Prince of Ravenscar (Sherbrooke Brides 11)

Julian said, “Since Richard has been in and out of Ravenscar for years, he’d know every way to get into the house.”

Sophie was pacing, a frown on her face. “There is something wrong here. I don’t think Richard is a fool. Why would he do something so utterly outrageous, knowing he would be suspected? Doesn’t he have a brain?” She smacked the side of her own head. “What am I talking about? He is evidently going to marry Leah. He must not only be a moron, he must hate himself.”

Roxanne said, “Don’t forget Manners set fire to the cargo on the Blue Star, on Richard’s orders. That could have worked, I suppose, but our wonderful cabin boy saved the day.”

They looked up to see Pouffer clearing his throat at the door. “Prince, Baron Purley is here with Dr. Crutchfield.”

“Show the baron in here, Pouffer, and please take Dr. Crutchfield to Manners.”

The baron said from the doorway, “I wish to visit this man with Dr. Crutchfield, Julian, examine him more closely. I think now that I have seen him before.”

Everyone accompanied Dr. Crutchfield to a small sewing room at the end of the west corridor. It held only one narrow bed, a washbasin, and a large work table. Tom, the beefiest footman in Julian’s employ, stood against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, standing guard and taking it seriously.

“I wonder where Baron Purley saw Manners?” Sophie whispered to Julian, as they stood near the door, watching Dr. Crutchfield examine him.

Dr. Crutchfield straightened, turned to Julian. “Prince, I see two large lumps on his head. How was he struck?”

Roxanne said, “I hit him twice on his head, sir, with a plowshare. As hard as I could.”

“I trust he deserved it, for the lumps are of a great size. Now I believe he has fallen into a deep coma. I honestly do not know if he will awaken, Prince. I’m very sorry.”

Baron Purley said, “I was wrong, Julian, I haven’t seen him before.” He paused for a moment. “I know you think Richard to be responsible for Roxanne’s kidnapping, but I do not honestly believe Richard is behind this. He is a gentleman, when all is said and done.”

53

You said I belonged to you.”

Julian had closed the door to the sewing room, leaving Tom to keep watch over Manners. At her words, he stiffened straight as a shot, gave her a harassed look.

She was standing not six feet from him, dressed in a lavender muslin gown, belted with a darker lavender sash. The color made her skin glow. Her dark brown hair shone in the dim hallway light. She looked like she was willing to stand exactly where she was until he spoke. “You aren’t remembering correctly. It was Devlin who said that about Roxanne.”

He realized she knew very well Devin had said that to Roxanne. She shouldn’t ever gamble, she would surely l

ose every groat she had.

She took a light step forward. “Ah, yes, I remember now. I wonder, would you say the same about me, Julian? Do I belong to you?”

“You are close to my mother, are you not? And thus you are like my family. It is my responsibility to guard my family, since my family is part of me, and thus belongs to me.”

“You could not repeat that if you tried with all your might, since it is so very convoluted and at its core means nothing. You know as well as I do that isn’t at all what Devlin meant.”

She struck a pose, her fingertips tapping her chin. “But wait, I rather think now I like being considered simply one of your family. Yes, that is fine. A powerful family at your back is a very good thing. Do you know what I’m going to do? After we go on our smuggling adventure and you have taken care of Richard, I am going to return to London to finish my first Season. Goodness, how many more balls are there? Dozens, don’t you think? I won’t have missed all that many. I do love dancing, and gossiping with all the other girls about this and that gentleman, comparing their faces, their forms, how much money they have to lay on the marital block, wondering which one will propose to which girl—ah, so many days I must wait until my future can begin again.” She turned away, whistling, and strode off down the corridor like an arrogant boy.

Julian went to his estate room. He tried to focus on accounts, but within ten minutes he was leaning his head back on the sofa cushions, asleep, his four spaniels hunkered in close.

He awoke with a start, bounded to his feet, dumping the spaniels on the carpet, when he heard Pouffer shouting, “No! You cannot go in there, sir! That is the prince’s private room he shares only with the dogs and Miss Sophie. No, sir!”

The door flew open, and there stood Richard Langworth, his face pale with rage.

“I see you came quickly back from Saint Austell. What happened? Did Lady Merrick decide the lovely scenery wasn’t to her taste after all?”

“No, it began to rain. Damn you, how dare you order me here to deal with me ‘once and for all’?”

“Did I say that?”

“That is what my father told me. He said you wanted to end it. Damn you, I did not hire anyone to kidnap Roxanne!”

“That is very difficult to believe, since you already hired Mr. Manners to burn my goods aboard the Blue Star. You can’t deny it, since you gave it away in London.”