Page 56 of The Seduction of Lord Sin
Charlotte looked stoically at James and said, “Then you must leave. I can’t bear this waiting. My life is on hold. I can’t go out. I can’t ride. John has to watch my every move.”
“Patience. This man has a plan. I want to know why Toobury was involved. Why kill him? It alerted us to his plan.”
She swung round to face James. “Exactly. What did Toobury know that got him killed? Did he overhear his plan, or was he simply the competition?”
They had reached the drawing room, which now appeared empty and dull without Lord Sinclair. Dharma walked to the window. “Tobin will be here soon.”
“You wrote to him? Why?”
“Because I wanted him to help me stop this foolishness. Then, when Lord Toobury died, and we suspected you were in danger, I thought he had a right to know.”
Charlotte couldn’t bring herself to be angry with Dharma. The girl loved her and was just protecting her—or thought she was. “He’ll insist I leave and return to Clayton House, but that won’t catch our killer.” She sunk into the nearest chair.
Just then Burton entered with a tray containing a missive, but he moved past her to James. He opened it and chewed his bottom lip as he read. Finally, he looked up and waved Burton away. “Sin and Devlin say they saw our three guests depart and have a man trailing each of them. If they turn back or deviate from their given travel plan, the men will return here immediately to alert me.”
“So, that’s it. There is nothing more we can do.” Flora’s words fell flat.
“A cup of tea, perhaps?” Charlotte rose and pulled the bell and when the maid came, organized some tea. Before she could sit down, Bella started fussing. “You want to go outside?” Bella woofed in agreement. She walked to the door and handed Bella into John’s care.
After refreshments Charlotte went to her room to write to Tobin, advising him not to come, if he hadn’t already left. She would accompany James and Flora back to London with Dharma and meet him there.
Escaping this self-imposed prison wasn’t the only reason she wanted to go to London. Lord Sinclair would have to return to London too, and she hoped her presence would remind him of what they had shared. The only thorn in her plan was a certain beauty called Mrs. Mason.
It was only when a note appeared under her door that she noticed John had been outside with Bella for a long time. Something must be wrong. She raced for the note and, as she read it; dropped to her knees. Someone had taken Bella; what did that mean for John, Burton’s son, Charlotte thought anxiously? Her instructions were clear: she was to meet the kidnapper by the river where they would return Bella for a payment of one-hundred pounds.
She hurried from her room, not wishing to alarm Burton, and made her way downstairs. James was in the library, Flora was nowhere to be seen. He jumped to his feet the minute he saw her. “What’s happened? You’re as pale as a ghost.”
“I received this note under my door. They’ve taken Bella, and what have they done with John? I don’t want Burton to know until we have searched for him.”
“We will find John, and I’ll send word to Devlin and Sinclair.”
“I cannot believe that someone in my employ would do this to John or Bella.”
James cursed under his breath. “This is the work of the villain to get you out of the house, on your own. He’s making his move. I’ll take some men and search. Go upstairs and find Flora and Dharma, and don’t leave the house until I return.” Then James was off, striding down the hall, calling for Burton.
Before she could gather herself, Dharma appeared in the doorway, quickly followed by Flora. “What’s happening?”
“They’ve taken Bella, and the kidnapper wants to meet at the river to pay them money for her safe return.”
Flora gave a cry. “They wouldn’t hurt Bella, surely.”
“It’s John I’m worried about. He was with her. What have they done to him?”
Just then, there was a commotion on the floor below. Charlotte, with the ladies behind her, raced to the entrance foyer. They were carrying John in on a stretcher. “Put him in the Library on the settee and send for the doctor and the magistrate.”
He was insensible, with a gash on his head and a lump the size of an enormous egg. “I’ll fetch some blankets,” shouted Dharma as she ran from the room.
Flora was undoing his shirt to help him breathe easier and Burton was removing his son’s boots, tears and lines of worry on his face.
This was her fault. “I’ll organize hot water to wash that wound.” Once Charlotte exited the room, she slid down the wall and wrapped her arms around her middle. She wanted to cry but was scared she’d be unable to stop. Well, this wasn’t helping John. Instead, she picked herself up and made her way down below stairs.
It was quiet in the kitchen. Where was everyone? She poured water from a jug into an already heating kettle on the stove to boil.
She walked to the larder to see if Cook was there. It was empty. As she turned around, she caught a flicker out of the corner of her eye, and only just ducked in time. A solid, wooden, rolling pin was aimed at her head. Cook swung with force, catching Charlotte hard on her shoulder and she staggered under the pain.
She shoved her attacker hard, and Cook reeled backwards, falling against the shelving. A large tin dislodged from the top shelf, hitting Cook on the head, causing her to slide to the floor unconscious. Stunned, Charlotte caught her breath before she straightened. But waiting in the middle of the kitchen was someone much worse. Lord Sanders stood there with an evil grin on his face.
“Well met. I was going to get our lovely Cook to call you down below stairs. Now, if you want that dog of yours to stay alive, you will come quietly with me.”
