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Lockton grunted. “Why does she think that?”
“They sold Arabella the club in the first place—and it’s been plagued with thives since the beginning. Why would they sell a thief-ridden club to a woman? To their sister? And then they sent Lily on the very interview that enabled her to be snatched.”
Lockton grunted again. “I’d normally dismiss it, but I have to be honest, it isn’t without possibility as far as theories go. Then again, Bash and Baxter could be the targets and the sisters were the weak point the band of thieves is using to get to them.”
That was an excellent point and somehow made Ash feel a bit better. If Lily’s own family had persecuted her, how would she ever recover?
His thoughts drifted to his own half-siblings.
He’d never contacted them at all. Truth be told, when he’d discovered their existence at the age of twelve, he’d been jealous as hell. Those were the people his father really loved. Not him and his mother.
And later, when they’d discovered that funds had been diverted to this other family, Ash had been devastated.
His father had taken coin not only from Ash, but from the entire earldom, to give to those people. What had he done so wrong that his father would leave him at a deficit like that? It had taken him years to make up the loss.
He completely understood Lily’s hesitation in trusting family, and her certainty that the people who should care would only wound. He’d always felt he wasn’t good enough, somehow.
“Ace went east. Obviously, he didn’t find anything. My guess is he’s already making his way toward us.” Lockton seemed to be talking to himself as much as to Ash and so Ash didn’t answer right away.
He didn’t particularly care for Ace. Something in the way the man always studied him. “Bash and Baxter went south. If they don’t join us, that will be a clue of sorts as well.”
“True,” Lockton grunted. “And Chance and Hart went west. I don’t know that they’ll make it back our way.”
“They’ve got their own women to look after in London,” Ash said as he scratched his chin. Both of his good friends, Chance and Hart, a duke and a marquess, had fallen in love and both would be loath to leave those ladies unprotected for two long. Which meant that Ace might be their only reinforcements. “When we were on our way here, we ran into a group of soldiers on leave.”
Lockton gave him a sideways glance. “Now ye’re thinking.”
If they could reach them, surely those men would help fight for the right price. He relaxed a bit in his saddle. “Lockton.”
“Aye?”
He drew in a breath, the words slowly finding his tongue. “If the danger is too great, at any point, I want you to take Lily and run.”
Lockton shook his head. “Naw. If the danger is too great, you take her and run. I’ll stay and fight.”
It was a generous offer and Lockton, already a fast friend, rose a great deal in his estimation. He reached out a hand, shaking Lockton’s. “Thank you.”
Lockton gave a terse nod. “Ye’re welcome. But promise me ye’ll actually keep her safe. The forever kind of safe. A woman like that needs a home to finally be at ease.”
Ash blinked. Was Lockton insinuating that he marry Lily? His mouth snapped shut and they rode on in silence.
Ash knew that Lockton was right. Hell, he’d had the same thought last night. Lily should marry and marry well.
But Ash wasn’t that man. Not for Lily. Not for anyone.
In the carriage, Lily stared at her sister, still marveling at their likeness.
“It’s uncanny,” Lizzie murmured for the third time.
“Yes, it is,” Arabella replied, arching a brow as she looked at her sister-in-law.
“There are obvious differences,” Lily volunteered. “In looks and temperament.”
Arabella gave a quick nod. “I agree. But still. It’s not every day that you meet someone who looks so much like yourself.”
“What happened when the men attacked earlier? Did they see you?” Lily asked Arabella, ready for some answers. There had been so many questions. It would be nice to solve at least a few of the riddles that had plagued her the last several days.
Arabella shook her head. “I don’t think so. Which might explain why they were so quick to scatter when the men began firing back at them.”
