Page 96 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
Elizabeth stared at Leonard in shock.
“Leonard, that cannot be!” she choked. “I saw the men who took me and I assure you, they were not friends of my brother!”
“Someone was behind the kidnapping, Elizabeth, surely you must have suspected.”
“What in God’s name is all the yelling in here?” Catherine demanded, stalking into the salon. “I could hear you from the kitchen!”
“He is responsible!” Leonard insisted. “He must be!”
“How have you reached such a conclusion?” Elizabeth demanded, her voice tight with worry. “David would never harm me or employ someone to bring harm to me!”
“Catherine,” Leonard said, looking imploringly at his sister. “Explain to her how he planted the shoe in Lord Cooke’s courtyard, the very same shoe which was here. Tell her how the ransom notes were found without any of the guards detecting the presence of an outsider!”
“Leo,” Catherine murmured, confusion touching her face. “I cannot say that it was David. It could just as well as been Herbert or another member of the household staff.”
“Herbert?” Leonard’s face was crimson at the idea. “He is my most trusted advisor and friend!”
“Did you summon me, Your Grace?” Herbert asked, appearing in the salon. Consternation washed through Elizabeth like a tidal wave and she stared about the room.
Could this be? Could one of these men have tried to harm me?
“What of Lord Cooke?” Elizabeth asked tentatively. “He could have employed someone—or Miss Priscilla! When I escaped, I found myself in Argonshire, although I had been riding for a number of hours.”
“Leonard, could we have been wrong about Priscilla?” Catherine asked. The atmosphere was reaching chaotic levels, choking Elizabeth as she fought to find reason in the madness.
“Stop!” Elizabeth held up a hand, the cuts showing as her sleeves fell down. “We must stop throwing accusations about and discuss this rationally. Sit.”
No one immediately moved but when she pointed sternly, the group retreated to various chairs and chaises along the room. Leonard rang the bell and Jacob arrived.
“Send for Lord Gordon at once and bring us brandy to drink. We all must settle our nerves.”
“At once, Your Grace.”
A short silence ensued.
“I will tell you what I recall about the time I spent in captivity,” Elizabeth finally said, breaking the uncomfortable quiet. “Perhaps we can deduct something logical from what I remember.”
“We know one man was named Cooper—is that correct?”
Elizabeth’s eyes grew large and fearful at the mere mention of the man’s name.
“Yes. He was cruel and ready to kill me,” she answered tautly. “The other was named Mark. He had an Irish brogue and he saved me from being killed but he was not ready to give me up until they had the ransom. He hid me from Cooper but they planned to collect anyway. Mark was going to come back and release me forthwith but I managed to get away.”
“That is why Cooper was so nervous at the drop! I was right! He did not have her!”
The relief in his voice was palpable and Elizabeth turned her attention to him with sad eyes.
“I am sorry you parted with all that money. It was my intention to arrive before the drop was to be made but I lost my way.”
“Irish brogue, you say?” David asked suddenly, leaning forward. “What did these men look like?”
All turned to look at David who waited expectantly for a response but his face took on a peculiar greyish ting as though he had swallowed something spoiled.
“Cooper has cold blue eyes, a stubbly face and hair of blonde, I believe but it was difficult to say as he was quite filthy. Mark was darker, also unkempt, albeit kinder.”
Leonard and David exchanged a long look but no one spoke a word for a long moment.
“What is it?” Elizabeth demanded. “Do you know these men?”
