A frigid splash jolted him awake. He blinked blearily, swiping water from his face. The face hovering over him came into focus.
“Kent?” he croaked. “How did you find me… what are you doing here?”
“We’ve searched a dozen asylums looking for you, and I’m breaking you out,” Kent said tersely. “Your father has kidnapped Polly. I need your help to find them.”
“Polly?” The mention of his beloved gave him a surge of energy. He sat up on the edge of the narrow cot, trying to focus through the fog in his head. “Why does my father—”
“Acton is behind all of it. We’ve got Grundell, and he confessed that the duke paid him and Nicoletta to stage the assault at Corbett’s. To frame you. I’ll explain everything later, but right now, we have to find Polly. Do you know where he would take her?”
Fear cleared Sinjin’s head, thoughts slowly crystallizing.
Polly’s in danger. The duke has her. Where would he go?
“I don’t know.” He got to his feet, stumbling across the cell-like room for his clothes. Yanking them on, he growled, “But I’m bloody well going to find out.”
~~~
“That’s absurd, Revelstoke.” The Duchess of Acton sat upon the velvet wingchair in her drawing room as if it were a throne, her spine rigid as she faced Sinjin and Kent. “That you would even suggest that your father, one of the highest peers in the realm, would abduct that chit is beyond the pale. Even for you.” Her lips curled with scorn as she took in Sinjin’s disheveled state. “Clearly, you’re in one of your moods again.”
It took all of Sinjin’s willpower to stay focused, to not give into the blue devil whispering in his ear.This is all your fault. You’re not right in the head. Polly’s in danger because of you.
He evaded the tentacles of hopelessness and self-doubt.Stay in command, man.
Polly’s life was at stake.
“We have a written confession from Grundell, one of the villains hired by your husband,” Kent cut in. “According to Grundell, Acton paid him and his partner, Nicoletta French, five hundred pounds to make it appear as if Revelstoke had gone mad and assaulted French. But when playing with fire, one often gets burned. Grundell and French turned the tables on Acton, blackmailing him to keep his plot a secret. Acton put an end to the pair’s greed by shooting Nicoletta in cold blood and framing Grundell for the murder. Fearing that His Grace would go after him as well, Grundell has been in hiding all this time.”
The duchess paled, but she clung to her righteous disbelief. “Why would I believe the word of an admitted criminal over that of my husband? And what possible motive could Acton have to see Revelstoke discredited?”
“He wants control… over Sinjin’s inheritance.” Theodore stood in the doorway, looking stricken. Sinjin had no idea how long the other had been standing there.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Theodore,” his mama snapped. “Your father is aduke. He doesn’t need Sinjin’s funds.”
Crossing over to her, Theodore said, “I am sorry, Mama, but that’s not true. I overheard Papa talking to his solicitor last week, making… final arrangements.” Swallowing, he went on, “Papa’s made some bad investments, and the duchy is floundering in debt. Papa has been keeping the fact a secret from us and the rest of the world.”
“My God… we are ruined?” Her Grace sagged against the chair.
Facing Sinjin, Theodore said painfully, “I didn’t know of Papa’s plan to discredit you. If I had known, I would have said something. Done something.”
“I believe you. It is not your fault,” Sinjin said.
Theo’s chin quivered, and he nodded.
“Now do you have any idea where Papa might have taken Polly?”
Theo’s eyes widened. “He took… you mean heabductedher?”
“From her home last night,” Kent interrupted. “Where would he have gone? Think, my lord. It would likely be a place close by—a temporary place to hold Polly until he could figure out his next move. I don’t believe this was a premeditated act on his part; I think he panicked when he realized we had his accomplice in our custody, and it was only a matter of time before his villainy was revealed.”
Looking ashen, Theo said, “He… he keeps a cottage in St. John’s Wood. I was looking for something in his desk once when I came upon the deed and keys. No one’s supposed to know about it; I think it’s where he, um,”—he slid a pained glance at his mama, who remained slumped in her chair—“kept his ladybirds over the years.”
“We need the address,” Sinjin said urgently.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Polly’s eyelids fluttered open. Her head was pounding, her vision blurry. Where in heavens was she? She was lying on a sofa in a strange room—
“You’re awake.”
