Page 82 of Rules for Heiresses
Suddenly, a commotion on the docks grabbed their attention as a troop of mounted police surged onto the wharf. Courtland frowned, watching as they headed right for him and strode down to the gangway. One of the men dismounted and walked toward him.
“Are you Mr. Chase?”
Courtland’s frown deepened. “The Duke of Ashvale.”
“We received word that there are stolen goods aboard this ship. We have orders to search it. Permission to board?”
Courtland frowned. Stolen goods? That was preposterous.
Rawley stepped forward. “Cousin, do not allow this. This doesn’t feel right.”
“I have nothing to hide.” He gestured to the policemen. “Go ahead.”
Despite’s his cousin’s warning, he watched as the men marched onboard and proceeded to search every nook and cranny. Courtland wasn’t upset, but he was irritated over the delay in his departure. He needed to get to Antigua—there were people who needed him there. Even with a dozen men, searching a ship of this size would take time. Not that they would find anything.
“Arrest this man,” the main policeman declared.
Rawley moved to block the nearest man’s approach, but Courtland shook his head, stalling him with a palm. He didn’t need any violence or for Rawley to be locked in the stocks. “I am a peer of the realm, and you will explain yourself, sir.”
The man closest to him spat. “You’re a thief. We found the crates as described in the cargo hold, full of stolen goods, tea, and lace, and God knows what else, out in full view for anyone to find.”
Courtland felt the blood drain from his body. “None of any of that belongs to me and I can prove it. Who claimed those goods were stolen and on my ship?”
A man from the wharf cleared his throat. Rage filled him as Sommers strolled into view. “I did. These good English people deserve to know what kind of cur they let into their midst, wouldn’t you say,Duke?”
“You rotten, lying bastard.”
“No, Chase, last I heard, that was you. At least, that’s what was printed in the scandal sheets. Poor sniveling Stinson, all he needed was a little encouragement to tell his side. It’s too bad you won’t get to tell yours.” He grinned. “Who will comfort your little wife now?”
Fury burst through Courtland’s body in a blaze, and it was all he could do to hold himself back from shoving past the wall of policemen and taking the lying blackguard to the ground.
“Come quietly, Your Grace,” the head policeman said.
But Courtland had no intention of going quietly, not while Sommers stood there with that smug smile on his face. Had heplannedall of this?
“Out of the way!” Momentary relief sluiced through him at the sight of Waterstone, shoving through the now thick crowd. He was followed by the Duke of Embry. “I’m acting on orders from Her Majesty, and this man is under my authority. You will step back.”
“This man is a criminal.”
Waterstone glared. “Ifthat is true, he will be in my custody. Now move before I make you move!”
As the policemen dispersed, Courtland tracked the crowd for Sommers, but the slimy snake had also disappeared. When the earl gave him a slightly sardonic look at his current predicament, he ignored it. “Sommers. He did this. Planted goods he claimed were stolen on my ship. He was just here.”
“I gathered,” Waterstone said. “Embry’s on it.”
“What happens now?”
The earl grinned. “You’re under house arrest, Your Grace.”
Twenty-Two
“Heleft?” Ravenna’s voice was shrill enough to break glass as she advanced on the poor butler. She’d only just returned from a much-needed visit with Sarani and Anu, who were heading back to Hastings later that afternoon, only to be told by the butler that her husband had left the country. “To go back to Antigua,” she said.
Morgan flinched. “Yes, Your Grace.”
“And he toldyouto tellme.”
He shook his head. “No, it was Mr. Rawley. He’ll be back soon. There was a fire, Your Grace. Several fires. He had to go. There was no time to waste.”
