The Heiress - Lynsay Sands [71]
“What kind of a fix?” Richard asked with alarm.
“Well, I happened to be passing Freddy’s room and overheard him saying that he intended to take her and force you to pay to get her back safely,” he admitted grimly. “I believe he is planning to take her around to the office to try to find something first, however, so if we were to hide ourselves away in there and wait for him to approach we may be able to take him by surprise and relieve him of Lady Radnor without her coming to harm.”
“That’s actually a good plan,” Daniel said, eyeing the butler with a new respect. He then glanced to Richard. “We should move quickly though, I don’t recall a lot of places in the office to hide.”
Richard nodded and turned away, pausing when Langley said, “I am coming too.”
“And me,” Lord Madison said firmly.
“Me too,” Suzette announced.
Daniel frowned and was about to suggest she and the others wait in the parlor when Richard stopped and did it for him.
“There aren’t enough hiding spaces for everyone. Robert and Daniel only will come. The rest of you need to get into the parlor and out of the hall so you don’t scare Freddy off.” His gaze slid to Lord Madison as the man opened his mouth to protest. “I trust you are the only person here who could keep Suzette and Lisa in that parlor.”
Much to Daniel’s relief, Lord Madison swallowed whatever protest he’d been about to speak and nodded with resignation.
“Do you think Christiana is all right?” Lisa asked, drawing Suzette’s unhappy attention.
“Of course she isn’t. Freddy has taken her by force and intends to hold her for ransom,” Suzette pointed out with exasperation, and then frowned to herself, thinking that if she’d just gone with Christiana things may have turned out differently. That guilt was also making her wish she was out there now, helping to resolve the issue. Instead, she was stuck here in the parlor, being guarded by her father and Haversham.
Suzette scowled. Why was it that whenever there was trouble, the women were expected to sit about and wait, while the men charged in to the rescue?
“I believe I will go have Cook prepare a tea tray,” Haversham announced suddenly, starting toward the door to the hall.
“Richard said we were to wait here,” Lord Madison reminded him sharply, getting to his feet as if prepared to tackle the man did he not stop.
Suzette felt her eyebrows rise slightly at her father’s aggressive stance. Whether he would have actually stopped the man or not, they would never know, because the butler paused at the door and turned back.
“Yes, he did, my lord,” the man agreed politely. “However, it does occur to me that if we do not attempt to present at least a semblance of normalcy, it may spook Lady Christiana’s kidnapper. And while it would seem perfectly natural for the three of you to be visiting in here together, my being here is far from natural.”
Suzette glanced to her father to see him looking uncertain. “He is right, Father. It isn’t normal, and that alone might spook Christiana’s kidnapper and make him leave with her rather than risk going to the office. Surely, Haversham should just go about his duties?”
“I suppose,” Cedrick Madison murmured reluctantly. Heaving a sigh, he nodded. “Very well, go ahead, but stay away from the office and don’t do anything that might spook him.”
“Very good, my lord.”
Suzette watched enviously as Haversham slid from the room, and then stood and hurried to the door, murmuring, “I will just tell him to ask Cook for some pastries as well. Something sweet might settle my nerves.”
“Suzette,” her father said sharply.
“I won’t be a moment,” she assured him, speeding up to escape the room before he could protest further.
As she’d hoped, Haversham was already gone from the hall when she burst into it. Suzette turned to glance toward the office, debating going to listen at the door to see if anything was happening, but then turned sharply toward the kitchen instead when she heard her father’s voice through the door, muffled but drawing closer. Hurrying up to the kitchen door as if she’d really intended