Page 81 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
Is that the blessing which came from this chaos? Frances and Herbert found love in a dismal place?
It was a bittersweet idea and one which Leonard sincerely hoped brought them happiness when Elizabeth was returned.
When Elizabeth is returned.
Suddenly, Leonard was struck by something which he had not thought of before.
“Jasper!” the Duke cried. “Jasper, of course!”
Catherine eyed him without understanding.
“The coachman? What of him?”
Excitement began to rush through Leonard, causing him a slight dizziness.
“You left the gala much earlier than expected,” he rushed on. “Barely after arriving.”
“Yes…”
“It defies logic that the kidnappers could have anticipated such an abrupt departure, that they were waiting on the road from the moment you arrived at the Smithersons. Surely they would have come back in cloak of darkness, expecting you to be at the party for a while.”
“What are you suggesting, Leo?”
“If this was enacted on behalf of Lord Cooke, Jasper may have seen more than he realized while he waited for you.”
“Lord Cooke did follow Elizabeth from the house,” Catherine remembered, her face paling at the memory. “Could he have signalled someone?”
They looked at one another for a long moment.
“We must speak to Jasper again!” they chorused in unison.
Chapter 27
“Your Grace, I fear there is nothing I can recall which will help you!” Jasper protested, his boyish face pale and worried. “I have told you all that I can remember.”
The bump he had incurred was still quite prominent on his head but the boy was back to working, despite his injuries.
“You must think harder,” Leonard urged him. “You must have seen someone following you, Lord Cooke nodding, perhaps? Giving a signal?”
Catherine squeezed his arm warningly. No one was to know about their suspicions about the Earl but Leonard was desperate to hear what the coachman night say.
“Lord Cooke?” Jasper echoed. “No, Your Grace, I swear it was not Lord Cooke—”
Abruptly, Jasper stopped speaking and Leonard looked at his sister.
“What was not Lord Cooke?” Catherine asked, instantly picking up on his gaffe. “Someone followed you? Someone gave a signal?”
Jasper shook his head miserably but he refused to meet their eyes, his complexion nearing opaque. Leonard lunged toward the boy and grabbed him by the threads of his thin shirt, yanking his face evenly upward so that they met eye-to-eye.
“You will tell me what you know, Jasper,” he spat. “Or you will rue the day your mother birthed you.”
“Leo…” Catherine said urgently but the Duke ignored her, his gaze locked on the boy.
“TELL ME!”
“Oh, Your Grace, I did not know they would take her!” Jasper blubbered, tears spilling from his eyes. “I swear on my life, I had no idea things would turn so quickly! If I had known…”
Jasper buried his face in his hands and his body shook with sobs. Hot and cold washed through Leonard simultaneously and he did not release the boy, despite Catherine’s pleadings.
