“What?” Gabe asked.
Forrest jabbed his finger at the black ink.
“Ezekiel Knight,” Nathan said. “Do you know an Ezekiel Knight, cousin?”
“Ruby’s father is Ezekiel Knight.”
“I don’t know many Ezekiels, and especially not Ezekiel Knights, but surely there are more than one in the United Kingdom?” Michael said.
“It’s too much of a coincidence,” Forrest said.
“Your gut instinct is telling you this is her father?” Gabe pressed.
“He’s a mean dictator who cared nothing for his son and would marry his daughter off for a title. Is that enough reason to believe this Ezekiel is Ruby’s father? Likely not, and yet I doubt it’s a common name.”
“Good enough,” Nathan said.
“I’m leaving now for Billericay. I don’t know why I think we need to go there, but I do, and we have no other leads.”
“Agreed,” Michael said. He gathered all the papers.
Forrest took the book, and they left. Mounted once more they turned right, when he wanted to go left.
“Why are we going this way?”
“Because we need to arm ourselves, and our weapons are in the townhouse,” Gabe said.
Forrest cursed but followed.
Fairfax opened the door. “Miss Ella and Master Adam are with Lady Raine, Miss Carlow, and Miss MacDougal at Lord Raine’s residence,” he said. “Lady Abigail is also there, with Mr. Dillinger.”
“I sent word to Daniel to do this. He will keep them safe until we return,” Gabe said. “We need food to take on the road, Fairfax. We are to leave immediately.”
“At once, my lord.”
They retrieved pistols, rifles, and ammunition. They were back outside, mounted, and heading out of London in under ten minutes.
“How long will it take to reach Billericay?” Forrest asked.
“Most of the day.” Zach’s words were muffled as he was eating.
“We cannot gallop through London, Forrest, as there is too much traffic on the roads even though the hour is still early. Eat, and when we are free of the city, we will gallop,” Michael said. “You have not slept, so keep up your strength or you will be no use to Ruby.”
He ate the food he was handed and tasted nothing.
“I did not want this. To love so much it hurts. I did not believe I was capable of such emotion.” The words came out in a rush. “How do you stand it?”
“It eases… slightly,” Nathan said. “But you get used to it.”
“I cannot live without her.”
“We will ensure that does not happen, cousin.”
The riders appeared before they left the outskirts of London. Will Ryder and his brother, the duke.
“Where are you going?” Lord Ryder asked.
“To retrieve the woman I love” was Forrest’s reply.
