Chapter 14 #3
Holding the glass in his hand, Downshire started, “Lockhart ambushed us, killing some of my footmen, and almost killing me. But Emma stepped in front of me and pled for my life. She sacrificed herself to save me, but Lockhart has no honor and intended to kill me all along.”
The sound of pounding footsteps on the marble floor alerted them to Camden’s arrival. He ran into the drawing room. “What’s the emergency?” he asked in between deep breaths.
“Lockhart abducted Emma,” Benedict shared.
Camden’s eyes grew alert. “What’s the plan?”
Simeon spoke up. “We don’t know where Lockhart is.”
“Since he intends to wed Emma, he could very well be traveling towards Gretna Greens,” Eliza surmised.
“True, but I’m still under the mindset that Lockhart won’t dare travel on the roads for fear the Sheriff of London might overtake him,” Simeon shared.
Downshire brought the snifter up to his lips. “If I had known Lockhart was capable of such dreadful actions, I would never have brought my family to London for the Season. This is all my fault.”
“No,” Eliza said, with a shake of her head, “this is Lockhart’s fault. But he made a mistake.”
“What is that?” Downshire asked.
Adrien smirked. “Lockhart has no idea who he’s up against.”
“True,” Downshire admitted. “He is no match for agents of the Crown, especially of your caliber.”
Simeon cleared his throat. “And a Bow Street Runner.”
“Yes… uh… you, as well,” Downshire acknowledged with a look of pity.
Eliza smiled kindly at him. “We will get Emma back, Simeon. Do not fret.”
Downshire glanced between Eliza and Simeon with a baffled expression on his face. “Why are you informing Simeon of that fact? You should be comforting me.”
With a light laugh, Eliza replied, “You are quite oblivious to certain things, brother.”
“What are you speaking of?” Downshire asked, wincing as he cradled his left arm.
“Never mind,” she remarked, “you’re injured.”
Downshire grimaced. “It’s merely a flesh wound.”
“Should we call for a doctor?” Eliza asked.
“Not necessary,” Downshire said. “We need to focus on the task at hand. We don’t know where Lockhart took Emma.”
“We do not, but Uncle Charles did send over a file this morning with some rather telling information,” Benedict said, walking over to the desk and grabbing a file. “We were going to inform you of this interesting turn of events when you arrived with Emma.”
“Which was?” Simeon asked.
Benedict opened the file. “A man named Daniel Booth has been depositing ￡75 each month into Lockhart’s account on behalf of Sir Alymer Blackmore…” He paused, looking around. “Blackmore is Emma’s grandfather.”
“What?” Luke roared. “Impossible. Both sets of her grandparents are deceased.”
“That’s what everyone believed. However, Uncle Charles sent agents to question Sir Alymer about the payments, and that’s when they discovered the truth,” Benedict shared.
“Why was that kept from Emma?” Adrien inquired.
“Sir Alymer informed us that Emma’s mother was disowned after she chose to marry Constable Pearson, and they lost contact until Lockhart sent him a missive informing him of his daughter’s death,” Benedict explained.
“Then, Lockhart requested on behalf of Constable Pearson that Sir Alymer pay for boarding school for Emma. In hopes of reconciling with his granddaughter, Sir Alymer sent over ￡75 each month to be given in support of Emma.”
“If I had to guess, Constable Pearson knew nothing of those payments,” Adrien commented.
“That would be my guess, as well,” Benedict said. “About two months ago, Sir Alymer demanded Lockhart to produce Emma when he discovered that Constable Pearson had died two years prior. It was his intention to present Emma for the Season.”
Simeon frowned. “Was Sir Alymer not aware that Emma was Lord Downshire’s ward?”
“No, he was never informed,” Benedict said, reading a paper. “However, that’s when Lockhart informed Sir Alymer that he and Emma had eloped, and he requested her dowry.”
“How much was Emma’s dowry?” Adrien inquired.
“￡15,000 pounds,” Benedict answered.
Downshire huffed, “That’s a paltry sum. I’m offering ￡25,000 as Emma’s dowry.”
“Regardless, Emma does have a living grandfather that we must consider now,” Eliza commented.
“Absolutely not,” Downshire said. “Emma is my ward. She belongs in our family.”
“Don’t get jealous,” Eliza chastised. “Shouldn’t we rejoice that there are more people to love her?”
“I suppose so,” he mumbled.
Simeon rose from his chair and walked over to the window. “All this time, Lockhart has been plotting to make Emma his in order to claim her inheritance. Do you think he might kill her once she’s served her purpose?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll save her before that happens,” Adrien assured him.
“How? We don’t even know where she is,” Simeon said dejectedly. “We’ve failed to keep her safe.”
Adrien headed towards the drink cart and poured two drinks. He walked back and extended a snifter towards him. “Don’t give up hope. We’ll get Emma back.”
“I have experienced your plans firsthand,” Simeon said, accepting the snifter, “and they’re dreadful.”
Adrien brought the snifter up to his lips. “They’ve always worked though, haven’t they?”
“True,” Simeon reluctantly agreed as he took a sip of his drink.
“You care for the girl,” Adrien stated in a low tone.
He nodded. “I do.”
“I suspected as much.” Adrien took a sip of his drink. “But if you hurt Emma, I will personally kill you in the most excruciating way possible.”
Simeon swirled the brandy in his hand. “It matters not. I said I cared for Emma, but I never said she returned my affections.”
“You didn’t have to,” Adrien remarked. “Don’t think for one moment that we weren’t following you to ensure Emma was being properly protected.”
“You were following me?”
Adrien shrugged. “If it helps, we never had to intervene.”
Glancing over at Luke, Simeon lowered his voice. “Did Emma give any indication she may favor me?”
Adrien chuckled. “Perhaps.”
“I hate waiting,” Downshire growled from next to the drink cart.
“Finally, something you and I agree upon,” Simeon said, bringing the snifter up to his lips.