Chapter Fourteen

James squashed his irritation as he approached his London townhouse. Sebastian wouldn’t have called him all this way if it weren’t important. His brother had no way of knowing of his proposal to Charlotte, or her rejection.

He leaped out of his carriage before John had the chance to open the door. It didn’t take him long to reach the front door, but Gideon beat him to it. That brought a brief smile to his face. He’d be hard pressed to beat Gideon at his post, even at such a late hour as this.

The smile didn’t last. “Is Sebastian in the study?” he asked.

“No, my lord. Mr. Tyndale is out for the evening.”

James stopped dead in his tracks halfway to the open study doors. “He’s out for the evening? What then is the urgent matter that called me here?”

“I’m sure I do not know, my lord.” Gideon selected a card off the pedestal at the front entrance, used to hold correspondence, calling cards and such. “I believe this is the invitation for the event he planned to attend.”

James strode back and plucked the card out of Gideon’s hand. “Lord and Lady Downing? I have never met the earl, though of course I know of him.” He studied the creamy white paper, expecting some clue as to what made this event so important. “Why would Sebastian attend a ball when he made it clear my attendance was needed in town tonight and no later? I expected him to be here wearing a hole in my rug with his anxious pacing.”

“Mr. Tyndale made no mention you would be coming to town.”

“No?” Stranger and stranger. “I will seek him out. Is Loring about?” He’d left his own valet at home, not expecting to need him on such a short trip. At Gideon’s nod, he said, “Send him to my room at once. I will follow my brother to this ball but must dress appropriately.” He cursed the delay. His brother’s missive had appeared urgent, though how important could the issue be if his brother were out gallivanting at a debutante’s ball?

Loring wasn’t quite as skilled as Albert had been in his prime, but he had James dressed and ready in half the time. He elected to walk to the ball. The distance was short, and he didn’t wish to get caught up in a crush of carriages that would be fighting to drop off and pick up their passengers at the front door. If he had to attend events such as this, he much preferred to leave the carriage at home whenever possible.

The house was ablaze with candlelight, and as suspected, the commotion at the front door was intense even though the ball was well underway. It took him longer than he liked to gain entrance.

Once inside, he searched for his brother immediately. He cursed the press of bodies that made it difficult to find the one he sought. Dancers swirled upon the dance floor alternately hiding and revealing those scattered around the edges. He scanned the dancers for sight of his brother. Perhaps his emergency wore a ball gown. Were his brother to have fallen in love, he very well might consider it a pressing matter.

His thoughts returned to Charlotte. Yes, love in its first stages was definitely compelling. He itched to get back to her. The way he’d left her created a sour taste in his mouth. He didn’t like leaving her with their conversation unfinished.

The lump of her gun in his pocket struck his side as he strode about the room. Perhaps he should have left it at home, but it wasn’t the sort of thing he wanted any of the servants to happen upon. His reaction had been bad enough. He didn’t want to think what some of the servants might think.

He had to get his mind off Charlotte. He squinted through the mass of people toward the opposite side of the room. Thoughts of her possessed him to the point he imagined he spied her among the dancers. Yet she was safe at his home, under the watchful eye of several of his people.

There she was again. This time he was certain. The crowd obscured his vision once more, but it was she. He strode directly across the floor. Dancers whirled out of his way. They must have sensed his mood.

What the bloody hell was she doing here? And how had she managed to make her way to London from the country? His staff was under strict orders to keep her safe. They would not risk his wrath by taking her to London without his say so.

People cleared out of the way of his determined strides and provided a clear view of Charlotte. Beautiful. He’d not seen her dressed in such a fashion. It suited her. Someone took her hand, and James scrutinized the bear of a man at her side.

He increased his pace. The look that passed between the two caused anger to writhe in his gut. As if they knew each other well. And were in love. Another impossibility. His Charlotte couldn’t possibly know this man.

The stranger had caught sight of him and turned his head, exposing extensive scarring along his left side. This was a man James wouldn’t normally care to fight, but the way the man clasped Charlotte’s hand had James itching to make use of the gun in his pocket.

