Her mother didn’t appear convinced, and Margaret signaled to her maid to accompany her. She had to move quickly, regardless of her mother’s intentions.
When she reached her carriage, she saw Castledon outside. “Have you heard anything?”
His face was hard, like frosted ice. “According to another driver, the viscount took a coach, and he’d packed baggage. I think he may have taken Amelia somewhere.”
“We have to stop him.”
“He won’t get far,” Castledon agreed. “I promise you that.” There was a steely resolve in his tone, as if he would not stop until she was found. But although she trusted him, she trusted Cain more. The Highlander could find Amelia, no matter where Lisford had taken her.
“I’m going to get someone else to help us,” Margaret insisted. “Someone who knows London well and can help track them down.”
“Sinclair?” the earl guessed.
Her face flushed, but she offered no denial. “Go after her, and Sinclair will follow. He is a good friend of our family’s.”
The earl studied her a moment. “You were never going to agree to my proposal, were you?”
Margaret hesitated, wondering whether to reveal the truth. But then, it hardly mattered now. She faced him and admitted, “Not while Amelia is in love with you.”
He didn’t react at all, but she sensed that her announcement wasn’t a complete surprise. So, her instincts had been correct. Therewassomething between them, though she didn’t know if it was only Amelia who had developed feelings.
Before the earl could say anything, Margaret saw her chance to make a match on her sister’s behalf. “If Lord Lisford travels too far, Amelia will be forced to marry him. Her reputation will be compromised, and she’ll be ruined.”
Lord Castledon held her gaze, as if he knew precisely what she was implying.
“You could help her,” Margaret said quietly. “You said yourself, you need a wife and a mother for your daughter.”
“That wouldn’t be fair to her.”
“And would it have been fair to me?” Margaret countered.
She knew that Lord Castledon’s offer had nothing to do with love or affection and everything to do with keeping his word to his daughter. At least Amelia had the forthright manner where she dared to confront him. And whether either of them would admit it, Margaret had seen the spark between them. Therecouldbe something there, if circumstances permitted.
“She needs help, Lord Castledon,” Margaret insisted. “Don’t let her become a victim to the viscount’s schemes.”
The earl said nothing at all, but she’d made her point. Without another word, he climbed into his carriage and disappeared into the night.
Amelia awakened, her mouth feeling as if she’d swallowed a mouthful of fleece. Her head ached, and the world seemed to sway. What had happened? Had she fainted? She couldn’t recall fainting in all her life.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Viscount Lisford seated across from her. She blinked a moment, trying to clear the dreamaway, but he remained right where her imagination had conjured him. Clearly, she was having an appalling nightmare.
His expression held a blend of relief and terror. “You’re alive. I’m so glad.”
“Was I in danger of dying?” she blurted out. Her voice sounded woozy, not at all like herself.
“No. That wasn’t my intention at all.” He clasped his hands together and glanced outside the window. That was when she realized she was in a carriage.
A carriage that was moving entirely too fast, jostling her against the seat. Which then reminded her that her stomach was also tossing.
“Are you taking me home?” she asked, trying to keep herself from being sick.
He glanced out again, and from his nervousness, she suspected the answer was no.
Her nausea rose up higher, not only from the moving vehicle, but also from fear. “I need you to stop this carriage,” she informed him. “Right now.”
“I—I can’t do that, Miss Andrews.”
“You had better stop it, or I’ll be sick all over your shoes.” Again, her body fought the tossing motion. Had he given her something to make her sleep? Amelia tried to think of when or how.
