Page 25 of Rescuing a Tantalising Heiress
“Come and have a brandy. I’m sure you can meet Isabella later. But we must talk business first,” Edward said, ushering Benjamin into the house.
He called for Marston to bring them refreshments and led Benjamin into his study, where the desk was still piled high with neglected correspondence. Since Isabella’s arrival, Edward had summoned little enthusiasm for his work, his attentions largely focused on discovering the truth about her ordeal.
He had sent dozens of letters in pursuit of this purpose, all of them to no avail, and he was beginning to feel as though he had come to a dead end, even as Isabella remained in danger.
“I’m afraid it’s bad news, or rather, it’s no news. I can’t find any reason why anyone would want to kidnap Isabella. The Duke of Burlington has his enemies—don’t we all—but none so inclined to such cruel tactics. He owes sums of money here and there—but kidnapping someone won’t appease his creditors.
Besides, they could just as easily pursue him through the courts for the return of the money owed to them. As for political rivals, there’s no evidence he’s upset any of themthatmuch. I can only conclude it’s a random act, targeted simply due to wealth. The victim could’ve been anyone, and it just happened to be Isabella,” Benjamin said.
Marston now brought in the refreshments—a tray with a decanter of brandy and two large glasses. He set it down on the table between the two men and bowed.
“Lady Augusta asks if she might take Lady Isabella to sit on the terrace, my lord,” the butler said, and Edward groaned.
“Am I to be asked permission for her to put her arm out of the window? Tell her they can sit on the balcony above the hothouse—it’s hidden from view. But nowhere else,” Edward said, knowing he would get no peace until he had permitted some compromise in the matter.
Benjamin smiled.
“Is she…hot-headed? I’m surprised. I’ve heard she hardly ever leaves Burlington Grange and spends her time absorbed in books and musical compositions,” he said, and Edward shook his head.
“She does, but there’s another side to her, too, or so I’m beginning to believe,” Edward replied.
He had seen Isabella’s passion expressed in her love of poetry and in the enthusiasm of her conversation over the previous few days. On her own, she was not the shy, retiring young woman her reputation made her out to be but a vivacious, open, and delightful companion.
The circumstances of her arrival at Howdwell Heights had proved something of her true nature—a shy, retiring young woman did not escape from a group of vicious kidnappers singlehandedly, and Edward knew there was more to Isabella than met the eye.
“That’s very interesting. I’m looking forward to meeting her. I knew her by name, and I knew her father, of course, but as for why anyone should wish to kidnap her, I’m afraid I don’t know,” Benjamin said, shrugging his shoulders.
Edward felt disappointed. He had put his hopes in Benjamin’s usual ability to discover those things they wanted to know, but in this case, it seemed the matter would be somewhat harder to get to the bottom of.
“No leads at all?” he asked, and Benjamin shook his head.
“Nothing certain. There was a break-in at the home of Sir Cecil Dodds on the night the kidnapping occurred. His house at Forres lies but a few miles from Burlington Grange. Apart from that, I can find nothing else suspicious occurring in the district around that time, and no reason why anyone would want to kidnap Lady Isabella—apart from the obvious,” Benjamin said.
“Which is?” Edward replied, and his friend laughed.
“Because her father’s rich, and these vicious bandits thought they could make a profit. There may be nothing more to it than that,” he said, shaking his head.
But Edward was not convinced. The attempted kidnapping had surely required considerable planning. Several men were involved, and Edward suspected a servant or other intimate had also had a hand in the matter. It had been quite by chance the kidnappers came across Isabella as she walked in the gardens, and it seems they had planned to enter the house and snatch her from her bed.
This was not the work of opportunists but a planned and meticulously carried out operation, only foiled by the kidnappers having failed to factor in Isabella’s pluck and courage into their plan.
“But we can’t take that chance. We need to know for certain,” Edward replied, running his hands through his hair in exasperation.
Benjamin looked at him and smiled.
“But why do you care so much? You didn’t even know her before all this happened. You’re a good man, Edward, and I admire your chivalry, but you don’t owe Lady Isabella any more than you’ve already given her? Her father is surely in your debt for what you’ve done,” Benjamin said, looking pointedly at Edward, who blushed.
He did not know why he should be so anxious to help Isabella. He owed her nothing and had already gone beyond the call of duty. But, in that moment, when she had fainted in his arms, Edward had seen her at her most vulnerable and had known he could do nothing else but help her. As the days passed, he had come to know her better, and a friendship was blossoming between them.
She was very pretty, and yet it was not just her looks Edward found attractive, but her whole being. Isabella was not like other women of theton,with their gossiping tongues and obsession with scandal. She was different, and it was that difference he delighted in.
“Because I do care. Isn’t that enough? Can one not care about a woman?” Edward replied, rising to his feet and going to the window, for he felt embarrassed at Benjamin’s line of questioning.
“One can, but it usually means one is in love with her,” Benjamin persisted.
Edward waved his hand dismissively. He wasnotin love with Isabella. It would hardly be appropriate to fall in love with a woman under his own roof, one who had come seeking sanctuary.
“Nonsense, I hardly know her,” he replied.
