In the entry hall, Lady Ashley leftthe servants and came to Jack’s side. “It’s my Uncle George, LordCaindale. He has been kidnapped on his way here.”
Her eyes were blank with shock. Shewrung her hands as her desperate attempt to remain calm desertedher. Against his better judgement, Jack took her arm and drew herfarther away from the huddle of servants. “We need to talk. Perhapsyou can see to the staff first?”
She spun around and sent her uncle’sgroom and coachman on their way to the stables. Billings sent thefootmen to the kitchen with an order for them to be fed and for teaand sandwiches to be brought to the salon.
“I must go up to mymother.”
“Billings can see to LadyButterstone for a few minutes. I want you to tell me all that youknow. Then I’ll question Caindale’s servants. If something can bedone, I’ll need to act fast.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” Witha shuddering breath, she went and spoke quietly toBillings.
She returned to him as the butlerclimbed the staircase, with the gait of a man going to thescaffold. “Please come into the salon.” She led Jack through adoorway.
He followed her into an elegantlyfurnished room with walls decorated in panels of blue silk framedin gold leaf. Dainty sofas with mahogany legs faced each otheracross a low table. Jack took one and sat opposite Lady Ashley.Cramped, he attempted to find a comfortable spot on thestraight-backed and thinly padded sofa covered in bluedamask.
Lady Ashley watched him get settled.“We have just returned from Paris. When my father was sent there ona diplomatic mission, it was expected we’d remain for only a briefperiod, but we stayed for a year.”
“What kept him inFrance?”
She shrugged, exasperated. “Neither Inor my mother know. We women are not told anything ofimportance.”
“Could these attacks havesomething to do with his work there?”
“It seems unlikely. Whywait until he reached England?”
Jack wondered about that but saidnothing. He expected the facts would come to light, eventually.Whoever was behind this could have more in store.
A footman brought the tea tray with aplate piled with ham and cress sandwiches and another with smallcakes. Enough to feed at least six. Lady Ashley picked up theteapot, but it wobbled in her nervous hands, and she put it downagain.
He leaned forward and took it uponhimself to pour the tea. She didn’t demur. The ornate silver teapotwas quite heavy. He placed a gold-rimmed cup and saucer before herthen poured one for himself and stirred in a lump ofsugar.
Jack sat back, the delicate china cupalmost lost in his hand. Not his favorite beverage but he drank,poured another, then placed several of the small triangularsandwiches on his plate. He popped a whole one in his mouth. Tinybut delicious. “What did your uncle’s servants tellyou?”
“Apparently, the carriagewas held up in a woodland area a few miles fromDunstable.”
He selected another sandwich. “One manacted alone?”
“Yes. With a spare horse.He led my uncle away at gunpoint.”
“And you have no idea whothis man might be?”
She shook her head.
“Then he did not intend tokill your uncle.”Not straight away atleast.Jack searched Lady Ashley’ssensitive, intelligent face. If she had any knowledge orsuspicions, she wasn’t about to reveal them to him. She wasstudying him closely too, no doubt wondering whether to trust him.He was not dressed as a gentleman. “We came through Dunstable lastnight. It’s about fifteen miles from here,” he said. “I’ll rideover there and inquire at the taverns. See if I can learnanything.”
She closed her eyes, wiped her browwith the back of her hand. “Thank you, Captain Ryder. We’ll expectyou back for dinner.”
Jack put down his cup and saucer.“Please relay my regrets to your mother.”
“I will. But you’ve missedluncheon. Do you care for a meal before you leave?”
“No time, I’mafraid.”
She spread out a clean napkin, wrappedthe cakes and sandwiches in it. “A man of your size… you must havea hearty appetite.”
Smiling his thanks, he took thewelcome bundle from her.
They walked to the door.
