It took a moment for Gabriel to realize the pounding was coming from downstairs.What the devil…?Eyes still grainy from a lack of sleep, he shot a quick glance at the clock. He had only been home about an hour, but he’d been so exhausted he’d passed out the moment his head had hit the pillow.
With a curse, he pulled on his trousers, for the sound of urgent male voices was coming up the stairs. He was worried that one of the prisoners of the ship had managed to escape and alert their accomplices.
He had just thrown on a shirt when his chamber door was flung open. On instinct, he reached for the pistol he kept on a table by his bed, but stopped upon seeing Travell. He looked more harried than Gabriel felt, if possible.
“Your Grace, this man—”
Gabriel waved away his butler. “It’s fine. I’ll see to the viscount.” Once the servant had left, he strode toward Travell with a frown. “What’s happened?”
His face drawn, Travell ran a hand through his dark hair and said weakly, “Triana’s missing.”
What the…?” Do you think she tried to follow us?” Gabriel asked darkly, fearing he might just wring her pretty neck when he laid eyes on her again — if he didn’t fall to his knees and praise God she was safe first.
But when Travell shook his head, the back of his neck started to prickle with unease. “Her bed hasn’t been slept in. But that’s not even the worst of it. Eastbury showed up first thing this morning, fit to be tied.” With an even more dismal countenance, he added, “He had the vicar with him and demanded an audience with Triana. He said they’d had an ‘understanding,’ but he wouldn’t elaborate.”
“No doubt, some twisted, premeditated plot on his part,” Gabriel snarled, although he would deal with the earl later. Right now, Triana was his priority. “What else do you know at this point?”
“Only that Genevieve claimed she’d left Triana alone in her bedchamber about ten-thirty last night, but when she went to check in on her this morning about six, she was gone.” Travell gave a weary sigh. “We’ve questioned all the other servants, but no one has seen or heard anything.”
Gabriel felt his chest clench, as if he couldn’t breathe — or else his heart was being ripped right out of his chest. He tried to force himself to try and think rationally, when all he wanted was to tear apart London until Triana was found and back in his arms once more. Suddenly, a terrible thought occurred to him. “Do you think Cordelia managed to find out about Triana’s involvement?”
Travell frowned, although his voice was thoughtful when he replied, “I wouldn’t think so, but we don’t know how far her French spy’s reach goes.”
But Gabriel did.Blast. “I’ve been a blind idiot,” he mumbled with a shake of his head. “I’ve been so caught up with…” He hesitated. “…everything that I didn’t take time to register all the warning signs that have been staring me in the face all along.” He began to tick them off on his fingers. “First, there was the Vandergild’s garden, where Cordelia just ‘happened’ to come upon me and Triana. How the hell did she know we were even out there together unless she’d had someone working for her within theton? Then there was the hackney at the opera…”
Travell’s face turned pale. “Do you think Triana was… kidnapped?”
Gabriel didn’t reply, but he considered it a very real possibility. As something occurred to him, he took off down the stairs with Travell close on his heels. Once in his study, he began to rummage through a pile of correspondence on his desk. He picked up a sealed envelope and tore it open before tossing it aside and picking up another.
“What are you looking for?” Travell asked.
Gabriel kept looking around until he read the fourth, sealed letter. He scanned it before crushing it in his hand in obvious disgust. “I should have known.”
At Travell’s puzzled expression, he held the expensive, scented vellum out to him. “Cordelia’s been sending these like clockwork ever since the Westerville ball, but I haven’t paid them much heed until now. This was the last one sent early this morning.”
Travell took it and began to read.
My darling Gabriel,
While you have seen fit not to return any of my letters or pay a simple call, I decided to get your attention another way,since it appears you haveforsakenme. I realize you have taken a particular interest inLadyTriana Abernathy, but I’m afraid I can no longer sit idly by and allow her to be a continued threat to my own wellbeing. You see, I have my heart set on being a duchess, and while I truly have no wish to marry again, tohave that muchprestige andpoweris much too tempting for me to ignore, so I propose an exchange. You—for her.
As you may have surmised at this point, Triana is missing. She is currently unharmed, but if you do not abide by my wishes, I’m afraid she will not stay that way for long, especially as my men are rather eagerto visit her chambers asshe is dressed rather scandalously in that red gown. Whereever did she come by such a garment? She looks like a regular street doxy. But, from what I understand, perhaps it suits her after all.
I shall allow twenty-four hours for you to acquire a special license for us to marry, or you will have to say goodbye to your little trollop forever. I am anxious to see which course of action I need to take.
Adieu, my love,
—C
“The woman’s bloody insane! If she harms one hair on my sister’s head…” Breathing heavily, Travell couldn’t even seem to finish the threat as he tossed the letter back onto Gabriel’s desk in repugnance. “I should have listened to you when you said she was more of a menace than I believed she was. I obviously underestimated the lengths she is willing to go in her bloodthirsty quest.”
“The way I see it, there’s only one thing to do.” Gabriel said evenly as he opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a revolver. “Eliminate the problem.”
Chapter Twenty
There was no sound except a steady breath… .in and out, in and out. It took a few moments, but Triana eventually realized that it was her own. Her lids slowly fluttered open. At first, nothing registered but blurry surroundings and gloomy silence.
She wondered if Eastbury had kidnapped her to ensure her full cooperation to his demands, but then, that didn’t make any sense. She had already given him her word, so why go through the trouble? Besides, she had no doubt that he would have made good on his threat to seek her hand bright and early the next morning, as he was just that conniving.
