Page 59 of Rescuing a Tantalising Heiress
“It’s all right, Isabella. It’s all right to be angry. I’m angry, too. But we’ve got to be patient. We can’t do anything but wait,” she said, even as Isabella could not bear the thought of doing nothing.
The room was bare, with only a window in the corner overlooking the garden and a rolled-up blanket to serve as a cover, should they find themselves even able to contemplate sleep.
“You’re right, but I can’t…I can’t rest until he’s punished for what he’s done,” Isabella said, looking up at Augusta, who rested her forehead against hers and put her hands on Isabella’s shoulders.
“One thing at a time, Isabella. We know a great deal more than we did, and we can be certain Edward and your father are doing everything they can to find us,” she said, even as Isabella feared Victor’s wicked plans had only just begun.
Chapter 26
The Cross KeysInnwas the usual meeting place for The Order of the Restoration—Ordo Restitutionis—the secret society to which Edward and Benjamin belonged. There was little by way of formal structure to the society, for it had been formed in response to a dire political situation—the execution of King Charles I and the abolition of the monarchy.
Its work had been kept secret through the ability of its members to cooperate without a form of hierarchical structure, and to this day, the society operated by word of mouth and sworn secrecy. Whilst its current operations were largely philanthropic, its basic tenets remained, and when a brother was in need, the society was gathered.
“Quiet, please, let Edward speak,” Benjamin said as the other members of the society muttered amongst themselves.
There were fourteen of them in total, but thirteen gathered there, for Victor was notable by his absence. At Edward’s request, they had been joined by the Duke of Burlington, whose initiation into the society had come as some surprise. Edward knew how angry the duke was at him for having allowed Isabella to be taken, but their focus was on the rescue, and personal differences had been set aside.
“Gentlemen, I thank you for responding to my request for help. It’s been a day since Lady Isabella and my sister were snatched from the gardens at Howdwell Heights, and despite having done my utmost to find them, I’m at a loss to know what to do. I don’t know where they are or who has taken them,” Edward said, shaking his head as Isabella’s father rose to his feet.
“I, too, add my thanks to you for gathering here today. I know nothing of who it is that’s kidnapped my daughter and Lady Augusta, but I won’t rest until they’re found and brought back to us,” he said.
The other men nodded, muttering amongst themselves before one of them spoke.
“What about a ransom? Hasn’t one been demanded of you yet?” he asked.
The others murmured in agreement.
“We’ve received nothing, Lord Palmer. We don’t know what the demands are going to be. But it’s certain there’ll be a substantial request, both from myself and the duke,” Edward said, glancing at the Duke of Burlington, who gave him a withering look.
“And who else knows about this?” Lord Palmer continued.
“Only those gathered here, the servants at Howdwell House, and a gentleman by the name of Hugh Grey—a neighbour of ours, and a friend of mine since childhood. He’s a good and honest man and cares deeply for my sister. He’s promised to conduct a thorough search of the moors and report to me here if he discovers anything.
I think it best if we—” Edward said, for he had decided to tell Hugh the truth about Isabella, knowing he could trust him, but his words were interrupted by a commotion outside the door.
They were meeting in the usual back room of the inn, where the landlord provided brandy and wine and left them to their meeting. But now, the door of the room burst open, and Hugh Grey himself appeared, dragging with him a small, rat-like man, who he threw angrily to the floor.
“What’s the meaning of this?” the Duke of Burlington exclaimed, but Hugh now doffed his hat and cleared his throat to address the gathered society.
“Forgive the interruption, but this man was amongst the kidnappers. I found him in the woodland bordering the gardens of Howdwell Heights. He’s been spying on you,” Hugh said, addressing Edward, who stared at the man in astonishment.
The man staggered to his feet, glaring at Hugh, who looked down at him with contempt.
“I was paid. I needed the money. It was an easy job. Watch the house and report back on what I saw—the housemaid meeting her lover, the butler slipping out to smoke his pipe and play cards with the tinkers, and the two women—I didn’t know who they were. I was told to watch the house and report back on what I saw. That’s it!” he snarled.
Edward darted forward, seizing the man by his collar and throwing him hard against the wall.
“And who did you tell this to? Who were you spying for?” he demanded as the man let out a cry of pain.
“I don’t know. There were two of them, great brutes, they were. I’d meet them on the bridleway and tell them what I saw,” the man replied, trembling in Edward’s grip.
“And where did they come from? Where were they going to take them? Whose employ were they in?” Edward demanded, still not loosening his grip, as the man struggled feebly.
“Please…I don’t know who they reported to. But they…they said something about seven chimneys. A house with seven chimneys, that’s where they came from,” he said as Benjamin let out a cry of excitement.
“Seven chimneys—that’s the Porter place, isn’t it? They let it out for the Season whilst they’re in London. It’s not far from here, in Barton Dene,” he said, and Edward tossed the man aside, calling out for the others to follow him.
“Quickly, there’s not a moment to lose—to Barton Dene,” he cried, urging the rest of the society to follow him.
