Chapter Ten

 

Annabel thought it odd that her bed was bouncing and considered for a moment that perhaps it was Juliet playing one of her many pranks again. Her cousin had once hidden beside the bed, moaned like a ghost, and pulled on the covers, making Annabel cry out in fright. Therefore, it would not have surprised Annabel if the girl was doing something similar to frighten her as she had done before. If that was the case, Annabel would have a firm word with the woman, for it was a very mean thing to do!

When she attempted to open her eyes, she clamped them shut when bright sunlight blinded her. Two realizations hit her at once, the first being that she was in a carriage that moved along at a steady pace, which was the cause of the bouncing. The second was that she had been gagged and bound in a most uncomfortable manner. The gag, whatever it was, tasted dusty, and she attempted to push it away with her tongue only to leave her tongue dry and the gag wet. Her hands were bound behind her back with some sort of rope and no amount of yanking or twisting could loosen the bindings.

Panic ensued as memories came flooding back. She had been with Don Ricardo, and she had given him permission to kiss her. Beyond that, she had no memory. What had she been thinking meeting a man alone late at night? Now look at the trouble she was in.

She eased her eyes open again, blinking at the bright sunlight until her eyes adjusted, and was surprised to see Don Ricardo smiling down at her from the opposite bench. He reached over and loosened the gag, and she wasted no time in giving him a piece of her mind.

“I do not know the customs in Spain,” she said as she forced her fear into the recesses of her mind, “but I can assure you that when a gentleman kisses a woman in England, it does not give him permission to bind her and carry her away!”

His only response was a raise of a single eyebrow, and she shook her head.

“Untie me this instant and return me home! Aunt Eleanor will be worried, and I will be in a lot of trouble when she learns I have sneaked out of the house.”

“You are going with me,” he replied with a light chuckle. Where had his lovely Spanish accent gone? “And you will remain with me for some time.”

She pushed herself up into a seated position—not an easy feat when one’s hands were tied behind her back—and glared at him. “You are not Spanish?”

He shook his head.

“Then who are you? And what do you want with me?” The fear she had so carefully locked away gushed from deep inside and she wanted nothing more than to weep. However, she would not give this man the benefit of seeing her weak! “Please, Don Ricardo, let me go. I promise I will not tell anyone about any of this.” How she despised being forced to beg, but if that was what it took, she would beg until the sun set over the horizon.

“You may call me Edward,” he replied as if she had not spoken. “That is my name. Don Ricardo Sánchez Ramírez is only a name I created for this charade in order to get close to you.”

“To what purpose? I understand none of this. If you wished to court me, you needed only to ask.”

The man sighed and reached into his coat pocket to take out a silver flask. “I am a man with many names to complete many tasks.” He removed the lid from the flask and tipped it back to take a drink. Wiping his mouth on the sleeve of his coat, he continued, “You are being held for ransom. Once it is paid, you will be released.”

Annabel gaped at him. “Ransom? I?” She shook her head. Then the realization hit her. “I have been kidnapped!”

Edward gave a single nod. “You have been kidnapped.

“But why? And when will I be released?”

He gave her a flat look. “I cannot say much more on this, for I did not act alone. In fact, there are many now at Scarlett Hall speaking with your aunt.” He leaned forward. “If at any time you try to escape or signal for help, or if anything seems amiss in any way, she will be killed.” Every bit of kindness that had been in the man’s eyes before was now gone, replaced by a sinister glare.

“Aunt Eleanor is good,” she said in an attempt to explain the misfortune of threatening such a woman. “Surely you would not allow anything bad to happen to her.”

“I do not wish to hurt anyone,” came his reply, as emotionless and distant as it ever could be. “I can assure you she will be safe as long as you do not cause any trouble. Is that fair?”

Fair? How could any of this be fair? However, she nodded her agreement, nonetheless. The thought of her aunt suffering was made worse at the possibility of Annabel being the cause. The truth of the matter was if she had stayed inside last night, none of this would have happened. What a fool she was.