That would have to wait. He needed answers first.

He stopped a foot before her. Her brows wrinkled in confusion. There was no recognition in the eyes he knew so well. He reared back.

The woman wasn’t Charlotte.

****

The door burst open again. Back already? What more could she say to him?

Charlotte stood, placing a dusty old trunk of who-knew-what between them. She couldn’t keep the shock from her voice when it wasn’t James who interrupted her. “Miss Crawford? What are you doing here? I thought you left hours ago.”

“I did.” Her perfect hair was rumpled, her cheeks pale. She twisted her hands together tight against her stomach. “I returned to… Oh, I shall explain later. Quick, you must come with me.” She raced from the room.

Charlotte darted after her. What was wrong with the woman? “Miss Crawford. Stop. What’s going on?” They’d reached the grand stairway before she finally caught up. She grabbed hold of Miss Crawford’s elbow and yanked her to a stop. “I’ll not go a step farther until you tell me what’s going on.”

“Miss Prudence is in danger, and you want to stop to talk? I thought you cared for the little girl.”

“Prue?” That got her moving like nothing else. She flung around to head back to Prue’s room.

“She’s not there. She’s by the stables.” Miss Crawford grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the stairs. “I’ll show you.”

Her confusion grew as she followed Miss Crawford down the stairs and out the front door. Where were all the servants? She’d never seen so few people about the great house. “Where is everyone? Is Max with Prue? Why was she at the stables?”

“I’m afraid I have no idea. A stable lad is with the child. I ran to the house to get help, but no one was about. I searched for the nursemaid, but Miss Prudence’s room was empty. That’s when I saw the door to the attic was ajar.”

The story didn’t make sense, but they were almost at the stables. A man she didn’t recognize hunched over a figure lying on the ground. Prue! She tore out of Miss Crawford’s grasp and ran the last few yards.

She stumbled to a halt. Max lay crumpled on the ground, not Prue. She threw herself to her knees at his side. Blood covered his temple, matted in his hair. She prodded the cut, quickly deciding it wasn’t too severe. She checked his breathing, concerned he wasn’t responsive when she called his name.

A rough hand grabbed her by the upper arm, yanking her off balance. With a painful yelp, she tried to wrest herself free, to no avail. “What are you doing?” She twisted to glare at her assailant and froze in horror.

She could never forget that face. The long nose, the thin, cruelly smirking mouth, the bloodshot eyes. She shivered and drew back in revulsion. Memories of him dragging her and Alex to the caves, of their desperate escape attempt that led to the portal, of her sister’s prone, bloodied body. The man pinched her all the harder. “Ow.” He was such a scrawny little thing, but his grip was like steel. She couldn’t break free. He forced her hands together and bound them cruelly with thick, rough rope.

“There you go, Mr. Timmons. Just as discussed. I expect you will do as you promised and see that she never returns to Tyndale Manor?”

“Yes’m. She won’t never be seen again. You can count on that.”

Oh, how she’d love to punch the self-satisfied smirk off the evil woman’s face. “Please tell me you didn’t drag Prue into this.”

Miss Crawford straightened the hair about her face. “Of course not. The little pest is likely sound asleep in her bed while the staff searches the garden for the necklace I claimed to have lost there.”

Charlotte let her breath out in a woosh. Her shoulders slumped. The knot in her stomach eased the tiniest bit. Oh, thank goodness. She wouldn’t be able to live with herself if anything happened to Prue.

“I put the fear of God into them. They won’t give up for quite some time yet. By then, I will have found it all on my own without their help, and you shall no longer be a thorn in my side. James will realize we are meant for each other once you are no longer around to seduce him away from me. And when I am mistress of Tyndale Manor, you will be but a distant, unpleasant memory.”

“You self-centered bitch. He doesn’t love you. You’re going to get me killed, and you’re never going to get what you want. You’ll never be Lady Tyndale.”

With her hands tied, and Mr. Timmons holding her back, she couldn’t avoid the slap. Her head rocked to the side from the force. Timmons shook her and forced her upright. The metallic taste of blood welled up from where her teeth dug into her cheek.

