Your loving father,
Phillip Ashton
The letter fell from her hand, her brain fighting to comprehend what she had just read. If she hadn’t already seen Sir Roderick’s journal with her own eyes, she’d have a hard time believing a word of her father’s letter. But the accounts were eerily similar. She could not discount the possibility, no matter how fantastical, that her father was very much alive. And that the city lived as well.
Sail to San Sebastian with the items. Ask for Juan Miguel at the docks. The directions swirled a confusing myriad in her head. The only missing information waswhoheld her father. Who knew of the city? Who wanted the journal?
Slowly, she folded the letter and placed it carefully on the desk. Her mind raced, her pulse beating rapidly at her temples.
Dear God, what was she supposed to do? She couldn’t let her father die. But how could she help him when she held neither the journal nor the bracelet in her possession?
Lord Ridgewood had Sir Roderick’s journal. Maybe he had Gabriel’s bracelet. But did he realize the significance of either?
No. He couldn’t. He was too desperate for her help to truly comprehend the magnitude of what he held. And she’d staunchly refused to aid him.
She groaned. Why couldn’t her father’s letter have reached her a few days earlier? She cupped her forehead in her palms and rubbed absently. If she approached Lord Ridgewood now, he’d immediately be suspicious. She could try to steal the journal, but if she were caught, the consequences would be dire. Plus, she’d have no way of knowing if he possessed the bracelet or not. How she deplored the idea of having to go to the viscount now and grovel.
She sighed a long despairing sigh. Her only option, no matter how much she loathed the notion, was to go to Lord Ridgewood and pretend cooperation. If he didn’t already possess the bracelet, she’d need his help to find it. Then when she had both, she could steal away from Lord Ridgewood and rescue her father.
“Udaya,” she called out as she rose from her seat.
Udaya arrived in a swirl of silk, her expression questioning. “You looked troubled,Beti.”
India glanced at the large clock across the room. If they hurried, they could make the next coach. “Have Kavi purchase seats on the next coach to London, and tell Mary to prepare a meal for us to take along. Then come help me pack a few things.”
Udaya blinked in surprise. “Where are we going? And where shall we stay?”
India sucked in a deep breath. “To Lord Ridgewood’s. And we’ll have to hope he doesn’t hold a grudge for my turning him away.”
###
Ridge returned to London and directed his driver to the bookshop where he’d purchased the journal. As he entered the shop, the proprietor smiled enthusiastically in welcome.
“Good day, my lord. I trust you have found the journal satisfactory?”
“Indeed, I have,” Ridge replied. “That is why I have returned.”
“Is something amiss?” the shop owner asked in alarm, his eyes widening in apprehension.
“Why would you think so?” Ridge asked, raising a brow.
“No reason at all, my lord. I merely hope you are well satisfied with your purchase.”
“Yes, well, that remains to be seen,” he said wryly. “Tell me, good sir. Has anyone else been in to inquire about the journal? Did you happen to tell anyone that I purchased it?”
The shop owner gulped nervously. “Yes and no, my lord. Someone came in and asked about journals. Not yours specifically, but I told no one that I had sold Sir Roderick’s to you.”
Ridge leaned closer to the man in anticipation. “Who was it and what specifically did they want?”
“I’m sorry. I do not know exactly, my lord.” The proprietor squirmed uncomfortably. “’Twas a man about your age, I suppose. Not as well turned out. He wanted to know if I had any journals. He never mentioned Sir Roderick by name, but he said he was interested in journals or diaries of adventurers like that Ashton fellow who died.”
Ridge froze. “Did he mention Ashton by name?”
The shop keeper nodded vigorously. “Does that help at all, my lord?”
Ridge pressed his lips together in thought. “Surely he left a way for you to contact him should you come across any such item.”
“No, my lord. He said he’d check back in a day or two.”
