James helped her climb into the carriage, and she sat across from him, her worry multiplying with every minute. But then he interrupted her thoughts, asking, “Why did Nisha Amat travel this far from India?”
“She came of her own accord, because she was hired to kill Matthew. Adrian only paid her a portion of what was promised. And because she…she wanted to finish the task and kill him.” Lily closed her eyes and clenched her fingers together. Another thought took hold, and she regarded her brother. “Did Nisha torture you in the same way?”
James shook his head. “They questioned me, but only to get information about Matthew, I see now. I tried not to tell them anything, but…” He grimaced. “It was difficult to hold my silence. And they didn’t really care when I escaped.”
She didn’t ask him what had happened. Instead, she reached out to hold his hand. “I am glad you came back, James. Thank you for bringing Matthew to me.” It was then that she noticed her gloves were stained with blood. She should have changed them when she’d chosen another gown, but now it was too late.
The journey to Matthew’s townhouse was short, and James helped her disembark from the carriage. Her brother rang the bell, and when the footman answered, James said, “We came to see if Arnsbury is all right. Did you send for Dr. Fraser?”
The footman frowned. “Lord Arnsbury is not here. He was attending the Duchess of Worthingstone’s ball and has not yet returned. Has something happened?”
Lily froze, exchanging a glance with James. Her brother prompted, “Then his carriage is not here?”
The footman shook his head. “No, my lord. Is there…anything we should do?” The servant uneasy about the turn of conversation. “Was Lord Arnsbury hurt?”
James shook his head. “We will go and find him.” He didn’t bother explaining himself to the footman. Instead, he led Lily back to the door and outside once again.
She waited until they were both inside the carriage before speaking. “What’s happened to Matthew?”
James’s expression turned sober. “I fear Adrian must have taken him somewhere. But I cannot say where.”
She was not going to give up so easily. If it meant confronting the man herself, she was going to find Matthew and bring him back.
“We should return to the duchess’s ball,” she informed her brother.
“He won’t be there.”
“No, but we can ask questions of the servants. Someone might know where Matthew was taken.” Emotions swelled up within her, fear that he was still wounded and in danger. Though she didn’t think his cousin would go so far as to take Matthew’s life, he might let him bleed to death.
Her brother thought for a long moment, his expression furrowed. Then he looked back at her. “Evangeline and I overheard a conversation at the ball that we weren’t meant to know about. Adrian Monroe was conspiring with Davonshire. They wanted to take command of Arnsbury’s estates and wealth, to pay off their own debts.”
A coldness gripped Lily’s senses, though she tried to hold back the fear. “Do you think they’ve taken him?”
“I don’t know,” James answered. “But I think Monroe was trying to prove that Matthew was incapable of managing the earldom. He wanted everyone to believe that Arnsbury wentmad after what happened in India. Then, Adrian would be in charge of the estates.”
“But what does Davonshire have to do with it?” Lily shook her head, not understanding.
“He is somehow involved,” her brother said. “Perhaps he intended to renew his courtship of you, hoping to get his hands on your dowry.”
“He did come to pay a call on me when you were gone,” she said. “He was trying to discredit Matthew, telling me he was illegitimate and should never have been named earl.” The more she thought of it, the more she wondered what else Davonshire had done.
She sat back in silence, trying to keep her hopes up. If those footmen had not led Matthew home again, where could they have taken him? And then, the answer came to her.
“We should go to Adrian Monroe’s residence. He must know something.”
Her brother called out to the coachman and gave the orders. “It’s possible.”
Lily was afraid to get her hopes up, but she held faith that they would find Matthew before it was too late. “We will find him,” she insisted. “No matter how long it takes.”
Matthew’s head was pounding, and it felt as if his brain had been encased in cotton. Every muscle in his body was frozen, and he could hardly move. He was dimly aware of blood seeping from a wound near his ribs. The pain had been constant, a dull ache that gripped him and would not let go.
He hadn’t recognized the two footmen who had taken him from the duchess’s ball, but he’d been furious at the sight ofNisha threatening Lily. It had been a living nightmare, one he hadn’t wanted to believe.
One of the footmen had forced a tonic down him, and the opiate effects of the drug had not yet worn off. His lips were dry, and he could not rid himself of the bitter aftertaste. His vision blurred, and he heard voices talking as they approached. He closed his eyes, hoping he would learn what Adrian wanted.
“What do you want to do?” came the voice of Lord Davonshire. “Blame him for the murder of the woman? If he is imprisoned, he cannot oversee the estates.”
“There were too many witnesses who saw Nisha pull the knife on Lady Lily.” Adrian let out a disgruntled sigh. “Already they are saying the earl was only defending her. That the death was accidental.” He let out a foul curse and muttered, “There has to be another way. He was supposed to lose all sense of reason and show that he was unfit to be the earl.”
