Read Online The Mysterious Lord Marlowe by Anne Herries - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anne Herries
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woman’s kindness once she was at liberty to go home.
It occurred to her that there was nothing to stop her leaving the cottage and making her way home right away. Yet she had no money and, though her ankle had almost completely recovered, she might have to walk all the way home. On horseback she could reach Alderbury within a few hours, but on foot it would take much longer. Besides, she would be alone andshe could not be certain that Blake did not have men looking for her.
Her own situation was comfortable compared to Mariah’s. Jane felt anxious and guilty as she thought of her friend. She wished she might do something to help Mariah, yet she believed the duke would be searching for his ward. Jane knew the name of her abductor, but there was no further clue she could give them. The only person who might be able to help was George. She just had to hope that he would return and bring news of her neighbour.
* * *
‘What do you make of this?’ Andrew asked and showed Avonlea the brief letter he had found on his return home after a day of fruitless searching. ‘It is signed by someone who calls himself a friend…’
Justin took the note and read it aloud.
Your sister is safe for the moment, but she might be in danger if she returns home. The devil that kidnapped her and Lady Fanshawe is ruthless. He wants Lady Fanshawe’s fortune and means to have it and her. When I have news I shall sendword. There is no need to be anxious for Miss Lanchester at this moment. She sends her love and asks you not to worry. A friend
.
‘I’m damned if I know,’ he said, his brow furrowed. ‘Is it a trick to put us off the scent, do you think?’
‘If Jane trusted this fellow, she would try to get word to me.’ Andrew looked thoughtful. ‘It seems as if our theories were correct. It is Mariah’s money this rogue is after.’
‘Who do you imagine sent you the letter?’
‘If I knew, I should be out looking for him,’ Andrew said. ‘If I have correctly interpreted this message, he has Jane hidden away somewhere while he looks for Mariah.’
‘Why should he do that?’ Justin scowled. ‘If he has information about this affair, he should come to me. He probably thinks to extort money from me by hinting that he can help when he has had both Mariah and Jane captive all the time. I heard from Mariah’s trustees this morning—they have still heard nothing. I do not think the rogue intends to ransom Mariah. He plans marriage or—God knows what he will do.’
‘Anything is possible,’ Andrew agreed. ‘Yet I think this letter well intentioned. I shall continue the search for her, though at the moment I have no idea where to look next. I am going to pay a visit to my hunting box in Wiltshire. I shall visit the local magistrates and post some missing-person notices in the vicinity. I doubt she will be there, but I’ve had no luck locally and there is a matter of business I must attend in Alderbury. It cannot hurt to widen the search and if I sit here and do nothing I shall go out of my mind.’
* * *
‘Be careful with those foxgloves,’ Martha said. ‘Scrub your hands thoroughly before you touch your lips. They have healing properties, but are poison if the juice is swallowed in large doses.’
‘Yes, I have heard that,’ Jane said and smiled. ‘My nurse dragged me off to wash my hands when I had been picking them as a child. She was worried that I might be ill and gave me something that made me sick just in case.’
‘No doubt she was worried that she would be blamed if anything happened. Children are often a worry to their nurses.’
‘What are you making?’ Jane asked, lookingcurious as Martha ground seeds and juices into a pulp.
‘It is a potion to treat the hind leg of a cow,’ Martha said. ‘Most people cannot afford to pay the apothecary to treat their animals. I charge nothing for what I gather in the hedgerows, but sometimes a grateful farmer or the mother of a sick child will bring me a gift of
It occurred to her that there was nothing to stop her leaving the cottage and making her way home right away. Yet she had no money and, though her ankle had almost completely recovered, she might have to walk all the way home. On horseback she could reach Alderbury within a few hours, but on foot it would take much longer. Besides, she would be alone andshe could not be certain that Blake did not have men looking for her.
Her own situation was comfortable compared to Mariah’s. Jane felt anxious and guilty as she thought of her friend. She wished she might do something to help Mariah, yet she believed the duke would be searching for his ward. Jane knew the name of her abductor, but there was no further clue she could give them. The only person who might be able to help was George. She just had to hope that he would return and bring news of her neighbour.
* * *
‘What do you make of this?’ Andrew asked and showed Avonlea the brief letter he had found on his return home after a day of fruitless searching. ‘It is signed by someone who calls himself a friend…’
Justin took the note and read it aloud.
Your sister is safe for the moment, but she might be in danger if she returns home. The devil that kidnapped her and Lady Fanshawe is ruthless. He wants Lady Fanshawe’s fortune and means to have it and her. When I have news I shall sendword. There is no need to be anxious for Miss Lanchester at this moment. She sends her love and asks you not to worry. A friend
.
‘I’m damned if I know,’ he said, his brow furrowed. ‘Is it a trick to put us off the scent, do you think?’
‘If Jane trusted this fellow, she would try to get word to me.’ Andrew looked thoughtful. ‘It seems as if our theories were correct. It is Mariah’s money this rogue is after.’
‘Who do you imagine sent you the letter?’
‘If I knew, I should be out looking for him,’ Andrew said. ‘If I have correctly interpreted this message, he has Jane hidden away somewhere while he looks for Mariah.’
‘Why should he do that?’ Justin scowled. ‘If he has information about this affair, he should come to me. He probably thinks to extort money from me by hinting that he can help when he has had both Mariah and Jane captive all the time. I heard from Mariah’s trustees this morning—they have still heard nothing. I do not think the rogue intends to ransom Mariah. He plans marriage or—God knows what he will do.’
‘Anything is possible,’ Andrew agreed. ‘Yet I think this letter well intentioned. I shall continue the search for her, though at the moment I have no idea where to look next. I am going to pay a visit to my hunting box in Wiltshire. I shall visit the local magistrates and post some missing-person notices in the vicinity. I doubt she will be there, but I’ve had no luck locally and there is a matter of business I must attend in Alderbury. It cannot hurt to widen the search and if I sit here and do nothing I shall go out of my mind.’
* * *
‘Be careful with those foxgloves,’ Martha said. ‘Scrub your hands thoroughly before you touch your lips. They have healing properties, but are poison if the juice is swallowed in large doses.’
‘Yes, I have heard that,’ Jane said and smiled. ‘My nurse dragged me off to wash my hands when I had been picking them as a child. She was worried that I might be ill and gave me something that made me sick just in case.’
‘No doubt she was worried that she would be blamed if anything happened. Children are often a worry to their nurses.’
‘What are you making?’ Jane asked, lookingcurious as Martha ground seeds and juices into a pulp.
‘It is a potion to treat the hind leg of a cow,’ Martha said. ‘Most people cannot afford to pay the apothecary to treat their animals. I charge nothing for what I gather in the hedgerows, but sometimes a grateful farmer or the mother of a sick child will bring me a gift of
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