette watched silently as he laughed at his own cleverness, and waited until he stopped before asking, “So how are we to die?”

“Hmmm.” He frowned. “I suppose another carriage accident would be a bit suspect when we just had one, and then I shot Thompson and will have to claim highwaymen did it, so that’s out too.” He considered for a moment and then shrugged. “I guess a fire would do. Dicky wanted to avoid that because his parents and brother died in fires. He thought it might look suspect. However, I don’t have that problem. Besides, it will be slow and painful for the two of you and I like that idea.”

“I really don’t like you,” Suzette said grimly.

Jeremy smiled. “Such a shame; fortunately, that isn’t a prerequisite to marriage.”

“Speaking of which, how do you intend to force me to marry you now that I know you plan to kill me anyway?” she asked dryly.

“Because you want to live and will do what I say, hoping to be able to save yourself later,” he said with a shrug.

Suzette suspected that was true, but pointed out, “I’m only doing what you say now because you have threatened my father. But you cannot hold a pistol on him when we get to Gretna Green. No one will marry us if they see you wielding the pistol.”