“Liar! He will marry me,” Miss Crawford screamed. “You ruined everything. But it’s not too late. It’s not. With you out of the way, he’ll come back to me. Just wait and see.” She smiled, drew her arm back, and struck once more.

“Now, now, miss. M’lord’s wishing to speak with the lady. She’ll get what’s comin’ to ’er, don’t you worry. But I must needs take ’er to ’im in one piece first. And I best be going. I need to let ’is coachman know the deed’s been done so as ’e can inform m’lord.”

Miss Crawford drew herself straight, head up and chest out. She smoothed the lines of her dress and tucked a stray hair back into place. “Yes. Of course. I must be going as well.” She swung around to march off toward the house but bumped into another man Charlotte hadn’t seen sneak up on them. He grabbed her arm, restraining her when she tried to pull free.

“Unhand me. What is the meaning of this?”

“Milord wants to see you as well. Thank you in person.”

Miss Crawford threw her head back and glared. “Don’t be ridiculous. I must return to the manor before anyone misses me.”

The man sneered, and a chill ran down Charlotte’s spine. He had a nasty air about him. And the way his gaze roamed over her and Miss Crawford’s bodies, she didn’t want to think what was going on in his head. Finally, he shrugged and dropped Miss Crawford’s arm, sweeping a hand toward a carriage waiting a few paces away. “Never you mind them all up at the manor. Milord insists, so’s do I.”

“Fine.” Miss Crawford huffed. “Let us get this over with as quickly as possible. But I can assure you your lord will not be pleased that you treated me in such a manner.”

“Don’t you worry ’bout me none. Come along.”

She tossed her head back and stalked in the direction he indicated, for all the world as if she had no idea of the trouble she was in.

Charlotte opened her mouth to scream, but Timmons’s hand clamped down on her face, covering her mouth completely and partially cutting off air through her nose. She fought to breathe through the fetid stench of horse, and she didn’t want to think what else.

“M’lord wants to know what you been saying ’bout ’im,” he said, his lips distressingly close to her ear. “You ain’t said nothin’ to Lord Tyndale, far as I can see. Why? Where you been all these years, hmm?”

She grunted through his hand. Spots floated behind her eyes. She grew dizzy from lack of oxygen. Dangerously close to blacking out. If he didn’t release her face when she sagged against him, she’d be done within minutes.

His grip eased suddenly just as she thought she might pass out. She heaved in great gulps of air, shook her head and tried to force the cloudiness from her brain. “I…” She swallowed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have no idea who your lord is. I haven’t said anything.”

He spun her to face him. Eyes wide, mouth slack, his voice quavered as he asked, “You’re one of them Creswell twins, ain’t ya?”

Before she could gather her wits to say she wasn’t, he pinched her chin, wrenching her face side to side. “Yeah, you are. I ain’t wrong.” He ripped her necklace off and held it up for a good look. He grinned. “I remember this. Planned on nickin’ it fifteen years ago, but you got away from me first. No mistakin’ you now. I’ll give this to Cantor as proof to Lord Stone as I’ve got ya, Charlotte. Would ha’ been better had ya changed that, too, Miss Evans.” He cackled and shoved her toward the side of the barn where a carriage waited.

****

“Excuse me. I’m terribly sorry to disturb you. I thought you were someone else.” Who the hell was she, and why did she look so exactly like his Charlotte?

“Do you mean Charlotte?” the woman asked in a voice much like his love’s though James couldn’t place the accent.

“Yes. I thought you…”

“I believe this conversation would benefit from a smaller audience. We shall gather your father on our way,” the large man said to the woman.

Her father?

“Would you come with us, please?”

James nodded at the man’s request. As if he would let them leave without getting some answers first.

They led him up the stairs to a small, private drawing room. The sounds of music and laughter followed them up the stairs but cut off abruptly when the door slammed shut behind them.

The dark-haired gentleman rounded on him immediately. “Who, pray tell, are you and what do you know of Charlotte Creswell?”

