by Holly Newman
"Havelock's cousin."
He nodded. "He went looking for her. People had assumed she'd eloped, but he wanted to know that for sure. He did find her. She was ill, her mind gone. He took her to the best doctors he could find, but she was beyond mental recovery. She lives to this day in an asylum in Switzerland. He set out to discover how she came to be in that condition. That's how he learned about white slavery. When he told the government they admitted some slight knowledge of this practice, but did not know the leaders. They gave him that task." He took a sip of sherry.
"He had suspicions for a long while, but no proof. Elsdon and Waddley were too clever. Then he discovered Haukstrom's involvement. He was quick to identify him as a weak link."
"Actually, I'm surprised Elsdon kept Randolph around and alive as long as he did," Cecilia admitted.
"I believe it was your brother's occasional flashes of brilliance that appealed to Elsdon. The fact that he, too, went out and blatantly procured a woman for another man, much as Elsdon did at the beginning of his career, was something of a bond between them. He also appreciated the way he tricked Waddley into marrying you as a way of saving you. That delighted his Machiavellian mind."
"Why did Havelock abduct Angel?"
"He was trying to save her from Elsdon. He was certain she would either be killed outright or taken as a shipment. Through Haukstrom she knew too much. Elsdon couldn't afford to have her around. Unfortunately, Angel didn't trust Havelock any more than she did Elsdon."
Cecilia shook her head sadly. "Such a waste. What about Havelock? What's he going to do now?"
"He says he's going to rebuild Havelock Manor and settle there. However, when I left him this afternoon, he was planning on visiting the Amblethorps. I understand they were frequent visitors in his country neighborhood. I believe it was his intention to personally thank a member of that family for the unswerving faith she carried in him."
Cecilia's eyes widened and she clapped her hands in delight. "I shall be interested to observe what transpires there!"
"Well, you are doomed to disappointment"
`Why?"
"You're going to have to learn second hand what happens. You're not going to be around to observe. We are eloping, remember?"
"So soon?"
He pulled a special license from his pocket. "It has been a fatiguing day, but procuring this was my last and most important errand. Tomorrow morning this will allow us to be joined as man and wife. Immediately afterwards we are leaving for Scotland. Your maid has already begun packing your things. But I warn you, she has strict instructions to leave everything black, gray, or anything else resembling mourning, behind."
He glanced at the mantle clock and grimaced. "It is nearly five. Lady Meriton is expecting the duke and your father here at five. We don't have much time," he growled, gathering her in his arms.
She lifted her face to meet his kiss, tingling in expectation.
Their lips touched just as the first peremptory knock touched the parlor door. They broke apart, the normally urbane Sir James Branstoke swearing. Cecilia giggled.
"Tomorrow," he said severely.
"Forever," she promised as the door opened.
Thanks so much for reading The Waylaid Heart. If you enjoyed my book, please considered going back to Amazon and leaving a review and "Like"ing it.
As a child I was an avid reader, and if I didn't have anything to read, I wrote stories for myself. I wrote mysteries and action stories and science fiction. I wrote in pencil and filled notebook upon notebook. I still have one of those notebooks sitting on a shelf over my desk.
But I never thought of writing historical fiction. Then I joined a regency historical dance recreation group and immersed myself in the regency era. Consequently, I played at writing regency stories.
When I had the opportunity to speak to a literary agent I pitched my romantic suspense novels to her. That didn't interest her. She asked if I had anything else. I said I had been playing with a regency romance. That got her interest and she asked to see it. A few months later she found a publisher and I was off and writing furiously.
Unfortunately, publishers don't keep most books available in stores for very long, so I am bringing out my novels once again, but this time available for you on Kindle.
Titles available now are:
The Heart's Companion
The Rocking Horse a Regency Christmas short story
Coming to Kindle eBooks in 2013:
A Heart in Jeopardy