“How gracious of you, madam,” Saville mocked. “I shall be sure to show you the same sentiment when I’m freed.”
The woman let out a faux sigh. “We never intended to involve you, Earl. Unfortunately, you were at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“So it’s me you want?” Warrick asked. “Why? What insurance can I provide?”
“I’d also like to know the answer to that, since I am Selena’s brother.”
“Yes, but you are at odds with your sister. I daresay she would let you rot here before she helped you.”
“You haven’t answered my question yet. What is that that you wish to gain from Selena?” Warrick demanded.
“I suppose it won’t hurt to tell you.” The women leaned closer. “We want the betting book.”
Sure enough.
This damn book had come back to haunt him. If only it could be the ghostlike type of haunting instead of the kidnapping sort of haunting by a bunch of madwomen. Why could it not have been a bloody ghost haunting?
“You want the betting book?” Saville asked. “Why?”
“Let us just say there are wagers in that book that are of importance to us.”
“How can our club’s wagers be useful to you?” Warrick asked. This couldn’t have anything to do with the heiresses. Something else was at play here.
“That is no business of yours.”
“Well, you’ve set your sights on the wrong heiress,” Saville said. “Selena doesn’t have the book.”
“My sources tell me otherwise. And even if she does not have the book, she has one day left to retrieve it.”
That caught Warrick’s attention. “You plan to keep us here until you get the book?”
“Of course. As I said before, you are our insurance that she hands over the book.”
Warrick narrowed his eyes on the red hood obscuring a mystery face. “You don’t plan to include in her your club, do you? Or else you wouldn’t have gone as far as kidnapping to force her hand.”
“What need would we have of her? She is of no use to us beyond the book.” The woman shrugged. “Perhaps in a few years.”
“Damn crazy bat!” Saville growled. “Why don’t you show your face?”
“Yes,” Warrick agreed. “I would like to see this face of mylover.”
“I’m hurt that you cannot recognize my voice.” The woman pulled back the cloak and smiled at him.
Shock spread through Warrick.
Saville laughed. “Lady Ridgeland?” He looked at Warrick. “Sheis your lover?”Your taste leaves something to be desired, Saville’s tone implied.
“She is not,” Warrick bit out. She had only ever been a nuisance. “She never has been.”
“Glad to hear it,” Saville muttered under his breath, but not out of the earshot of anyone present.
Lady Ridgeland’s smile froze. “Well, you might be glad to hear it, but Lady Selena was quite ready to believe in our connection—and quite shocked.”
Warrick froze. “What the devil did you say to her?”
“Oh, just what you suspect, I’m sure.”
“You mean you lied to her about us.” Was that the true reason why Selena had acted so out of sorts when they last saw each other? But why hadn’t she demanded answers from him? Given her character, she ought to have verbally boxed his ears.
