Page 83 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
The questions filled the air like shots in the evening sky.
“Please, all I know is that Cooper is the more dangerous one. He is violent and I am grateful that Miss Elizabeth did not kick him in the face when she tried to escape for I fear she would not have long to live.”
Terror made it difficult for Leonard to breathe and he struggled to keep himself composed in the aftermath of what he had learned.
“How can you be certain that he did not work for Lord Cooke?” Leonard wanted to know.
“I, I cannot,” Jasper replied, his eye wide with confusion. “I only know that there were two highwaymen. I always believed this was the act of them alone.”
“We must speak with the mounted patrol in London at once. We will see if they have ever heard of this ‘Cooper’,” Leonard barked but no one understood his request.
“Fetch me Herbert!” Leonard roared and Catherine hurried to oblige.
“Who are these men you speak of?” Percival demanded. “How have we not heard of them before?”
“The duchy has its own guards,” Leonard reminded the Viscount, his eyes still fixed on Jasper with disgust. “Although they are apparently useless. There is a mounted unit which hunts highwaymen called the Robin Redbreasts. It is a gamble but is all we seem to have any more. We cannot be certain that Cooper is his real name.”
“There is no time to reach London,” David cried, distraught.
“You need not fret, David,” Leonard told him gently. “Your sister will be returned to us safely. I swear I will bring her home.”
“How can you say that?”
“Because tonight we will have Elizabeth back safe in our care. Tomorrow we will worry about finding the men responsible for her kidnapping. Our primary concern is finding her. Bringing the men to justice is a matter for another time.”
“Is that wise, Your Grace?” Percival breathed. “If they have taken her once, what is to stop them from taking her again?”
“No one is ever taking her from me again.”
The finality in his words convinced everyone in earshot. He pulled Jasper to his feet.
“David, find me one of those inept guards. See if they cannot manage to put this one in the barracks until I find a suitable punishment for him.”
“Your Grace, please, have mercy!” Jasper called. “I meant no harm to any of the ladies! I pray for Miss Elizabeth every night!”
Leonard glared at him.
“You would not need to pray for her if you had not put her in harm’s way. The amount of mercy I have on you will depend on the amount the highwaymen showed Elizabeth,” he promised. David grabbed the boy and pushed him toward the coach house.
“Duke, you are weary,” Percival told him. “Come inside and rest before we leave to collect Elizabeth. What will you have me do? Shall I tend to the money? Fetch a map?”
Leonard looked at the older man and shook his head.
“I would have you rest and eat with me,” he mumbled, suddenly exhausted. “We need to clear our minds before tonight. We need every wit in our collective heads.”
His emotions had been stretched to the brink in every direction and Leonard was no longer certain he had the ability to go on.
“As you wish, Duke. Come along before you fall to your feet.”
The two men shuffled toward the house, Percival in the lead. Leonard shook his head, wondering from where the man got his motivation. Every step felt encased in lead to Leonard but the Viscount moved effortlessly.
He is inspired by the fact that he will see his daughter again in a few hours,Leonard told himself.That is my motivation, too.
* * *
The old mill was in the thick of the densest woods in Pembroke, half covered beneath overgrown trees and vines. Leonard could not recall the last time the structure had been used or if it had been in his lifetime.
Not many people would know this place unless they were local,Leonard thought, his mind still trying to unlock the puzzle of what he had learned from Jasper. There were far more questions than answers, each minute bringing about more woe and confusion. The night was so dark, the moon barely a visible sliver following the new moon phase. Percival rode slightly up ahead, the light of his lantern casting an eerie glow against the branches of the trees.
