The Kidnapped Bride (Redcakes) by Heather Hiestand

Author:Heather Hiestand [Hiestand, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-09-16T22:00:00+00:00

John tipped over his king with a push of his index finger. “When did you start beating me at chess?”

Dougal grinned. “I believe I was fifteen.”

The fireplace crackled, giving the room a hint of autumn, though it was sunset in April. They’d had a good meal, Cook pulling out all the stops with the baron in residence, and had shut themselves up in their favorite room to catch up.

John scratched the tip of one ear. “That doesn’t sound right. You are giving yourself too much credit.”

“I like a puzzle. I’m good at them.”

“Speaking of puzzles, our cousin, Lord Bullen, sent me a new jigsaw puzzle. It’s a map of France with lots of little details.” John glanced up. “Must have left it in one of the saddlebags.”

“We’ll have time tae do it, what with watching over Lady Elizabeth.”

“Who is she?”

“The sister of the Marquess of Hatbrook. Been missing for almost a year. I finally realized where she was hiding, only to discover she’d been carried off.”

“One of your adventures,” John observed. “Having the time of your life while I manage estates and do paperwork.”

“Ye like estates, I like people. I think we both have good fun.” They smiled at each other.

Cait, the parlormaid, opened the door. “I have bad news. The housekeeper went up wi’ some medicine and found the lady is no longer in the tower.”

Dougal frowned and jumped to his feet. “Where is she?”

Cait shrugged.

John merely leaned back and took a sip of his brandy. “Slipped your noose again?”

Dougal swore at him. “It isn’t funny. She’s ill, and much too thin. Heart like a lion, though. God only knows what she’d do. If she went back tae the docks—”

“We’d best go after her, then.” John set his glass on the chessboard. “Send to the stables. Have the brougham brought around.”

“Horses will be faster.”

“We’re hoping to overtake a sick girl,” John pointed out. “We’ll need a carriage for her.”

Dougal nodded. “Once we have her, I think we’d better just keep going south. I don’t know why she simply won’t allow herself tae be rescued and returned to her family.”

“You haven’t discussed it with her?”

He smiled at his brother. “She has a stronger sense of justice than self-preservation. Cait, load up the carriage with provisions, will ye?”

The maid nodded and left.

“She’s young. Anything else?”

“Yes, but her reasons didn’t seem very compelling. No brutality or anything that might give me a reason tae keep her out of her family’s waiting arms.” Dougal sighed. “I’d best arm myself. Good thing I cleaned my guns before tea.”

“Get them, and some for me, too. The twins take good care of our weapons.”

“Where are they? I haven’t seen them since we arrived. I could use them to help me load.” The twins were footmen, chosen by the baroness because they were the matched pair so prized in society, being identical.

“Their father had some kind of accident at the mill. I sent them off to check on their family.”

“Right. I’ll meet ye in front in ten minutes.

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