“I’m s-sorry.” Her voice hitched as she saw the Blackwoods’ expressions, which had gone from astonished to grim. She didn’t know what else to say.
They hate me…and I deserve it. But please let them believe me. Please let them believe that I am not working for my mother—that I want only to free Ethan.
Lady Blackwood came up to her, and when the marchioness raised her hand, Xenia instinctively flinched. Yet it wasn’t a slap that landed on her cheek but a gentle touch.
“You are not to blame for this,” Lady Blackwood said firmly. “And wewillget Ethan back.”
Relief rushed through Xenia, and she shut her eyes, willing back the tears. Her body seemed to have lost its starch, however, and she swayed.
“Sit before you fall.” The marchioness ushered her to a chair, then turned to the marquess. “What is the plan, darling?”
Lord Blackwood aimed a severe gaze at Xenia. “You have no idea where these jewels are supposedly hidden?”
“No, my lord.” She shook her head helplessly. “And given that I oversaw much of the manor’s renovation, I know every inch of the place.”
“There must be a hiding place somewhere,” the marquess said. “We’ll comb the property.”
“But Lady Jo told Xenia to get rid of everyone,” Lady Blackwood pointed out. “She threatened to harm Ethan if Xenia breathed word of any of this. My guess is that she’ll put eyes and ears on the property to make sure her orders are being followed.”
Not for the first time, Xenia wondered about Lady Blackwood’s uncommon acuity when it came to the darker side of life. Whatever the reason for the lady’s knowledge, she was grateful for it. Humbled, in truth, by the marchioness’s willingness to see beyond her shameful origins and give her the benefit of the doubt.
“You are right, my love,” Lord Blackwood said. “Any search we conduct will have to be done with utmost discretion. As for the staff, do we know whom we can trust?”
“Other than Ethan’s servants from London, everyone else is new.” As much as Xenia hated to say it, she had to. “My mama could have bribed any one of them. Or, like Dobson Gill, they could be working for the Corrigans.”
“Right. If we cannot trust them, then we need them gone?—”
Lord Blackwood turned as the door opened. “Owen?”
He drew his brows together at the sight of his youngest son. Lord Owen looked as if he’d been dragged through the bushes. His brown hair was mussed, his cravat missing, and his gaze was wild.
“Dearest.” His mama looked at him with concern. “Is everything all right? Did you have another bad dream?—”
“They took Ethan,” Lord Owen said hoarsely. “I was there with him…at the brothel. I was waiting for him and Mrs. Wood to, ahem, sort out their problems.”
Cheeks flaming, Xenia realized he must have overheard her and Ethan’s intimate interlude.
Sorting out our problems is one way of putting it.
“Out of nowhere, I saw a gang of cutthroats barge into their room. I went into the adjacent chamber and listened through the wall. I heard everything.” He turned burning eyes on Xenia. “I heard your deranged mother beating you. I know she is holding Ethan ransom for the stolen goods. I wanted to intervene, but there were too many brutes to take on. So I decided to follow them instead.”
Hope pierced Xenia to the quick.
“Do you know where Ethan is being held?” Lady Blackwood’s trembling voice betrayed the fear she’d been holding in check.
Owen nodded. “Yes, Mama. It’s not far from here.”
“Good work, lad.” Resolve hardened Lord Blackwood’s features, and he issued commands like the military leader he’d been. “Go get James and be discreet about it. Penny, you fetch Gigi. Now that we have Ethan’s location, we will work together and bring him home safely.”
ChapterThirty-Six
Alittle after dawn, Xenia stood with Gigi in the entrance hall. The Blackwoods’ bags were packed and waiting in the carriage, and Gigi was dressed for travel.
“Are you certain I can’t stay, Xenia?” Gigi’s countenance was anxious. “I don’t like the idea of leaving you alone.”
Although Xenia was touched, she shook her head. “You must go with your family. Your job is to rescue Ethan.”
Gigi slid a disgruntled look at the rest of her kin, who came to join them.
