The Scandalous Lady Sandford (Lost Ladies of London 3)

“And how long has Cornell held this grudge?”

“A few years, I don’t doubt, though he only hired me when you came back to London.”

“Has he hired anyone else to snoop into our affairs?”

“How should I know?”

“Did Cornell mention how he plans to hurt my brother?” Like all weak men, it would not be a direct attack.

“I’m just paid to tell him of your whereabouts, to follow you wherever you go. Lucky I made it as far as Branscombe. The fishermen thought I was one of the Raven’s men and pointed me in the right direction.”

Well, she’d learnt nothing new about Lord Cornell. Still, it had passed the time while she waited for Fabian to return.

Lillian cleared her throat. “I have just one more question.”

“Then let’s hear it.”

Pressing her lips firmly together, she hesitated. Did she really need to know the answer to the question that had plagued her for days? “You said you saw my brother at Vauxhall. How did he seem?” It was a ridiculous question, but she had no one else to ask.

“Seem?” Aubrey frowned.

“Did he look distraught?”

“Haunted more like. He looked like a man who’d lost everything on the turn of the dice.”

Her stomach flipped as another bout of nausea took hold. “What was he doing?”

“Ain’t that enough questions for one day?”

“Please.” She stepped forward. “Just tell me what you saw.”

“He was the last to leave Vauxhall, hung around the gate for twenty minutes, marching back and forth like a man fit for Bedlam. He dragged every passer-by aside, waving his arms and pointing to the Pleasure Gardens. Almost throttled one man he did.”

Oh, Vane.

The solid lump in her throat made it hard to breathe.

In a sudden move, Aubrey stretched his hand through the bars and tugged on her cloak. “Now get me out of this blasted hole.”

Lillian stumbled back and wrenched the material from his grasp. “As I said, I shall speak to my husband upon his return.” Despite Aubrey’s shouts and jeers to open the cell door, she turned away and hurried back to Mackenzie.

“Pay him no mind, my lady.” Mackenzie stepped forward, took her arm and led her to the steps. “Did you get the information you needed?”

“Aubrey answered my questions.” She wiped a tear from her eye. “Though I’m certain it was not at all what I needed.”

“If that rogue has said anything to upset you I’ll—”

“No, Mackenzie.” Lillian raised her hand. “He told me only what I suspected.” She needed to clear her mind, to breathe clean air, and so hurried up the steps and burst through the open door leading to the bailey.

Guilt wrapped around her heart like a vine. It was only right she put Vane out of his misery, only right that she offer an explanation. She would wait one more day for Fabian before heading back to London.

Sensing Mackenzie’s presence behind her, she swung around. “Did Lord Ravenscroft not give you any indication when he would return?”

“No, my lady, though I’m sure it’s not his intention to stay away any longer than necessary.”

“Then if he does not return tomorrow, I must insist a few men escort me to London.”

“London?” Mackenzie cried. Two men filling buckets from the well stopped and stared. “His lordship gave me the job of keeping you safe, and I cannot do that if you’re away from here.”