Page 62 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“Pity that,” Cooper sighed. “Although I must confess…”
Elizabeth stared at him warily.
“Confess what?”
“I will quite enjoy slicing your comely little neck.”
Elizabeth believed the words he spoke. They chilled her from the inside out, creating gooseflesh on her skin.
“Do we understand one another, Miss Elizabeth? You will not attempt to befriend my partner and I will not be forced to end your life prematurely…well, assuming your father pays.”
She swallowed and closed her eyes, willing herself to remain calm. She had not been lying—she could not conceive where her father might find that sum of money in such a short time.
“Now,” Cooper clapped his weathered hands together almost gleefully. “Let us eat.”
Chapter 20
“Your Grace! Lord Gordon!”
Both men sat up with a start and looked at Jacob who hurried into the study where they had both nodded off. Neither had slept in over twenty-four hours and they had succumbed to barely an hour’s rest when Jacob entered.
“Do they have word on Elizabeth?” Percival demanded, jumping to his feet. “Is she alive?”
“Of course she is alive!” Leonard snapped, tired of hearing the question continuously falling from the Viscount’s lips. It wore on his nerves terribly.
“I found this on the doorstep just now,” Jacob cried, panic etched into his eyes. “You must look at it right away.”
It was odd to hear such a pitch in Jacob’s voice and Leonard quickly took the paper from her, reading it quickly.
WE HAVE ELIZABETH. YOU WILL GATHER FIFTY THOUSAND POUNDS AND AWAIT INSTRUCTIONS IF YOU WISH HER TO REMAIN ALIVE.
“Is this a joke?” Percival choked. “This must be a cruel joke! H-how can…?”
He could not formulate the words and Leonard felt a spark of compassion for the man. He gently put his hand on the Viscount’s shoulder.
“This is fine news, Lord Gordon,” the Duke said quietly. “It means that Elizabeth is alive.”
“Does it?” Percival screeched, whirling to wrench his shoulder away. “How can you be certain?”
Because I can feel it in my heart,he wanted to say but he did not dare.
“Because if it is ransom they demand, they would not dare kill their hostage. Surely, they know they will not get a dime if Elizabeth were not alive.”
“She is as good as dead anyway,” Percival muttered and Leonard bristled.
“What? How dare you say something so foul? She is alive and holding onto hope that we will find her!”
“The only way we will find her alive is if I pay this inane ransom. How am I to get my hands on such an amount, Duke? Tell me?”
Leonard could only stare at him, his heart thudding dangerously in his ears. It sounded as though the Viscount had already forsaken the notion of finding Elizabeth alive.
“Father?” David appeared in the study, his eyes bloodshot and bagged. “Is there word on Liza?”
Leonard and Percival exchanged a look but it went without saying that they would keep the note quiet, at least for the time. There was no need to alarm the household any more than necessary.
However, it is cruel to keep David and the others in the dark when they have assumed the worst.
Perhaps Percival had entertained the same notion for he turned to David and sighed heavily, handing his son the note before Leonard could stop him.
