The Mysterious Merriana by Carolynn Carey

Author:Carolynn Carey [Carey, Carolynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-10-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

At about the same time the underfootman at Hilltops had delivered her uncle’s message to Merriana, Luke had found a ransom note propped up on a table in the taproom of the Drake and Cock.

“We have Antonia,” Luke had read in outraged disbelief. “If you value her life, leave two hundred guineas beside the large walnut tree on the path leading to the abandoned cottage in the northern section of the Hilltops property exactly one hour after dawn tomorrow. If you attempt a rescue, she will die.” The note had been signed simply, “Merriana.”

On Luke’s instructions, the stable lad, Billy, had ridden at top speed to carry the message to Justin, who had just arrived in London. By late that afternoon, he’d raised the funds and driven back to the Drake and Cock with the money.

“I don’t believe it,” Tom stated stubbornly as he, Luke, and Justin sat around the table in the taproom that evening.

“Damnation, Tom,” Justin said, glaring at his friend. “I realize that you’re half in love with Merriana, but this little escapade should convince even you that she’s made simpletons of us all. She’s certainly convinced me that I’m ten kinds of fool wrapped into one.”

“I can’t disagree with that,” Tom muttered, and Justin was careful not to delve into his meaning because he felt reasonably sure that he understood it perfectly.

Luke had expressed no opinions, either during Justin’s bitter tirade against Merriana or during Tom’s stubborn defense of her. He pointed out once that none of them could be certain that Merriana had written the note, but Justin had already learned from one of the servants at Hilltops that she’d been seen slipping away from the house in one of Antonia’s riding habits in a very suspicious manner.

“If she wasn’t a part of the kidnapping,” Justin asked Luke, “why didn’t she send for you and Tom as I had instructed her to do should any problems arise?”

Luke had no answer for that, and Tom’s conjecture that perhaps she had forgotten sounded weak to his own ears.

“What are you going to do after you leave the money?” Luke wanted to know.

“I plan to hide until someone comes to pick it up. When I see who that person is, I’ll decide then whether to make an appearance or simply to follow them.”

“And if it’s Merriana?” Tom wanted to know.

“I don’t know,” Justin answered shortly, and the conversation had languished as each man sat lost in his own thoughts.

Several hours later, Justin stood concealed behind a massive oak tree when Merriana appeared to pick up the money. He didn’t realize until she actually came into view how deeply he’d hoped she would not be the person retrieving the ransom. But even in the deep shadows of an early dawn, there was no mistaking Merriana. A renegade ray of sun pierced the leaves above her head, splashing her hair with golden light. Justin flinched but couldn’t look away. Such angelic beauty, it seemed to him, should not exist outside the borders of a cathedral’s stained glass windows.

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