“Creswell?” She couldn’t possibly be related to such a well-known family, could she? Impossible. “Nothing. I thought for a moment the young lady was my daughter’s governess, but I realize I was mistaken.” He bowed in Charlotte’s lookalike’s direction. “I beg your pardon if I startled you. It was not my intention. The resemblance is uncanny.” He couldn’t help his frown. The resemblance was striking.

“Is your governess’s last name Evans?” the girl asked.

“Yes, it is.” She knew Charlotte?

Lord Creswell, James knew him by sight though they’d never spoken, stepped forward. “I believe introductions are in order.” He bowed slightly to James. “You are Lord Tyndale, I believe.”

James nodded, surprised to be recognized.

“May I present to you, Lord Oakleigh.” He gestured toward the man who stood so close to the girl. “And my daughter, Lady Alexandra Creswell.”

His jaw dropped, and he gaped at Lady Alexandra. Charlotte had mentioned a sister named Alex but said nothing about them being twins.

“It sounds as though you know my other daughter, Lady Charlotte,” Lord Downing continued. “Alexandra’s sister. We have been searching for her for quite some time.”

James listened in amazed silence as Lord Downing spoke about what had happened to Charlotte and Alexandra fifteen years ago.

“I had received threats against my eldest, Gregory, but I was naïve enough to believe I could protect my family. I refused to bow down to the villain’s demands. So I hired men to protect my son and continued as I had been. It didn’t occur to me my girls might be in danger as well.” Tears welled in his eyes but didn’t fall. “They were taken from our garden. Their nursemaid brutally murdered.” The man’s eyes fell on Lady Alexandra and some of the haunted despair fell from his expression and his smile showed the love he had for his children. “About a month ago, Lady Alexandra returned to us. She brought hope that her sister is alive as well, and we have searched for her ever since.”

Amazing. Yet another aspect of Charlotte’s past that defied belief. He vaguely remembered hearing about the kidnapping so many years ago. He should have connected Charlotte’s tale to the rumors from back then, but the memory had escaped him.

“Miss Evans said she had family in London, but she refused to tell me your name. I had gathered from some of her comments you had parted on less than amicable terms.”

Lord Downing’s expression made it clear he was unaware of any rift with his daughter, but James focused his attention on Lady Alexandra. What was she doing here? Charlotte believed her safe in the future. Would she be pleased or upset to learn her sister had followed her into the past?

No doubt she would be pleased. Did she not long to return to the future to see her sibling once more? If her sister was here… “She worried she would never see you again. She will be thrilled when she discovers you are in London.”

“Not on good terms?” Lord Downing’s confused voice interrupted him. The man quickly dismissed his confusion with a shake of his head. “It is unimportant. Where is she now?”

“At my country estate. I asked her to accompany me to London, but she refused. I had an urgent letter from my younger brother requiring my presence in town.” His concern for Sebastian surged forward. In all the confusion of seeing Lady Alexandra, his brother’s request had flown from his mind. “I expected to find him awaiting my arrival at our townhouse and was surprised to find he intended to attend your ball. I arrived at your home and was further shocked to see Charlotte, or so I thought, talking to Lord Oakleigh, when I left her safe at my home.”

“Safe?” Lord Oakleigh asked.

“Yes.” Worry for Charlotte brought a frown to his face. “I am afraid there have been several attempts on her life since the moment she entered into my employ. I did not wish to leave, yet I had little choice. I left several men to guard her in my absence.” Nothing short of his brother’s desperate pleas could have tempted him away from Charlotte at this time. The need to know the reason burned within him. He started toward the door. “If you will pardon me, I would like to find my brother. His missive sounded quite urgent.”

Lord Oakleigh blocked his exit. “You can find your brother in a moment. I want to know more about these attempts on Alex’s sister.”

James bristled at the note of command in the marquess’s voice.

Lady Alexandra spoke up in a quiet yet determined sounding voice. “Why don’t I have a footman escort your brother here?”

