“Nothing.” Arabella's voice shook and her eyes welled with tears. “I’ve set things to right, that’s all I’ve done. She was already promised to another man, Nick. And after what that family,” she said, pointing at Rowan, “has done to ours, I cannot even countenance your desire to marry her. She is unworthy of your affections.”
Rowan rose, about to defend the Marsh family when Nick turned on him violently. “Sit.”
Rowan nodded and sat. His fingers clutched at the arms of the chair. The look in his eyes as he watched Arabella was murderous.
“Shetold me everything. All the things you kept from me, brother.” Arabella’s voice shook. “Shejust wanted to return Jane Emily to her proper place, herhome,with the man she is promised to.I did this for you, to keep you from making a terrible mistake.” Arabella’s chest heaved with emotion. “That you will regret.”
“You thought to make this choice for me? You have no idea what you have done.” He thundered at her and lurched forward.
Arabella cowered before him, her hands shielding her face as if Nick would strike her. “I only wanted to save you from making a mistake,” she said, arguing back. “I do not mean her to come to harm.”
“You meant nothingbutharm.” His heart beat wildly in his chest.
“I saw them,” Rowan said quietly from his spot in the chair, looking directly at Arabella. “And I sawyou. I wondered why you behaved so oddly.”
Arabella shook her head wildly. “You know nothing. Preposterous.”
“Where?” Nick turned to Rowan so fiercely his friend shrank back in into the chair. The Corbetts. It had to be. There was no one else in all the world who wished Jem harm.
“On Bond Street.” Rowan sat up. “A little over a week ago. A woman with faded red hair and a slender gentleman, much younger, with brown hair.” He looked at Nick. “Who are they?”
“The reason your cousin fled Bermuda,” Nick hissed, not bothering to hide the disgust in his voice as he turned to Arabella. “I cannot bear the sight of you. If anything happens to Jem,anything,you will spend the rest of your days at Twinings where you can wallow in your bitterness till your heart’s content. Do you hear me, Arabella?” He was yelling now and didn’t care who heard him. Arabella had given Jem over to the Corbetts. Nick thought quickly, for every moment would count.
Bermuda. They would try to take her to Bermuda so they could claim that damned estate.
“Get from mysight!” He bellowed at his sister.
The door to the study burst open to reveal Cam, Colin and Miranda, with Peabody hovering in the background. They’d been listening at the door and doubtless heard every word that was said.
Nick never looked away from his sister, whose face had collapsed into sheer terror as tears ran down her cheeks. “Cam, please take my sister to your home and keep her there until arrangements can be made for her immediate departure to Wales. She will be leaving London.”
“Nick.” Arabella sobbed. “Please. I beg you.”
“Ifanyharm has come to Jem,sister, your banishment will be permanent.” He turned away, unable to bear the sight of his sister for one more moment. His heart ached with misery over her deceit.
“I’m sorry. Please—” Arabella wailed. She tried to pluck at his coat sleeves. “Don’t send me away.”
“Get her from my sight,” he growled over his shoulder. “I wish her far away from me.”
Miranda stepped forward and Arabella immediately turned to hide her face in her friend's shoulder. “Come, Bella. You're to come home with me until things are sorted out with Jemma. We’ll send for your things.” She wrapped her arm about Arabella’s shaking shoulders. “I’ll take care of her, Your Grace,” Miranda murmured as she led Arabella away.
Cam gave him a stricken look. “Are you sure, Nick?” He shot a look through the doorway where the sounds of Arabella’s sobbing could still be heard. “Wales?”
“I trust you to make the arrangements, Cam. And I trust,” he nodded to the doors, “in your and Miranda’s utmost discretion.”
“Of course.” Worry furrowed his friend’s brow.
His mind was racing over where the Corbetts could have taken Jem. He had underestimated them and their lust for Sea Cliff, yet again. Nick’s solicitor, Hotchkins had finally left Bermuda several months ago, after buying up all of Augie Corbett’s markers and calling them due, effectively bankrupting the family. After that, Lord Corbett’s health had failed, and Nick thought the Corbetts would fade into the past. He’d not considered Lady Corbett a threat, but apparently her greed for Sea Cliff and its wealth was equal to Lord Corbett’s. Happy, for the first time in his life, he’d let his guard down and that viper and her son were in London.
“My father knows, doesn’t he?” Rowan looked as if he’d been punched. “About Jemma. About the treason.”
“Yes.” He clasped his friend on the shoulder to stop him from peppering him with questions. “Not now. Later. I promise.”
Rowan nodded. “We must find her.”
“If they mean to take her back to Bermuda, they’ll need a ship,” Colin surmised.
Nick nodded in agreement. “Lady Corbett and her son must know I would come for her, which means leaving England immediately for Bermuda. I doubt they’d try for another port, neither of them know England well enough.” He thought rapidly. “Cam, please send someone to Yorkshire to watch the household of Dorthea Jennings, just in case they try to go there. And Augustus Corbett is a gambler, perhaps someone has played cards or diced with him during his visit.”
