Page 78 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“From where?”
Herbert waved the page in his hand and Leonard grunted in frustration.
“Another letter?” he demanded. “How is this possible? Are the guards asleep? What have they been doing?”
Herbert shook his head mournfully but did shuffle forward to place the page in the Duke’s hands.
“What are the guards doing if not guarding?” Leonard roared. “How can three letters have slipped by their posts?”
“I do not know, Your Grace. But God willing, this will be the last.”
Leonard eyed the words on the page and again, he was consumed by a peculiar feeling of consternation.
How did I not suspect earlier that it was not merely highwaymen responsible for this atrocity? What criminal knows how to write, after all?
He read the instructions, his back rigid with tension.
“You will bring the monies at midnight. Come unarmed or the lady dies,” Leonard read aloud. Each syllable rolled about in his mouth, laced with bile.
“Where?” Herbert demanded. “Where is it to be brought?”
“The old mill,” Leonard sighed. “It is bound to be another moonless night. That is undoubtedly why they chose such a spot. It is dark and holds many places to hide.”
He froze.
Could that be where they have been keeping Elizabeth all along?
He was furious he had not considered it before.
“Whatever the reason, Your Grace, we are much closer to having Miss Elizabeth returned to us.”
The relief in Herbert’s voice surprised him. The barrister appeared to have more at stake in Elizabeth’s return than Leonard understood. The Duke studied his face curiously and Herbert sighed deeply.
“Miss Follett is at her wits’ end now. I have assured her that tonight her sister will be back in the safety of Brookside. I do hope I am not made a liar by my words. I do not know how much longer she can be placated, Your Grace.”
“You will not be made a liar,” Leonard told him firmly. “The nightmare ends this night.”
“I have faith in you, Your Grace.”
The Duke wished he had the same faith in himself yet there was little conviction in his voice. There were still so many queries which plagued his mind.
“I must relieve David from his posting,” Leonard told Herbert. “At eleven o’clock, you and Lord Gordon will travel toward the old mill where I will meet you at midnight.”
“That is a harebrained scheme,” Catherine announced. “You must leave David where he stands and travel with Lord Gordon.”
The Duke scowled at his sister and shook his head.
“I will not leave an emotional boy to follow Lord Cooke,” Leonard growled. “I never intended for him to confront Lord Cooke. I only returned for word on where the ransom is to be left. Now that I have it—”
“And what if Lord Cooke does go for Elizabeth?” Catherine sighed. “Surely you cannot believe he will be the one to collect the ransom. It will appear suspicious if you are not with Lord Gordon when the money is exchanged for Elizabeth.”
“Why would he go for Elizabeth if not to exchange her for the money” Herbert demanded. A heavy silence fell between them. Leonard knew precisely why such a thing might occur—the Earl may have no interest in returning Elizabeth whatsoever. It was one of the many issues which troubled him—why would Lord Cooke demand money if his intention was to harm keep Elizabeth? It certainly did not make sense that he would call attention to himself in such a manner. Which was the true matter here—Elizabeth or the ransom? Not for the first time, Leonard considered that the ransom was merely a distraction so that no one would think Elizabeth was being held for more terrifying purposes. The idea filled him with shivers.
“I should confront the man,” Leonard muttered aloud although he was not speaking to his sister nor Herbert. “Perhaps a good walloping—”
“You must stop with this nonsense!” Lord Gordon snapped, stalking toward them. “We will pay the ransom and Elizabeth will be safely returned. No more poking about manor houses, no more confronting noblewomen in their parlors.”
Leonard hung his head shamefully. Percival was right. If Cooke learned that he was suspected, he might do something untoward. Their best course of action was simply to pay the ransom, distraction or not.
