‘What was it?’ Chastity asked, intrigued despite herself.
Christian sighed again. ‘I never found out. By then she was just drifting in and out of consciousness, drenching the sheets with blood during every coughing fit. I left, and when I returned the next day, she’d gone. I identified the body and had her interred in a grave with a proper headstone. It felt like far too little too late.’
Chastity leaned towards him and gently kissed him on the mouth. ‘You did what you could,’ she murmured. ‘If she’d come to you earlier, I’m certain you would have helped her.’ She touched his face. ‘What happened with Reinhardt?’
The Earl grimaced. ‘He came for his money. It was only afterwards one of the nuns told me he’d been visiting her for weeks – long before I turned up. They seemed to think she may have had something of his.
‘And then I was told he’d been with her when she died. Apparently, she’d drowned in her own blood as he’d tried to force some information out of her – what, I have no idea.’ He shook his head, and clenched his fists, turning to face Chastity and saying harshly. ‘I left the mission, went to find Reinhardt, and beat him within an inch of his life.
‘Not long after that, I booked passage for England.’ He stopped and sighed before adding. ‘I have never heard his name mentioned since I left him broken in an alley… Until yesterday.’
‘Why do you think he was looking to abduct Mercy? Could it have been revenge?’ Chastity asked.
Christian shook his head. ‘I thought about his motives during the carriage journey this morning. That he hates me I’ve no doubt. But right from the onset, he seemed a singularlycold individual. He might be enjoying the thought of exacting revenge, but it’s not his primary motivation – just an added bonus.
‘No, there’s another reason he wants Mercy, and I can’t help but think it has something to do with her mother.’
‘Did you discover anything else about her? Could she have come from a wealthy family perchance? I mean, with what you’ve told me of Reinhardt, it seems likely that his interest would have been purely mercenary.’
Christian grimaced. ‘It may have been remiss of me, but I didn’t seek to find out whether she had any family. I didn’t wish to risk there being another claim on Mercy. She was my daughter, and that’s all there was to it.’
Chastity smiled and leaned forward to kiss him. ‘You’ve been a wonderful father to all our children.’
Her husband gave a rueful grin. ‘I can just about cope with four.’ He leaned forward to deepen the kiss, but she pulled back.
‘What do you intend to do about Reinhardt? I can’t imagine you’ll simply leave him to his devices. If he does have some nefarious scheme in play, he’s unlikely to stop at one try.’
Christian nodded. ‘The more I think about it, the more certain I am that we’ve not seen or heard the last of him.’ He paused, then added, ‘I’m not sure I should allow Mercy this season. But if I don’t…’ he left the rest unsaid, and Chastity sighed in understanding.
‘I’ll speak with her, of course, but I’m of a mind to contact Nick and Adam for their reaction. Whatever happens, I cannot simplyleave Reinhardt to his own devices. Somehow, we have to draw him out into the open.’
Chastity felt her heart constrict at his words. ‘We can’t put Mercy at risk, Kit.’
He shook his head and lifted his hand to touch her cheek. ‘You know I wouldn’t do anything to put any of you in danger, my love. I’ll find a way to catch the bastard without risking everything I hold dear.’ He bent forward to kiss her, but again Chastity pulled back, leaving him regarding her with raised eyebrows.
‘Did you notice that Mercy seemed very preoccupied at dinner?’
To her surprise, he laughed. ‘There’s the question I was waiting for.’
Chastity frowned, ‘Was I that obvious?’
‘Only to me darling. I noticed too. Perhaps she’s simply anxious.’
Chastity shook her head. ‘No, that wasn’t the look she had on her face. It was the look of someone planning something.’
‘And naturally, that’s an expression you’re very familiar with,’ he returned drily. His wife nodded and frowned.
‘This Viscount Carlingford – was he very disfigured?’
Christian thought for a second. ‘Well, he wouldn’t go unnoticed at a ball, let’s put it that way.’
‘But is it possible that a young, sheltered woman might be taken with him?’
Her husband regarded her steadily. ‘Are you asking me if she’s formed an attachment to Harding?’
‘Well, has she?’
‘There was no evidence of it,’ he answered carefully, ‘though being a man, I’m oblivious to such nuances. He’s certainly no oil painting now, but I believe he might have been considered handsome before his injury.’
