Alex regarded him with disdain. “I repeat, I ain’t discussing it here.”
The fellow drew a breath and puffed it out. “Very well then. But don’t be long.”
With relief, Alex saw him turn and follow the others. Unbuttoning his coat, he ran up the stairs and found his father waiting for him.
“Well done, Alex. I take it Appoline wouldn’t come back with you?”
Alex shook his head. “How did you know I’d found her?”
Lord Luthrie smiled. “You wouldn’t be back if you hadn’t.” He slung a comforting arm about Alex’s shoulder. “I’m sorry she wouldn’t come, but it’s fortunate as it turns out.”
“Seems so, sir.”
Releasing him, his father patted him on the back. “Get rid of them, my boy, and then come into the morning room. Your mother’s had a notion you might be glad to hear.”
Too preoccupied to enquire what this might be, Alex merely nodded and passed on to his own rooms. Pendell was waiting, and as he allowed the man to divest him of his outer garments and mud-spattered boots, he ran over in his mind which facts he was prepared to supply to the minion of the law. Preferable to have dealt with them then and there, but he’d advocated the library and refreshments to give himself a breather. No point in confronting this hideous situation without giving himself time to think.
It had never seriously occurred to him that they would carry out the threat to have him up for kidnapping. How in the world they’d persuaded one of the Bow Street magistrates to send a man to look into the matter, he could not imagine. No doubt they’d twisted the story to suit themselves. In which case, nothing but the bald truth would serve. Or as much of it as might be needed to make Bow Street understand Apple left the Greenaways of her own free will. Under no circumstances was he going to divulge her whereabouts.
Thus determined, he donned the polished boots his valet produced, tugged his coat back into place and made to leave the room.
“Your hair, my lord.”
Pendell was holding out a comb. With a muttered exclamation of impatience, Alex grabbed the thing and looked in his dressing-room mirror as he dragged it through his dark locks. Then he flung it down.
“That’ll do. Good enough for this lot, in any event.”
His valet permitted himself a tiny smirk. “I suspected your lordship was not best pleased.”
“I’m damned annoyed, if you want to know. Disturbing my parents like this. I’ll give them snuff!”
The fury sprang full-blown into his head, as if the shock of the arrival had held it back. Kidnapping indeed! When those damned rogues knew full well what had happened. And how they’d treated poor little Apple. Thank the Lord she’d refused to come with him. At least she was spared this.
The dangerous mood held him as he sped back along the corridors, down the stairs and strode along the hall, flinging open the library door without ceremony and marching in.
His gaze swept the room, fixing upon the Bow Street Runner, who was standing by one of the tall windows. The woman Marjorie was sitting in one of the armchairs by the fire, her brother taking a stance at the mantelpiece. All three were armed with glasses, and Alex was glad to note the butler had seen fit to remain in the room.
“Thank you, Meech. You can leave us now.”
Bowing, the butler removed himself and Alex went directly up to the runner. “Mr Benjamin, is it?”
“That’s right, sir — er, me lord.”
“Be good enough to tell me exactly what brings you here.”
An explosive snort came from Greenaway and his sister broke in at once.
“You know perfectly well why he’s here, my lord Dymond.”
Alex turned on her, letting the full force of his rage show. “Hold your tongue, madam! Or I’ll have my butler throw you out of the house.”
She turned purple, either with rage or chagrin, glaring at him. Greenaway’s jaw dropped open. Neither ventured a word. Satisfied, Alex returned his attention to the runner, who gave him a look compound of respect and smugness. Alex raised his brows. “Had a deal to bear from those two, I dare say?”
Benjamin let his breath go. “You could say as that’s so, me lord.”
“Yes, they seem to delight in causing scenes. Had ’em at my sister’s not long ago, prating of kidnapping then, as if they didn’t know just why their cousin took the chance to escape from their clutches.”
The runner frowned. “You do know the young lady then, me lord?”
