As he watched, the last of the guests took their seats in the cluster of chairs and the auction began. If the number of people in attendance at the fundraiser was any indication—about a hundred, by his estimation—it should be a rousing success.
Of course, most of those people had come to gawk at the newlyweds. That or to see the bear. Last night he had learned that one item up for auction was an afternoon with Blackjack the Bear. Maddie apparently thought the opportunity to pet a wild animal would be a popular attraction. Little did she know, he intended to bid on the afternoon with Blackjack.
And win him.
He’d already begun construction on a large outdoor enclosure at his country house, and he intended to move the animal there at the earliest opportunity.
Thus far, Blackjack had been tame and well-behaved, but Jack wasn’t taking any chances that some idiot buck would bid on the afternoon with the bear, tease the beast, and get his intestines ripped out for the effort.
And if Maddie didn’t like that he was bidding on her prize item, she couldn’t complain. All the money went to help the pirates—er, veterans.
Jack watched Maddie’s skirts swirl as she went to stand beside her cousins. She whispered something to Lady Westman, and the trio erupted in smiles. Despite the added security at the house today, he was keeping a close eye on his wife. So far the task had been easy, but now Maddie whispered something to Lady Valentine and then disappeared into the crowd and exited the ballroom. When she didn’t return a moment later, he moved to follow her. He didn’t like having her out of his sight.
Unfortunately, the auctioneer chose that moment to place the afternoon with Blackjack up for bid.
With a low curse, Jack stepped forward and placed the initial bid. It was far higher than what was being asked, and he didn’t expect any resistance. He intended to win, and win quickly. But before he could claim victory, he was countered first by Lady Wiggleswade and then by Lord Addison.
Normally, Jack loved a good fight, but he didn’t have time for it today. His next bid was, once again, exorbitantly high, but his competitors weren’t deterred. Lady Wiggleswade offered ten pounds more, and Addison offered twenty.
With a last glance at the door Maddie had passed through, Jack bid again.
MADDIE SLIPPED OUT of the ballroom, smiling to herself. The auction was proceeding splendidly. Soon, His Royal Highness’s Society for Invalid Veterans of Overseas Conflicts would be able to afford a new hospital and better medical care. Perhaps they might even be able to provide housing for those veterans and their families who needed it.
She skipped along the passage outside the ballroom, on her way to the stairs leading to the kitchens. As she’d feared, the veterans had partaken in more than their share of tea cakes, and she hoped Cook had thought to hold some in reserve.
“Lady Blackthorne.” She heard a weak voice calling her, and turned in a slow circle, searching for the source. At the end of the passageway, she noticed Jack’s library door was open and moved closer. Hadn’t they locked all the rooms not being used on this floor? She neared the open door and it swung inward, revealing Sergeant Timms inside, beckoning her.
“Sergeant?”
His face was pale, and he clenched the door as though unsteady on his feet.
“What’s wrong? Are you well?”
“My lady, I need your help.” He released the door and stumbled back.
Alarmed, Maddie rushed inside. Timms was leaning against the bookshelf to the left of the door, and she went to him immediately. “Sir, what is the matter?”
He looked up at her, his blue eyes filled with sadness. “I’m sorry, my lady. I didn’t want to, but—”
“Oh, shut up already,” barked a high-pitched voice.
Maddie turned toward the door, but it slammed shut, revealing the Duke of Bleven and two of his men.
Her heart lurched into her throat and she backed away from the Black Duke. She wondered briefly if anyone would hear her scream.
“Your Grace.” She tried to keep her voice from wavering, while her mind raced for an escape plan. The inside door, leading to the dining room, was locked, and she didn’t have the keys with her. The window to the garden? “How kind of you to attend my fund-raiser,” she continued in a light voice. “The auction is in the ballroom.” She bumped into Jack’s desk and reached a hand back to steady herself.
Bleven sneered at her. “I didn’t come for the auction, Lady Blackthorne.”
Maddie swallowed. Her hand closed on something cold and metallic—Jack’s letter opener—and she palmed it, hiding it in her skirts.
“What did you come for?”
“You.”
He signaled his two men, and the thugs advanced on her. One carried a large sack and the other a gag and rope.
Maddie slipped the letter opener into the inside pocket of her dress just before the men grabbed her.
