At last, he relented. “I’m not promising anything, but I’ll listen to your proposal. But only if you swear that you won’t tell her of my involvement.”
“I swear,” Violet said, nodding calmly.
Not that I need to! My sister will see through your deception once she gets to know you better.
“What I am asking is that you help me. By now, Rosalie and my husband will probably have discovered that I am not where I said I was going. They will be wondering what happened to me and may suspect my father’s involvement. What I want you to do is go and find them and tell them that my father asked you to help him execute his plan, and that you only went along with it so that you could help get him locked up once and for all.”
“But—”
“Just listen. You know where my father is taking me, yes?”
“Yes,” he said grudgingly. “We’ll be in Reading in a few minutes, then your father will take you to Wales by himself, where Lord Redfield will meet you. I am supposed to return to my townhouse and await further instructions.”
“All right then. Listen carefully, and don’t interrupt—we don’t have much time.”
“Where is Mr. Cain?” James demanded the moment the butler had opened the door to the Cains’ residence, a modern townhouse located several blocks away from the most fashionable areas of Mayfair.
It wasn’t a bad neighborhood to live in, but as James looked around, he could understand why someone of Mr. Cain’s ilk—wealthy but not rich, landed gentry but not titled—would throw in his lot with Jebediah Crampton, hoping to make enough money to climb to the highest echelons of Society.
“Mr. Cain is not at home at present,” the butler said, raising his eyebrows as he took in the furious Duke in front of him. His expression only became more puzzled when he saw the group who followed James into the foyer—Nathan, Lady Carfield, Rosalie, and Niles Crampton.
“I assumed as much,” James snarled. “But you will tell me where he has gone, and how I can find him, right now.”
“Your Grace, I don’t want to sound impertinent, but that is not information I am allowed to give to anyone who comes asking.”
“My wife’s life is in danger!” James yelled so loudly that the sound reverberated through the hall and made the chandelier above them quiver. “You will tell me where he isnow!”
“I d-do not know, Your Grace,” the butler stammered. “He said only that he was going out on urgent business. The last I heard he had planned to stop by your residence to visit Miss Rosalie.” His eyes flicked to Rosalie, who was standing next to her mother. “Did he not arrive?”
James didn’t answer. “We will wait for him in the parlor,” he said, motioning for the others to follow him.
The butler tried to object, but James gave him such a scathing look that he stopped speaking at once.
The wait seemed to take ages. James paced back and forth. Standing still was impossible. He wanted to dosomethingbadly, but he felt certain that remaining at Mr. Cain’s was the best course of action. The man was bound to come back.
Whatever Jebediah was up to, he wouldn’t involve Mr. Cain too deeply, of that James was certain. Jebediah would want as few people as possible to know what he was up to.
Hours passed. James insisted that tea and refreshments be brought for the ladies, but no one was hungry. Rosalie tried to read, but she ended up staring out the window at the darkening sky. Lady Carfield sat very still, seemingly staring at nothing. Nathan, meanwhile, kept an eye on the staff to make sure that no one left or sent word to Mr. Cain.
He can’t know we’re waiting for him. That will only prompt him to disappear.
At one point, Niles fell asleep, and the ladies soon followed suit. Even Nathan looked exhausted, but he kept watch, prowling the entrance hall and watching the windows for any movement outside.
James was too anxious to sleep. He didn’t even feel tired. He sat stiffly or paced, tiredness eluding him.
Where is Violet now? Is she safe? Is she hurt?
Guilt ate away at him.
This is my fault. I shouldn’t have let her leave. How could I have signed the annulment papers and let her leave?
It was dawn, and James was just starting to doze off when hoofbeats sounded from outside. He leaped up at once and went to the window. A horse was approaching down the street, and riding atop it was a tired-looking Mr. Cain. His cloak was dusty,and he was sagging in his saddle. James had the impression that the man had been riding all night.
At once, he rushed into the hall. “He’s here,” he said to Nathan. “Make sure he gets inside without any of his staff alerting him that we’re here.”
Nathan nodded.
James went back into the parlor and woke Niles, Rosalie and Lady Carfield. “He’s here,” he murmured. “Let’s be ready.”
