Devlin rolled his eyes. Julian ignored him.
Sophie said, “Maybe he did try to take her grace but couldn’t manage it. So he took Roxanne instead. But why? She is Leah’s sister, and he supposedly is going to marry Leah. Why would he take his future sister-in-law?”
Devlin said, “Leah carries a great deal of dislike in her, some of it toward her sister. Once we have Richard, he will tell me. He has hidden her, probably on manor property. Do you know of a storage house, an old barn, a gazebo, any ancient ruin where he could hide her?”
“There is an old barn on the edge of the property, where Richard and I played as boys, though I don’t know if it is still standing.”
“Let’s go,” Sophie said, and raced into the stable.
“I’m going to pound the bastard into the dirt, Julian, so don’t try to talk me out of it.”
“When we find Roxanne, I’ll help you.”
“And then I’m going to kill him.”
Thirty minutes later, the three of them pulled up their horses in front of Hardcross Manor to see Victoria Langworth standing on the deep steps, hands on her hips, yelling and waving her finger at a man they’d never seen before.
She looked up at them, then continued to shout as she waved her fist in the man’s face. “This villain was supposed to fix my saddle! But did he? No, he patched it with some cheap leather that looked like it was taken from a dog collar. You, sir, you are an poltroon, and I shall see you ruined!”
The man managed to get in, “But miss, it is my brother who was to fix your saddle. He’s a feckless lad, and I’ll—”
Victoria actually growled. “You will take my saddle back to your feckless brother and see that he does it right or I will come at night and chew off his cheek when he’s asleep!”
“Goodness,” Sophie said, “that’s a powerful threat.”
Evidently, it sounded fairly powerful to the man as well. He grabbed the saddle from the ground, hoisted it onto his back, and nearly ran toward the stables.
Victoria turned to them, frowned. “You are all here. It isn’t even noon yet. What is the matter?”
Julian stopped one step below hers. “Where is your brother, Vicky?”
“However should I know? He is probably nuzzling that dreadful woman’s neck. Do you know she actually coos at him?” She looked at Sophie. “That woman is your aunt, which makes no sense to me, since I find you quite likable. Why is she so nasty?”
“Well, that is an excellent question, and I will tell you, Vicky, I have wondered that myself many times, particularly during the past three weeks. Where do you think they’re nuzzling and cooing?”
Victoria Langworth flicked a glance toward Devlin, sketched him a curtsy. “My lord, it is very sunny today, unusual, but still—being of a vampire’s persuasion, are you all right?”
It was then they all noticed Devlin wasn’t wearing a hat. “I want to know where the nuzzling place is, Miss Langworth. I will worry about burning up under the sun after we have found your brother.”
“But why do you wish to find Richard so badly?”
“He took Roxanne,” Sophie said. “Truly, Victoria, we must find her. I am afraid for her.”
“It is Roxanne’s sister you should fear, not my poor blind brother. Do you know, I happened to tell Lady Merrick how I missed my sister, Lily, and how I believed she was so lucky to have her sister Roxanne still living. I told her how very charming and beautiful I thought Roxanne, and I wished she would marry Julian so she would be close by, and we could be friends.
“I was surprised when she puffed herself up and blasted Roxanne. She said Roxanne had fooled all of us, that she was malicious, you couldn’t trust a word she said. She said Roxanne hated her because a score of gentlemen had proposed to her, Leah, and she’d been married and was considered the most beautiful of the Radcliffe sisters. She said Roxanne was jealous of her because she was a failed woman—a spinster—and barely passable-looking, what with her common red hair.
“Then she turned her fire on you, Sophie, her very own niece. She dismissed you, saying you were only a brat who needed to be smacked. I stood there, my mouth open, and marveled at her.”
Julian said, “I don’t suppose Leah said this in anyone else’s hearing? Like your brother’s or your father’s?”
“Of course not. Lady Merrick isn’t stupid. Do you know, she asked me several times to call her Leah, and she patted my hand in this intimate way that quite made me want to bolt. She charms both Richard and my father. As for me, she has to be endlessly kind to me, and so she is.”
She turned her beautiful faraway eyes to Sophie. “Is she right, Sophie? Are you really only a little schoolgirl who is a spoiled brat?”
“What do you think?”
Victoria sighed. “Who knows? My brother and Leah rode off an hour ago. I think Richard wanted to show her the river. It is possible they are having a picnic on the banks of the Hovarth. But it is rather early, don’t you think? I wonder if they are nuzzling and other things as well? Won’t you come in, Julian? I know Richard hates you, but he isn’t here. I don’t hate you, and neither does Father, at least I don’t believe he does. He told me about the magic jewel. I would like to discuss these spears of stone. I have some ideas about that.”