Page 8 of Devoted to the Spanish Duke
He had dealt with enough of these sorts of situations to know that the people who had taken Maria were professionals. Only amateurs added threats of bodily harm to ransom notes. It was awful to think that the beauty from the wedding ball had been kidnapped. But he wasn’t sure as to what it had to do with him.
Odd that the kidnappers stated the ransom amount in dollars not pesos. Only foreigners call our currency Spanish dollars. Perhaps that’s a clue as to who could have taken Maria.
When he lifted his gaze from the paper, he asked the question which had been forefront of his mind from the second he saw the Elizondo family coach. “Why are you here?”
Diego pointed to the note. “Because my father has done everything, he can to find Maria. Even Don Delgado has combed the country far and wide. There is no sign of her.”
“Don Delgado? What does the Count of Bera have to do with this?” replied Lisandro.
“He and my sister are meant to be betrothed shortly.”
Lisandro kept his opinion of Don Delgado to himself. Now was not the time to make mention of his lack of regard for the count. At least the man had done what he could to find Maria.
“Don de Aguirre, I am here because while our families are sworn enemies, I believe you are the only man in Spain who stands any real chance of finding my sister alive and returning her to us,” he added.
Diego’s words set Lisandro’s nerves on edge. What exactly did he know about Lisandro’s past that would have allowed him to form that sort of opinion?
“I am but a simple wheat farmer,” Lisandro replied, keeping his voice steady.
Diego, to his credit, met and held Lisandro’s gaze. “But you were more than that when you helped force the French to release the king from imprisonment. I have heard a whisper that you worked with the English during the war. Do I need to go on?” asked Diego.
It was common knowledge that Lisandro had been personally thanked by King Ferdinand for his efforts in returning him to the Spanish throne. But Lisandro’s clandestine dealings with the British were not something he was keen to make public.
He held up his hand. “Enough. Let us agree that I have a history of dealing with difficult situations and leave it at that, though I do find it somewhat strange that you are the one who has come to me for help rather than your father. From the way you have disguised your family coat of arms on the travel coach, I take it that the Duke of Villabona doesn’t know you are here.”
Diego looked back toward the entrance of the garden before turning and stepping in close. “I fear that someone in my father’s house is involved in Maria’s disappearance. And they must have been working with someone in Zarautz in order to coordinate the kidnapping of my sister. I don’t know who or how, but I feel it in my bones. A loyal family advisor, Señor Perez, was attacked when my sister was taken, and that also gives me great cause for concern. The man was found dazed and wandering the beach several hours after Maria disappeared. If whoever is behind this outrage is prepared to attack an honorable old man such as him, who knows what else they will do to my family? I think it imprudent to involve my father at this juncture. Too many eyes are watching him.”
“Then why not pay the money? While what they are asking for is a king’s ransom, the kidnappers must know that your father will be able to find it,” replied Lisandro.
“If only it was that simple. This is not the first ransom note we have received. An earlier amount was already paid. When we delivered it to the head priest at the cathedral in Bilbao, instead of handing over Maria, he gave us the second demand. The unfortunate man was most apologetic,” said Diego. The young man tugged the hat from his head and raked his fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes and screwed up his face.
Lisandro doubted Diego could look any more uncomfortable. He must have swallowed a great deal of pride before deciding to come cap-in-hand to his enemy, asking for help.
“My father has fallen out of favor with the king. I have a horrible suspicion that powerful men are behind all this—men who don’t care whether Maria is returned safely to us or not.”
You, poor man. I cannot begin to imagine what you must be going through.
Pity for the son of his enemy filled Lisandro’s heart. No one deserved to suffer the way Diego de Elizondo had.
“My father would beat me if he heard me say this— but Don de Aguirre, I think you are a man of honor. I am begging you to help save my sister.”
Lisandro had dealt with kidnappers before; he even had friends who did it professionally in return for a hefty fee. But the tenuous state of his own finances wouldn’t enable him to get very far if he had to pay his way in order to find Maria.
“I am not sure how much use I would be, considering the situation between our families,” he replied.
“If you want money, name your price. I will pay whatever it takes to get Maria back,” said Diego.
Lisandro scrubbed at his face with his hands. For some odd reason, the thought of taking money from his foe didn’t quite sit right with him.
But this might be an opportunity to gain something else of greater value than just money. Perhaps even finally put an end to this ridiculous feud—and create a bond between us.
“You have been honest with me, Diego, so it is only right that I tell you my purse is almost threadbare, and I will need money to fund this mission. As to any other payment—I don’t want your gold. My reward price, which is not negotiable, is that if I manage to rescue Maria, you allow me to attempt a friendship with her.”
Diego frowned. “I don’t understand.”
How do I put this? Hmm.
“I found your sister to be both beautiful and enchanting; she and I made a small connection that night on the terrace at Palacio de Narros.A connection that I would like to see grow,” replied Lisandro.
