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Cecile shrugged. “I never liked most of it anyway. The pieces were inherited from Mr. Preston’s family and were not my taste. It is too bad the Prestons own this townhouse, or I could sell it as well.”

“You have certainly made enough money procuring your friend’s jewellery to be solvent. Instead, your wagers on the horses have you in dire straits. You should give up gambling, my dear, as you have not the head for determining winners.”

She laughed mirthlessly. “And that from the man who gladly accepts my wagers!”

Wickham tried unsuccessfully to smile and it seemed more of a glower. “My associate would be quite cross with me if he found that I had refused a wager. However, as a fellow business associate, I hate to see you struggling when you have made quite a good income with our other little endeavour. Besides, it is essential that you keep up appearances, or you will be of no use to me in that enterprise. No one wishes to associate with someone who is on the brink of ruin, and selling your furnishings speaks of that. Can you imagine what the ton would think if they saw this room? And servants talk!”

Cecile dismissed his assertions with a wave of her hand. “When I marry Farthington, I shall have license to buy anything I want.”

“Farthington? Lord Harold Farthington?”

“Yes, why?”

Wickham held back a laugh. “Well, I presume you have not read the society pages this morning.”

Cecile’s face first turned pale before beginning to redden in anger as he continued to stare at her. “Are you going to tell me what you are crowing about, or do I have to send for a paper?”

Giving up all pretence, Wickham’s laughter rang out. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Lord Farthington has announced his engagement to Lady Bumgardiner—you know the rather ugly woman who inherited sixty thousand pounds, not to mention three estates, when her husband died a year ago.”

Cecile screamed, “How can he do this to me? He practically promised to marry me! Me! Not that unsightly, humourless chit!”

Wickham gestured. “Calm yourself, madam. You will alert the whole neighbourhood to your misfortune if you keep this up. Do you wish everyone to know of your humiliation?”

At just that moment, Clara arrived with the tea but stopped in the doorway, apparently wary of coming inside after hearing the mistress’s outburst. She relented when Wickham gestured her forward. Gingerly moving into the room, she set the tea and biscuits on the liquor cabinet—the only place available in the nearly empty room. Wordlessly, she bobbed another curtsey, before practically running from the room. Wickham laughed, following her to shut the door, and after locking it, he turned to see that Cecile was still seething.

“My dear Mrs. Preston, do not pine for that old codger. I have a proposition that may very well make you a fortune. If you agree to help me, we shall both have enough money to live well—howbeit, we may need to move to another country.”

Cecile’s eyebrows rose in question, but she said nothing. Instead, she walked over to the liquor cabinet and proceeded to pour two cups of tea. Then she opened the doors below and removed a half-empty bottle of brandy which she used to lace her cup. Turning she held up the bottle.

“Only tea for me, with a little cream and sugar. I have a lot of work to accomplish, and I have need of a clear head.”

Handing Wickham his cup, she assumed her former position, slipping into the upholstered chair and sipping the hot liquid as though deep in thought. Wickham was not pleased. Here he was offering her a way out, a way to keep her present standard of living, and yet she hesitated.

“Whether you decide to help me or not, you are never to tell anyone about this conversation. If I learn that you have told anyone, I will have you eliminated. Is that understood?”

Cecile swallowed hard, her mien reflecting her newfound anxiety. This must be very serious indeed. Not doubting that Wickham would do as he said if he suspected she had informed anyone, she was well aware that he had ample friends at his disposal to accomplish the task. “I swear I will not say anything to anyone.”

“Good! In the past, you have taken things, jewellery and such, but this scheme involves taking a person—a woman. She will not be harmed—only held for ransom. A very handsome ransom, if you will. But if you do not want to be involved, tell me now, and there will be no repercussions, no hard feelings. However, should you agree to join me in this venture, there will be no changing your mind later. Is that understood?”

“I have your solemn promise that this person will not be harmed?”

“My solemn promise?” Wickham snickered at the thought of his promises being something of worth. “Of course!”

At Cecile’s look of dismay, he tried to be more convincing. “I am a gentleman and not a ruffian. I do not relish harming anyone, especially as that entails much greater punishment if one is caught in the act.”

Cecile frowned at the mention of punishment, making him chuckle. “Rest assured, I have an excellent plan and do not intend to get caught. Mind you, I will do whatever I must to protect myself. However, I feel certain all can be accomplished without any violence whatsoever.”

Realising that there appeared to be no other solution to her predicament and with so little money that she would likely have to sell her estate next in order to satisfy her creditors, Cecile acquiesced. After all, should Marvin learn that I have been selling the furnishings from this townhouse, I shall have no choice but to move back to my estate. “I agree. What does this plan entail?”

“If my information proves true, I will have the exact location of a very wealthy man’s wife. She ran away from him some months ago, and he wants to learn where she has been hiding. The woman could easily be worth a twenty thousand pounds reward, and if you agree to help me, half is yours.”

“Why would she be hiding? Does he wish to harm her?”

“What he does or does not wish to do is none of our concern. Our only worry should be what this exchange means for us.”

“Who is she?”

“You do need to know until the information is verified, and the time to take action draws near. The less you know until then, the better. If you have no knowledge of the details, then if something happens to thwart our plans, I will know for certain that you were not the one who betrayed me.”