Page 49 of A Duke to Restore her Memory
And yet … her heart ached at the thought of leaving. It ached badly at the thought of leaving him. She had only just discovered that she loved him – and the feeling was so new, tender, and raw. It was like a tiny fledgling about to stretch its wings and fly for the very first time.
“The earl is waiting, Christina,” prompted Lydia, gazing at her steadily.
Christina jumped. She must decide whether she would go downstairs and greet this earl – an earl she couldn’t remember, who had apparently been searching high and low for her and just wanted to confirm her identity. What harm could it do?
“Very well,” she said quietly, her heart jumping.
Lydia gave a dazzling smile. They left the room together, going down the back servants’ staircase to the rear of the house.
Christina frowned – she hadn’t realized that the gentleman was waiting in his carriage at the rear of the house. That uneasy feeling stole over her again. She glanced at Lydia, and the lady gave her a quick smile.
They reached the carriage. A footman held a lantern aloft. Hesitantly, Christina walked towards the door, noticing a hand on it, wearing a black leather glove.
Suddenly, the carriage door opened. She gasped, rearing back instinctively. A large, middle-aged man was staring at her, with black hair threaded with silver and a rather large bulbous nose. His eyes were as black and hard as currants.
“It is you,” he rapped in a hard voice. “I have been searching for you everywhere, Christina.” His eyes narrowed. “Come along, then.” He held out his gloved hand to her impatiently, imperiously.
Christina’s eyes widened in shock and horror. She didn’t recognize the man at all – and she didn’t like the look of him … not one little bit.
“No,” she stammered. “I-I have only come to speak with you. I am not getting into this carriage. I do not recognize you!”
She turned to Lydia to entreat her, but to her shock, the lady had vanished.
It all happened very quickly after that. Suddenly, the gentleman grabbed her hand, pulling her into the carriage. The footman holding the lantern pushed her from behind, bundling her inside. The carriage was already moving by the time she even realized what was happening.
“At last,” said the gentleman, in the same hard voice. “You have led us all on a merry dance indeed, Christina. But I am afraid it is over now … and we will marry within the week.”
Christina opened her mouth and screamed. And screamed. But there was no one to help her. No one at all.
Chapter 25
Sebastian sighed heavily, walking quickly across the foyer in Newquay Hall and heading towards the staircase. He was bone tired, and his head was reeling – it had been a late evening on top of a long, exhausting day. He felt like nothing was ever going to be the same again.
The betrayal by Hester and Barstow. The dramatic arrest of Barstow. And then, brandy and cigars with Daniel and some other gentlemen in the library after the dinner party, trying to gather support for his business, to keep it secure and afloat amid all the turmoil.
For if I am not careful, all of my investors will sell their shares, leaving me bereft. I will be forced to sell.
He frowned, loosening his cravat, feeling like it was choking him. His frown deepened. He hadn’t been able to pin down Lord Powell this evening – the gentleman hadn’t gone to the library for brandy like the rest but had instead been whispering with Lydia, of all people, on the balcony. He had seen them together as he had walked past.
I need to wash and then try to sleep. It has been such a long day.
He hesitated on the first step of the staircase, thinking about Georgina. He hadn’t had a chance to tell her any of this yet.
He had seen her in the window of her room when he had returned after the arrest of Barstow, but then Lydia had assailed him immediately, reminding him about the dinner party.
His first instinct had been to cancel, but then he realized that a few of his investors would be present and would have heard about the day’s dramatic events by now. He needed to speak to them and reassure them that their stock was sound. The business depended upon it.
Where is she? Has she retired for the evening?
He hesitated again, torn. He wanted to speak to Georgina badly, to tell her what had happened, and to thank her profusely for telling him about the conversation she had overheard between Hester and Barstow, which had sparked all this.
But more than that, he just wanted to see her again, run his eyes over her beautiful face, and reassure himself that she was still here …
“Pardon me, Your Grace. May I speak with you?”
He spun around. It was Mrs Sollock, the housekeeper, standing there with her hands folded in front of her, her eyes large.
She looked ruffled, which was unusual for the usually staid and emotionless housekeeper. Mrs Sollock wasn’t known for dramatic outbursts.
