Page 65 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“Think nothing of it,” Leonard assured him. “If David had not so boldly aroused the discussion, it would have been my own suggestion.”
Percival gave him a tentative smile and wearily left the room, his shoulders sunken.
“What have you given him?” Catherine wanted to know. Leonard knew he had to tell her also. It was unfair to keep her ignorant of the matter.
“Elizabeth has been kidnapped. We received a ransom note not long ago.”
Catherine’s face was a fusion of elation and grief.
“Oh…that is…”
“It is good news,” Leonard supplied, knowing she was conflicted on how to feel. “We still have hope.”
“Oh, praise God,” Catherine breathed. “We will get her back.”
Leonard nodded.
“Indeed we will,” he replied grimly. “And the men who took her will pay dearly for what they have done.”
“Leo, they are criminals, ruffians! You cannot think to confront them!”
“I believe whoever is responsible for this is already quite close to us,” Leonard told her quietly, his eyes darting toward the door. He did not wish to be overheard. Catherine shook her head, her blonde hair in an uncharacteristic disarray. She had not bothered to make herself presentable, not that Leonard faulted her. They all had much more on their minds than their appearances.
“No, Leo, that is impossible,” Catherine insisted. “I have thought long and hard over the men and there was not one modicum of resemblance to anyone we know.”
Disappointment filled his chest. No matter what Catherine said, he was certain there was more to the kidnapping than it appeared.
“They may have been hired by someone close to us,” Leonard insisted. “Someone who knows us well.”
“Then why did they not take me? I am worth more than Elizabeth,” Catherine reminded him. “No, I cannot imagine anyone would want to take her over me for such a venture.”
She stopped speaking and their eyes met, widening in unison. The answer had struck them simultaneously.
“Unless they only wanted Elizabeth,” Leonard mumbled, jumping to his feet as Catherine slowly rose.
“The House of Argonshire,” she whispered. “Oh, I do hope that I was wrong about Priscilla, Leo.”
His jaw locked.
“How is that, Catherine?”
“I hope she is not as imbecilic as I imagined.”
Chapter 21
Elizabeth managed to rest after Cooper left but her sleep was generated by exhaustion and she tried to fight it as long as possible. Bound to a chair, despite having her blindfold removed, was hardly a comfortable environment in which to claim slumber.
The blood on her wrists had caked and she had lost feeling in her feet and hands but that did not stop her from constantly attempting to free herself. She recognized the futility of her efforts but Elizabeth had the voice of Leonard driving her through the dark, encouraging her not to lose hope, reminding that he would be waiting for her when she managed to get free.
The moment she succumbed to the fatigue, however, she fell instantly into a dream about the Duke, one which countered everything she had believed in her heart. In her mind’s eye, she saw Leonard and his sister in his study, their heads bent together in as they spoke in hushed voices.
“Leonard! Catherine!” she called, rushing toward them but they did not hear her nor look up from where their eyes were fixed.
“It is a shame we cannot save her,” Catherine sighed. “Her father has not enough to spare her life.”
“Indeed, it is a pity,” Leonard concurred, sighing heavily. “I did rather enjoy her company.”
“Shall we arrange for her funeral?”
