It all flooded back to her at once, the memories of what happened. The pistol shot in the garden, her secret meetings with William in the library, the note she’d found at the door of her bedchamber before she’d followed the instructions, thinking it to be from William. And then the sudden blow to her head after arriving, only to fall unconscious right afterward.
Realization dawned on her with a sinking heart. Her eyes darted around the room with renewed terror. She’d been kidnapped.
“Ah, you are awake. As I expected, that nasty lump and bruise doesn’t diminish your beauty in the slightest, Lady Alice.”
Alice looked over, her heart racing at the sound of a newcomer, a deep male voice that sounded somewhat familiar. But the person who strode into the room was the very last person she expected to see, that confident grin he wore so out of place that it was like he was a different person.
The Earl of Brownley tilted his head to the side, his grin widened. “I hope you have missed me?”
* * *
Blackmore Abbey was a mammoth home that stretched on for acres, underscoring the wealth the Marquess of Blackmore possessed. The Duke’s carriage came to a halt at the entrance of the manor’s driveway, the coachman acting on the orders of his master not to enter.
William had already told them what he planned on doing and was grateful that both Christopher and the Duke was in agreement with it. Lady Susan’s obsession was with him. And William’s father was close friends with the Earl. If they all appeared at once, it would only raise Lady Susan’s defenses and it would be difficult to get her to confess.
So, they’d decided that Christopher and the Duke would remain behind on the very outskirts of the property while William approached her alone to get a confession.
William alighted from the carriage. The nighttime air was uncharacteristically warm but he couldn’t tell if it had anything to do with the anger simmering within him. He struggled to wipe the emotion from his face as he made his way down the driveway toward the dark manor. If Lady Susan saw this rage in his eyes, it would only scare her off.
But the thought that Alice might be already be somewhere inside—or worse, she had been taken to a dingy, unoccupied hovel—had William’s steps quickening. Urgency now laced his rage and he couldn’t stop himself from banging his fist against the door, the sound echoing on the other side.
For a while, much to his irritation, there was no sound on the other side. But then he finally caught sight of a soft, orange glow from the window closest to him before the large door was pulled open.
A man, the butler William guessed, looked quite flustered. It was clear he’d been roused from his bed and was not completely awake to process what was happening. Not waiting for him to say anything, William demanded, “I need to see Lady Susan now.”
“My Lord…” Recognition lit the butler’s eyes and he straightened. “I’m afraid Lady Susan has already retired to bed. Perhaps this matter would be better addressed—”
William shoved past the butler and strode into the foyer. The butler scurried up behind him as William began ascending the staircase, even though he hadn’t a clue where to go. “My Lord!”
“I said I need to see her. If you won’t fetch her, then I will simply go to see her myself.”
“My Lord, you cannot!”
William knew exactly what he could and couldn’t do. Barging into someone’s home like this, especially in the dead of night, would sink his reputation into the mud. He would be labeled as crass, rude. But, above all, it was likely to affect Lady Susan far worse than it would him. Even so, only one thing was on his mind—finding Alice.
“Lord Erlington?”
William drew to halt, halfway up the staircase, at the sound of Lady Susan’s voice. She wore a negligee, her hands clasped in front of her as if she was the very picture of grace. A slight frown of confusion marred her brow. Hovering behind her was a rather befuddled and worried-looking maid.
William’s fists clenched at his sides. He resisted the urge to go to her, to shake her until she told him what he wanted to know. But he knew he had to be safe. “Forgive me for intruding upon you like this, My Lady, but there is a matter I must bring to your attention. May we speak someplace private?”
Lady Susan still looked quite confused, but the tiniest of smiles appeared on her lips. “Very well. We may go to the drawing room.”
“My Lady—” the maid spoke up. The butler stiffened as well, as if horrified by her response.
Lady Susan raised her hand, cutting her maid off. “Since he says it is a pressing matter, I believe it is best if you do not come with me, Lisa.”
“But, My Lady,” the maid insisted. “Lord Blackmore would not be pleased to hear that you’ve accepted a caller so late at night, and unchaperoned too.”
“But, Father is not here, is he?” Lady Susan asked. The maid shrank back at that, clearly not knowing what to say in argument. Lady Susan took her silence as a chance to walk away, smiling invitingly at William while she did.
William kept his fists clenched, hoping that his anger did not show on his face. The very last thing he wanted to do was scare Lady Susan away. So he followed her silently as she brought him to the drawing room. Her maid and the butler followed behind, but they didn’t enter. William didn’t doubt that they would not leave the door until he was gone.
Lady Susan twisted her head toward him as she made her way to a floral-print chaise lounge and sat. “Please, forgive what they’ve said. They only worry for me. It is not often gentlemen comes rushing to my home so late at night.”
“Lord Blackmore is not here?” William asked, ignoring her flirtatious tone.
“He has gone to Bath for business and shall not return for a few days.” Her smile widened. “You chose quite the advantageous time to come, Lord Erlington.”
