Page 73 of Saved By the Belle

“What’s that?”

“The man discovered something Pennywhistle didn’t want made known, and Pennywhistle had him killed.”

“What are the odds that if we searched Pennywhistle’s property, we’d find his body?” Hew asked.

“Duncan would take that bet. I won’t get into all the specifics in the report”—he eyed Belle meaningfully—“but the railroad man had no reason to run off, and there’s some evidence of foul play. If we take the attempt on your life into account, it’s too much for coincidence.”

“More than one attempt,” Hew said. “Someone wants me dead.”

“If we can pin it on Pennywhistle, that would save us sending more agents to investigate. We’d catch him eventually, but if we could catch one of his men and force a confession...”

“I’m one step ahead of you,” Hew said. “I’m to meet them at Hyde Park tomorrow night to exchange myself for Mr. Howard. I fully intend to set an ambush, though I hadn’t worked out the particulars.”

Will shook his head. “Baron wants you back at the Farm.”

Beside him, Belle tensed.

“He sent me to tell you about the change in orders. Lady Keating convinced him your injuries are severe enough to limit your ability to succeed in a mission. I’m to take over.”

“No!” Belle cried, in an echo of the protest in Hew’s mind. “My father—”

“Miss Howard,” Will said, turning a sympathetic gaze to her. “I assure you I will do all I can to return your father to you. I intend to make the rendezvous, but I think we need to take all the facts into consideration.”

“What facts?”

“Although not independently verified, I think it highly likely there are rich mineral deposits on the land Pennywhistle sold to the railroad. He wouldn’t go to all of this trouble without reason, and money is a powerful reason.”

“My father has nothing to do with any of that!”

“Regardless, Pennywhistle and his men have now killed or attempted to kill multiple people. Other than Arundel and the railroad man, the others he’s killed also had nothing to do with the land or the minerals. The man and those working for him are clearly ruthless and will stop at nothing to accomplish their aims.”

Hew closed his eyes. He knew what Will was getting at. He’d considered the possibility himself.

“Then they must be stopped. We can work together to turn their ambush around on them. I just want my father back safely.”

Will looked down. “As do we all, but Miss Howard”—Will met her gaze—“these men do not have finesse. They are brutes who only know how to do one thing. They weren’t hired to negotiate prisoner swaps.”

“You think he’s dead,” Belle said, her voice barely above a whisper. “You think they killed him and sent a message to meet in Hyde Park so they can capture Arundel.”

“I think they intend to kill Arundel. They’re killers. That’s what they know. It takes planning and intelligence to carry out a prisoner exchange. They don’t need Arundel alive. Easier just to lure him into the open and kill him.”

“No,” Belle said.

Will looked at Hew. “Baron wants you back at the Farm immediately. He’ll have his doctors take over there, and I’m to take over here and in Carlisle with Pennywhistle.”

“Hew.” Belle looked at him with pleading eyes. “No!”

Will cleared his throat. “I’ll meet Pennywhistle’s men at the park and take them, if I can, kill them if I can’t. I promise you, Miss Howard, the men who took your father will not walk free.”

Belle wrenched her hand out of Hew’s and jumped to her feet. “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe he’s dead. How can you just give up on him based on an assumption?”

“I know it’s not an option you want to consider. I don’t either,” Hew said softly. “But Will’s reasoning makes sense. I’ve considered it privately. I think you have as well. Sweetheart—”

“Don’t sweetheart me. You can run away if you like, but you can’t force me to give up.” She pointed to Will. “I will be at the park at midnight tomorrow, and I will get my father back or die trying.”

BELLE COULD NOT REMAIN in the room any longer. She didn’t know where she was going, but she would not stay here. Her father might already be dead, but the least she could do was to make every effort to rescue him if he were alive. He wouldn’t have given up on her. And she hadn’t thought Arundel would give up so easily on him—or her, for that matter.

“Belle, where are you going?” Arundel called.

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