Page 64 of House of Thorns
Deborah nodded and pulled at her reticule strings with shaking fingers. At last, she drew out a sheet of paper. “Two thousand pounds,” she whispered. “That’s what they want now. In four days. They want me to bring two thousand pounds to the cemetery. Delivered by my own hand and no one else’s.”
Olivia simply stared. Two thousand pounds?
Nicholas’s brows lifted in surprise.
“What shall I do?” Deborah whispered. “Grandfather will have to be told.”
Silently, Nicholas scanned the letter, and then, at last, looked up. “We’ll set a trap for this fool.”
“How?” Deborah whispered faintly.
Nicholas folded the paper and tucked it into his waistcoat pocket. “Such a demand is preposterous. You’ll leave him a letter in its place, demanding more time, arrange another meeting, what have you. It matters little. We’ll catch this blackmailer at the cemetery, in the act.”
A flash of hope crossed Deborah’s face, and then her face fell again. “It matters little, in the end. Either way, I’m ruined. There’s no denying this.” She dropped her hand on her belly. “Soon, Grandfather will toss me onto the streets.”
“Nonsense,” Olivia objected. “He’ll do no such thing.”
“Nay, he will,” Deborah whispered, her knuckles turning white.
“Then, you’ll come live with me,” Olivia replied stoutly. Of course, she may soon be on the streets herself, but she couldn’t think of that…not now.
“Oh, would you take me in?” Deborah gasped, squeezing Olivia’s hand so tightly she winced in pain.
“There is another solution, is there not?” Nicholas inserted mildly. “Surely, you could speak with Lord Deveraux?”
Deborah’s head jerked back as if she’d been slapped. “How do you know of him?”
“Does it matter?” he queried.
A series of emotions crossed her face, and then she turned her head to one side. “That ship has sailed for me, my lord.”
“I happen to know he still cares for you,” Nicholas disagreed in the gentlest of tones.
Wonder lit Deborah’s face, but then her lips tugged down once again. She smoothed her hands over her rounding belly and whispered harshly, “Even if I cared, what man would accept a stable hand’s child?”
“Perhaps, a man truly in love.”
That made her humph, bitterly. “Nay, Lord Deveraux does not love me that much.”
“I do believe, the question is do you still love him?” Nicholas asked, still insistent.
Fresh tears fell down her cheeks. She didn’t need to speak the words.
Olivia frowned at Nicholas. Why torture the woman so? Clearly, Deborah still loved the man. “Enough,” she hissed.
Nicholas eyed her, unperturbed, and then turned back to Deborah. “Return home and write your response. I know a man who can catch this blackmailer in the act. Trust me, there is little to fear.”
Deborah drew a wavering breath.
“As for your other matter.” Nicholas dropped his eyes to her belly and smiled. “A week is all I ask. A week, and I do believe I can offer you a solution to your liking.”
“A week?” Deborah whispered.
Olivia blinked, surprised.
With a broad smile, Nicholas held out his arm. “Shall I escort you to your carriage?”
Deborah darted a look at Olivia.
