That had not been true but half an hour before, when Anthony had been under Lark on the settee in Lark’s sitting room, calling the names of every god he knew.
Now they were having a post-coital drink and idly discussing going to the club for dinner, but all of that was interrupted when Killingworth rushed in.
“His Grace sent me to fetch you, Lord Waring.”
“What could he possibly need with such haste?” Lark asked, although he’d already set his glass aside. The jittery nature of the man’s stance told Lark it was urgent.
“The duke’s cousin, Collingswood, abducted the duchess while she was out shopping today.”
Lark was instantly on his feet. “Return to the front door and tell my butler to ready my coat. I will go with you to the duke’s house.”
“How can I help?” asked Anthony.
Lark turned and saw the sincerity on his face. He was touched that Anthony would want to help with a matter he had no stake in, aside from knowing the people involved. Lark said, “Go to the club and fetch Caernarfon and Fowler and meet me at Swynford’s house. With all possible haste.”
“Will you not go to the police?”
“Let me determine what Hugh intends to do first. Likely he plans to storm the gates.” Lark paused in the doorway. “I have been guessing for the last few days that it was Collingswood who hit Hugh over the head, but I didn’t know how to prove it. I hate that I’m right.”
“Are you suggesting he kidnapped the duchess in order to gain Hugh’s title?”
“Yes, that is my best guess. He did not succeed in killing Swynford because Swynford is a large man with a thick skull. The same cannot be said for the duchess.”
Anthony nodded, likely understanding how high the stakes were. “I always thought he was a snake. I shall go to the club at once.”
Lark wanted to kiss him goodbye and wish him luck, but he was conscious of Killingworth standing there, so instead he just murmured, “Godspeed.”
After Anthony left, Lark stood in the middle of his sitting room for a long moment, trying to gather his thoughts and his nerve. Then he followed Killingworth to the front of his house, shrugged into his coat, and left for Hugh’s house on foot.
Hugh was in a state when Lark arrived.
He paced around the foyer of his house, close to pulling out his hair. He kept saying, “He’s got her,” over and over.
Lark understood that Hugh had sent for him to be the level head because Hugh was incapable, and this was also the moment Lark understood that Hugh really did love his wife.
“All right,” said Lark. “We need to take a few deep breaths and make a plan.”
“How can you… how can I… what if he does something to her? If he touches one hair on her head, I will kill—”
“Hugh, go sit.” Lark pointed through the open door of the red sitting room. “Your fretting will just make everything worse. If we want to get her back, we must think through this rationally.”
Hugh stared at Lark with fury in his eyes for a long moment, then pressed his lips together and nodded. He walked into the sitting room.
Lark needed help, but he sat down to try to figure out what was going on. “Your secretary said Collingswood abducted Adele while she was out shopping. How do you know—”
“Letter for you, sir,” said Hodges, walking into the room.
Lark intercepted it before it reached Hugh’s hand and ripped the envelope open.
This at least solved part of the mystery.
“What is it?” asked Hugh.
“Have you recently purchased a tract of land adjacent to Swynford House?”
“A distant cousin willed it to me. I’ve had to sort out a number of issues with various solicitors, which is what has detained me in London past the end of the season. A number of relatives challenged me for the land, but it was clear from my cousin’s will that—”
“Is it in your possession now?”
