Marquess of Malice (Lords of Scandal 2)

They rounded a corner and he stepped into the sitting room. Diana paced near the window, her hands clasped. The moment she saw him, she stopped pacing. “Thank goodness.” She tossed her hands in the air.

He didn’t say a word as he picked up an abandoned teacup and sniffed. “Opium,” he said, his voice ruff. He’d recognize that sweet scent anywhere. No wonder Mary was a puddle on the floor.

“Opium?” Diana crossed over to him. “You’re sure?”

He squeezed his eyes shut. Cordelia had been drugged and now she could be anywhere. “What do we know?” He scrubbed his face. “We know she’s asleep and that she could remain that way for hours. We know she’s with McKenzie, or she was, and we know…” He hesitated, opening his eyes to look at Diana. He thought back to her comments about Lady Abernath wanting revenge. “We know that McKenzie and Lady Abernath are in a relationship.”

Diana gasped, her hand covering her mouth. “Where would they take her?”

He shook his head. “That’s what I don’t know. But I know someone who might.” He turned toward the door. “I’ll send a missive as soon as I know anything.”

“I’m coming with you.” She straightened and began to follow.

“No,” he said as he turned back to her. “Your reputation.”

Diana pulled herself taller. “I don’t care about that.”

Malice paused. He didn’t have much time but he appreciated what Diana wanted to do. “You’ll slow me down. I’ll be faster on horse on my own.”

Her shoulders sagged a little. “I have to help her.” A tear slid down Diana’s cheek. “We take her for granted sometimes. She gives so much and asks so little.”

He reached out and patted her shoulder. “I’ll bring her back to you and then you can apologize in person. Now take care of your mother and tell your father what’s happened. He needs to report McKenzie to the Bow Street Runners so that we have more men looking for them. Do you understand?”

Diana gave a tight nod. “Of course.”

Malice turned toward the door and made his way down the hall and to the steps. As he passed under the ceiling painted with cherubs, he said a silent prayer that he was able to keep his promise to Diana. If he lost Cordelia now… He refused to finish the thought. He’d find her. For all their sakes, he had to get Cordelia back.

* * *

Cordelia woke in a dark room. The bedding was comfortable enough and the bed was large and quite fluffy, but the room smelled wrong. This wasn’t her bed. Her head pounded and her mouth was pasty with thirst. “Hello,” she called.

“You’re awake,” a voice called out of the darkness. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d sleep all night.”

Cordelia scrunched her brow. The feminine voice was oddly familiar, high and cool in its tones; it made her shiver even under the covers. “I’m quite thirsty.”

“Oh yes, I can imagine so. You’ll need food very soon too.”

Cordelia heard the sound of metal scraping wood and the fire jumped to life, casting shadows all about the room as it faintly illuminated the interior. She squinted her eyes, a statuesque figure standing next to the hearth. “What happened?”

The woman turned away from the flames and moved toward her to the table next to the bed. She lifted a pitcher and poured a glass of water. “You don’t remember Lord McKenzie’s visit?”

She raised a hand to her head. Vague memories of drinking very sweet tea came to mind. “What was in the tea?”

“Oh, I didn’t ask that.” The woman bent down with a glass of water in hand. “The less I know the better.” Lady Abernath’s face came into view and Cordelia gasped, recoiling on the bed. Some of the fog lifted from her brain but her head throbbed terribly.

“But if I were to guess by the way you were talking in your sleep, I’d say opium of some sort.” She pushed the glass closer. “Now drink. You need your strength.”

Cordelia swallowed, her lips sticking together. Her mouth tasted like she’d eaten wood but after what had happened, she didn’t think she should drink something offered by Lady Abernath. “I’ve changed my mind.”

The other woman sighed and then brought the glass to her lips, taking a long swallow. “It’s fine. I can assure you.”

Cordelia stared at the liquid. It must be all right and she was unbelievably thirsty. She took the glass and brought it to her lips, taking a small sniff. The liquid smelled fine. Then tipping the glass, she took a small sip and then another. It slid down her throat, cool and refreshing, dulling the pain in her head.

“Better?” Lady Abernath crossed the room and pulled a cord. “Let’s get a snack too. I’m terribly peckish after staying up all night.”

Cordelia blinked. What exactly was happ

ening here? Had she been stolen out of her home for a sleepover? Lady Abernath was acting as though they were friends. She clamped the blanket tighter to her body. “Why am I here?”