The True One (One and Only Series Book 2)

by Samanthya Wyatt

  He tried not to wince. “I am fine. My appetite has dwindled, somewhat.”

  “Yes, well. I’m sure Stephen is fine, dear. We’ll fatten him up in no time. Katherine should be here shortly.” Albert spoke to soothe his wife and Stephen was glad for the change in topic.

  “She should have been here hours ago.” Lines worried Elizabeth’s brow. “You sent your man to Viscount Roxborough’s estate with a message yesterday.”

  “We are speaking of Katherine and Charity. Not to mention, Charity is with child now. The Viscount will take measures to ensure her comfort.”

  “Charity with child?” Stephen shook his head. “I still think of her as an urchin hanging on my coattails.”

  “This will be her second child. She has a little boy, Zachary. He is almost two.”

  Reminding Stephen he’d been gone for over two years. While he’d managed to endure hell, life had gone on. Charity was a mother and Kat . . . damn. Where the hell was his sister?

  When he discovered his Kitten had been taken, he wanted to kill the man accountable and everyone else in his path. She had been taken by mistake. And the very man responsible for sending Giles to look for him, other than his uncle, of course, was the man responsible for his sister’s abduction. How the hell was he to wrap his mind around that little fact?

  Subconsciously, Stephen rubbed his wrists. The cuffs of his white shirt hid the marks.

  “Who is this Whetherford?” Stephen crossed his arms and leaned his back against the stone.

  “Morgan Langston, Lord of Whetherford Manor,” Albert answered. “His brother and parents were killed in a storm years ago when their ship sunk. Whetherford was a young man at Eton at the time. Unable to deal with the news of his family’s death, he left. The manor remained empty. Whetherford only returned a short while ago.”

  “Just in time for Kat to get into trouble,” he mumbled.

  “What’s that?”

  “Lord Whetherford is a gentleman.” His aunt boasted, clearly taken with the man. “Katherine and I visited Whetherford Manor. Lovely home. Quite large. Enormous, really. But he was a perfect gentleman, and seemed rather fond of our Katherine.”

  I’ll bet.

  Unsure of exactly how much his aunt knew, he decided not to elaborate further. Albert was a man of secrets. A man of connections. He was sure there was more to Whetherford than just Kat’s relationship with the man.

  And speaking of his sister, just what was their relationship? Katherine had better put in an appearance soon so he could see for himself that she fared well. Before he went after Whetherford and beat him to a bloody pulp.

  Josiah entered and tread to his uncle. “My Lord.”

  “Yes, Josiah, what is it?”

  “Willey has returned from Roxborough with this.” He held up parchment with the Viscount’s seal.

  Albert quickly tore the missive open. His brows rose. “What’s this? Katherine is not with Charity. The Viscount is on his way here.”

  Elizabeth’s gasp echoed around the room.

  Stephen shoved from the mantel. “Did he say where she is? Is he bringing her home?”

  “Evidently not. According to his letter they will explain when they get here.”

  “Explain?” Stephen voice thundered off the walls. “Who is they?”

  “The Viscount and his wife, Charity.”

  Stephen fisted his hands and marched two steps toward his uncle. “What kind of explanation can they give? Kat is up to something. And my instincts say Charity helped her.” He slammed one fist into the palm of his opposite hand while turning to pace. “When I get my hands on her . . .”

  “Now Stephen, we don’t know . . .”

  “Oh, Albert. Where is Katherine?”

  “Now, Elizabeth,” Albert’s voice cooed. “I’m sure Katherine is fine.”

  “Stubborn, headstrong, tenacious little vixen,” Stephen continued with a string of oaths under his breath.

  “Stephen, you must calm down.”

  “Calm down! Katherine is missing—again.” Hell Fire. Between Aunt Elizabeth and himself, his uncle had a devil of a time trying to appease them both. He knew he shouted. He just couldn’t help himself.

  Damn.

  In order to keep his mouth shut, he turned and paced again. Only to suddenly come up short. He spun around. “Whetherford.”

  Albert and Elizabeth both stared—only his aunt’s mouth hung open.

  “Whetherford,” he said again.

  “What does he have to do with this,” Albert asked in a graveled tone.

  “Uncle. Don’t you see? He has taken her. Or the brat has gone to him.”

  “Stephen, please,” his aunt sniffed.

  “Your suspicions are not founded.” Uncle gave one of his notable glares, his frown apparent displeasure.

  “Based on your own words and Kat’s willfulness, it is a reasonable assessment.” There he was, shouting again. “Aunt, I apologize. She is my little sister.”

  “I know, son,” Albert said. “She fretted over your absence and now you worry about her. If she is with Whetherford, she will come to no harm.”

  No harm?

  He dare not voice his thoughts aloud in the presence of his aunt. Whetherford was a man wasn’t he? The blasted earl was not above taking advantage of his sister. Damnation. He shoved a hand throw his wild hair.

  Bloody hell. The last thing he needed was to join in fist-cuffs with the Viscount right here in his Aunt’s drawing room.

  Charity placed her hand on her husband’s arm. “It’s alright.”

  Lord Roxborough lowered his head and gentled his features. “I will not have you upset.”

