“Someone did?” Luke moved forward. “Pray tell me it wasn’t my brother.”
“No, my lord. And do not worry. I’m sure the individual will be found. Perhaps it is best you didn’t attend tonight’s festivities. You didn’t attend, did you?”
Luke coughed to cover his smile over Roland’s fishing expedition. The poor soul was stuck trying to play both ends. “You see what I’ve been up to this evening.” He lifted his book, and added, “Perhaps you were correct about my attending. Ghosts floating about and people going missing, hardly sounds like a place for me.”
“Precisely.” Roland backed toward the door. “The last guests have finally been calmed and are leaving. The night is almost over, but perhaps I shall retire as well. If you need anything, my lord…”
“I will be sure to call.”
Roland bowed and walked out. Luke didn’t relax until the door clicked shut. He climbed from the bed and paced.
Angry, he snapped his book shut. He had so hoped Brigitta wouldn’t be missed until tomorrow. But it didn’t matter. She was safe and secure and secreted away where no one would ever think to look.
****
“What did you find out? Tell me.”
“I played it just as you suggested, sir. But there is no evidence Brigitta is still in his room,” said Roland.
“What! But that is impossible. I saw her not but a few hours ago. Oh, I should never have agreed to that game.” Chadwick ran his hands through his hair and worried his lip.
“Pray tell, was your game successful?”
Chadwick laughed, the sound strange to his own ears. “Lady Vonda is a shyster.”
“That poorly, sir?”
“We must find Brigitta and bring her back. Otherwise my creditors will either come for the furniture or my limbs.”
Roland frowned and left him alone.
Chadwick stewed. He ran his hand through his hair. Luke had always been the good one, the smart one, the one everyone loved, the one who never got in trouble. No matter what Luke did, he always came out smelling like a rose. Perhaps even his feces smelled like roses!
Chadwick snickered to himself then solemnity overcame him. This couldn’t wait. He needed Brigitta. He stalked to Luke’s room and flung the door wide. Luke lay on his side and appeared to be asleep.
Grabbing the cover, he flung it backward. Luke roused and wiped his eyes. With a thick, sleep-filled voice, he asked, “What is the meaning of this?”
Chadwick grabbed the collar of his brother’s nightshirt and hauled him to a sitting position. “Where is Brigitta? She was in your room when I left you.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“No idea what I’m talking about.” He scoffed at the words and shoved Luke back in the bed. Frustrated, Chadwick narrowed his eyes, grabbed a candle, and searched Luke’s room. Finished, he came back and stood before Luke.
Luke straightened his gown and yawned. “Now, if you don’t mind, I was trying to sleep.”
“Whatever you’re playing at, if you’ve hidden her away, you will ruin her reputation. It won’t matter what I did to her; the only thing that will be remembered is how she spent time alone with you!”
Chadwick turned on his heel and fled. There had to be a Faro game in town somewhere. He just needed to make enough money to buy some time.
****
Brigitta moaned and reached for her head. The pain was abominable and she attempted to yell for Letta. Dryness stuck her tongue to the roof of her mouth. She struggled to open her eyes. Alas, when able to pry her lids apart, she gasped.
She sat straight up in bed and the room spun. Placing her hand behind her, she stopped herself from falling over until she could regain her equilibrium.
Everything settled into place, and she squinted. Vivid rays of sunlight filtered through sheer curtains and Brigitta shielded her eyes. Slowly she swung to the side of the bed and steadied herself by holding the bedpost.
The room was unfamiliar. A sheer white fabric draped the canopy. A lace coverlet covered the bed. Oriental rugs hugged the wooden floor.
A full-length mirror faced her and she gasped. She still wore the blue ball gown from the night before. A purple knot covered a large portion of her forehead and she fingered the place gently, groaning as she touched the tender spot and pain lanced across her cheek.
Next to the mirror was a thick rope. No doubt this rope was to pull for a servant, but Brigitta hesitated. Since she didn’t know where she was, did she really want to draw attention to the fact that she was awake? She thought not.
Instead, she slipped to the window. A cool breeze wafted through the cracked shutter. Beyond, the sun glistened on the glassy top of a lake. The scent of fresh pines and blooming wildflowers assaulted her senses, and she closed her eyes and enjoyed the refreshing aroma. Soon enough the pleasure faded. For as pleasant as the house and scenery were, it couldn’t hide the facts. It appeared she was in the back of a house, a crystal clear lake and the treetops her only view.
Fear clenched at her gut. Where was she and how had she gotten there?
Chapter Sixteen
Chadwick stomped from the room and Luke rolled back over. Morning light filtered in through the unshuttered window, and he shook his head and groaned. What had possessed him to stay abed so long?
He jumped from the bed, dressed quickly, and stuffed a bag with clothes. No footman roamed the halls and he entered the tunnel and took a direct route to the kitchen. He peeked around the corner and breathed a sigh of relief. The room was empty.
Inside the pantry, he grabbed a basket and loaded it with food. The cook might not be happy that he’d raided her stores, but it served her right for siding with Chadwick.
Voices and footsteps echoed outside, and he hid in the corner and waited.
