Page 30 of Enchanted by the Lyon (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #93)
L ucius paced his front parlor in angry frustration.
It had been over three days since Cassandra had been abducted from her home.
Three days of Lucius being under the suspicion of the local officer.
Three days of him worried out of his mind as to her fate.
Anyone could have taken her and until either Risley woke up or someone came forward and had seen her being taken away, Lucius had no concrete evidence to prove that any one person was responsible.
Constable Jones had been relentless and seemed far too one-sided to look at anyone other than Lucius as the culprit who had abducted Cassandra.
It was another piece of the puzzle that made Lucius question whether someone was maybe paying the man off.
It wouldn’t be the first time that someone had bribed an officer of the law.
It wouldn’t be the last, but still, even that assumption was just that…
Lucius attempting to grasp at straws to find his lady love.
Yes… love her he did and with every day that passed into the next, he became more irrational and unable to maintain any level thinking. Even Smythe had come up with nothing, which didn’t bode well for them finding Cassandra any time soon.
“My darling son, please sit down. You’ll do Mrs. Vaughn no good by grumbling beneath your breath and wearing out the rug beneath your feet,” his mother said coolly before she raised her cup to her lips to sip her tea.
Lucius stopped his pacing and went to a sideboard to pour himself a brandy. He lifted the decanter to his brother who nodded, and so he poured another glass before striding across the room and handing it to Leopold.
“You’ll find her, brother,” Leopold declared.
“I have to. What would my life be like without her by my side?” Lucius muttered before finally taking a seat.
Clara sighed and set her teacup down. “I know you introduced me to her at the Barlingham affair, but I had no idea you had fallen for the lady. Why didn’t you tell me, son?” she asked with pleading eyes. “You know I only want what is best for you.”
Lucius looked up in misery. His mother appeared so sincere and after their last fight months ago, she’d apparently decided to stop nagging him about finding a bride. “I wasn’t sure you would approve,” he finally answered downing his drink. “Her past was questionable.”
“What’s not to approve?” Leopold inquired, ignoring the obvious issue with the life Cassandra used to live. “She’s a lovely lady.”
Clara nodded. “And I’ve only heard good things about Mrs. Vaughn. Why, if the Duchess of Montague can vouch for her character, then I won’t certainly disagree as to Mrs. Vaughn’s respectability.” She nodded. “Apparently, she was the daughter of a baron.”
Mentally Lucius made a note to send Saxton’s mother a bouquet of flowers to offer his thanks.
He was certain the duchess’s recommendation went a long way for Cassandra to be accepted among Society.
In fact, Cassandra had blossomed over the last couple of months.
Now, no one would have ever known his lady had once been an outcast.
His butler came to the parlor entrance. “This was just delivered for you, my lord.”
“Thank you, Merrit. Who brought this to me?” he asked, holding out his hand for the vellum.
“A small boy. I’ve never seen him before.”
Lucius broke the wax seal and tore open the letter before his anger erupted at what he read.
He cursed. “That bloody whoreson. I’ll kill him,” Lucius bellowed, turning toward his brother.
“I need you to send word to Constable Jones along with Saxon, Wickes, and Asher. Have them get ready to ride with me to the country. I know where Cassandra’s been taken. ”
Clara appeared worried. “Is that wise, son? Perhaps you should let the authorities handle the situation. I don’t want you to be hurt.”
“He may kill her if he finds out I haven’t come alone. My friends and the constable can hang back in the woods until I confront the bastard.”
Leopold stood and went toward him. “Who took her?”
“Just as I suspected. My old nemesis, Viscount Hollingsworth, and Barlow Vaughn, Cassandra’s dead husband’s brother.
They plan to blackmail me into giving them an exorbitant sum of money to keep their mouths shut about Cassandra’s past or they’ll tell everything to the Teatime Tattler or anyone else who will listen. ”
“They won’t get away with that,” Clara replied with a huff. “How dare they try to blackmail my son!”
“Desperate times will bring out the worst of people, Mother, but I’ll be damned if I’ll allow them to harm Cassandra’s reputation, especially considering how hard she has worked to restore it,” Lucius said before leaving the room and heading upstairs to pack a small bag.
His mind flooded with images of Cassandra harmed, afraid, alone.
There was so much to do before he could rush off to find her.
He would need to get to the bank to withdraw the huge sum to satisfy Hollingsworth and Vaughn’s demand.
But if he hurried, he could be at his country estate by the end of the day if the weather held.
The letter said for him to wait there for further instructions.
How long he would be kept in the dark he had no idea.
He could only pray that Cassandra would stay safe until his arrival without coming to any harm.