“Ricardo…that is, Edward, who is wanting to ransom me? And for what reason?”

He shrugged. “I do not know, and even if I did, I would not tell you.” He took another drink from the flask, replaced the lid, and returned it to his pocket. With his head tilted, he studied her for a moment before placing a hand on her cheek.

Last night she would have welcomed his touch, but now it repulsed her.

“This process will go much easier with your cooperation. Now, I will untie your hands, but I expect you to remain civil.”

Annabel nodded. “I will.”

He moved over to sit beside her and she turned so he could work the knots from the rope.

“Remember, Annabel, any disobedience will result in your aunt’s death.”

“I understand,” she whispered, her chest clenching at the thought.

When the bindings loosened, she flexed her hands to allow the blood to return to them, sending a prickle sensation into her fingertips. Once the prickles were gone, she placed her hands in her lap and looked down at the floor of the carriage. Someone wanted to use her for ransom. How long would she be gone from Scarlett Hall?

More than likely her aunt was being threatened in very much the same way she had been; however, her aunt would be told it would be Annabel who would be killed.

There was no one to blame but herself, and that made it all the worse.

Her parents had never liked her, and now, because of this act brought about by Annabel’s foolishness, her aunt would surely not like her anymore, either.

“And you are certain I will be released when the ransom is paid?” she asked, her lip trembling.

Edward did not look at her, but he nodded. “Yes.”

Returning her gaze to the floor, Annabel had no doubt that the man was lying. In fact, she could feel the lie emanate from him as clearly as the sun shone through the small opening between the curtains. She could just make out a forest but nothing more, and just as she did in times of trouble, she allowed her mind to escape. This time, however, no hero would be searching for her as he had in so many of her dreams.

***

Eleanor had returned to Scarlett Hall just after four in the morning, and after a wonderful night’s sleep, she found herself in the drawing room waiting for Annabel to wake. The news Eleanor wished to share with the girl was wonderful, for her prediction had been correct. Isabel was with child.

The idea of a grandchild warmed Eleanor’s heart. Laurence and Isabel would make wonderful parents, and the child would never want for anything, including love. That was one thing Eleanor had tried to instill in all her children in order to assure they had the kind of life she had never been given. Love had been absent from her life during her younger years, and she could not imagine her children being forced to endure the same.

That was not completely true; her father had been the kindest and most playful person for whom a young girl could wish. Yet, when he died, so did that life until the birth of Isabel. Eleanor’s children had brought back the love that had been missing since the death of her father, and she would do anything to see them happy. Anything.

The door opened, startling Eleanor from her thoughts. “A messenger has arrived,” Forbes said. “He has a letter and refuses to give it to anyone but you.”

Eleanor frowned. “A letter?” She hoped her other children were not experiencing some sort of issues. Then an idea occurred to her. “Perhaps the marquess is sending a thank you.”

“I am sure I do not know, my lady,” Forbes said. “However, the boy appears eager to speak with you.”

Eleanor followed Forbes to the foyer, and when the butler opened the door, a young boy of perhaps ten stood on the stoop, a hat clutched in his hand and dirt mixed in with the freckles that covered his cheeks.

He gave her an awkward bow. “Lady Lambert?” He waited for her to nod. “I was told to deliver this letter to you and no one else.” He shot a glare at Forbes.

Eleanor took the letter from the boy. “Thank you, young sir,” she said with a small smile when he straightened his back. “Forbes, give our young messenger a coin.”

The butler nodded and placed a silver coin in the boy’s waiting hand. The youngster’s eyes widened with shock, and he placed it between his teeth and bit down. When he was satisfied the coin was real, he placed it in his pocket and patted his thigh. “Thank you, my lady.”

Eleanor chuckled and looked at the letter. It had no seal to indicate the sender, and she opened it.

“Who gave you this letter?” she demanded once she had read it, her insides knotting.