“I can’t believe it,” said Mrs. Thorne.
Luke peeked around the corner. Canisters clinked and clanked as Mrs. Penelope Thorne, the cook, poured flour into a container and conversed with her two scullery maids.
“What?” asked Clarice.
“I’m bettin’ that Chadwick was there the entire time and we just didn’t know it.”
Maude’s head turned. “I heard it straight from Roland himself. Chadwick wouldn’t attend for fear of being recognized.”
“Pshaw. I don’t believe a word of it. With all his exploits, the man is hardly likely to start hiding himself now,” said Mrs. Thorne, wiping her floured hands on a towel.
Clarice also dusted flour from her hands. “I guess not. But if word reached London about a ball, and that the baron was in attendance, what a stir it would cause. Much better to have the ball and the baron remain absent.”
“The whole thing seems a bit shady to me. Pretending to be the baron and having a wife argue with you to make funds for the estate.” Mrs. Thorne shook her head. “When the real baron returns, we’ll probably all be out of work.”
Earlier thoughts about Mrs. Thorne receiving her just desserts now caused Luke a modicum of guilt.
“Why, you don’t think he would dismiss us, do you?” asked Clarice, worry furrowing her brow.
“It wouldn’t surprise me.”
The kitchen servants discussed his pleasant nature and rehashed memories of his parents. Minutes ticked by. The pleasant delay caused his ears to burn and his legs to go numb. He needed to get out of hiding and return to Brigitta.
Roland entered. “Ladies, Chadwick is requesting his breakfast be brought to his room posthaste.”
Twittering, the maids grabbed a tray, piled it with food, and rushed from the room. Luke took the opportunity and escaped.
****
Brigitta tugged the bell rope but nothing happened. She twisted the knob on the door only to find it locked. Over and over she tugged, ending with the same result. Panicked, she ran to the window and opened the shutter fully. Metal bars faced her.
She was mostly definitely trapped. Sitting on the floor, she allowed the fear and weariness to overcome her a
nd she wept. Finally spent, she used the tail of her gown to dry her face and strengthened her resolve. There had to be some way out. The estate had tunnels; could this house not have them as well?
Bookcases filled with colorful books lined one wall. She pulled all the yellow leather-bound books representing poetry followed by the red leather books representing fiction onto the floor and touched or pushed every square inch of the exposed surface.
Then she knocked and punched every plank and board. She removed portraits and moved sheet-covered furniture. No secret doors appeared.
She clenched her eyes shut, lifted her head to the ceiling, and screamed.
“What is going on in here?”
She lowered her gaze and stared directly at her brother-in-law. He wore a white shirt and a pair of freshly pressed trousers. Mud splattered his boots and his hair stood up as if he’d just come from a wild ride.
Anger boiled inside her and she swelled a few inches in every direction. “You!” She yelled and flew at him in a rage. Her hands balled into fists and pummeled his chest until he caught her and wrenched her arms behind her back. His hold was firm, but not hurtful.
His lips touched her ear as he whispered, “You need not be angry.”
A shiver raced across her skin, but her anger outshone the feeling. She slung her head back and he yelped with pain before releasing her. Swirling around to face him, she said, “Why have you taken me prisoner? What do you want with me? Your brother will have your head when he finds out what you’ve done.”
The man massaged his reddening cheekbone. Her breath caught in her throat at how handsome he looked in the morning’s light.
“I highly doubt that,” he said.
She narrowed her gaze and planted her hands on her hips. She opened her mouth to defend her husband, but shut it just as quickly. Honestly, why would he care if she went missing?
She dropped to the floor.
****
This was not how Luke had envisioned his reunion with Brigitta. She was supposed to be eternally grateful and fall into his arms, not almost break his nose and then collapse onto the floor.
Scrambling frantically for something to say, he stuttered, “M-my l-lady, would you allow me to offer you b-breakfast?”
“What?” she asked, looking up. Tears filled her gaze, and his heart wrenched.
“Breakfast awaits you. Would you allow me to serve you?”
“Do I get to eat at the table or will I be forced to eat in here?” she asked. Her voice sounded choked with restrained emotions.
He held out his hand, his heart squeezed tightly in his chest at the fear he’d caused her. “I would be delighted if you would join me at the table.”
She ignored his hand and staggered shakily to her feet, held her head high, and walked into the hallway. Again, he offered his arm. She stared at it wearily, blinked back tears, and took the offering.
On the way to the dining room, Luke wondered if the preparations were adequate. They entered and Brigitta released his arm and covered a gasp. A smile tickled the corner of her lips and he sighed with relief.
Hesitantly, she took one seat as he held the chair for her and he took the other. He spread a napkin over his lap and dove into the food, not looking at her. Soon he heard the scraping of silverware and he smiled.
“Why have you brought me here?” she asked in between bites of roast beef.
“To rescue you.”
She laughed. “How? By placing me in another prison?”
“Hardly. This house is by no means a prison. Feel free to come and go as you please. No one will find you here.”
She drew her brows together. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
Mouth agape, he thought of telling her yes, but was waylaid by her next question.
“Why was my room locked?”
