Page 78 of Taken By the Dangerous Duke

“I can only think of three such people who would want to take the duchess. Three have visited since she married me: her mother and father, and the man she was supposed to wed. They all tried to convince her to come home with them, and she refused them all. The last time her father came to visit, he looked quite mad.”

“They believe they are going to lose the case, so they have decided to do this? But to what end?” asked Parker.

“They only want money. Her father was owed money for her being wed to his cousin, and he lost that. The court case was only about the money, and because we have refused, they have turned to this. I believe they have taken her for a ransom.”

“Elspeth told me that she and Margaret went to a garden once that only they knew about. Perhaps she is there.”

“I hope you are right. My only hope is that she is safe in the city somewhere, but I fear that she is not.”

“So, why don’t we go and confront her parents?” asked Parker.

“I need to know for sure. If they have her, we need to know where she is so we can rescue her. And, if they don’t have her, we can’t give them the upper hand by having them think she has disappeared. If this is something else, they can’t know that she is missing or they will try to leverage it.”

“Wherever she is, we will find her,” assured Parker. “This is not how your story ends.”

“Oh, blast it! Blast it all to hell!” shouted Arthur. He kicked the metal garbage can that was sitting on the pavement. The metal can flew across the street and clattered against the wall.

“Everything is all right,” announced Parker as some people turned to look at the well-dressed gentleman who had lashed out in anger.

Parker quickly ran to the garbage can and picked it up. The people on the street continued on their way, unhappy that there was no more of a scene.

“Hey, it is going to be all right,” said Parker when he returned, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“You don’t know that.”

“No, I don’t. But I believe it. We are going to get her back, and you can finally get on with your life. This is just a bump in the road.”

“Excuse me, mister. I mean, sir.”

Arthur looked down at the small boy.

“Sir, are you Duke Garriot?” asked the small lad.

“I am,” Arthur responded.

“This is for you, sir. Was told to give it to you directly.”

“What is this?” asked Arthur. “Who sent you?”

“Don’t rightly know, sir. Was only told that there would be a shilling in it for me if I got it to you.” The boy held out his hand.

Arthur opened the note first and took a look before digging into his pocket and fishing out a couple of coins. He placed them in the boy’s hand, and the lad’s face lit up at the riches he had just been given.

“Thank you very much, sir. Thank you very much.” The boy grasped the coins tightly and ran off with them.

“News?” asked Parker.

“I believe it is from Margaret,” said the duke. “Her parents do have her, and at her family home, no less.”

“So, we can go and get her?” asked Parker. “That is great news.”

“Parker!” shouted Elspeth, returning from her search. “She was not there. I couldn’t find her anywhere.”

“We think we know where she is,” said Parker.

“Elspeth, would you tell the rest to call off the search for now?” asked Arthur.

“So, she is safe?” asked Elspeth.

---