Page 94 of The Curious Life of the Unfortunate Duchess
“Wh-what does this mean?” Leonard asked but he suspected he knew precisely what it meant—Lord Cooke had never been responsible for Elizabeth’s capture.
“Someone wished you to think Lord Cooke was the man responsible and went through great lengths to ensure you thought as much.”
Leonard’s breaths grew slightly shorter.
The ransom letters coming to the house without detection, Jasper being paid to stall the coach and now the shoe being put on Cooke’s land—it can only be surmised that there is certainly someone inside the house working against me.
Footsteps approached them quickly through the shadows and David’s face appeared before them.
“Is it true?” he demanded. “Is Elizabeth home?”
“It is.”
David knew of our intention to examine Lord Cooke’s home. He loathed to share his sister’s affections with any man, particularly me. Lord Cooke also showed Elizabeth undue attention.
But he was just a boy. Was he capable of such treachery, of hiring men to harm his own sister, the sister who had always been like a mother to him? Leonard’s mind journeyed back to the day the first ransom note had come in and how the boy had brazenly asked the Duke for the money when the Viscount had been unable. Beatrice arrived then, a pot of boiling water in her hands.
“Pardon me,” she murmured and Leonard stepped aside, permitting her to enter the chambers.
“May I see her?” David asked. “Has she said who did this to her?”
Leonard glanced at his sister and he wondered if she had reached the same conclusion. It was difficult to gauge her expression but from what he could see, Catherine did not seem to regard David with any wariness.
“You may see her after she has bathed,” Catherine answered when Leonard did not volunteer a response.
“Please send for me when she is ready,” David implored but Leonard could not bring himself to agree.
“Of course, David,” Catherine spoke again and cast her brother a strange look as the youngest Follett reluctantly ambled away.
“Why do you stare at him like that?” Catherine asked. “He only wishes to see his sister. You cannot monopolize her, as much as you feel that is necessary.”
Leonard remained silent, weighing the idea of telling his sister his suspicions.
“Leo!”
“I have my reasons,” Leonard replied enigmatically, staring down the hall pensively. If his theory was correct and David had done the unthinkable, he would not be happy about the ransom being unpaid and about Elizabeth escaping. He only just sent another ransom demand minutes before Elizabeth had arrived. Dread and fear twisted in Leonard’s gut.
Is David foolish enough to attempt to finish what he started?
Chapter 30
Elizabeth closed her eyes but when she did, a flash of Cooper’s cold blue eyes flashed before her face and her lids would jerk open as though she had been shocked.
Cooper is gone. Mark is gone. You are safe in Brookside now with your beloved family and the man you are bound to marry.
She tried to hold fast to the comfort of those thoughts but it was difficult when she knew Cooper was still at large, possibly seeking revenge for her escape.
What if he does return for me? Will he kill me as he promised?
Elizabeth knew that all the words Leonard had spoken were true, that he would never again let anything befall her while in his care but if it had happened once, it could happen again. She could not spend her life looking over her shoulder, wondering if Cooper might appear at any moment.
And if he should return and Leonard is hurt?
She sat forward in the tub, having forgotten that she was in the company of another.
“All is well, Miss Elizabeth,” Beatrice told her softly. “Permit me to wash your back.”
Elizabeth granted her a weak smile.
