“Yes, as of today.”
“Well, Collingswood wants it.” Lark turned the letter to show Hugh. “He’s essentially holding Adele ransom in exchange for this piece of land.”
“A consolation prize, perhaps,” said a voice behind Lark.
He turned and saw that Anthony had arrived with Owen and Fletcher in tow. Anthony walked forward. “You said to fetch Caernarfon and Fowler, so here they are. I did some thinking on the way. Collingswood is losing money he doesn’t have on his Jamaica estate each day, so what is it he wants more than anything? He wants the dukedom, of course, but he didn’t have it in him to actually kill Hugh. What’s the next best thing? Land. What Collingswood really wants is money and power, and thebest way to achieve that on this godforsaken island is to acquire land.”
Lark nodded and looked at the letter. “I thought Collingswood might have taken Adele to prevent Hugh and his wife from producing a new heir to the dukedom, but I believe you are right. He may view the title as out of reach now, so he’s resigned to give that up. But he’s betting Hugh will give up the tract he just acquired in order to get his wife back. The land in Kent is probably worth more than the Jamaica estate, which he could sell and use the profits to build some grand estate in England.”
“That is logical,” said Fletcher. “A simple exchange. Adele for the land.”
“Let’s do it, then,” said Hugh. “I am happy to sign that land over to him if that’s what it takes. Adele is more important than expanding Swynford House.”
Lark patted Hugh’s shoulder. “Let’s not be hasty.”
“Hasty? He has her, Lark. He’s got Adele. He could harm her, or—”
“The good news is that she’s worth more alive,” said Anthony. “He’s banking on you making that trade, Hugh. It’s all over the gossip rags that you married below your station because the marriage is a love match.”
“It is?” Hugh looked almost pleased by that, despite the circumstances.
Anthony smiled. “It is. Collingswood is a spineless coward, which means he doesn’t have it in him to harm her. Instead, he’ll use her to bargain with you for the land.”
“I just said I would agree to his demand,” said Hugh.
“What if you could get her backandkeep the land?” asked Lark.
Hugh frowned. “How do you propose we do that?”
“I have an idea,” said Owen, walking into the room.
“Leave it to the Welshman,” said Fletcher, a little sarcastically.
Owen didn’t look offended. In fact, he grinned. “Several hundred years of the Crown trying to take our land will do that. My father’s family may have been loyal to England, but my mother’s family is lousy with rebels. I’m named for Owain Glyndwr, you know.”
“You’ve mentioned,” said Fletcher. “Stop trying to give us history lessons.”
Owen rolled his eyes. “Listen, here’s my plan.”
*
Adele sat inthe parlor of a rather shabby house with her hands tied behind her back. The rope was rubbing blisters into her wrists. She’d spent the last few minutes alone in the room, trying to work out how to get out. With her hands bound, she couldn’t get the leverage she needed to stand. Even if she could get out of the house, she didn’t know where she was; Collingswood had tied a blindfold over her eyes once she was in his carriage.
He’d threatened to harm Hugh again when they’d been standing on the street. He’d grabbed her wrist and ordered her to come with him or he’d shoot Hugh this time instead of just hitting him on the head.
Adele was shocked to recognize the carriage as the one Hugh had been thrown from the night he’d landed on the Sweeneys’ doorstep. The truth of what must have happened clicked for her.
She’d gone with Collingswood so that he would not further injure Hugh. Hugh had acted recently like his memory was completely intact, but she knew that he still hadn’t recovered everything he once knew and, worse, his short-term recollection was faulty sometimes, too. It hadn’t interfered in anythingthey’d done together, and Hugh’s staff had quickly worked out a quick way to help him remember things without making him feel like a fool, but Adele continued to worry about that head injury. Collingswood had clearly been the cause of the injury that still plagued her husband, but as she wished no further harm to come to him, she had gone willingly with Collingswood.
Now she wondered what he intended to do with her.
Worse, she was starting to feel dizzy. She and Louisa had intended to stop for tea after the visit for the tailors, and Adele had not eaten much that day.
Collingswood stormed into the room. “Where is that idiot husband of yours?”
Adele pulled at her bindings. Her hands were tied quite well; the knot seemed solid. She sighed. “Why do you think he will come here?”
“Because the scandal sheets say he is besotted with you. I sent him a letter saying I’d give you back to him in exchange for a tract of land he recently gained possession of.”
