Page 23 of Devoted to the Spanish Duke
“Perhaps Maria and I could discuss Spanish domestic politics at another time,” he ventured.Please take the hint. This is dangerous ground you are treading on, Maria.
She gifted him with a smile. “Of course.”
A collective sigh rippled around the gathering. When Gus produced a satchel from under the table and began to pull out various pieces of paper, the knot of tension in Lisandro’s neck lessened.
“Since we don’t know who else is involved in this kidnapping, I think it is too risky to bring my yacht up the Thames. There may well be people in London,dangerouspeople, who are on the lookout for any sign of Maria being taken out of England. My recommendation is that the boat sails from its usual port of Portsmouth instead,” said Gus.
Not for the first time in his life, Lisandro gave a silent prayer of thanks that his smuggler friend owned a private yacht. Smaller boats were handy for slipping in and out of countries, especially when one didn’t want to have to deal with the authorities or the pesky issue of import duties.
“Agreed. If we go from Portsmouth around to Bilbao and then overland, I think that will give us the best chance of remaining undetected for as long as possible,” replied Lisandro.
Maria slowly turned her head and met his gaze. From the tight set of her jaw and lips, she wasn’t as sure as she’d seemed only a minute ago. “Do you really think there are others who would risk trying to kidnap me once more?”
The moment had come to tell Maria a little more of what had happened while she was in the hands of her captors. Lisandro didn’t want to frighten her, but she had to know what they would be facing on the long and dangerous road home.
“There were men involved in your capture in Spain, and they remain at large. I met several of them in Zarautz, which is why we won’t risk trying to sail into that port. The matter of the ransom is also still yet to be settled,” he said.
“So, my father never paid it? I wasn’t sure if the masked man was telling the truth when he made mention of the money. In my few moments of clarity, I had wondered if this was payback for something my father had done rather than just a simple kidnapping,” she replied.
Stephen leaned forward, hands folded, and frowned. “What do you mean?”
Lisandro held up one hand. “Wait, let’s keep to the topic of discussion. Maria, your family did hand over a significant ransom, but instead of you being returned to them, a second demand for money was made. The kidnappers wanted another two hundred and fifty thousand pesos.”
“Increíble! Demente!” she cried.
He couldn’t disagree. It was a huge sum of money. Something beyond the means of most noble families, though perhaps not the Elizondo clan.
“Now you understand why Diego came to see me. His concern, of course, being that even if your family paid the second ransom, there was no guarantee it would secure your release. And that was before any of us knew you had been taken to England,” he replied.
Maria shot to her feet. “My family do not know I am here?!”
Lisandro rose and stood next to her. “I sent word to your brother just before I sailed. I trust that he will have told your parents something of your whereabouts.”
“But not your involvement or why he chose you,” she replied.
“Likely no. When Diego came to Castle Tolosa, it was without your father’s knowledge.”
“Because of our feud?” Maria said, but her tone was heavy with mistrust.
“Or was there another reason?”
You are clever, Maria. And I appreciate an intelligent woman.
“Your father seems to have concerns about who he could trust at Castle Villabona.”
A look of shock appeared on Maria’s face, but to her credit she kept silent.
I promise that in time we will find out who the traitors are in your father’s house.
This deed will not go unpunished.
Chapter Fourteen
Time was of the essence. Getting Maria back to Spain was the highest priority for everyone.
More than anything, she wanted to go home and see her family. To let them know that she was alive and safe.
Two days after her rescue, Lisandro helped Maria into a small travel coach and then climbed aboard after her. Stephen and Gus were riding shotgun on the roof of the carriage. As a father-to-be, Lord Harry stayed behind in London with Toby. The boy had protested about being left out of the next exciting instalment of the rescue adventure, but Stephen was adamant he would not be exposed to any further danger.