Fork placed next to his plate, he dabbed at his mouth and said, “For your own protection. I didn’t want you to wander off before I returned and explained why you were here.”
“I see.”
“Today I will escort you through the house and you may pick any bedroom you like. You can of course leave now if you wish, but I dare say you will not find another living soul in all of Stockport who is willing to assist in your escape from the baron’s tyranny.”
She placed her hands in her lap. “And how would you know?”
“Because I know. They all fear the baron, do they not?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“And since you have no power, they would be afraid to help you.”
A solitary tear escaped and he fisted his hands to keep from wiping it away. He said, “If you will permit me, I do have a plan.”
“You do?” she asked.
“Yes. You will stay here until your marriage is annulled, and then I will escort you to any place you desire to go.”
“What?” she said breathlessly.
“I thought it would be obvious that your marriage would have to be annulled. You can’t expect the baron to just let you walk away without some form of legitimate separation.”
“B-but I don’t want to leave the baron.”
“You don’t?” He tried to control his shock but it was impossible.
“Of course I don’t. I just want him to pay attention to me. I want to be his wife in all aspects. I want to spend more time with him.”
“Oh. I believe I misunderstood your goals.” He narrowed his eyes and stared at the table. The shock started to fade and Luke tried to adjust to the new situation.
Brigitta scooted back her chair and paced. “I had such high hopes of meeting him at the ball and telling him how I felt, but then he didn’t even show.”
Pleasure filled his heart as he realized Brigitta recognized his eyes, but not Chadwick’s. Deciding not to inform her that her husband had attended the ball, he said, “What about jumping from the window? That doesn’t seem like the act of a woman who wishes to stay where she is.”
“Indeed, I didn’t want to stay where I was. I have no desire to be locked in my room and only asked to come out when I’m to be showcased to others.”
“If I hear you correctly, you want to have a relationship with the baron, my brother.”
“Yes.”
“Why?” he asked, holding his breath. If she said she loved Chadwick, he would return her even at the detriment to his own heart.
“For the same reasons I married him.”
“Which is?”
“The people.” She stopped and knelt beside him. “The villagers are good people but they need an advocate, someone to stand up for them. In recent months the baron has charged them mercilessly, implying he will take more rents than they can pay. They are mentally beaten and weary and have very little left to give. I thought if I could persuade him to understand that, then he would relax his grip and Stockport would improve.”
Luke frowned. Since when had the people been overcharged? His family had always been lenient landowners. The estate’s coffers had always remained full, and the current day-to-day business had been funded by investments. Something wasn’t right.
“So you want to stay with the baron to help the villagers?”
“Yes.”
“How did you marry the baron?”
She stood and waved her hands. “Oh, we married in the estate’s parish church, with just Rector Morgan, Roland, and one other servant in attendance. It was all a very common affair.”
“And was the marriage consummated?” He held his breath.
She frowned. “No.”
“Why not?”
“That I cannot answer. Naturally I assumed that would be foremost on my husband’s mind, but I was not even escorted to his rooms after the ceremony. It was all very odd. But who am I to question the workings of the titled mind?”
“Who, indeed.”
Chapter Seventeen
Brigitta resumed her seat and consumed the contents of her plate. Juices from the roast beef ran along her chin and she hurried to wipe th
em away. When finished, she stared at her jailor. Who was this brother-in-law of hers, the one who continued to show up in the oddest places?
She would play along and see where this went.
She smeared jam on a scone. “Not much is known about the Andrews family.”
“We are a well-kept secret,” he said, his head lowered and his lips twitching with amusement.
“Truth be told, I don’t even know your name.” She waited, but he didn’t respond. Placing her elbows on the table, she bored into him with her gaze. “Why not tell your brother you’re home? Why keep up with this, this ruse?”
He laughed softly under his breath and raised his head. “What makes you think he doesn’t know?”
Surprised, she shrugged. “I guess I just assumed.”
“You needn’t worry about my brother. Chadwick takes care of himself.”
“He d-doesn’t know we’re here, does he?”
He placed his napkin on the table, stared at her in a serious manner, and squeezed her hand. “He doesn’t know you’re here.”
Even while shivering with delight, she yanked her hand away and placed it in her lap. “The duplicity of this stunt,” but she couldn’t continue. She shook her head in weariness, wishing she could wash her hands of the entire situation and go back to the village.
“Let’s not dwell on it. If you wish, we shall return posthaste.” He made as if to rise. “If you’re finished, you may wash up and I’ll escort you back to the estate.”
“Now?” she asked.
“Yes. There is very little reason to stay here if your ultimate goal is as you stated.”
She bit her lip. “Before we go, perhaps I should like to walk beside the lake. Maybe you should offer it to me?”
“Hmm, I don’t know. The temptation may be too great and—”
“Do I have to beg?” She threw her napkin on the table.
He arched a brow.
She placed her hands in her lap and sighed. “Sorry, I have forgotten my manners, although why I should have manners with someone who kidnapped me is beyond my comprehension.”
“I see.”
“I mean, you have taken me from my home in the dead of night and brought me to this dreary place. Why, I bet the dust has gathered for well over a year.”
Andrews Brothers 01 - The Ruse Page 11
