The Danverses gasped, and Wellesley’s jaw tightened as he bunched his hands into fists.
Trevor continued, “Just recently, Louisa and the gang of thieves were brought to London. This is where I ran her over and nearly killed her. She had lost her memory from the accident, but during the weeks afterward, we realized she had been raised by parents of Quality. My mother met the young woman and realized she resembled Lady Danvers quite a bit with her beautiful green eyes.”
When he looked at the countess, her eyes watered. Trevor went on. “I didn’t dare hope she was your lost daughter until I had real proof. The other day, Louisa returned to the place where I had hit her with my curricle, in hopes of forcing her memory to return. It had.” He paused and licked his lips, but when he opened his mouth to finish, hurried footsteps pounded on the floor in the hallway just as Miss Watson flung open the door and rushed inside the room. All eyes turned toward hers.
“Oh, forgive me for being late and intruding upon your guests.” Patting her ringlets into place, she smiled politely and sashayed toward Wellesley.
“Eliza, please sit,” Wellesley snapped. “You interrupted the duke, who had come to tell us some interesting news.”
Miss Watson’s face hardened as she threw daggers Trevor’s way. She didn’t say a word but sat next to Wellesley.
“Please continue, Your Grace,” the earl urged. “What did your friend remember?”
Taking a deep breath, Trevor silently prayed everything would go according to his plan. It must. Louisa’s life was at stake. “Louisa remembers her identity now, and realized that for six years she had been lied to.” He moistened his throat. “She remembers being raised Elizabeth Louisa Hamilton. Your daughter.”
Gasps ricocheted around the room accompanied by Lady Danvers’s sobs as she covered her face. The earl stared wide eyed at Trevor as he slipped his arm around his wife’s shoulders. Wellesley’s face turned white, and Miss Watson’s face reddened.
“How can this be?” Wellesley muttered.
Trevor shrugged. “Apparently, Louisa was kidnapped by a man named Mr. Percy Featherspoon.”
A different set of gasps exploded, this time sounding accusing. Both the Danvers and Frank pinned their glares at Eliza.
“That is your uncle,” Wellesley exclaimed.
The little deceiver must have gained control of her emotions as Eliza feigned a surprised expression toward Trevor. “You must be insane. My uncle kidnapped my dearest friend?” She switched her focus to the Danverses and her fiancé. “My family knew Uncle Featherspoon was unethical at times and a swindler, but we had no idea he was kidnapping children.”
The earl jumped to his feet. “Your Grace, you must take us to Louisa at once. We want to know what happened… We want to know if she is all right.”
“Therein lies the problem,” Hawthorne said, then met Trevor’s eyes.
Trevor nodded. “Lord and Lady Danvers, early this morning Louisa was arrested for murdering the very man who she worked for—the man who taught her to steal and made her live like a vagabond for six years.”
“Augh,” Lady Danvers groaned as her face turned whiter.
Miss Watson tried to appear helpful as she rushed to the older woman’s side and fanned her face.
“However,” Trevor continued, “Iknowshe is innocent.”
“As do I.” Trey stood.
“And I.” Tristan nodded and rose by his brother.
“And I know she’s not guilty, as well,” Dominic acknowledged.
“For this very reason,” Trevor continued, “I am here at your home now, Lord Danvers. Your daughter might be hanged for something she didn’t do. I need your help. I will take you to see her tonight, if you wish.”
“But what if she is not who she says?” Miss Watson lifted her voice above the others. “How do you know this woman is not an imposter?”
As Trevor prepared his reply, his brothers and Dominic chuckled.
“Miss Watson,” Tristan began, “all you have to do is look at Louisa to know she is her mother’s daughter.”
“If you knew her as we do,” Trey added, “you would know Louisa is incapable of deceit.”
“But you said she’d lived as a thief for six years. Good heavens, she was under the care of the notorious criminal, Mr. Macgregor. Knowing that tells me not to trust this woman.”
“Tell me, Miss Watson,” Dominic said, walking closer as he looked at her with a critical eye, “where did you hear such a thing? You were not privy to the conversation we had a moment ago before you arrived, which means you could not have possibly heard what we said. And the other evening while at the dowager duchess’s home when the duke spoke about Louisa, he not once mentioned Macgregor’s name.” He scratched his chin. “So now I’m curious to how you know about this man.”
