She couldn’t recognize the man from his voice. She didn’t dare twist to look at him knowing that could mean certain death for her.
Would her father comply with the demand thus ending any and all chances in catching the slavery ringleader?
“I can’t do as demanded with my hands fastened,” she spat out.
“Sorry,” the man told her.
Roughly, he lifted her hands and released the binding.
“Now write,” he ordered.
Without wasting a breath she started to figure out how to compose the message so her father would learn how dire the situation was. Not only that but to let him know where they were holding her. Then she realized the best way.
Dearest Father,
By now you have learned something has happened to me. The person holding me is demanding the Hersey book in trade. The exchange is to take place at the crossroads by the bridge at four this afternoon.
You are to bring it yourself and if you do not comply he will kill me.
Send Sally my love.
Your daughter.
Brittany hoped this man didn’t see the tiny dots she’d put under certain letters. Although not skilled in coding or decoding anagrams as Sally, she prayed the reference to her friend would alert her father she should read the note to find the secret meaning.
“There,” she snapped, passing the letter over her shoulder, only to have the hood dropped back over her head again as the foolscap was snatched from her. Next her hands were rebound.
She heard footsteps walking away followed by a door opening then closing. With a sigh Brittany knew she would be in for a long wait.
****
Frustrated, Samuel stormed into Eli’s office, there to be met by Brittany’s mother and godmother.
“With the ground frozen we couldn’t find even a single hoof print,” he told them.
“The same for me,” Cole announced, stepping in behind him.
Samuel knew, whatever happened to Brittany, the blame lay entirely on his shoulders. If he’d not been so pigheaded and treated her not as a typical young lady of the ton, but an intellectual equal she’d never have ridden off and into danger.
“I’ll be starting out again once the grooms have fresh mounts and something to eat,” Samuel informed everyone.
“Lady Wallace, how is Miss Crocker holding up with greeting the guests?” Cole asked.
“Quite well,” Barbara declared.
He started to answer when Peter rushed in.
“Begging your pardon, m’ lords and ladies, a young boy delivered this moments ago at the kitchen door then ran off before he could be stopped,” he barely got out before Eli snatched the paper up.
Samuel held his breath as the earl read the note. A panicked look in the man’s eyes told Samuel the letter didn’t contain good news.
“Our daughter is being held not for money, but for the Hersey book. Whoever this person is told me to bring the tome to the crossroads at four or they will kill her. At the end Brittany wrote to send Sally her love.”
“Eli, if I may,” Samuel stated, stepping forward to take the note from him.
After glancing ever so briefly at the foolscap he understood why Sally and no one else. Turning to Peter he instructed the butler to bring Miss Crocker to the office immediately.
Samuel turned to Eli. “When Sally arrives she will need a pencil and piece of foolscap. If you noticed, there are tiny dots under certain letters. I believe there is a hidden message from Brittany. The reason she sent her love to Sally, she’s the only one of us who can decipher it,” he explained.
A minute later Samuel stood his ground when Sally rushed in and directly up to him. He handed her the note.
“Is there one of those word puzzles in this?” Samuel said.
“Yes, now out of my way, you oaf,” she demanded, pushing past him.
“Miss Crocker, in anticipation I’ve a pencil and paper here for you,” Eli informed her, stepping aside so she could sit at his desk.
“Thank you, m’ lord. From what I can tell Brittany did it very simply as she’s not familiar with doing them or didn’t have time,” Sally told them.
In a minute she looked up, smiled then turned to Eli, “Do the words ‘hunting’ and ‘river’ mean anything to you, m’ lord?”
“Most certainly, to the north there are two old cottages which I had made into hunting lodges for guests. That must be where they are holding her,” Eli responded, relief evident in his voice.
Samuel watched as the countess stood and stroll over to Sally.
“My dear, fear not for we will get my daughter back safe and whole,” Barbara told Sally.
“According to a particular person in this room we ladies are better seen and not heard. That aside, my husband, might I suggest you send several grooms along the bridge road to set a watch. They will be able to aid in apprehending the man or men. I also suspect the person responsible will send his henchmen to collect the book thus remaining safe where he has Brittany.
“In the meantime Lord Samuel, if he’s not afraid to follow a lady’s recommendation, along with Lord Cole and several grooms assault the lodge capturing the leader and freeing our daughter.”
Samuel’s face heated at the put down from the countess, but knew she was correct in both suggestions.
“M’ lady, you have arrived at the solution. My question is when do we move on the house? Also, if the mansion is under watch, how would we be able to sneak away to accomplish the task at hand?”
“Go by way of the back courtyard behind the stable. As for when, just before the exchange is scheduled to take place. If I remember it only takes a few minutes to get from the lodge to the bridge,” Eli explained.
“Good, then let’s get everything set in motion as time is running out,” Samuel recommended, glancing at the clock over the fireplace, noting they only had an hour.
He then joined the others who were studying the map of the estate.
Chapter Twenty Four
While studying the map Samuel became amazed at the careful input from Lady Wallace. With a glance across the table to Eli, who didn’t say a word but smiled, he finally understood. Her late husband had been a colonel in the Guards and most likely she continued to study military tactics.
