“No.” One of the horses was still tied and waiting. He walked over to it. Matt was shaking as well from the night air and the aftermath of what he’d done. He led the horse to Willa.
“Why aren’t you going to report what happened?” she wanted to know. “Those men tried to kill us.” Her spirit was returning. “One is still free.”
“I know.” He picked up the knife.
“We should have the magistrate storm the Blue Boar.”
“We should,” he agreed, not sharing his true thoughts.
“Let’s go then,” she said. She was still shivering but she came to her feet. He needed to see her safe before she caught her death.
Before they both did.
He mounted and then reached for her hand to pull her up in front of him in the saddle. She settled in to him. He sent the horse forward.
“Matt, what is this about?” she asked. “It can’t be about blackmail. Not any longer.”
“No. Whoever is behind this wants more than money.” He told her all, needing to go through it in his own mind. He spoke of blackmail and of William’s secret, and of Minerva’s belief her oldest son had been murdered. Of the notes at the ball that were still in his pocket and probably hopelessly ruined.
Willa listened.
Matt knew he should not involve her in this. As if reading his mind, she prodded, “Matt, they took me from our bed. They knew the floor plan of the house.”
“You came home to me.” It was as he had hoped, and it had almost cost her life.
She looked up at him. “I didn’t come home to you, Matt. I came home tous.”
He kissed her head. Yes,us.
However, his wife’s practical mind was working. “Matt, why would Hardesty move on to murder?”
“That is what I’m wondering. If I’m dead, I can’t pay him anything.”
“And there must be a purpose to his scheme tonight. I feel quite strongly that he wished to separate us this evening.” She puzzled on the matter before asking, “You’ve never heard of or met a Hardesty before?”
“Never. I’ve even thought about school friends. No one. But I am starting to believe that Hardesty is a false name.”
She leaned her head against his chest. “Then he could be anyone.”
“No, not anyone. Someone who stands to gain if I die.” And Matt suddenly had an idea, one that was hard to contemplate. However, as he considered it, possibilities fell into place.
It was a betrayal. He would need proof before he accepted it... such as meeting Ross at the Blue Boar.
Whatever money Hardesty paid the villain, Matt would pay more.
Matt looked at the sky. Dawn was near.
They reached the main road. It was busy with the usual traffic flowing into the city in the very wee hours of the morning. People walked among ox and dog carts, wagons loaded with vegetables for London tables and fodder for horses. Everyone was too busy to notice anything unusual about them.
He rode straight to his house. Here, the hour was too early for anyone to notice them. As he pulled the horse up, the front door opened and a harried Marshall ran out.
“Good morning, Your Grace.” He sounded his usual self except anxious eyes took in Matt and Willa’s shabby, damp appearances. “We have been most worried since we found the duchess missing.”
“As you should have been,” Matt said.
“We did not share this information with the dowager,” Marshall added.
“Quite wise.” Matt dismounted and then took Willa in his arms. “Have a hot bath prepared immediately for the duchess.” He didn’t wait for his orders to be obeyed but carried his wife into the house and up the stairs.
