Wicked Designs novel Chapter 8

"What do you mean, abducted?"

Albert Parr's townhouse echoed with Thomas Blankenship's fury. Albert sat at his desk, forefinger and thumb rubbing his eyes as he did his best to remain calm in front of his business partner, a man he was still heavily indebted to.

"It's all in the letter." He pushed the paper toward Blankenship, who snapped it up. The man stood before Albert with his chest heaving, his double chin wobbly against his jugular, a sight that should have lessened Albert's fear-but didn't. Quite the opposite. Blankenship had revealed the demon inside him with claws, salivating teeth and cold fire churning in his black eyes.

Albert sighed. Last night he'd arrived at Chessley House to retrieve Emily. The baron's daughter, Anne, informed him that Emily never arrived. Albert had been concerned immediately. He hadn't thought she would miss out on an occasion to see her friend, but maybe he'd been mistaken and Emily had decided to become difficult.

Perhaps she'd decided to avoid Blankenship and sought refuge with a friend. Not that she had many, at least none of whom he knew.

It wasn't until he arrived home, exhausted and irritated at Emily's stunt, that he had learned the truth. His butler handed him the letter left by the jarvey he'd hired to drive Emily to the ball. The weary driver confirmed that five men had abducted her, but refused to part with any more details unless he received some reward. Albert grimaced and slapped several coins into the driver's wrinkled palm.

The story the coachman told was fantastical. His innocent niece had managed to trick the rogues and nearly escape twice. As he heard the tale, Albert imagined Emily as some sort of heroine in a grand adventure. It seemed she had more strength of character than he'd credited her with, but once the notion ceased to be amusing, apprehension set in.

He'd recognized the sloping cursive style of the letter at once, even though the letter was vague in its details and unsigned. After several dealings with the Duke of Essex, Albert had become intimately familiar with his unusual penmanship. But it was the letter's contents that were most upsetting. Essex had stated that he knew about the money Albert had stolen and that he had taken "repayment" of a kind. He meant Emily of course.

Albert's brow furrowed as he studied the note again, ignoring Blankenship, who paced back and forth like a caged lion. If Essex sullied her reputation, she would have every right to demand marriage and that would mean... Dread filled his limbs. If Essex became an in-law, Albert would forever be at the man's mercy. That was assuming he could even get the Duke within a mile of the nearest church.

No, the duke wouldn't marry Emily. Albert had no way of forcing him, and Essex knew it. Emily was ruined, and without her he had no way to repay Blankenship. Albert struggled for breath as he fought off panic. "Dear God."

"What?" Blankenship growled.

"Nothing. I'm weary and this abduction has upset me." The last thing he would do would be to confess his fears to Blankenship. Everything depended on getting Emily married to him. The side deal they had arranged would ensure that Emily's inheritance, money tied up in Albert's brother's shipping company, would go to Blankenship and all of Albert's debts would disappear.

Blankenship stopped his pacing. "How positive are you that it is the Duke of Essex who holds her?"

Albert looked down at his desk, avoiding the gleam in the other man's eyes.

"I would recognize this handwriting anywhere."

Blankenship digested this before replying. "What would cause him to take the girl?"

"I owe Essex twenty thousand pounds. He invested it with me, but the investment fell short. I used his funds to repay you for part of the debt I owe. He's discovered his money is gone." Albert fought the urge to set his head on the desk and remain still until he died. "The man has a violent temper and now he's taken Emily as revenge."

Blankenship studied the letter, his nose and cheeks reddened with irritation. "Why would a duke risk the rumors of the ton over such a meager amount? He has ten times that tucked away in investments, and his annual income makes this amount laughable."

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