  “Stephen would not hurt me. He’s distressed.”

  “With good reason,” Stephen bellowed. At Lord Roxborough’s glare, he quickly apologized. “I beg your pardon. But I know these two. She and my sister have schemed plenty of times in the past. Some which had us pulling our hair.”

  “And what a bushy lot of it you have,” Charity said with a beaming smile.

  How like the little imp to tease at a time like this? Bloody hell. Where was Kat?

  “I apologize for my nephew’s forgotten manners, and I appreciate you coming to my home so quickly. The fact remains my niece is missing,” Albert said to the viscount.

  Stephen grimaced from the scolding. He glanced at his aunt. Elizabeth mutilated the handkerchief she held, her eyes red from crying. Albert had stayed beside her murmuring words of reassurance since the viscount entered their door.

  Where the hell had Kat gone? He had the need to pound something.

  Preferably Whetherford.

  Stephen spun around and headed for the doorway.

  “Stephen,” Albert called. “Do not go charging off half-cocked, my boy.”

  He halted, and slowly turned. “Don’t worry, Uncle. I’m fully loaded and primed for bear.”

  “I propose to go with you.” The Viscount stepped forward.

  Stephen glanced at Charity’s worried face, then back to her husband. “Suit yourself.”

  “The Earl of Whetherford,” the butler announced.

  Stephen’s head jerked to Josiah. The butler stood there stiff as starch. No different than announcing the arrival of any normal visitor. A tall gent stood behind Josiah. Almost as tall as himself. Broad shoulders with hair as black as a raven’s wing. Then Josiah’s words registered. Stephen saw a haze of red. His mind reeled.

  He charged.

  The man’s arm flew up, but not before he connected a fist to the man’s jaw.

  “Stephen! Stop this at once,” Albert shouted.

  His hands fisted at his sides. He sucked air, wishing the bastard would rise so he could hit him again.

  “Stephen,
old friend.”

  Stephen’s gaze leaped to the new voice. He’d been so angered with Whetherford he’d not realized another man entered the room. Someone he’d not seen in a long time.

  “Well, well, well.” Stephen braced his fists on his hips. “Old friend.”

  “It’s been quite a while.” Wesley stepped forward, shielding the earl.

  “You’re with this bit of muck?” Stephen swung an arm in Whetherford’s direction where he still sat on the floor.

  “We are friends, are we not?” A full set of pearly whites in the center of Wesley’s face, he spoke in his usual sing-song, persuasive voice.

  Yes they had been friends. Close friends. Wesley had been a member of his crew at one time. The man was trustworthy, so he allowed Wesley to speak without ripping his head off.

  “You helped abduct my sister?” Stephen challenged in a lethal tone.

  Wesley extended his hands. “Stephen, wait! You must listen.”

  “Listen to who? You?” Stephen challenged.

  Wesley knew Stephen’s temperament, yet he stood there refusing to move. Had to admire him, that.

  “We did not abduct your sister. Whetherford saved the girl.” Wesley spread his arms wide and resumed his melodic tone. “For old times’ sake?”

  “For old times’ sake, you are still standing. You should know how I deal with anyone who goes against me.” Hearing his aunt sniff reminded him they were not alone. He relaxed his pose—a bit.

  “It was a mistake.” Wesley turned to the man on the floor and offered his hand.

  “Couldn’t you have said something sooner,” the earl mumbled.

  Stephen took an aggressive step in the earl’s direction. “Where is she?”

  Whetherford’s head jerked to meet Stephen’s gaze. “What are you saying?”

  “You’re the bloke responsible. Where is she?”

  “This time I’m ready for you.” Whetherford braced his booted feet apart and positioned his arms ready for battle.

  “Stop. Both of you.” Albert stepped between them. “I will remind you, Stephen, you are in my home.” He turned. “Lord Whetherford. Surely you understand our concern. Just tell us if Katherine is with you.”

  His face turned almost white. Then, his alarm turned to dread. “I came here to see her. Are you telling me you don’t know where she is?”

  “What blooming nonsense,” Stephen thundered.

  “Stephen.” Albert’s harsh reprimand silenced him.

  Either the earl was a good performer, or he didn’t know where Kat had gone.

  Shouts came from the entry way. Josiah tried to restrain some man.

  “What the blue blazes is going on out there?” Giving Whetherford one last glare, Stephen marched into the vestibule. “What’s all the ruckus?”

  The new caller side-stepped around Josiah and headed straight for Whetherford. “This came right after you left. From Juliana.”

  Stephen looked down his nose. “You have your doxy sending you notes here?”

  Whetherford glared in response, then tore at the slip of paper. His face grew dark, his jaw tightened. He crumpled the note in his hands.

  Something about his reaction grabbed Stephens’ gut. Whetherford took a step forward, but Stephen blocked his path.

  “Just where do you think you’re going?”

  “To get Kat.”

  Chapter 24

  Stephen sat at the table staring into his mug of ale trying not to think of his little sister in the clutches of a mad woman. Whetherford’s mistress, no less. To be fair, the woman had stolen Whetherford’s mother’s jewels. And in his search for her, he’d stumbled upon Kat.