Before Lord Oakleigh could stop her, or even finish his sentence, “No, I think…” she was out the door.

****

“James! A young lady told me you were here. I almost didn’t believe her. What dragged you away from Tyndale Manor?”

James spun to see his brother saunter into the room, his face a wreath of welcoming smiles. And surprise. Sebastian hadn’t sent that letter. His stomach dropped. He’d been fooled. “I received an urgent message from you demanding my presence in London immediately. Please tell me this is all a lark, and you did indeed send the message.”

Sebastian lost his grin. He stopped in his tracks and surveyed the room. “No. I did not.” He bowed to Lords Downing and Oakleigh before returning his attention to James. “What’s happening?”

“Where is Alex?” Oakleigh demanded, stepping in front of the footman who accompanied Sebastian, towering over the smaller man, his fists clenched at his sides.

“Alex?” Sebastian chimed in upon hearing her name. “Ah yes. I was given a message. Alex has gone to find Charlotte. Lord Stone provided a carriage for his use.”

James cursed. Stone. His neighbor. Stone had been there the day he’d hired Charlotte on as Prudence’s governess. James had assumed his pain in the arse neighbor had wanted the private room for his own use. Had he, in fact, been spying on Charlotte? Even then plotting to kill her?

Charlotte was in dire trouble. His head pounded. He rubbed his temples. He needed to think clearly. “Who gave you a message? Did she look like Miss Evans?”

“Prudence’s governess?” Sebastian scrunched his brows. “Is Prudence with you? A footman fetched me from the ballroom. As I came out, a young lady approached, told me you wished to see me, and asked that I deliver a message.”

“Did she resemble Miss Evans?” James asked again.

“I have no idea. I’ve not yet met Miss Evans.”

“Did you see where she went after speaking with you?”

Sebastian nodded. “Yes. She returned to the ballroom. She seemed eager to be on her way.”

“It must have been her.” Lord Downing stood. His face had paled. He appeared to have aged ten years in the few minutes since Sebastian entered the room. “We’ll search the house first.”

James nodded and filed out after the other men. Lord Downing organized his servants to search the house, while the rest of them scoured the rooms open to the public. Several friends waylaid him, but he brushed them off as quickly as possible without causing a furor over his rudeness.

They met back in the drawing room after a half hour of fruitless searching. Lady Alexandra had managed to slip out of the house despite the numerous people who’d been instructed to keep watch over her the entire evening.

Oakleigh looked ready to commit murder. “Where is she?”

The poor footman trembled under the lord’s fury. “I don’t know, my lord. She instructed me to escort Mr. Tyndale here.”

“I gave strict instructions she was not to be left alone, even for a moment. Was I not clear?”

“Yes, my lord. She was headed into the ballroom when I left her. She must have doubled back when I weren’t lookin’. I’m right sorry, I am.” He ducked his head, remorse overtaking the fear in his expression. “She’s real nice. I sure would hate to see anything happen to her.”

Oakleigh’s eyes closed briefly, and he took in a deep breath. His hands flexed at his side as if he longed to wrap them around the servant’s throat. “Find Lord Stone. Alert all the servants. If he is still here, he is not to leave under any circumstances. Bring him to me.” When the footman left, Oakleigh faced the room.

Lord Downing sat next to the fire, his head in his hands. “How did this happen?” he asked in a whisper, his voice strained and tired.

James paced before the hearth. The fire had dwindled to mere coals. Even a blazing inferno could not have warmed the chill in his blood. “He must have sent that fake message from Sebastian to lure me away from my country estate in order to kidnap Charlotte. He then used her as a means of forcing Lady Alexandra to follow his demands.” He shook his head. “Why is he doing this?”

“Obviously he’s afraid the ladies can identify him as the man who kidnapped them fifteen years ago.” Oakleigh turned to Sebastian, whose face had gone white as a sheet as he listened to the panicked men surrounding him. “Tell us again what she said.”

“She simply said to let you know that Alex had gone after Charlotte, and Lord Stone was providing the carriage.” He screwed up his face in concentration. “She didn’t tell me her name, so I assumed Alex was a man.”