“‘Twas a boy about my own age, my lady,” the boy said, fear now filling his features as he looked over the clasped hat. “Came in this mornin’ to Rumsbury. He said he’d collected it in Bransworth.”

“Bransworth? I know no one from there.” She turned to Forbes. “Get my reticule.”

He bowed his head, went inside, and returned as she bade. She removed two silver coins and showed them to the boy. “If you tell me the truth, I will give these to you.”

The boy eyed the coins greedily and nodded. “Yes, my lady. I won’t lie.”

“Do you know who wrote this letter? Did the other messenger make any mention or any indication he knew the sender?”

The boy shook his head adamantly. “I swear on me mother’s life ‘e didn’t tell me nothin’. I don’t ‘ave no idea who wrote it.”

She studied the boy for a moment, nodded, and placed the coins in the boy’s hand. “I believe you. You may go.”

The boy gave her a wide grin. He was missing two of his teeth. “Thank you, my lady. I’ll give these to me mum right away.” And with that, he hurried back down the drive.

“What is it?” Forbes asked after closing the door behind them.

Eleanor did not answer. Could not answer. The world began to spin around her, and she had to grab hold of the banister to keep from falling.

“Eleanor?”

“It is Annabel,” she replied, her voice choked. “Please, hurry to her room. Tell me she is there!”

Without asking why, Forbes took the stairs two at a time and returned just as quickly. “She is not in her room,” he said breathlessly. “I will check the library.”

“She will not be there,” Eleanor whispered as she reread the letter.

Forbes stared at her. “What is it?”

“It is as I feared.” She handed the letter to Forbes, but she could have recited it by heart already.

 

Lady Lambert,

 

If you do not know by now, Annabel is missing and will never return unless my demands are met. Your estate is grand and rumors of the wealth within the walls of Scarlett Hall is great. My request is simple. You will pay me the sum of ten thousand pounds in exchange for the safe return of your niece.

 

I realize that the sum I am requesting is great and will take time to collect. Therefore, I will give you thirty days from the receipt of this letter to collect the money. At the end of the thirty days, I will contact you with instructions on how to deliver the funds.

 

Do not doubt that, if you fail in this, your niece will be killed. I know many secrets, one in particular concerning this girl. You know the one of which I speak, for there were far too many witnesses on that particular day. What I know will ruin you and your children.

 

It was not signed, not that Eleanor had expected it to be. Sickness washed over her as Forbes handed the letter back to her, a grim expression on his face.

“Eight people knew what happened that day,” he said. “One is dead. Two could not be possibly involved. Which leaves four. The vicar…”

“Enough!” Eleanor hissed. “I do not need reminding of that day!”

The man bowed his head in acquiesce as Eleanor attempted to bring her emotions under control. “I do not have the funds that are required. I just put the estate back in order this past year. What will I do?”

“I have a small savings,” Forbes said. “It is not nearly enough, but perhaps it can be of some help.”

Eleanor sighed. “No, I cannot ask such a thing of you.” When the butler attempted to argue, she pursed her lips. “I said no.”

She walked to the bottom of the stairs. Uncertain exactly who sent the letter, Eleanor knew it had to be one of the four Forbes had attempted to mention.

“The deeds of my husband know no end,” she whispered. “I have spent my marriage paying for his actions.”

“I am sorry,” Forbes said as he walked to stand beside her.

She looked up at him. “It is not for myself I feel sorrow, but for his children. They have no idea of how evil he was. I find myself fighting to protect his name in order to protect them.” A tear escaped her eye, and Forbes offered her a handkerchief.

“And the money?” he asked. “What will you do?”

“It will take too long to sell anything of value. No one, save Laurence, has access to that amount of money, and I will not ask him again. No, there is only one place I can go, and I have not returned there in more than twenty years. It is worse than a dagger in my stomach to think I will be forced to humble myself, but if that is what it takes to see Annabel returned to me safely, then let it be so.”

“And what place is this?”

Eleanor sighed. “Chatterly Estate,” she replied with a heavy heart. “Today we leave for my childhood home.”