Page 49 of Rescuing a Tantalising Heiress
“I hope we all are—eventually,” she replied.
***
It was late the next morning when the sound of a carriage arriving brought Edward to his study window. He sighed, knowing who his visitor would be.
The carriage belonged to Victor Radcliffe, and as it pulled round to the front of the house, Edward could see him and Benjamin sitting in the compartment. A few moments later, they were ushered into the study, and Edward bid Marston bring a decanter of brandy and glasses, even as the butler raised his eyebrows at the early hour.
“I always forget what a fine house Howdwell Heights is,” Victor said, looking around Edward’s study and nodding with a look of satisfaction.
“It’s a fine house. I’m blessed to call it home,” Edward replied.
He was curious as to Victor’s insistence on calling on him and wondered what his associate knew of the happenings surrounding the attempted kidnapping of Isabella. But Edward had no intention of revealing the truth about Isabella’s presence. He did not trust Victor, and with the brandy poured, he waited for the explanation he sought.
“We need to discuss the plans for the hospital,” Benjamin said, glancing at Edward’s desk, where the neatly addressed envelopes that Isabella had written were stacked in piles.
“Yes, it looks as though you’ve been busy, Edward,” Victor said.
“I have, yes, but…you didn’t come here only to discuss the hospital, did you? We met last month. There’s really very little else to say, for now,” he said, and Victor nodded.
“I understand you wanted to know about happenings in the district. Benjamin mentioned you’d had some trouble on the bridleway across the moor. It goes over your land, does it not?” Victor replied, fixing Edward with a searching gaze.
Edward felt uncomfortable. He wished Benjamin had not said anything about the matter to Victor. They were associates, but Edward had never trusted Victor in the manner he trusted Benjamin. There was something about the man he did not care for, and now he felt compelled to lie, rather than admit anything further.
“Oh, that…it’s nothing, really. I noticed a carriage had been driven along there at speed, and one of the farmhands mentioned something about horses being out of control. It doesn’t matter,” he said.
Victor narrowed his eyes.
“Then it seemed foolish for us to meet like this,” he replied, glancing at Benjamin, who looked embarrassed.
“Ah…well, I told Victor you wanted his help,” the baron said, but Edward shook his head.
“I thought something more might’ve come of it. You can never be too careful, can you? I don’t suppose you do know anything?” he asked, trying to make his enquiry sound as general as he could.
Victor smiled.
“I know a lot of things—it’s my business.Ourbusiness,” he said, glancing from Edward to Benjamin and back.
“They’re probably just hot-headed youths, driving carriages at great speed—there were some incidents on the London road recently. Drunkards careering in carriages…” Benjamin said.
“But one can never be too careful. I understand there was an incident involving the Duke of Burlington’s daughter. I don’t know the man, but my valet mentioned something he’d heard from a servant at Burlington Grange—involving the duke’s daughter,” Victor said.
Edward shrugged, maintaining his composure, even as his heart was beating fast. Was Victor baiting him? Did he really know something?
“How terrible,” he said, glancing at Benjamin, who also appeared perturbed.
“Yes, I didn’t get the full details—you know what servants are like. They only ever have half a story. But apparently, someone tried to kidnap her,” he said.
“Well…I wouldn’t know anything about that, though one hears of such things,” Edward replied.
“I thought that was what Benjamin meant when he told me you wanted to speak to me. We were both somewhat vague in our understanding of what it was you wanted to know,” Victor said.
Edward was grateful to Benjamin for exercising a modicum of discretion, even as he wished the baron had said nothing to Victor. He could not tell whether their associate was bluffing—did he know more about the matter than he was letting on?
“No…but it’s concerning, certainly,” Edward replied.
“I doubt your errant carriages are connected to such a terrible crime, though I really know very little about it. The duke isn’t someone I’ve ever associated with, and I’ve never laid eyes on his daughter. I suppose a ransom was demanded—it usually is in these circumstances,” he said.
Edward shrugged.
