“The very same. Caught him planning to throw a match and interrupted his training session.”
“Surprised you survived it.”
“So was Augie. But it was the best thing that ever happened to me. That match— Juliet’s father was the one who tried to fix it. When it didn’t go his way… Well, it went mine.” His grin was a touch self-deprecating.
“You’re not at all the man I expected.”
Wayland regarded him for a moment, then said, “I imagine it would be quite difficult to live up to the expectations your father set.”
“No, it is only that I spent my entire life hating you, and you’re merely… a man. Albeit a rather rich one.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
Benedict shook his head. “You are rather painfully throwing into sharp relief precisely how wretched my own father is. Quite without intending to, in fact.”
“Oh, I am plenty wretched. Did you know my daughter was recently abducted? And in my own club.”
A huff escaped Benedict’s chest. “I’d heard something to that effect, yes.”
Wayland’s eyes slipped shut on a heavy sigh. “I can bear it no longer. I must know what your father means to do with my Lizzie.”
Benedict’s jaw clenched at the thought, and he worked to unlock it. “My father is not physically violent toward women—save my mother. As far as I know, that occurred only the night Ainsley dropped him back on our doorstep, but I was young. It may have been more frequent.”
“God…”
“He threatened Bella plenty, but that was usually to ensure my compliance. Without me there, I doubt he will physically touch her. When we arrive… he may use her as a shield. Or he may think that beneath him. It’s difficult to say. Best to assume that will be when Eliza is most at risk from him. I think it probable he intends to try to humiliate you, emasculate you—the way he feels you did to him. If I had to guess, that is why he involved Draycott.”
Wayland’s head fell into his hands, elbows braced against his knees. “I need to know. We need to prepare,” he said with a go-on gesture from two fingers.
“The threat of Draycott is also a punishment for me. He likely suspects that I have feelings for Eliza.”
“How much danger is she in on the road?”
Everything inside Benedict revolted at the prospect of giving voice to the fears that whirled around and around in his mind. But Wayland was right. Better to prepare for the worst.
“There is probably some risk from whatever they drugged her with, however minimal. I don’t know for certain who Draycott has with him, but it may be a few locals. Father probably promised them a portion of the ransom. I know he was with them less than a fortnight ago. They’re not bright, but they’ll be able to overpower her. And Draycott is there to compensate for any deficits.”
“Will they hurt her on the road?”
“Draycott… will probably prefer the time and comfort of a bed,” he whispered, bile pooling in his mouth. “The men—they’re lazy. Violence won’t be their first choice as long as shecooperates. Eliza is smart, and she knows you are coming. She won’t do anything risky.”
Wayland nodded at the floor. “So the time between her arrival and ours is when she is at greatest risk.”
“I believe so.”
“Describe the landscape to me, and the house.”
The next hours were chiefly occupied with strategy and preparations for contingency after contingency, long into the night.
Chapter Forty-Two
Miles passed slowly,the carriage protesting with every divot. The view had changed little since darkness enveloped them. Outside, the lanterns only illuminated a few feet of the oppressive darkness. The nearly full moon struggled against a dense fog that crept up so slowly that Eliza had not noticed it until it pooled opaque in the shallow valleys.
More than once, she wondered if they were lost. Perhaps this was merely the same half-mile stretch of road they were circling and would continue to circle until time itself stopped.
At dusk earlier, Stark and the driver had switched places when they changed horses. This man, Enys, was taller, gaunt, with sunken eyes that spoke of a hunger Eliza found discomfiting. But he’d made no overt threats. Instead, he settled down across from her and promptly began to snore.
Draycott had fallen into a restless sleep shortly before then and hadn’t woken since. Eliza suspected it was the combination of whatever was in the flask and what was clearly an infection spreading through his body from Bella’s bite. The flesh on his hand was red and shiny, and when he shifted and his palm turned up, red lines spread along his veins.
