Page 55 of My Dark Duke

“Brandy?” Falconbridge called, as he opened a press - he was clearly at home in the place.

“Please,” Sebastian replied. “This might take a while and I’m not certain my nerves can stand it.”

As it was, Shatter was only gone an hour, during which time Falconbridge had laid waste to half the bottle.

“I’ll add that to your tab,” the proprietor said, with a nod towards the brandy.

“In that case, I might as well finish it,” Falconbridge answered, pouring himself one final large glass.

“Is there any news?” Sebastian interjected, impatiently. He had no time for high jinks.

Shatter nodded, his strong jaw grimly set. “You’re not the only one keen to find this Miss Hamilton,” he said, in a low rumble. “Lord Bailey’s been paying lookouts for over a month. She was sighted, just a few hours ago, trying to buy a ticket for the Bristol stage. Two of Bailey’s men were alerted and they apprehended her; she was last seen being bundled into a carriage.”

Sebastian’s heart filled with rage at the idea of anyone manhandling Lillian. When he got his hands on Lord Bailey, he would knock him into next week.

“I must set out at once for Lord Bailey’s, he is certain to have her held somewhere close by,” Sebastian said, rising from his seat.

“Not so fast.” Shatter held up a meaty paw. “Lord Bailey’s carriage was then seen heading for the Kent Road, a while later. The driver was hard on the whip, so he must have been in a hurry.”

“Do you think Lillian was inside?” Sebastian wondered aloud, though he was already half-certain.

Shatter nodded, while Falconbridge gave a derisive snort. “I’d bet the house on it - and I never lose a bet.”

“Then I must make haste to Kent,” Sebastian decided, as he inwardly debated as to whether he should go on horseback or with his carriage. The former would be faster, but the latter would afford him a means in which to ferry Lillian home - home to Thorncastle House. He would not let her out of his sight once he found her, not tonight, or any night to follow.

“I shall accompany you,” Falconbridge declared, his words echoed - surprisingly - by Shatter. Sebastian did not know why the gaming-hell proprietor had taken on Lillian’s disappearance as his own personal mission, but he was grateful he had. Another tall strong man would come in useful, if matters with Lord Bailey became violent.

“I’ll task my driver with fetching Miss Hamilton’s lady’s maid, then following us to Linton Hall,” Sebastian decided. “Then we shall depart.”

His words came fast and urgent; there was no time to waste. He had to find Lillian and he would not rest until she stood safely by his side, as his legal wife.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

LILLIAN WRIGGLED HERwrists, discreetly trying to loosen the rope which bound them. A handkerchief was tied around her mouth, preventing her from crying out the obscenities she longed to hurl at her cousin.

Lord Bailey sat across from her, on the other side of the carriage, his eyes closed and his mouth open, as he slumbered.

She scowled, irritated by his indolence. As if kidnapping her wasn’t enough, the dolt didn’t even have the manners to stay awake while he secreted her across the country.

Though the curtains on the carriage were drawn, Lillian had a vague notion they were travelling in the direction of Linton. They had stopped to change horses several times, and when Lord Bailey had exited to stretch his legs, she had caught glimpses of familiar taverns and coaching inns.

Even the accents sounded most familiar. The last lad who had changed the horse had spoken with a familiar Kentish-burr. She had almost caught his attention, by banging her foot furiously against the compartment wall, but Bailey had quickly returned to silence her.

As the carriage rumbled along, the light grew ever weaker, suggesting they were nearing sunset. Her cousin stirred, but did not wake, as the carriage began to slow.

At last, it came to an abrupt stop, which sent an unsuspecting Bailey flying from his seat - which offered Lillian a brief moment of satisfaction, in what had otherwise been a very unsatisfactory day.

“We’re here,” the baron mumbled, as he righted himself. He glanced at Lillian, as though waiting for a response, before recalling she was incapable of one.

“I’ll loosen them before we get out,” he said, approaching her cautiously. “But you must promise me you won’t make a fuss. Do you understand?”

Lillian furiously nodded her head, despite intending the opposite. As though reading her mind, Lord Bailey reached beneath the bench of the carriage and produced a Flintlock, which gleamed dully in the darkness.

“I mean it,” he said, as he licked his upper lip. “One wrong move and I’ll shoot.”

She stilled at the sight of the weapon, her heart pounding loudly in her ears. A fear like she had never felt before stole over her. She was not just frightened for her own life, but for the life she possibly carried within.

It was not fair; she had not even had time to process the idea she was carrying Thorncastle’s child, yet her cousin threatened to end her journey before it had even begun.

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