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“I beg your pardon?” Catherine could not see any connection between what she’d just heard and Fredericks. “Surely you do not suspect Fredericks of being responsible for something so despicable?”
Nicholas ran a hand through his hair. “I cannot give credence to my suspicion, yet he was noticeably absent after the first attempt. He was not himself when we found him either.”
She recalled how rude he was that evening. “Oh, Nicholas, he had just spent hours waiting with your father. That is enough to undo anyone. You cannot possibly believe Fredericks culpable of blackmail.”
“No, I do not. I cannot.”
“All well and fine, Walford, but I think it best we keep our plans in the confines of this room. I suggest you not even tell your father of this latest missive,” Thornwood said, glancing at Catherine before returning his attention to Nicholas.
Catherine was relieved to see the hint of a smile as Nicholas stared at his friend.
“Ourplans, Thornwood?” Nicholas asked, a full-fledged smile softening the tension in his face.
Lord Thornwood shrugged. “In for a penny, in for a pound. Besides, I haven’t had this much excitement in my life since our time at Eton.” His face grew more serious. “I would not leave you to face this criminal alone. Be he moral reformer or rankled employee, he is in the wrong. You’ve done nothing to deserve such egregious threats.”
Catherine agreed. Nicholas had left to fight for his country and returned to a nightmare.
“Now tell me about these hallowed halls?” Lord Thornwood pulled a chair closer to the settee, and Nicholas outlined the structure and its location.
“So there are two paths leading to the folly, am I correct?”
“Yes”—Nicholas sat back—“two directions to come from or escape down. Unless he goes through the folly. It would be possible to get out a window, I would think. I’ve never tried it, but depending on how agile the bastard is…”
Lord Thornwood stiffened, looking pained.
Nicholas caught his glance and grimaced with contrition. “I do apologize, Catherine. I fear the army has loosened my verbal restraint.”
“You have been cursing since you came home. I don’t think this is the time for you to worry about refining your speech.” She patted his arm and smiled at Lord Thornwood. “Although, I do thank you for your concern.”
Thornwood’s shoulders visibly relaxed, and he continued. “So three points to be covered. How is your man Langdon?”
“Better but not good enough. I will not have him wounded again.”
“I can watch,” Catherine offered, anxious to be part of the solution. She could not bear another evening of walking the floors.
“No.”
“But, Nicholas—”
“We’ll take care of it.” He scowled at her. She tried to protest again, but he cut her off. “I said no.”
That was it? No? Like he was speaking to some child? How could he simply dismiss her and continue to plan as though she was not even in the room?Well, bloody hell to that!She stood abruptly, her temples popping with swelling anger.
“I’ll not sit passively by while you men work things out! You may have been fighting on the continent, Nicholas Sinclair, but I have been waging my own war here. And I am entirely sick and tired of men telling me what to do, and where to be, leaving me with no choices. Well, I’ve been part of this mess since the beginning, and I’ll not have you shut me out now. This is my war too. My brother, my father—myfamily. I was willing to give up everything”—she shook her finger at him—“including you. I’ll be damned if I’m now going to stand by and letyou mentake care of it like I am some schoolroom miss. I deserve better. I’ve earned it!”
“Catherine, for God’s sake, not now.” He ran both hands through his hair, shaking his head back and forth.
Lord Thornwood cleared his throat. “We could do with a third, Walford.”
“Well, it willnotbe Catherine.” He got up and walked to the window. “Time is running out.”
She took a step toward him. “Then let me—”
“No, and I’ll not listen to any more of this.” He leaned his forehead against the windowpane. “At least the rain has stopped.” He turned to her, sighing. “You can be of assistance. Go to your father. Tell him everything that’s happened. Ask him to station himself beyond the folly in case the blackguard goes through the building and tries to escape through a window.”
“Are you not concerned she’ll be seen?” Thornwood asked, frowning at the suggestion.
“She goes back and forth frequently, so it shouldn’t look suspicious. Besides, I’m banking on his apparent fondness for her and the fact that, at this late hour, the scoundrel is already in position. I assume he has done so each evening, since he could not possibly know when I would find the letter.”
He moved to her then and cupped her shoulders. “Go to the stables. You won’t be able to get to your father in time if you walk.”
She was unable to speak, fury and fear clogging her throat. She turned to go.
“Catherine.”
She paused.
“I mean it. Straight to Stratton Hall. And stay there. Take your girl with you.”
It took every measure of her control not to slam the door as she left.
