Page 60 of Let Me Be Your Hero
“Thorpe. It’s terribly fashionable.” Izzie looked up from spreading marmalade on her toast and gave a little wiggle to convey that she was now coming to the most exciting part. “The Duke of Trevissick is using it.”
“TheDuke of Trevissick!” his mother gasped, hands flying to her heart.
“By Jove!” his father exclaimed, looking equally impressed.
His new wife was a genius. Archibald had known that since the day he met her, but this confirmed it.
Her tactics were brilliant, and he could see that her carefully aimed shot had found its mark. There was naked longing on his mother’s face, warring with just a trace of uncertainty.
The longing won out. “Archie?” she asked. “Would you mind terribly if I used your new nickname? I mean… I hate to ask, as I know youpreferto go by Archie—”
Across the table, Izzie made a strangled sound, but she managed to hold her expression neutral. Gesturing to her throat, she covered it by taking a sip of her cocoa.
“—but if theDuke of Trevissickis using it, maybe I should too,” his mother concluded.
Archibald swallowed a mouthful of coffee and set his cup down. “I don’t mind at all. In fact, I rather like it. I feel like it suits me.”
His father grinned as he gestured for a footman to refill his cocoa. “Well, if the Duke of Trevissick likes it, that’s good enough for me!”
“Thorpe,” his mother said to herself. “Thorpe. Thorpe. It may take a few days to accustom myself to using it, but it must be done. How I should hate to appear out of fashion!”
“I daresay you’ll master the trick of it faster than you think, my dove,” his father said. “Thorpe. Has a nice ring to it. Thorpe.”
Across the table, Izzie winked at him. Archibald raised his coffee cup in a subtle salute before taking a sip.
He was going to enjoy being married to this woman. He was going to enjoy it very much.
CHAPTER 28
Upon arriving at Nettlethorpe Iron, Archibald learned that the Bow Street Runner, Mr. Thomas Daubney, was waiting in his office.
Unfortunately, Mr. Daubney hadn’t had much in the way of news to impart.
“Three out of the four men you incapacitated have come around,” Mr. Daubney said, nodding his thanks as he accepted a glass of port. He gave Archibald a wry look. “The fourth remains disoriented. Just how hard did you hit him?”
Archibald bristled. “Not half as hard as he deserved. They were trying to kidnap my wife! Or possibly”—it was difficult to say the word—“kill her.”
The Runner set his glass on the desk. “At least I can shed some light upon the question of their goal—kidnapping versus murder.”
“And?” Archibald’s heart was in his throat, dreading the answer.
“All three men confirmed that they were directed to kidnap Lady Isabella if possible but kill her if necessary.”
Archibald surged to his feet. “Kill her?” Darkness swam around the edges of his vision. “They’d better stay the hell away.If they lay so much as a fingernail on my wife, I will tear them limb from limb!”
“You certainly seem qualified to do the job,” Mr. Daubney mused.
Archibald stalked across the room, unable to sit calmly with fury coursing through his veins. “Who is behind this?”
“That, we do not know. The four men we brought in are well known to their local magistrates. Petty criminals with a reputation for running with the wrong crowd, willing to do all sorts of things for the right price.”
“Then why were they at liberty to roam the streets and threaten my wife?” Archibald snapped.
The Runner held his hands up. “They hadn’t done anything this serious before. Or at least, the charges hadn’t stuck. But they’ll get transportation this time, at the very least.”
“Good,” Archibald muttered, pacing back over to his desk.
“All four said they heard about the job from one of the other men there that night. Hugh Jacoby, the one whose wrist you broke. He’s of the same ilk as the others—a common street ruffian. I doubt he’s the mastermind behind this, but it appears he might have made contact with that person.”
