“Sanctuary?Thisis a sanctuary...” Keaton stopped himself.
But if those brigands threatened legal action to recover Amelia, then Georgia would want to distance herself from Westvale. Damn those bastards!
“Did she mention where they were going?” Keaton asked.
“Erm, Swinthorpe, Your Grace,” Rutherford replied.
“By your tone, there is more to tell, and you do not like it.”
“Indeed, Your Grace. I must apologize. I fear that I have been hoodwinked. Lady Georgia said that Swinthorpe had been suggested as a sanctuary by... Lord Swinthorpe himself.”
“What!” Keaton roared, sensing that he was yelling in the butler's face but not caring.
Anger and concern warred for dominance within him.
“Lord Swinthorpe was here. I do not know how he obtained access after he had very publicly left, but I can assure you it was not through the front door. All servants were instructed to deny him entry and send for me if he appeared.”
“So, he sneaked in like a spy. And a man who needs to sneak into his own nephew's house is up to no good,” Keaton muttered.
“My thoughts exactly, Your Grace,” Rutherford echoed.
Keaton could smell Thorne's tobacco, and knew the man was just behind him, waiting for orders.
He spun around. “Thorne, do you carry pistols?” he asked.
“I do, Your Grace.”
“We are to leave for Swinthorpe to confront my uncle. We may need them.”
CHAPTER 31
“Icannot thank you enough for your kindness, Lord Swinthorpe,” Georgia beamed as they were served tea in one of Swinthorpe Hall's drawing rooms.
The room was dark, facing east as the sun set and so drawing in the darkening sky, while fire illuminated the west. The dark mahogany furniture further added to the sense of gloom. A fire in a brooding stone hearth cast long, dancing shadows. Georgia felt uneasy but put it down to Lord Swinthorpe's choices in decoration and the reason they'd had to vacate Westvale so hastily.
I hope Keaton has received the letter I left for him, brief as the circumstances of our departure required it to be. He will need to know what has become of us.
“Not at all, Your Grace,” Swinthorpe responded with a grin, “I am only glad that I could offer my assistance in your hour of need. And Westvale's.”
Georgia looked to Amelia, who had taken a seat by the window and was staring out pensively.
“Amelia, there is no way that your father will look for you here. He has no way of knowing where you are. Even the servants at Westvale do not know.”
“I wish I could relax, Georgia. I fear all I have done is anger my father and Lord Emsworth and delay the inevitable.”
“It is far from inevitable,” Georgia pressed angrily. “Have hope.”
“Doyou, Your Grace?” Swinthorpe asked suddenly, leaning forward in his seat.
“Yes, in the future,” Georgia spun her head to face him with conviction.
“Thefuture?” Swinthorpe looked peculiarly intent.
“My future with my husband. And my cousin's future, independent of her parents, if need be.”
“Ah. My last conversation with my nephew on the subject of your marriage did not give me much hope,” Swinthorpe shrugged.
“Indeed? I always try to maintain hope, even if it is just a sliver. Life without hope is no life at all.”