Turning his attention to Barbara, who also contributed several points, which were gratefully accepted.
“M’ lady, do you wish to accompany us in rescuing Lady Brittany. She’ll most likely be in need of your support?”
“Yes. I’ll stay with the horses and the groom holding them as I wouldn’t wish to interfere. If you’ll excuse me, I need to change,” she said, then with Lady Wallace at her side swept out of the office.
No sooner had the ladies departed than Peter entered.
“M’ lords, Quinn has only now arrived with important information he needs to tell you at once.”
Considering the short period of time the man had been gone Samuel suspected the news could only be bad.
“Have him come in,” Eli said.
“Yes, m’ lord,” he spoke, turned and waved Quinn into the room.
“Welcome back. From all appearances the trip had been rushed and you’ve not slept in days,” Samuel told him with a smile.
This had been one of the reasons he’d recommended the man, his sense of duty to complete the assigned task.
“Yes, I apologize for my disheveled appearance but what I learned you needed to hear at once. According to your man of business, m’ lord, Mr. Winterbottom had requested his assistance in investing large sums of money over the past several years. When asked, Mr. Winterbottom became evasive as to how the owner of a book emporium had been able to come into such large amounts of funds.”
Samuel mulled over what Quinn told them but something didn’t seem right. Because he had received monies from there didn’t mean the man might be involved in the slavery trade, even though he did have his name in the Hersey book. He turned to Eli and Cole. Both wore confused looks as to the
direction the investigation now headed.
“M’ lord, I can’t help but notice the map. Has something happened which might require some of my skills?” Quinn asked.
“Yes, it seems someone has kidnapped Lady Brittany. We were about to set out to rescue her when you arrived with this disturbing news.”
“With your permission, m’ lord, might I be allowed to accompany you. As she’s soon to be my mistress, I feel it’s my place to be there,” Quinn insisted strongly.
With a glance to Eli, who nodded, Samuel turned back to his groom.
“Granted, but you might wish to put on a clean shirt. Wouldn’t do for you to go looking like that as you might frighten her and that’s not the best way to impress the lady,” Samuel strongly recommended.
“Thank you, m’ lord. I’ll meet you at the stables in fifteen minutes as I see you’re getting ready to depart,” Quinn spoke, then rushed from the office.
“All right, with your groom along we will be able to leave another with the horses to protect Barbara,” Cole suggested.
With nods of agreement, the three men looked over the map one last time then headed out for the stables. Samuel wondered if Tempest could be up for a little more exercise. Entering the barn he got his answer. Looking down the main aisle he saw his horse with his head sticking out the top of the stall staring at him.
“What is it with you? You seem to know when your strength is needed,” Samuel mumbled, marching over to greet his beast.
After giving Tempest a pat on the neck he glanced over his shoulder on hearing Eli giving directions to several of the grooms. From across the courtyard Samuel saw Barbara wearing a deep green habit. Sally carried the Hersey book clutched tightly in her arms. From the expression she wore he suspected what she had wouldn’t be the original but the new one. Under normal conditions, he would have been angry but knew she had her reason was.
Turning back to Tempest he grabbed his saddle and bridle from the rack, stepped into the stall and tacked him up. Leading his horse out, Samuel joined the others who would slip out the back.
“All right, we have about thirty minutes before I’m supposed to meet with someone and hand over the book,” Eli said.
“I’ve put in some anagrams on the correct pages in case this person happens to look. I’m guessing whoever is collecting it won’t know precisely what to look for,” Sally explained.
“I believe you’re right about that, my dear. Now you’d best return to the mansion as a few more guests are arriving,” Barbara said, giving her a hug.
Once Eli departed Samuel followed Barbara to the rear of the barn. There he, along with the others mounted their horses and with the lady in the lead headed for the lodge, and Brittany.
At the spot they’d chosen to halt and the horses turned over to the stable hands, Samuel led Cole, Quinn and two other grooms forward. He found the gully where they would hide, near but not to, until the church bell rang the hour. He’d already decided his target would be Brittany while his men would handle the others.
Samuel glanced back to Cole who’d taken a position right behind him with the grooms at their backs. Carefully, moving a small branch he peered past the shrub and smiled. There in a straight backed chair sat Brittany. Her hands tied. A black hood covered her beautiful head, hiding her features.
His thoughts drifted back to yesterday and the disastrous meeting in the formal sitting room. The evidence she and Sally presented had been compelling and direct. They had laid out their case clearly and concisely indicating the involvement between Winterbottom and Hersey.
Then, he had to open his mouth. Over the preceding weeks he’d learned not only that she was highly intelligent, but also sensible. If he’d only treated her with the respect she deserved then she wouldn’t be in danger of being murdered. All of this had been his fault.
His concern now, would she still wish to marry him? Without a doubt he still loved, and couldn’t live without, her.
All he knew, when he rescued Brittany and took into custody the man responsible for her abduction he’d turn the person over to Quinn, this time without instructions on how to get information.
