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Chapter Seven
Ariadne almost dreaded opening the door, in the fear that it was Mrs. Tula back to hound her again. Yesterday, she hadn’t even left for work. She cursed herself for the lack of oversight and was already thinking of all the excuses she would have to give for the lack of coins. The knocks on the door became more urgent.
Leda peeked out of her room, still in her nightgown. “Who is it?”
Ariadne shook her head and knowing any delay would just make the situation worse, threw open the door. As soon as she did, an older gentleman wearing a deep-brown waistcoat walked in with a stick in his hand. “Where is my son?”
“I beg your pardon?” Ariadne asked confused.
“Oh don’t act dumb, girl.” It was Mrs. Tula who came after the old man. She was followed by a constable, wearing the dark-blue tunic and silver buttons of the crown. Ariadne swallowed.
“You can’t throw us out of our home,” Ariadne said, her voice leveled. She would fight this.
The old man walked up to her, too close for comfort. “Where are you keeping my son?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“She’s lying,” Mrs. Tula said. “I saw a bloody shirt by the sink just the other day. She has killed him or kidnapped him.”
Ariadne frowned. Mrs. Tula was selfish but she never thought she would stoop so low as tell such blatant lies. “The shirt belongs to Edward Remington, the sea merchant,” she said as calmly as she could.
“You mean Edward Remington, the Marquess of Whitely and future heir to my dukedom,” the older gentleman said, scowling at her.
Ariadne’s frown deepened. This man in front of her was a duke? She dropped to a small curtsy as the nuns at her training school had taught her. Ariadne’s eyes scanned the room, trying to figure out the situation. They obviously had the wrong man. Was Mrs. Tula truly so desperate to see them out of this flat that she had brought a constable to her home? “You are mistaken, my Lord.”
“Where is he?” the man asked, marching further into the flat.
“He’s recovering in my father’s room,” Ariadne said with less certainty this time. She still didn’t fully understand what was happening.
“Recovering?” the man thundered. “What happened to him? What did you do to him?”
“I did nothing to him except to bring him here to recover.” Ariadne kept her temper to herself but the man was making it difficult for her. Her temper had often gotten her in trouble. Ariadne fisted her knuckles by her side and pushed down all the ill feelings inside her. The constable was watching her.
“I’m telling you again, he’s not a Marquess. He told me himself that he was a merchant who dealt with goods on a ship.”
The Duke snorted. “Fine lies you tell.”
“Tell me where he is or we will have to search your flat,” the constable. By this time Emma had also appeared out of her room. She and Leda stood beside the doorway clutching each other. Leda shot her a fearful gaze. Ariadne nodded once at her sister. The message was clear.Stay calm, I will handle this.
Ariadne stood her ground. The constable stepped forward and pushed her to the side.
“There’s no need for excessive force. I’m here.” Edward had limped out of her father’s room and stood leaning on the wall. “I’m fine.”
“Son,” the Duke said stepping toward Edward. Ariadne's eyes widened in shock and realization as she finally understood what was happening. Edward was indeed the Marquess they were looking for. He had lied to her.
He looked at her over his father’s shoulder with what looked like an apology on his face. He had deceived her all this while pronouncing himself as a merchant. He had even crafted more lies to support his story. And Ariadne had believed everything, almost imagining him out on the ship somewhere, exploring and trading through the shores. The images faded away from her as the truth finally crashed in.
The constable held her by her arm. “You will be put under arrest for abetting the disappearance of the Marquess of Whitely and an esteemed member of the Parliament.”
The shock faded from her veins as anger overtook it. She had been hoodwinked by Edward and now she would be arrested. All the tender feelings that she had started to develop for him, a tiny spark inside her, snuffed out immediately. It was replaced by white-hot anger. He was like the rest of the ton, selfish and uncaring for others.
“Let her go,” Edward said. His voice was barely a snarl. “She had no part to play in my injuries. I was accosted on the road by four thugs and beaten up quite badly. One of them managed to injure me and take my wallet and coat. Ariadne found me, barely conscious, and carried me here to take care of me.”
The constable let her go. Ariadne continued to scowl at him and then she turned to Edward. At least he had the spine to tell them the truth. Disappointment settled in her gut. One couldn’t simply trust the rich, a lord who had claimed a false identity.
The Duke hissed as he examined Edward’s injury. “We must see a physician immediately!”
“Ariadne sutured my wounds and stopped the worst of the bleeding.”
