Chapter 25 #2
“There is a painting with a map to a treasure that is among your father’s possessions.
As I went about my own business affairs concerning stolen art, I learned of a commission that your father had hired an artist for the painting of a map to be done where he had concealed his most precious treasures.
The artist reported that your father had spoken of a treasure of immeasurable value, the most priceless acquisitions of his entire life.
As your father was one of the best antiquarians that I have ever met, I knew that this treasure would be extraordinary.
I knew that it would be the answer to all of my difficulties.
With such a treasure, I would never be forced to concern myself with financial matters ever again. ”
Emmeline stared at him agape, her heart and mind racing. He is speaking of the treasure that lies between the Frampton and Ravenshollow estates!
“I originally thought that he would have shared this information with your sister, as she was the only one of the two of you living under his roof at the time of the map’s commission, but I have since learned that your sister is completely ignorant of your father’s dealings.
I knew that he had not spoken of the matter to you, as I was present for every interaction that the two of you shared.
I read every letter that you sent and that was sent to you to ensure that you had not discovered anything about my criminal activities and shared that information with others.
In my absence, I had you watched and followed for the same reason.
Now I wonder if I would have been wiser to have taken your mother instead. ”
At this admittance, Emmeline’s blood ran cold. “How did you learn that Rebecca knew nothing of the matter?” Emmeline asked, momentarily ignoring the rest of his admission. If you have harmed her in any way…”
Norman raised his hand to cut off any threat that she might make against him. “She is unharmed. I simply used intoxicating spirits to create a drunken state so that I might question her without resistance.”
Emmeline, while still angry, felt a brief moment of relief that her sister had not been tortured for the information that he sought. “Be glad that you did not take my mother. She would have made your life such a misery that you would have paid me to take her back.”
In spite of his normally cold nature toward her, Norman laughed with true amusement. “I do not doubt it.”
Emmeline thought over everything that he had admitted to her. What he said made so much sense of how their marriage had been. She observed him now with new clarity. “You have what you want now. I have messengers delivering the very paintings and money that you requested to the designated location.
There is no reason for you to continue to hold Rebecca hostage. If you release her now, I will not tell a single soul that you are still alive. We will continue our lives living in this secret with no one the wiser.” Her eyes and tone begged him to see reason.
Norman shook his head with a menacing smile at the corner of his lips.
“Rebecca may not have known anything about your father’s treasure, but she did reveal that you inherited two very important items from your father that you never told me about.
Imagine my surprise when the wife that I had abandoned turned out to be the key to everything that I had ever desired. ”
Emmeline’s heart stuttered in her chest. “Release Rebecca, and I will tell you anything that you wish to know.”
“Oh, no.” He shook his head once more. “That is not how this is going to happen. I hold the power and control here, my dear marchioness. You will do as I say, exactly as I say, and then you will see your sister once more.”
In the blur of panic and fear that threatened to swallow her, Emmeline somehow managed to remember her promise to the coachman who had helped them.
“And Martha Gouldsmith, what is her role in all of this?”
Norman laughed. “Your sister’s life is on the line, and you are concerned with a mere laundry maid?” He shook his head in amusement.
“Martha was the means to an end. I witnessed the connection between the two unlikely friends one day while strolling through the market. It served my purposes well. The laundry maid was entirely too easy to manipulate into doing my bidding with simple threats toward her family. She betrayed your sister with an alacrity that impressed even me.”
“You forced her hand. She is blameless,” Emmeline argued.
Norman arched a brow in surprise at her response. “You have grown gentler of heart, I see.”
Emmeline shook her head. “You never truly took the time to know me as my husband. How would you know anything about my heart?”
“That is fair,” Norman agreed, taking no offense whatsoever at her words.
His agreement was purely logical, nothing more, nothing less.
“However, I was right about one thing.”
“And what is that?”
“I knew that you would not be able to resist my invitation to speak with me, even if your family did not wish it. I knew that you would do what you thought was best, no matter the opposition, no matter the danger.” He gave her a smug, matter-of-fact look.
Emmeline’s mind swirled with every emotion possible, ranging from rage to deep sorrow. Part of her was angry that he was right, while another part of her was surprised to find that he had paid attention to her character at all.
“How could you be so certain that I would be able to separate myself from those who protect me?”
“You have always been clever. It is one of the things that I actually enjoyed about you during our brief time together. Too clever for your own good at times.”
A chill of warning ran up and down her spine at the look in his eyes. “What have you done?” she asked, recognizing the look of a man who was more pleased with himself than he should have been.
“I know that your friends, the Earl of Ravenshollow and Mr. Colin Barrington, alerted the Bow Street Runners of our exchange and have set certain things into motion to ensure that they benefit from their plans to arrest me or to find Rebecca.
However, she has already been moved to a new secure location that the man I sent to be arrested in my stead is unaware of. No clever plan of yours, or anyone else’s, will bring her back to you. You have no choice but to obey my every command if you ever wish to see her again.”
“What do you wish for me to do?” Emmeline asked, all feeling having left her extremities in a fresh rush of fear and anxiety.
“Take me to the treasure. I know that you found the map, and I know that you know where it is.”
Emmeline’s eyes widened in surprise. “How could you possibly know such a thing?”
“The look in your eyes when I mentioned your inheritance,” he admitted. “I do not need the paintings or the money if I have you, now do I?”
Emmeline shook her head. “No, you do not. I will take you to it, but it will take some time to travel. My absence will be noticed.”
“That is of no consequence.”
A thump sounded from behind Emmeline, and she turned around to find Ezra Hardy lying on the ground with blood on his head.
“What have you done?!” She whirled around, ready to go to battle with the man in front of her.
“He is not dead. He will awaken and have a headache, nothing more. I could not rightly allow him to follow us or tell your family where we are going, now could I?” He eyed her carefully. “Does anyone else know where the treasure is?”
Emmeline shook her head. “No,” she lied. She was not about to tell him that Louisa knew everything. She was not about to place her dearest friend in jeopardy.
He held her eyes as if assessing the true or false nature of her statement.
The muscles in his jaw tightened, but he did not press her further.
Does he know that I am lying? Did he have us followed?
Her panicked mind raced. Of course, he did not.
If he had, he would know where the treasure is already, and he would not need me.
“On the possibility that you might concoct a plan that involves escaping or bringing another person into this, I have left orders that, should I not return, Rebecca will be killed. The man I assigned the job will do the task with pleasure,” Norman warned.
Emmeline glared at him, clenching her teeth with such ferocity she felt as if they might break. “If you harm her, I will kill you,” she swore, nearly spitting with the venom that she infused in her threat.
“It appears that we are more alike than I first thought,” Norman noted, as he motioned for his men to seize her. “Perhaps I should have taken you with me into my criminal enterprise.”
“Never!” Emmeline spat out in refusal as she elbowed the nearest man who tried to grab hold of her.
Stomping down hard on his foot, she moved away from them.
“I am perfectly capable of walking,” she informed them firmly.
Turning to her husband, she raised a brow in question. “Your carriage or mine?”