As that thought passed through his mind he saw a familiar figure walk across in front of a window. Immediately he recognized him as Lord Hersey. Behind was another, Mr. Winterbottom. A third person stepped up to Hersey and they talked before this unknown individual disappeared deeper into the lodge.
“So they’re both involved but could one be the ringleader or was there someone else,” he mumbled, catching Cole’s attention.
With the information Quinn had brought back from London everything seemed the book emporium’s owner might be more deeply involved than first thought. At least, if nothing else the man would go to prison or worse for aiding and abetting in the kidnapping of the daughter of a peer. Now, the only question, who was the other man?
In the distance he heard the sound of the church bell chime bringing a smile to his lips. In seconds he’d have Brittany in his arms, begging for her forgiveness. With a look over his shoulder he nodded then led the rescuers forward. At the door he stopped, stepped aside giving Quinn, the biggest and strongest, a clear shot at it. In less than a heartbeat the door crashed open and Samuel, leading the charge rushed in going straight to the love of his life.
Lifting Brittany from the chair Samuel wrapped his arms around her as the battle waged around them. Of course, with Cole at his heels and first on the mystery man and the grooms bringing Winterbottom and Hersey to the floor it wasn’t much of a fight.
“My darling, you’re safe,” he whispered, before releasing one arm and dragging the hood from her head. “Give me a second and I’ll have your hands free,” he declared, giving her a warm smile.
With the same hand he undid the bonds and before he knew what happened she had her hands around his neck drawing his head down to hers. Samuel could feel all thoughts lifted from his mind as her lips touched his. Not even caring this could be considered inappropriate behavior since they weren’t married he teased her mouth open with his tongue.
“Lord Samuel, unhand my daughter as you’re not, nor from what last I knew, marrying her,” Barbara demanded.
Reluctantly separating his lips from hers, he turned and handed Brittany into the care of her mother.
“We’ll wait for you outside as what might happen isn’t for a lady to see,” Barbara told him, then with an arm around her daughter’s waist guided her from the building.
Now with her safely in the arms of her mother Samuel turned his attention to the three men, bound and held up between the grooms. He started toward them, hands clenched in fists ready to pommel one or all for what they’d done. Instead he turned to Quinn.
“Take them back to the mansion. Sneak them in through the kitchen and down to the cellar. Lock them up in separate cells and post guards. I don’t want them talking to each other.”
“Yes, m’ lord.”
From outside Samuel heard voices, one he recognized belonging to Eli. Looking out the window he saw the earl with his grooms leading two men toward the lodge. Samuel stepped out to greet the earl.
“Brittany is safe and with her mother. We also have Winterbottom and Hersey bound along with an third. With your permission we were just about to take them to the mansion to be dealt with at a later date,” he explained to Eli.
“Good, then these two can accompany them. Now, if I’m not mistaken we have a banquet and ball this evening to get ready for. Later, I’ll send a post to Bow Street so they may collect them.”
With a nod of understanding Samuel turned, picked Brittany up in his arms and set out for the horses, under the protest of not only Brittany with her fists beating against him, but also Barbara, for his barbaric behavior.
“Put me down, I’m capable of walking under my own power,” she demanded of him.
“No, not until we get back to the safety of the mansion and I turn you over to the care of Aggie.”
“Do you know you’re the most irrep
ressibly impossible man who has ever tread this land?”
“Yes, ,” he said with a smile, then threw her on the back of Tempest, mounted behind her and galloped to the mansion.
At the front portal he turned Brittany over to her maid and Sally.
“I’ll see you at dinner, my dear.”
He then wheeled his horse about and ignored the shouts from footmen and guests as he galloped Tempest to the stable.
Chapter Twenty Five
“To begin with, I’m unhurt. Mad at whom, I’m not sure. That being said, have a pot of tea along with a sandwich delivered to my suite. Then make sure my bath water is heated. After I nourish myself I’ll want to relax before bathing and dressing for the evening,” Brittany ordered her lady’s maid.
“As you wish, m’ lady,” a stunned Aggie answered.
“Sally, come along as we’ve much to discuss before Mother arrives,” Brittany all but demanded as she started for the stairs.
“Speaking of such, I would have thought she would have accompanied you back. What happened?” Sally asked.
“Guess? Samuel was in such a state he wanted to get me away from the hunting lodge as quickly as possible,” Brittany told her friend as they swept into her suite.
A firm hand on her arm stopped Brittany midstride. Turning she came face to face Sally, who wore a puzzled look in her eyes.
“Excuse me. Now you’re calling him Samuel?”
Brittany could feel her face warm at being caught. With slightly trembling hands she tried to avoid Sally’s stare but with no success especially when her mother marched in.
“Well, I’m pleased to see you arrived safely and I wish to learn why the sudden change myself. Now, out with it daughter,” her mother demanded.
Just then Aggie entered carrying a food laden tray and several pots of tea.
“M’ ladies, considering everything and how long it will be before the banquet Cook and Mrs. Garrett thought you all might need refreshing. I’ve also ordered your bath water to arrive in an hour, m’ lady.”
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