“And how will you go and tell him if I lock you up?” Nick asked.
“I’ve made arrangements,” he said, smiling. “You don’t think I’m stupid enough not to have someone help me? I have a lot of friends who are always willing to do anything for money.”
Elise wished Nick would say something about the posters. She might have herself, but she wasn’t the one who had seen them. Now Duran was threatening to let Caroline’s husband know about her condition, and since her sister wasn’t yet out of town, Elise couldn’t let that happen.
As if reading her mind, Nick looked at her and shook his head. “I don’t think we can do anything to him at this point. He only threatened Tom and didn’t hurt him. I’ll have a talk with the boy. Your father will probably want to dismiss him for threatening Tom’s life.”
Duran looked at Elise. “You know the price of my silence.”
This angered her. “You already told him where to find her.”
“And why not? She’s his wife. I think we both know that’s only fair. Besides, we know he won’t be able to take her by force. Your father would never allow that, but it does stir things up and keeps everyone busy and away from the ship.”
“What purpose does that serve, Mr. Duran?” Elise knew if she stayed here much longer, she’d say something she’d regret.
“With the authorities busy with that, they aren’t concerned about me.” He smiled and crossed his arms.
“I believe you have work to do, Mr. Duran,” Nick said, dismissing him.
Duran sauntered past them. “I expect you to honor our bargain, Miss Wright. Otherwise, Nelson Worthington will know everything.”
“I made no bargain with you, Mr. Duran. That would be akin to making a bargain with the devil himself, and that will never happen.”
He paused at the stairs and gave her a smirk. “We’ll see about that.” He left them and made his way on deck.
“Why didn’t you say anything about the posters?” Elise asked in a whisper.
“I think we need to have the authorities at hand when we do that. I’m more and more convinced that Duran is the man they’re searching for. That makes him very dangerous. Too dangerous to risk not having help.”
Elise felt a terrible sense of dread. She gathered the packages Nick had earlier dropped to the floor. “Let’s go back to my uncle’s house. I worry that my sister’s husband will return. Maybe with the police.” She put two parcels on the table, then went to her cabin door with the others. “Take those, and I’ll leave these here.” She disappeared into the cabin for only a moment, then returned quickly. “I have a terrible feeling things are going to get much worse.”
Nick nodded. “With men like Duran, they usually do.”
There were several carriages on the half-circle drive at the Monroe house when Nick and Elise arrived. Elise had no idea what was happening, but something felt very wrong.
She gripped Nick’s arm as they made their way up the walk. “Let’s go in through the servants’ entrance.”
“Do you think something has happened?”
“As far as I know, we weren’t expecting company, so this must be Nelson’s doing.”
Nick nodded and shifted the parcels he carried. “The servant’s entrance is probably wise.”
They made their way around back and entered the kitchen, only to find the cook and several of the household staff standing at the doorway, looking out into the dining room. There was some loud arguing going on toward the front of the house. Elise could hear her sister shouting.
“I will not come back to you, Nelson. You’re a beast, and after what you did to me, I will not be left alone with you.”
“If this is how it’s to be, Nelson, you will not receive another cent of your grandfather’s money.”
“That must be Mr. Worthington, Nelson’s father,” Elise said.
At this, the staff realized they weren’t alone and turned in unison. At the sight of Elise, they hurried back to their positions.
Nick set the packages by the back stairs. “Perhaps we should get out there. I don’t know who else might be here, but your sister may need your support.”
Elise didn’t need to be encouraged. She hurried through the dining room and into the music room. From there she came out into the hallway that ran behind the stairs.
Everyone stood at the base of the staircase. Her father was there, as well as Uncle James. Nelson and his father were there with another man she didn’t know. The latter was older and quite distinguished-looking—perhaps a lawyer. Caroline stood on the first step and looked grateful when Elise came into view.
