Page 22 of His Wicked Charm

“I believe she was raised by her aunt,” Kyria added. “Mrs. Summersley seems a nice enough woman, just a bit staid.”

The duchess pointed at her daughter with her raised fork. “Exactly. Perpetuating a helpless, brainless vision of womanhood.”

Con snorted. “I wouldn’t call Lilah helpless or brainless.”

“Yes, I have hope for the girl,” Emmeline agreed. “Perhaps I should invite her to come to the next suffragists’ meeting.”

“I don’t think our experience with the suffragists today would encourage her to accompany you,” Olivia remarked.

“It isn’t as if there are always abductions at them,” the duchess protested.

“One would hope not,” Reed commented drily.

“What did you find out from the kidnappers?” Con asked, turning toward Stephen and Rafe.

“Pah!” Kyria’s husband let out an exclamation of disgust. “Nothing of any importance. They were hired hands.”

“Nor were they particularly bright,” Theo put in. “They had no idea why they were paid to abduct the women. They swore they didn’t even know who the ladies were.”

“He couldn’t even give us a description of the man who hired them,” Stephen added. “Said it was all done by way of letter, brought by a messenger.”

Con cocked an eyebrow. “Do you believe that?”

“Strangely enough, we did.” Theo shrugged his shoulders. “He seemed sufficiently demoralized. I think Mother terrified him more than Rafe. She does wield a wicked pitcher.” Theo’s green eyes twinkled.

“Really, Theo, you know I abhor violence. But I could hardly stand by when someone threatened my children.”

“What did the Dearborns say?” Con asked.

“They vehemently denied it,” Rafe said.

“Even when Rafe threatened them with various sorts of bodily harm,” Stephen put in.

“I’m less certain that I believe them,” Rafe put in. “They let us search their house after a big show of British affront, but that only proves they were careful enough to keep their distance from the crime.”

“I can’t think of anyone else with a grudge against us,” Reed said. “At least, no one who isn’t already in jail.”

“The Dearborns are obviously desperate for money.”

“That’s the peculiar thing.” Uncle Bellard spoke up. “We never received a note asking for a ransom.”

“It is odd,” the duke agreed.

“Perhaps they didn’t get a chance to send it before the ladies got away.”

“Maybe,” Megan said doubtfully. “But what sort of criminal wouldn’t have the note ready to go as soon as they grabbed their victims?”

“An incompetent one,” her husband suggested. “Which these men certainly seemed to be.”

“Maybe they wanted to make Father wait and worry, so he’d be ready to give them whatever they asked for,” Reed suggested.

“But I would have done that at once,” the duke replied.

“I don’t think they were after money.” Every head in the room turned toward Olivia at her words. “They interrogated Kyria. Twice. They were after information.”

“Interrogated you?” Rafe stiffened, looking at his wife in alarm. “What did they do to you?”

“Nothing, really,” Kyria said calmly. “So you needn’t get murder in your eye. They shouted a good deal, but they didn’t physically harm me. They just kept asking about the blasted key.”