The Wicked Baron by Mary Lancaster

Author:Mary Lancaster
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2017-07-11T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

BY THE TIME Gillie returned from the castle, it was getting dark. A solitary lamp had been lit in the hallway, but brighter lights shone from the cellar.

“Bernard?” she called. Considering recent events, she was reluctant to go down there alone, and yet, if the cellar had been opened from the tunnel…

Bernard stuck his head out of the cellar door. “You’re back. How is his lordship?”

“In terrible pain, I think, but they’re making him comfortable. What are you doing down there?”

“Apparently we had some visitors while we were gone,” Bernard said grimly. “Fortunately, Danny was ready for them and they didn’t come beyond the new door we put up at the end of the tunnel, but you know if they’re determined to get in here they will, one way or another.”

“Maybe we should just have them taken up by the Watch for breaking in. It might keep us safer while we worry about the rest of this mess.”

“Yes, but we have to catch them first! Or the Watch does. And no one seems to know where they’re staying. Lord Braithwaite’s people couldn’t find them either.” Bernard began to climb the stairs. “Shall we have dinner? I’m starving.”

Gillie discovered her aunt dozing in the parlor. She was about to creep out again and go to the kitchen when she noticed an envelope propped up on the mantel shelf. Walking over, she saw it had her name on it, inscribed in a hand she did not recognize.

Her first thought made her heart lurch. Lord Wickenden.

But that was foolish. Why would he write to her when he had been in her company for most of the day? Right up until half an hour ago, in fact. Besides, the script looked rather feminine to Gillie. She tore it open and saw at once she was right. It was a brief message on one side of a single sheet, signed Lillian Derwent. The note invited Miss Gillyflower Muir to call on Mrs. Derwent tomorrow morning at the Blackhaven Hotel, at her earliest convenience.

For a moment, Gillie couldn’t think who on Earth Mrs. Derwent was. Then she remembered that Kit Grantham’s mother had remarried quite recently—something Kit hadn’t been entirely happy about before he left for Spain, although he had cheered up when his stepfather had purchased his captaincy for him. Gillie was sure his name had been Derwent.

Perhaps Kit’s mother too, was worried about Captain Grantham’s somewhat erratic behavior. It was probably pain from his wound.

The following morning, Gillie took Mrs. Derwent at her word, and, with Mattie in attendance, walked round to the hotel before church.

The Blackhaven Hotel was a sprawling collection of buildings joined into one behind an impressive new façade and a large, pillared portico leading to the front door.

Sparrow, the doorman, was one of her father’s retired soldiers. As usual, he grinned at her, greeting her by name as he opened the door for her. She paused to ask after his family and pronounce her pleasure in their good health and then walked across the wide foyer to the reception desk.

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