Chapter 10
Tilda stiffened due to the thick tension in the hall, and she realized she was holding her breath.
“What do you mean?” Vincent Chadwick appeared genuinely confused, his brow deeply furrowed.
“She’s been kidnapped,” Farnsworth spat. “I know you begged the Duke of Alnwick to reconsider your suit after he refused you. And that you became such a nuisance, you were banished to Richmond.”
Tilda exchanged a glance with Hadrian. That was good information to know. It perhaps explained why the Chadwicks indicated their son was “traveling.”
“Priscilla has been kidnapped?” Vincent had gone ashen at the news. In fact, for a moment, Tilda worried he might collapse.
“I’m so sorry,” Tilda said softly.
The senior Chadwick’s gaze burned into Tilda. “Another young woman has been kidnapped, and you have somehow involved yourself.”
“Yes, another woman has been taken in the same manner as your daughter by someone claiming to be Spring-heeled Jack.” Tilda wasn’t going to respond to his snide comment about how she was involved.
“What have you done with my Priscilla?” Farnsworth shouted in Vincent’s face. He whipped his gloves off and tossed them aside. “Tell me now,” he growled.
Vincent took a step back, his eyes rounding and his face still pale. “I’ve done nothing. And she isn’t your Priscilla.” He said the last with a bit of heat.
“I’m sure she’s waiting for you somewhere so the two of you can elope,” Farnsworth accused.
“She’s not. I swear. I’ve lost my sister, and now the woman I love is missing.” Vincent put his hand to his forehead. “I can’t even think straight just now.”
“So, you admit you still love Lady Priscilla,” Farnsworth said. “The woman I am planning to wed. That is unconscionable!”
Farnsworth advanced, driving Vincent back.
Hadrian moved quickly and grabbed Farnsworth’s hand, pulling him to a stop.
Tilda’s gaze focused on where Hadrian touched Farnsworth and hoped he was seeing something.
She looked at Hadrian’s face. His gaze did indeed appear unfocused.
But then Farnsworth jerked his hand away, and whatever connection Hadrian might have had was gone.
Chadwick quickly moved between Farnsworth and his son. “Back away, Farnsworth. This is a house in mourning. You’ve no right to come here and act in this manner. Vincent had nothing to do with Lady Priscilla’s disappearance.” He shifted his gaze to Tilda. “When was she kidnapped?”
“Two days ago,” Tilda replied as Hadrian moved to fetch Farnsworth’s gloves from where he’d thrown them. Tilda gathered what he was doing. He planned to use the gloves to try and see a memory.
“Her father can’t have hired you to find her,” Chadwick said to Tilda with disdain.
Tilda stepped forward to distract from Hadrian. “No, he has not. Though, Ravenhurst and I did offer to help.”
Chadwick’s dark eyes glowed with rage. “You’d best not bungle it the way you did with Delia.”
Tilda was not going to debate him about what had or hadn’t ruined their scheme to rescue Miss Chadwick.
“I’m incredibly sorry for the loss of your daughter.
I think we may be dealing with someone who is not entirely sane.
The kidnapper’s actions make no sense. He received the ransom, and that should have been the end of it.
Your daughter should have been returned unharmed. ”
“You’re damn right she should have.” Chadwick’s chin quivered, and Tilda felt a wave of sorrow tinged with guilt. She hated that her actions may have led to Miss Chadwick’s death.
Vincent stepped toward his father and clasped his shoulder.
Chadwick cleared his throat. “Farnsworth, you must go.”
Glowering at Vincent, Farnsworth bared his teeth briefly. “If I find you’ve had anything to do with this, I will call you out. There will be nowhere you can hide.” Spinning on his heel, he stalked to Hadrian and snatched his gloves before departing the house.
Tilda wasn’t sure if Farnsworth had interrupted Hadrian’s vision or not. She hadn’t looked at him whilst working to keep everyone’s attention on her.
Now, however, she watched him press his fingertips to his forehead and assumed he’d seen something. Unless his head was simply paining him from earlier.
“You must go too,” Chadwick said coldly to Hadrian and Tilda.
“We apologize for the intrusion,” Hadrian said.
“We were interviewing Farnsworth about Lady Priscilla’s disappearance, and when he recalled that your son had been Lady Priscilla’s prior suitor, Farnsworth insisted on confronting him.
We attempted to persuade him not to, but he was unmoved.
I decided we ought to accompany him to try to mitigate the situation. ”
Chadwick narrowed his eyes at Hadrian. “What are you even doing with her?” He jerked his head toward Tilda, and she stiffened again.
“I’m assisting her in the pursuit of justice,” Hadrian said simply and earnestly.