  If not for Wesley, and Giles, Stephen would have killed the earl. It had taken all his will, and Wesley’s levelheaded coaxing, to remind him they needed Whetherford to rescue his sister. For the woman somehow found out Whetherford cared for Kat, and she’d sent the note to him. Since she could not sell the priceless heirloom, she planned to trade Kat for money.

  Giles joined them as soon as they’d left his uncle’s house. His presence reminded Stephen that he should be more obliging to the man who helped arrange the search for him. After all, if not for Whetherford’s affection for Kat, Stephen might still be in India, perhaps rotting in the Rajput’s dungeon.

  Seeing the rage on the earl’s face gave him some comfort. Between the agony in Whetherford’s eyes and the tension in his body, he suffered as much, if not more. It was clear Whetherford loved his sister. Guess he should take pity on the man, but Whetherford was responsible for Kat being in this mess.

  Anger flared anew.

  They’d ridden for days. Only the need for food had them stopping at the inn. Stephen lifted the mug and took a hefty swallow, then wiped the film from his lip with the back of his hand. The bitter realization he could do nothing at the moment, didn’t stop him from thinking what he would do when he caught up with the kidnappers.

  Wesley slid into the chair next to him. “We’re close.”

  “What did you find out,” Whetherford spoke through gnashing teeth.

  “Let the man speak,” Giles said.

  “With a bit of blunt in the right palms, I found out plenty.”

  “Spit it out.”

  And I thought I was livid. Whetherford behaved like a madman, ever since his fellow delivered the message from Juliana.

  “A mysterious carriage showed up here about a month ago. Some blokes asked questions regarding an empty dwelling a few miles east of here. Created quite a stir, because the person in this carriage refused to show her face. Kept her head covered. Although, one of the men did see her hair. Flame red, he said. Some think her a mistress of a titled gent, or a lady in hiding.”

  Stephen lurched from his seat. Giles grabbed his arm.

  “Sit down. Do you want to alert her kidnappers? There may be someone in here loyal to Juliana. Possibly waiting for us. Surprise is the only weapon we have.”

  “How can we be a surprise if the bloody female sent an invitation?”

  “She’ll be expecting me to come alone,” Whetherford said.

  “That’s right,” Wesley added. “She thinks Morgan will rush to her if he is smitten with Katherine.”

  Morgan. If he used Whetherford’s familiar name, that put him on a level of comradeship, which he didn’t like. Hell. The man said he loved Kat. His actions verified the infatuation. More like obsessed.

  And he called her Kat. That alone declared he and his sister were on familiar terms.

  Guess he had to admit his little sister had grown into a woman. And if she loved the earl, damnation, he’d have to leave Morgan in one piece.

  “Are we going or not,” he growled in a whisper.

  “We are,” Morgan answered.

  Giles captured Stephen’s gaze. “Slowly, without drawing any more attention.”

  Hidden in the shadows, Stephen clenched his fists, then clenched them tighter. “Christ. This waiting could kill a man. I’ve been through hell—lived in hell. Yet the torture of waiting until I see Kat with my own eyes is worse than anything that blood thirsty bunch would have done to me.” He thrust his fingers through his thick hair and pivoted on his heel. “My little sister. This standing around has my brain ready to explode.”

  “Waiting is always the hardest part.” Morgan said in a strained voice. He’d not taken his attention off the house since Giles disappeared around the back.

  “That’s why I’m in charge of this rescue.” Giles slipped in beside them. “You’re too close. We’ve both been on too many missions to go blindly charging in without a plan.”

  “Well?” Morgan asked.

  “Wesley, Jeremy and George are in position. We counted four guards in back. Two more in the house.”

  �
��What about Kat?” he ground out.

  “She’s there. Tied to a chair in the middle of the room. We can’t get to her without being seen.”

  “I’ll kill them with my bare hands.” Stephen shoved his gun in the band of his pants and charged forward.

  “Wait.” Giles grabbed his arm. “Juliana is unpredictable. Who knows what she might do if you go charging in there. Let’s stick to the plan. Morgan, you go in the front door. Give us enough time to get in position. While you talk to Juliana, the other two guards will be distracted. Then, Stephen and I will make our move.”

  Morgan gave a nod in agreement.

  Stephen faced Morgan. “Whetherford. Get my sister.”

  With steady and silent steps, Stephen and Giles crept around to the back. Wesley and the others had already knocked out Juliana’s guards. With a nod from Giles, Stephen followed him to the corner of the house and flattened his back against the wooden planks. The moon appeared from behind a cloud lengthening shadows. What he wouldn’t give for a dark sky this night.

  With his head low, he and Giles scrambled to the stone steps. Looking left and right, seeing no sign of movement, he edged up each rung. Giles motioned for him to go right. Stephen inched across the porch and ducked under a window. Once he peered inside and found no one, he signaled to Giles.

  Together they slithered to the door. He held his breath as Giles turned the knob. Thank God for quiet hinges. They slipped inside. Voices came from a room farther down the hall. With a jerk of his head, Giles slipped toward the flickering light. Stephen took another direction and found an entry to the room where the voices came from.