Page 52 of An Unbending Lady for the Desperate Earl
“Miss Longacre?!” Christian wrenched the door open, to find the young lady huddled in the corner of the cramped space, with her knees tucked up to her chin. “What are you doing in here? Where is Victoria?”
With a shaky hand, Miss Longacre lifted up a creased sheet of paper and brandished it at Christian. “I couldn’t read it, as it was so very dark in here. But I believe she pushed it under the door.”
“When?” Christian pressed, desperate now.
“I-I don’t know. An hour ago, m-maybe. Or p-perhaps less.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I was s-so afraid that I d-didn’t dare to come out of this p-place. Victoria told me n-not to, until she c-came back for m-me.”
“Lord above!” Benedict barked, snatching the letter out of Miss Longacre’s hand. His expression darkened as he read over the contents.
“What is it, Admiral?” Christian stared at the note as though it held the secrets of the universe. Which, in a way, it did.
“You foolish, stubborn, ridiculous girl!” Benedict threw back his head. “She’s lured the kidnappers away, if this is to be believed. She thought they might escape if they were disturbed, so she’s taken it upon herself to capture them singlehandedly. Well, more or less.”
“What?! No!” Christian gasped, feeling as though the world were crumbling beneath his feet.
Benedict shoved the letter into his hand. “Read it for yourself.”
Christian did so, his eyes darting across the scratchy words, which had evidently been written in haste. “No… why would she do that? She promised me she would be safe. She promised me she would stay with the plan.”
“Aye, and you believed her?” Benedict balled his hands into fists. “I should’ve known she’d do something like this. She said she’d do anything to succeed in this mission. Blast it all, I should never have left her on her own.”
“Where has she gone?” Miss Longacre asked meekly.
“She’s gone to your house in the country, and I would wager she’s done it while masquerading as you.” Benedict slammed his hand into the wall, causing Miss Longacre to jump in fright.
“She… spoke in my voice.” Miss Longacre brushed away her tears. “It makes sense now.”
Christian focused on her. “What does?”
“She made it sound like you were within the house with her, though she used my voice to converse with… well, herself. Yes, she changed between the two—her and me.” Miss Longacre staggered to her feet. “She woke me so abruptly, and shoved me in here, telling me to be silent until she returned. I… I think she w-was trying to l-lead the kidnappers away.”
“At least we know where she’s going,” Benedict muttered. “Come, we’ve got to go after her, without delay.”
“And what of Miss Longacre?” Christian may have been frantic to find Victoria, but that didn’t mean he had left his senses when it came to chivalry. Leaving Miss Longacre alone here would be imprudent, if, perhaps, one of the kidnappers was still lying in wait.
“Rouse the staff and go to the kitchens. Stay there until morning,” Benedict instructed. “We’ll have to make a stop at Bow Street, to inform them of what’s happened. And, besides, we’re going to need some cavalry if we’re going after these ingrates.”
Christian nodded, satisfied with the solution. “Let us go, post haste. We don’t know how far ahead of us she may be.”
As a trio, they raced along the landing and down the stairs. Miss Longacre diverged, going to wake the staff so that she would not be alone. Meanwhile, Benedict and Christian ploughed on through the front door, only to pull up short as they reached the frosted street.
“Where’s your carriage?” Benedict asked tersely.
“Victoria has taken it.” Christian’s heart pounded. “We will have to use the one that is stationed up the street.” He had instructed the second driver to wait, at a hefty price, in case they required two carriages to deliver the kidnappers to Bow Street.
Benedict sighed. “That’s one thing in our favor, then.”
“What do you mean?” Christian glanced at him, puzzled.
“Ever since Victoria started on this mission with you, I had a friend of mine—an investigator in his own right, though unknown to Victoria—take the role of your driver. Didn’t you notice he’d changed?” A note of judgment lingered in Benedict’s voice.
“Green told me that he was a temporary substitute, whilst my usual driver visited with his sick family.” Christian gaped, realizing that Benedict had been watching his surrogate daughter all this time. A true fatherly figure, taking care of her, even when she was unaware of it.
Benedict laughed sharply. “No wonder these kidnappers chose to target the upper echelons. You’ll believe any tale you’re fed.”
“Is Green with Victoria now, then?” Christian gulped, feeling foolish.
“Let’s hope so. That way, at least she’ll have some back up if things take a turn for the worst.” Benedict set off up the street, to where the other carriage sat. Christian sprinted after him, horrified that he could have swallowed such a falsehood with barely a second thought. What if the driver had been working for the kidnappers, instead of Benedict? Why, he would have made their job twice as easy.
