Page 88 of Scandalous Heiress
That stymied him.“They lefttwice?”
“They did.Yes, sir.Came back for the carriage.Or Lord Ridgemont did.”
The carriage?“Not Tildon, too?”
“No, sir.”
Victor prayed for forbearance.“Tell me what they did.What Ridgemont did, Samuels.A lady’s life may depend on it.”
“Oh, sir.I’d hate to think that Lord Ridgemont did any harm to a lady.”
“I know you would, Samuels.”Victor considered the man with sympathy.Whatever had happened, whatever Ridgemont did, this man was not complicit.Only doing his service to his master.“Tell me where they went, Samuels.What they said.”
“The first time they said they were going for a walk.”
“In the park?”Victor could’ve jumped out of his skin with fury.
“Yes, sir.”
“And when they returned and ordered the carriage, did they say anything?”
“Yes, sir.Lord Ridgemont told me I could go to bed.He and Tildon were going to the manor.”
Richard’s estate north of London.“At this hour of the night?”
“That’s so, sir.”
“And they’d have you awaken Ridgemont’s coachman to ready the carriage?”
“Told me to tell him to hurry, too.”
“Did they both come in the house after their walk in the park?”
The butler shook his head.“No, sir.”
“Did my brother explain that?”
“Tildon was ill.Wasn’t coming inside.He would wait for the carriage by the mews.”
“Thank you, Samuels.You’ve been very helpful.I will not forget your service to me.”
Out on the street, Freddie caught up to him and grabbed his arm.“We’ll need two horses from Seton’s stables.”
“The carriage….”No matter Ada’s condition, she’d need the confines of a coach.“And two pistols.”