He’d moved to stand in such a way that he was partially blocking Tilda from Chadwick.
It was a posture of protection, and she appreciated it.
Whilst she understood Chadwick’s fury, entangled as it was with his grief, it was still somewhat frightening.
Tilda looked at Vincent, who remained pale, and met his gaze. “We’re sorry about this, Mr. Chadwick.”
“Can you tell me about Lady Priscilla’s kidnapping?” Vincent asked desperately. “Please.”
“She was discovered missing two mornings ago,” Tilda replied.
“The kidnapper left a note identical to the one that was found when your sister disappeared. May I ask you a question?” At his nod, she went on.
“Your parents told us you were traveling, but we learned you’ve been lodging in Richmond and have been seen in London.
Why lie?” Tilda wanted to know if Farnsworth’s accusation had been true.
Vincent looked at the floor. “His Grace did not approve of my suit.”
“Yet, you kept trying to see her,” Mr. Chadwick said angrily. “We sent you to Richmond to regain your senses. Indeed, His Grace asked that I ensure you remain gone until Lady Priscilla was wed.”
Eyes darkening with betrayal, Vincent gasped.
Tilda felt awful for him. “The two of you continued to correspond?” she asked gently.
Vincent nodded. “We love each other.”
“So much that you mentioned elopement,” Hadrian pointed out.
“Blast it all, Vincent!” Chadwick thundered.
“I told you to leave Lady Priscilla be. She’s too far above you.
” The man’s expression dampened, and he wiped his hand over his brow.
“Our wealth is great, but our position is not exalted enough for some people, my boy. We cannot afford for His Grace to malign our family.” There was regret and sadness in his tone. Tilda felt horrible for him too.
Vincent looked to Tilda and Hadrian with worry. “Priscilla and I didn’t elope—obviously—nor did we have plans to.”
Chadwick waved his hand at Tilda and Hadrian, but the movement lacked conviction. “I insist you cease upsetting us.”
Vincent regarded his father briefly. “Father, I must know what’s happening with Priscilla.” He looked back to Hadrian and Tilda with an eager desperation. “Has there been a note yet about the ransom delivery?”
“You know about that?” Tilda asked suspiciously, wondering if they were witnessing a brilliant theatrical display and whether Priscilla might be waiting somewhere for Vincent.
“My father explained all that happened. I arrived home yesterday afternoon after receiving word about Delia.” Vincent croaked his sister’s name. His seemed genuinely upset.
“There has not yet been a note about delivering the ransom,” Hadrian responded. “We expect that today—if the kidnapper follows the same timeline as before.”
“I must warn His Grace not to inform you of its arrival,” Chadwick said sharply, regaining some of his earlier emotion.
Tilda’s heart pounded.
Hadrian gave Chadwick a look of superiority that Tilda wasn’t sure she’d seen before. “I wish you wouldn’t.”
Chadwick’s eyes darkened, and his brows pitched low into a V. “You won’t persuade me otherwise.”
Tilda reached forward and grasped Hadrian’s sleeve. “Let’s go,” she murmured.
Hadrian inclined his head toward Chadwick, then turned and escorted Tilda from the house. Outside, Tilda glanced around the square. “I don’t see Farnsworth.”
“He’s not in the coach or with Leach,” Hadrian noted.
The coachman stood waiting outside the vehicle.
“Did you see where Farnsworth went?” Hadrian asked as they approached Leach.
Leach gestured to the right. “Stormed off that way, muttering. To the inquest now?”
Hadrian consulted his pocket watch. “We’re late, but yes.” He glanced at Tilda, and she nodded in response.
Hadrian and Tilda climbed into the coach, and right away she turned to face him. “Did you see something?”
His eyes gleamed with anticipation, and she knew he had.
“When I grabbed Farnsworth’s hand, I had a very quick vision of him at a ball.
I recognized it as the Marquess of Asquith’s ballroom.
I know they hosted a ball this past Sunday because I received an invitation.
I didn’t attend, but I’ve been there before, so I recognized the surroundings.
Farnsworth stood with a woman with pale blonde hair in a red gown with rubies at her throat and her ears.
I believe it was Mrs. Bankes, but I can’t be certain.
I couldn’t see anything more because Farnsworth pulled his hand away. ”
“That’s why you went and fetched his gloves, so you could try again,” Tilda said.
“Yes. I appreciate you distracting everyone so I could take time to do so,” he added with a smile.
“I saw the same woman, and she was in a bed next to Farnsworth. I could tell it was dark outside due to the candlelight in the room. I was able to see the same red dress she was wearing draped over a chair, and she still wore the rubies. I’m all but certain this was the same night—Sunday night. ”
“He’s having an affair?” Tilda asked.