He toyed with the notion of consigning duty and common sense to the devil, but it would not do. Even could he subject himself and his family to the scandal, he could not do it to Apple herself. He knew his world too well. What, throw her to the lions to endure the slights and snubs of the ton? She’d be a sight more miserable than if he were to let her go.
He spared little thought on the possibility of persuading her to find some other scheme than this crazy notion of going off to foreign parts, with no more protection and help than some widow who’d spent her life within the shores of England and very likely never stepped far outside her own home town. The thought of the trouble Apple would inevitably get into stood his hair on end. But she was such a stubborn little thing there’d be no stopping her when he couldn’t be at hand.
The best he could hope for was that this trust proved generous enough to allow her to hire a courier as well. He’d oversee the finding of a suitable fellow, one who would be useful in a fight besides paving her way and, most importantly, who could be depended upon to scotch any nonsensical flights of fancy Apple might take into her head. He was still trying vainly to think of such a person, other than himself, when he drifted into sleep.
Arriving at Dymond Garth close on noon upon the following day, Alex entered his ancestral home to a scene of noisy chaos.
Both his parents were in the hall, along with a number of other persons not all immediately recognizable, and his sister’s shrill voice was the first that smote his ears as the butler shut the door behind him.
“What the devil is going on, Meech?”
Before the butler had a chance to enlighten him, one of the individuals, heavily cloaked against the cold, happened to turn. Alex cursed.
“Miss Greenaway? Oh, good God!”
Apple’s arch wife of a guardian whirled towards him, grabbing the arm of a stocky fellow in a rough serge coat and corduroy breeches and dragging him forward as she pointed an accusing finger at Alex.
“There he is! That is the man who kidnapped my cousin! Arrest him at once!”
The effect of this outburst brought everyone present into play.
Walter Greenaway pushed past his sister to confront Alex. “Ha! Thought you’d seen the last of us, did you, Lord Dymond? You see how mistaken you were? This here’s a Bow Street Runner, and he’s come to take you into custody!”
“How dare you?” shrieked Georgy. “My brother is not a kidnapper!”
“Where is my cousin?” demanded Marjorie Greenaway. “Tell him to produce her, Mr Benjamin!”
The stocky individual spoke for the first time. “Give me leave, madam. I’ll do any asking as is needed. Nor I don’t need no help in choosing what to ask.”
Lady Luthrie’s arctic tones cut across the hubbub. “Alexander, who are these people?”
“My dear, I think we had best retire and leave Alex to handle the business.”
“Yes, but where —?”
“Enough, Pippa! Georgy, come!”
To Alex’s relief, his family began to mount the stairs. He turned to the butler. “Meech, escort these visitors to the library, will you?”
Marjorie blocked his way. “While you escape again?”
Alex ignored her, instead addressing the runner. “I’m Dymond, and I’m not going anywhere, except to put off my coat. Be so good as to follow the butler and I will join you directly. Refreshments to the library as well, if you please, Meech.”
The fellow Benjamin perked up at this. “I take that kind in you, me lord. Happy to await your convenience.”
Miss Greenaway exploded. “Await his convenience? And pray will you say it’s convenient when you’re giving him time to conceal my cousin?”
Alex eyed the woman with dislike. “She’s no longer with me, Miss Greenaway. You’re wasting your time.”
Her brother leapt in. “What have you done with her, villain?”
“I will tell you, but I ain’t discussing it in the hall. You’ll go into the library or go away. I don’t care which.”
He nodded to the butler, rigid with disapproval. Meech gave a slight bow towards Marjorie. “If you please, madam.”
She huffed, but as the runner chose to follow, she had little choice but to accept the invitation.
Walter hesitated. “We won’t be leaving without our girl, so don’t think to pull the wool over our eyes.”
