The last shipment arrived intact. Buyers are satisfied. The person who caused the delay has been dealt with and will not cause any further disruption to future operations. We await your next delivery.
Constantine set the letter down slowly. He turned back to the first page, to the list of descriptions and prices, and this time he did not have to wonder what they meant. Ages. Heights. Weights. Prices. Shipped like cargo. Then suddenly it struck him like a bolt of lightning. His stomach clenched. Bile threatened to rise in his throat.
They are women.
The portfolio was an account book forwomen who were sold.
Constantine shoved at the portfolio as if it burned him, his hand coming to his mouth as he pressed his back into the chair. If this was what his brother had been doing when Evander confronted him, then…
“Elara!” he bellowed, shoving out of the chair with a quickness. “Elara, get in here, now!”
She was right. She had always been right. Evander had discovered what Augustus was doing and had tried to stop him.
“Elara!” he bellowed again, his patience growing thin as he looked down at the blasphemous portfolio.
“Stop with all this caterwauling!” Mrs. York scolded as she hurried into the room. “What has you twisted so?”
“I have no time for scolding today, Mrs. York. Now go get my wife!” Constantine demanded.
As if Mrs. York recognized the moment of great importance, her taunting expression shifted to one of concern, and she began rubbing her hands together.
“I am afraid I cannot, Your Grace. The Lady of the House just left by carriage some five minutes ago.”
Constantine cursed.Impatient woman!
He should have known that Elara’s ten-minute warning had been quite literal. Constantine hurried around the desk, a sense of danger growing inside of him.
“Go to the stables immediately,” he ordered, practically running past a still worried-looking Mrs. York. “Have a horse ready at once!”
Constantine did not stop to see if Mrs. York obeyed; he had to trust that she understood his urgency. He hurried to his quarters, his heart pounding as he shoved a sheathed knife into his boot and grabbed one of his already loaded derringers, praying he would not have to use either.
Then a realization struck him so strongly that he nearly stumbled. He would do it if it meant keeping Elara safe. And if she faced Augustus and his allies alone, she was definitely going to be anything but.
Chapter 28
Ido not have a good feeling about this.
Another tremor of worry passed through Constantine as he rode onto the darkened docks. Aside from Elara’s abandoned carriage, the place was empty and eerily quiet save for the gentle lapping of the water; the only light coming from the tall oil lamps spaced every few meters.
Constantine dismounted the horse, throwing the reins at the sleeping driver of the carriage, startling him awake.
“Where is the Duchess?” Constantine demanded.
The driver blinked as if confused, then hurriedly reached for his pocket watch. Constantine watched as the man’s eyes grew wide and his complexion grew pallid.
“She… she should have been back by now,” the man stammered. Constantine’s anger doubled.
“You did not accompany her?” he snarled the question.
Somehow, the driver’s face grew even more pale.
“She... she would not allow me, Your Grace,” he stammered. “She commanded that I stay here while she boarded the ship.”
“Which ship?” Constantine demanded, snapping his head toward the ships. There were four currently docked, with the light of the lamps unable to reach the names written on their sides.
“That one, Your Grace,” the driver answered, and Constantine turned to see the man pointing to the second ship to the left.
“And you are sure she is still aboard?” Constantine asked.
