Page 119 of My Highland Love

Steven shook his head. “No. You heard what our scout said when we arrived yesterday evening. Price hasn't been to the sanitarium.”

Marcus started to speak, but Steven cut him off. “The surrounding area is being watched. Had anyone ridden cross-country, we would have been alerted.”

“A single man could have slipped past your men,” Marcus said. “Does Ardsley ride?”

“Quite well,” Steven replied. “But he couldn't have approached the hospital without being spotted. As you have seen, Danvers is surrounded by open country.”

“He would need a carriage for Elise,” Justin said.

“Aye,” Marcus agreed, “but if he didn't plan on bringing her to the meeting today, he would have come by horseback.”

“If he doesn't need her at the meeting, he may not have come at all,” Justin added.

“He has no hope of swinging the vote without her,” Steven said. “He must bring her. Why keep her alive if he isn't going to present her?”

That was a question Marcus couldn't consider.

* * *

Another day of living with the knowledge that Elise was locked in hell had worn Marcus beyond thin. The Single Penny's tavern door swung open and he snapped his attention onto the newcomer, his brother-in-law. His heart rate accelerated. The grim expression on the lad's face didn't bode well. Steven assessed the room in the same manner he had the day they'd met William Shelby, then pressed through the cluster of men milling near the door and shuffled across the room.

He slid into the seat opposite Marcus and without preamble whispered, “I'm a complete fool.”

“What has happened?” Marcus demanded.

“We were so occupied with Danvers—so sure Elise was there—”

“Are you saying she is not?”

Steven shook his head. “No. Only that our knowing she is there created a distraction.” He gave a harsh laugh. “If I didn't know any better, I would swear Price planned it.” His mouth dipped into a deep scowl. “It occurred to me last night that I should question Price's servants.”

“Wouldn't Ardsley stop you?” Marcus asked.

“If he knew, yes. There is little love lost between Price and his servants. The housekeeper, in particular, despises him.” Steven halted and looked past Marcus. He realized the barmaid must be approaching with ale in hand. An instant later, she appeared at his right and set an ale before Steven.

“Any of that jackrabbit stew left?” Steven asked.

“Always got jackrabbit stew,” she replied.

“Two,” Steven said, and she left. He drank from his mug, then said, “Mrs Hartley is a jewel of a housekeeper and Price knows it. Every day, after lunch, she goes to the market. This afternoon, I met her there.” Steven paused. “I've always wondered why she stays with Price. A woman with her skills could easily find another post. She doesn't live in terror of him as the other servants do.

“This is the only concession I have ever known him to make in his household. That, too, puzzled me. Price isn't a man to tolerate being questioned. Today, I discovered why she stays. Mrs Hartley has a son. He is now thirty years of age. About fifteen years ago, he killed a man in a brothel brawl. The dead man was a well-respected businessman. All these years, Price has been holding this over her head.”

“Why tell you this after all this time?”

Steven gave a low grunt. “Two reasons, I suspect. One, she likes Elise. The second, once I told her Price was holding Elise captive she must have realized that there was a great chance I would deal with him legally. That would free her from Price's hold.”

“Bloody hell,” Marcus burst out. “You didn't inform her of my presence?”

Steven glanced around the tavern and Marcus cursed his temper.

The younger man leaned closer. “Of course not. But the woman's no fool. She knew I was up to something. Nothing goes on in any household the servants don't know, sometimes even before other family members, and with good reason; they're smarter than the devil himself. Our stew is coming.” Steven slumped back in his chair.

Marcus did the same as the barmaid set a bowl of stew before him, then Steven. She turned and headed back to the bar. Steven placed his elbows on the table and took another drink of ale before stirring the stew.

“Mrs Hartley knew that Price told the board Elise was here in America,” he said, and took a bite of stew. “He's in the habit of having late meetings in his home with board members. Last night, a woman was brought in. She was dressed in black. Heavily veiled and heavily sedated. Price carried her to one of the guestrooms on the second floor. He wouldn't allow anyone into the room when he took her up. Half an hour later, he called for Mrs Hartley. Imagine her shock at seeing Elise in the bed, looking as if she had all but stepped into the grave.”

Marcus's heart missed a beat. “How did he get her past us—we left Danvers too soon.”