“And this behavior is not so strange, my dear,” the marquis finally answered his wife.“Not when you are in possession of all the facts.”
The marchioness’s imperious brows rose for several seconds as she gazed at her husband, before lowering again as she murmured, “Ah.”
Julia’s uncle turned again toward the young lawyer.“I am sorry you and your sister appear to have become involved in a situation that was not of your making.”
“Susan is my only sibling, you see,” Masterson pleaded.“She is young and innocent.I could not bear it if those men were to?—”
“I believe it is time for the ladies to retire to our bedchambers for the night,” the marchioness interrupted.“Your father and uncle will be able to deal with this situation more capably without our presence.”
“But—”
“Do as your aunt suggests,” Julia’s father instructed firmly when she would have protested.Despite the fact they both knew her aunt never justsuggestedanything.His voice softened.“I am sure this situation will make more sense in the clear light of day.”
“But you are going to send someone to assist Wolfingham, are you not?”Julia persisted as her mother attempted to shoo her from the room.
“We will do everything necessary?—”
“But—”
“Julia, please.”Her mother was the one to rebuke her this time.“As your father has said, we will discuss this situation further in the morning, possibly when we know more.”
Julia tried to plead with her mother, and then her aunt, as the four ladies went up the wide staircase together.All to no avail.The two older ladies maintained that the gentlemen must be left to deal not only with Mr.Masterson’s situation but also with whatever part Wolfingham had played in it.
Although it sounded to Julia as if Wolfingham’s only part in it was to be struck on the head and kidnapped before being tied, gagged, and taken away in a carriage against his will.
Why anyone—apart from one of those cuckolded husbands she had suggested—would go to such elaborate lengths to achieve that goal was beyond Julia’s comprehension.
Something she reiterated to Amanda once the two of them had said good night to their mamas, gone into their own bedchambers, and changed into their respective bedclothes, then met, by tacit agreement, in their shared sitting room.
Amanda sat in one of the large armchairs beside the unlit fire.“I must confess I do not understand much of what Mr.Masterson had to say.Who has kidnapped his sister?What does that have to do with Wolfingham being locked in a baggage compartment?”
Julia stood at the window, the drape pulled slightly aside as she watched for the departure of the carriage her father would surely send to look for Wolfingham.
Ah, there it was.Their newest post-chaise.Which no doubt meant her father, uncle, and Mr.Masterson were all comfortably seated inside, the glow of a lit lantern visible through the curtains at the windows.Tatum, her father’s driver, was in control of the four horses, with the groom on the box behind.
“What do you think is going on, Julia?”Amanda had come to stand beside her, both of them now watching as the carriage disappeared into the darkness.
Julia shrugged as she turned from the window.“I am sure no one will see fit to tell us that until they are good and ready.And even then, I believe it will be a watered-down version of the truth.Suitable for the ears of young ladies,” she scorned.“This—this, being treated as if I am too fragile to know the unvarnished truth about a situation, is one of the reasons I do not wish to marry and be subject to any man’s unwanted condescension for the rest of my life.”
And yet there was no doubting she was contracted to marry Wolfingham.
A man it now seemed she cared for more than she had ever wanted to admit before now.
Even to herself.
CHAPTERSEVEN
“Why would someone do this to you?”Julia murmured softly as she sat in a chair beside the bed where Wolfingham slept.
Amanda had gone to bed long before Julia saw the carriage returning almost three hours after its rushed departure.
The carriage had come to a stop at the front of the house.Hutchings had rushed outside, holding up a lantern as her father and uncle stepped down before they turned to assist a third man as he moved unsteadily down those same steps.A fourth man moved in readiness behind him in case he should fall.
As Mr.Masterson had been entirely steady on his feet two hours before, Julia could only surmise that the third man must be Wolfingham, with the lawyer following behind.
They draped one of Wolfingham’s arms over the shoulders of Mr.Masterson and another about those of the butler as the five men slowly made their way into the house.
Julia had lost sight of them for a short time, but she had heard several whispering voices as the men made their way up the stairs and along the hallway to one of the guest bedchambers.Minutes later, several footmen brought up a bath and the buckets of hot water to go into it.
