“He’ll see through it, and you’ll be in greater danger.” Matthew ran his hands through his hair and breathed through his teeth. “We need to be prepared for everything. Aside from Rothwell, our next priority should be fixing the pistol in case I need to use it. Seth?”
“I’ll check it again, but I doubt we’ll have a different result.”
“We’ll try anyway.” Matthew checked his watch. “Our craftsmen will be at the factory within the hour—we’ll greet them at the door. How much time will you need to be ready to leave?”
Seth glanced down at his clothes, and then Cassandra. “Five minutes?”
“Wake Trevor too,” she said.
Seth gave a firm nod, and exited the room.
Lord Blackmoor shared a look with Matthew. “I’ll find out whatever I can, and report back tonight.” He turned to Jasmine and Cassandra. “I’ll place sentries outside. No harm will come to anyone within these walls.”
Jasmine smiled at him weakly. She wished to thank him, but didn’t know where to start. The moment passed, and he departed.
Cassandra rose from the sofa. “I believe we could all use some rest. Jasmine, you’re welcome to any bedchamber.” She placed her arm around Caroline and guided her to the hall. “A few hours of sleep, and we’ll look at this with fresh eyes.”
“I won’t be able to sleep,” Caroline argued, but followed her sister. “You must let me help.”
Their soft voices echoed as they walked away, leaving Jasmine alone with Matthew. His face fell, and his shoulders slumped. Jasmine wrapped her arms around him and kissed him—a lingering touch of lips, reconnecting with him as hopelessness engulfed them both.
“I was afraid for you,” she whispered. Terrified to watch him walkaway with shackles on his wrists.
“I’m so sorry.” His voice broke. “This is my fault. I gave him the gun and the rounds. I thought myself clever, I thought—”
“No, there was no way you could have known.” Even as she said the words, it was difficult to not place blame on herself. It had been her idea for the family to attend the opera in the first place.
“I don’t know what to do,” he admitted quietly. “He’s holding us by the throat, but I’d rather die than let him have Caroline.”
“And leave me alone?” Tears formed in her eyes. “Don’t speak like that. Don’t even think it. I willnotlose you.”
His eyes met hers earnestly. “Nothing will happen to me, I promise you.”
She choked back a sob. “Don’t make a promise you can’t keep, Matthew.”
He held her face in both hands and wiped away her tears with his thumbs. “I’ll keep it because I’m making it to you. We always keep the promises between us, and I promise: we’ll find a way. Keep thinking,” he pleaded against her lips. “If anyone can solve this, it’s you.”
She gave a watery sigh and buried her head in his shoulder. “You have such faith in me.”
He leaned his head on hers. “I have faith inus.”
Seth politely cleared his throat from the doorway, fully dressed. “Ready when you are.”
After another long kiss, Matthew released her and followed Seth. After he left, she paced the bottom floor of Cassandra’s home, fighting exhaustion. She should lie in a bed, but she would find no rest. There were too many variables to account for. Duke Kendall owned the playing field, and he never played fair.
But who could hold him accountable? The only authority above him was the King, and he would be of no help. She needed someone whoheld influence outside of the aristocracy, someone who could act without consequence.
She stopped pacing.
There was one other person who possessed the same level of immunity. One person even Duke Kendall couldn’t cross without causing considerable political fallout for the entire country.
And that person owed her a favor.
She exited Cassandra’s house and made her way to the phaeton parked in the front. The horses snorted in protest when they saw her. A pang of guilt gripped her, but she ignored them and climbed into the carriage.
Duke Kendall would expect her to seek comfort from her parents, but they wouldn’t be her first stop. She drove to her father’s mansion and ascended the steps to the guest wing. Knowing full well the impropriety of such an act, she addressed a Spanish footman outside of Don Lorenzo’s suite.
“Please inform His Excellency I am here to speak with him.”
