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“Preighbrook was of no use to us. As for Sullivan …” Dustin imparted the news as gently as he could. “It seems those hoodlums paid him a visit. When I arrived at his cottage, he was hurt.”
“Hurt?” Nick blurted, ignoring Nicole’s shocked gasp. “How badly hurt?”
“He’s fine now.” Dustin frowned, seeing the color drain from Nicole’s face. “Fine and in good hands,” he added, wishing he could comfort her with more than just words.
“What did they do to him, dammit?” Nick exploded.
“Roughed him up. Enough to be painful but not fatal. It’s a ruse, Aldridge. They’re trying to ferret you out.”
“Are they? Goo
d. They can have me.” Nick snatched his coat, simultaneously reaching for the door.
“Papa, where are you going?” Nicole reacted in a flash, grabbing her father’s arm.
“To Suffolk. To see for myself that Sully’s all right.”
“Don’t be a fool,” Dustin warned, planting himself between Nick and the door. “They’re waiting for you to do just that.”
“Then I won’t disappoint them. It’s me they want, not Sully. I won’t risk his life to spare mine.”
“Papa, stop it.” Stubbornly, Nicole tightened her grip. “Dustin said Sully’s fine.” She glanced at Dustin. “You did say that, didn’t you?”
Dustin nodded. “He was beaten pretty badly. I persuaded a local physician to come to the cottage. He cleaned and treated Sullivan’s wounds, then took his leave, promptly forgetting he’d ever been there. By the time I headed back to Surrey, your friend was sitting up and talking—even issuing, advice. I left one of my carriage footmen behind to oversee Sullivan’s needs and safeguard the cottage.”
“Thank you,” Nicole whispered.
“I’m glad I arrived when I did. Sullivan’s a good man. He didn’t divulge your whereabouts, not even when it meant sacrificing his own well-being.” Dustin shot Nick a censuring look. “Are you going to reduce his heroism to nothing more than a wasted gesture by providing those bastards with precisely what Sullivan withstood a thrashing to conceal?”
“Dammit.” Nick raked a hand through his hair.
“Let me put this another way.” Dustin leaned back against the door, arms folded across his chest. “Sullivan insisted I keep you away. I gave him my word that I would. I don’t break my word. Therefore, I’ll wrestle you to the ground if I must. You’re not dashing off to Suffolk.” Studying Nick’s anguished expression, Dustin felt a wave of compassion. “Aldridge, he’s safe. He’ll continue to be safe. Tuttle is a large, powerful fellow. No one will get into that cottage. Besides, in a way this incident plays right into our hands.”
That captured Nick’s attention. “How?”
“If those men are watching Sullivan’s cottage, they’ll have seen my carriage arrive. It’s hard to miss; my family crest is painted on the door, bold as hell. Thus, they’ll know I visited Sullivan—and the condition I found him in. They’ll wonder what we discussed, and if he told me what he refused to tell them—your whereabouts. Maybe they worried enough to follow me on to Preighbrook, in which case they’re probably agonizing over whether I made a connection between your disappearance and Redley’s death. And if they’re still scrutinizing Sullivan’s cottage, they’ll see I left my manservant behind to guard against intruders. All in all, they’ll be anxious enough to pay me another visit, which, if you recall, is exactly what I hoped they’d do. Because once they approach me, I intend to follow them to whomever they work for.”
Nick mulled over Dustin’s reasoning, then nodded, tossing down his coat. “That makes sense.” He inclined his head. “You said Sully was well enough to talk. Did he fill you in on anything I couldn’t?”
“He added three names to our list—Hills, Borley, and Garner—and provided me with every jockey’s immediate schedule. I’ll begin calling on them as soon as my new trainer is settled in.”
“Dustin,” Nicole inserted, chewing her lip apprehensively. “You’re talking as if you’re invulnerable. Has it occurred to you that these men are dangerous and might harm you?”
“It’s occurred to me.” Warmed by Nicole’s concern, Dustin fought the urge to enfold her in his arms. “Don’t worry, Derby. I’ll think of a way to protect myself.”
“Nickie’s right, you know,” Aldridge concurred. “I appreciate all you’re doing for us, but I don’t want you to get yourself killed.”
“I don’t intend to get myself killed. I’m a very resourceful man. Trust me.” With that, Dustin confronted a far more personal challenge. “Speaking of trust, I’d like your permission to take Nicole out walking tonight. I realize my request is more than a bit improper, but circumstances preclude my following the rules of a traditional courtship. I promise to take excellent care of her and bring her home at whatever time you specify.”
Nick started. “Walking … alone?”
“Yes. Alone.”
A prolonged silence.
“You’ve entrusted me with your lives, Aldridge. I’m asking you to entrust me with your daughter. And I’m vowing that you won’t regret it.”
Uncertainly, Nick looked from Dustin to Nicole then back to Dustin again.
