More Than a Lover by Ann Lethbridge

Author:Ann Lethbridge [Lethbridge, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-04-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Blade was furious. At himself, but more importantly at the innkeeper, who had told him that Butterworth had left two days before, but had neglected to mention the hire of a carriage.

While he fervently wished Caro safe at the Haven, he didn’t bother to suggest he take her home first. She wouldn’t have listened. To tell himself the truth, in her position he would not have listened either. Who was this Butterworth character and why had he chosen to abduct Tommy? Did he plan to use the lad to bleed Tonbridge?

‘Do you think he’s seeking a ransom?’ Caro asked, so in tune with his own thoughts it struck him as eerie. And there was hope in her tone, which was strange to say the least.

‘If so, a note might have arrived after we left,’ he said. ‘We’ll have to go back and see, but I think we should at least find out what the innkeeper knows before we do.’

She nodded her agreement.

As they arrived at the Green Man, Ned came running up. ‘He left town on the box of a carriage rented from here,’ he gasped. ‘Tommy was trying to take a turn at the reins and nearly ran an old fellow down at the crossroads. Still blaspheming he was, when I found him sitting on his—’ He turned bright red. ‘Sorry, Mrs Falkner.’ He bent over, winded. ‘When I didn’t find you back at the house, I thought to come here and see if the landlord knew where he was going.’

‘Good plan, Ned. Please remain here with Mrs Falkner while I see to matters inside.’

‘I’m coming with you,’ she said.

‘It would be better—’

Her glare stopped him cold. ‘Very well, but please do not interfere. This time I am asking the questions.’

He marched in. As luck would have it, the landlord was coming down the stairs into the dark panelled entrance hall. ‘Mr Read,’ the landlord said. While his lips smiled, his eyes darted about looking for escape.

Blade let him get two steps towards the kitchen, then trapped him against the wall. ‘Tell me again about how Butterworth left two days ago and never said where he was going.’

‘Mr Read, how dare you, sir?’ the greasy fellow protested, his foul breath making Blade want to gag.

Blade lifted his left hand and placed the point of his hook very close to the landlord’s eye. ‘I dare because I am stronger than you and better armed. Not to mention that Butterworth has abducted a child and when he is caught, and he will be, you will be an accessory.’

The man shrivelled like a punctured pig’s bladder. He swallowed noisily. ‘He never said nothing about no abduction. Him nor his doxy.’

Blade’s gut knotted. ‘His doxy?’

‘Well, she weren’t his wife. Proper slut she was, pretending to be all innocent like. Proper took me in till my missus figured out her game.’

Blade swallowed a curse. The landlord was not the only one who had been gulled.

He released the man. ‘So they rented your carriage.

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