James paused in his pacing as a thoughtful look overtook Sebastian’s face.

“Actually, she said to say it exactly as she did. Let me think.” He closed his eyes and stood perfectly still, his mouth moving slightly. “She said Alex had gone to find Charlotte at the cave.” He opened his eyes. “At the cave, does that help?”

James gasped. “The portal! That’s it.”

“What?” Oakleigh asked, his eyes alight with hope. “Do you know where they are?”

“Yes. Lord Stone’s country estate shares a border with mine. I used to explore the system of caves there when I was a child. That’s where Charlotte…” his voice trailed off, and he looked around. “What has Lady Alexandra told you about her life for the past fifteen years?”

Lord Downing spoke from his spot near the fire. “She told us everything. I gather Charlotte has confided her past to you as well?”

“Yes. And did you believe Lady Alexandra’s story?”

Oakleigh answered, “Lord Downing and his family did, yes. I have to admit to some doubt.”

James snorted. “Can’t say I blame you. I had a time believing it myself.” And he’d given poor Charlotte quite a time about it, too. “Time travel! The concept was too incredible to comprehend. Until she showed me her proof of course.”

“Proof?” Oakleigh’s brows rose, his eyes widened. “How could she prove her story to you?”

He couldn’t blame Oakleigh for his doubt. Without any evidence to support her claim, would he have come to believe Charlotte? “She had certain items that couldn’t possibly exist. I found no explanation other than they came from the future. They defied belief.” He waved the thought aside. “That doesn’t matter now. When the girls were kidnapped as children, they were taken to a system of caves that lie along the boundary of my property and that of Lord Stone. He must have planned on killing the girls and hiding their bodies in the caves. Charlotte told me she and Lady Alexandra tried to flee but fell through the portal instead. Charlotte was forced back through that same portal two months ago. That is when I met her. Lord Stone or one of his servants must have seen her and made the attempts on her life. I am an idiot for not suspecting him in all Charlotte’s troubles.” He stopped pacing and stared at Oakleigh. “We must hurry. If he brought them to those caves, he must be planning on killing them.”

“We shall have to make sure we get to them first,” Oakleigh said as a knock sounded at the door.

“Enter,” said Lord Downing.

A tall blond man dressed in evening clothes entered, followed closely by the butler, who carried several great coats draped over his arms. “We have searched everywhere. Lord Stone left less than an hour ago. I sent two footmen around to his townhouse to await his return there. If they locate him, I have instructed one to stay with him and the other to bring word back to us.”

“Excellent,” Lord Downing said. “Preston, please have the carriage prepared. We have an idea where he may have taken Alexandra and will leave immediately.”

“Yes, sir,” Preston responded. He placed the greatcoats on the back of a chair and left.

“I believe it would be best if you were to wait here,” Oakleigh told Lord Downing, raising his hands to ward off any further comment from Charlotte’s father. “Someone needs to wait here in case Lord Stone did indeed return to his townhouse. We also have no idea if Lord Stone has an accomplice keeping an eye on matters here. You have a house full of people, and your absence would be difficult to explain. Besides which we would not care to upset Lady Downing unnecessarily.”

James spoke to his brother, “Sebastian, wait here with Lord Downing. If Lord Stone has returned to his townhome, I will need you to detain him. Make sure he does not have a chance to surprise us at the portal. We shall return as soon as we have Ladies Charlotte and Alexandra safe.”

“I will contact some old friends of mine and see what I can discover about Lord Stone,” the tall stranger said. “You should take this.” He held out a pistol to Oakleigh. “It’s primed and ready.”

“Thank you,” Oakleigh replied.

James didn’t know much about the other man, but from the look that passed between him and Oakleigh, he was confident that every avenue for finding the ladies, no matter how unpleasant or unsavory, would be taken. Good.

He pulled Sebastian aside. “You trust Stone about as much as I do. Be careful.”

Sebastian nodded and clapped him on the arm. “And you as well.”

James turned to Oakleigh. “Let’s go.”