“You did what?”
James was talking to the twins when he entered. Gus and Ash were there, standing behind their wives.
“Stop yelling, James,” Gus said calmly.
“Why are you roaring at the twins, James?” Dev said.
“They went from the tea shop to visit Mrs. Dilly!” No longer the controlled duke, James’s hair was ruffled, and he had blood on his shirtsleeves.Samantha’s blood.Warwick looked away.
The Sinclair brothers then all turned as one to glare at their sisters.
“You did what?” Dev demanded.
Gus sighed. Ash pinched the bridge of his nose.
“They know they did wrong, Dev, and in fairness, they were back at the carriage when Samantha was taken,” Gus said.
“You lied… again,” Warwick said, pointing a finger at the twins. “We talked about Mrs. Dilly, and it was discussed and agreed to that you never went there again without me. Especially after the disaster you encountered last time, Somer, and dragged Samantha into!”
“We always do things we say we’re not going to,” Somer said with little regard for the fact she had three angry brothers glaring at her. Neither she nor Dorrie wavered, and their eyes stayed on him. God, Warwick loved their spirit even when he wanted to strangle them.
“What?” Gus said.
“I beg your pardon?” Ash said.
Dorrie waved their words aside. “We are sorry, and yes, feel terrible for what has happened. But, as I said, we were in sight of the carriage when she was taken.”
“And that is meant to appease us, is it?” Dev asked.
Wolf, Rory, and Max walked in, wearing identical expressions of anger.
“That was not a random attempt at abducting Samantha, which would suggest the last one wasn’t either,” Max said. “Someone has to have been watching her to know she would be there today.”
Warwick let his eyes travel around the walls of the room he knew so well. Anything to calm him down as he thought about his cousin’s words.
It was often the way in the family, that if a situation arose in need of discussion, it was undertaken in James’s study. Warwick had visited this room many times in his life, but it didn’t calm him today like it usually did.
Buttles kept two decanters full at all times for just such occasions. One held brandy, the other whisky. He took a whisky from Nicholas. Throwing back a mouthful, he let the liquid burn down his throat to steady him.
“The point is, Warwick.” Dorrie spat out his name like it tasted foul. “That could have happened anywhere.”
“It was reckless,” he snapped. “And wouldn’t have happened had you not left the footman and the maids who were with you. Had you stayed close and not swanned off to speak with Mrs. Dilly, the chance to abduct Samantha, again, would not have presented itself.”
“That will do, Warwick. It is no more your sisters’ faults than it is anyone’s. It is entirely to blame on those men who kidnapped me today.”
He turned so fast at Samantha’s words, he stumbled backward. A large hand, that he knew instantly belonged to Dev, steadied him.
“What the bloody hell are you doing out of bed!” Warwick wasn’t someone who liked to yell, but he couldn’t stop himself. His insides were still boiling. He’d have an apoplexy any minute.
“Be quiet, Warwick,” Eden ordered. “She needs to tell you all something.”
Samantha walked into the room, wearing her dressing gown buttoned to the chin, looking pale and vulnerable with his sister.
“Sit, sister.” James rushed around the desk he’d been pacing behind and helped her into a chair.
“She should be in bed,” Warwick muttered.
“You.” Samantha jabbed a finger his way. “Shut up. I could hear you roaring at your sisters from the floor above, and I do not have your hearing.”
