Page 70 of Claiming His Lost Duchess
“I will be back for you,” Graham promised lowly. “You might try to argue your involvement, but as far as I am concerned, you helped that monster gain access to my daughter. There will be consequences for that foolishness. For now, I must find my daughter and wife. I will be back for you, as your actions cannot go unpunished.”
As Graham took a few steps back from her, Lysander moved forward and asked,
“Do you know where he might’ve taken them?”
“H-He likely went to one of his other properties. He as two others, aside from this one — I swear, they are not here,” Georgina stammered, fear causing her body to stiffen.
Graham nodded, “We’ll need the addresses.”
Ten minutes later, as they left the mansion, Lysander asked,
“Do you trust her? Do you think she gave us the right information?”
“I do not trust her at all. Although I have never met her father, I can surmise what he is like, judging by the action of the daughter he raised — or failed to. She is a snake, poisonous and all consuming. As untrustworthy as she seems, we have no other leads. Searching Benedict’s other properties is a much better plan than waiting around while my property and the forestaround it is searched for my daughter,” Graham responded with a shrug.
Lysander nodded, staring down at the list of addresses written on the paper in his hand.
“I supposed we’re off to the first property, then.”
Lysander mounted his horse and Graham followed suit, muttering under his breath, “Do not cry, Sophia. Your papa is coming for you.”
Dead leaves crunch beneath Joan’s feet as she made her way through the courtyard. The house before her seemed empty and she was conflicted on whether or not she hoped it really was.
She did not want to face the implications that awaited her if it was not void of any living presence.
Joan still could not believe that the person who had sent her the letter which allured to his involvement in Sophia’s abduction had been able to do such a thing.
Not because he had a higher moral standing than most, but rather because he was supposed to be dead.
It raised many questions and focusing on those questions kept herself from thinking about the fear and guilt working togetherto weigh her down as she drew closer and closer to the front door.
For a moment, she wished she had told Graham about the letter, banishing the thought. She would not be in this situation if it hadn’t been for him.
Benedict had no doubt heard about her marriage to the Duke — a marriage that stemmed from Graham’s desire to have Sophia within reach. If she had been able to provide more for her daughter, if she had somehow managed to help Sophia then, they would have returned to their quaint life and none of this would have happened.
At least… that was how she had expected to feel about it all. But the closer she stepped towards what she believed would be her folly, she felt longing for her husband rise up within her.
She missed him, missed the kindness she had shown her, the assurance he had tried to show her, even though he was likely also just as distressed as she was.
But now was not the time to fantasize about what things might be like if only they’d felt more for each other, because her hand was on the door knob.
And she needed to go in and get her daughter back.
Joan pushed open the door and her eyes instantly meet those of the nightmare she hoped was now behind her.
“Ah, my precious rose. You have become even more lovely than I recall. Come, come my darling. Come and greet your dear uncle,” Benedict said to her, his voice so familiar it struck dread deep within her.
She could hardly move, her body tensing up at the sight of the man she had believed — had hoped for nights after that — to be dead.
There he was, in the flesh, still a manifestation of the life she had tried to leave behind all those years when she ran away from home.
He still called her his ‘precious rose’in that sweet voice of his that filled her with immense nausea and discomfort and she was still terrified of breathing the same air as he did.
Had anything changed? Was this how things would end, because she was still so afraid of him?
No,she told herself fiercely as she took two steps into the house.I have changed. I have a reason to fight now, and I am not leaving without my?—
“Sophia. Where is she?” Joan demanded, only addressing him out of necessity.
