AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty
Seth pounded on the door.
The night was still, and no lights could be seen through window or doorway, yet the wealth and arrogance of the street was palpable. The façade of each house was clean and without fault.
Still, what Seth wouldn’t give for his gun just now to be hanging by his side.
There were times when, try as one might, words were not sufficient.
Charlotte stood next to him. He’d questioned bringing her—an unexpected late-night visit with a wanton hobnail wasn’t exactly the proper place for a lady. Then again, she wouldn’t have let him leave her either at home or in the carriage, even if he had tried.
Seth pounded again.
Finally, the door opened a few inches, but instead of light shining through the crack, he could only see darker shadows.
“I am here to speak with Windham.” Seth’s voice boomed in the quiet night.
“I’m sorry, sir,” came a creaking voice. “He’s abed. He’s been out seeing to business since early this afternoon and only just got back.”
“I apologize for the inconvenience, but I must speak with him right away.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” the unseen man spoke those same words, a bit firmer this time. “He can’t be disturbed.”
Charlotte leaned in so the manservant behind the door could see her better. “Do you mean to say he would turn down the direct request of a marchioness?” Charlotte turned and spoke to Seth, “I shall have to tell the Duke of Devonshire next time we are at dinner together.”
The door swung open quickly. “I am so sorry, my lady, I didn’t see you there.”
Charlotte gave Seth a quick wink, and they strode past him inside. Seth didn’t let her go far before catching up with her. She was brilliant getting them inside, but he wasn’t about to let her go far alone.
For the first time, Seth was able to see a little of the footman who’d answered the door. He’d clearly been pulled from bed at Seth’s pounding and was not fully dressed even now. Though he wore breeches and his shirt was tucked in as it should be, he had no cravat, and his shirt was open at the top.
“If you’ll excuse me,” the man said, “I’ll go wake Lord Windham right away.”
They were left, the two of them with only a small bit of early moonlight filtering in through the still-open door.
“Do you think he’ll tell you where he took her?” Emma asked in a whisper.
“Not willingly,” Seth said, also keeping his voice low. “He was going on the assumption that Emma would be too scared to say anything. Now that the mighty Lady Blackmore is involved, who knows how he’ll respond?”
It was the uncertainty that most scared Seth. A man, much like an animal, could behave most erratically when backed into a corner.
A moment later, the round form of Lord Windham entered the room. He was more fully dressed than the footman had been, but his cravat was still limp about his neck.
“All right,” he said, eying first Seth and then Charlotte. “What’s this all about?”
“We’ve come about Jane,” Seth said.
Lord Windham was silent. He moved past them and farther across the entryway until he stood beside the window nearest the front door.
“I’m afraid I don’t know any Jane,” he said, his back toward them.
Charlotte shot Seth a look that showed she didn’t believe him in the least.
“Emma Tilbury’s sister,” Seth continued. “You asked to see her at the asylum this afternoon, and soon thereafter it was found the girl was missing.”
Lord Windham did not turn around. “It wouldn’t be the first time an orphan ran away. I suppose, like her sister, she didn’t know a good thing when it was handed to her on a silver platter. Either way, I had nothing to do with it, I can assure you.”
“Is she here in the house?” Seth asked. If the man didn’t start talking soon, he may have to resort to fists over words.
