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Douglas recovered quickly.

“Ah. There you are. I was beginning to think you had fled. Have you brought the papers?”

“No.”

Douglas blinked. “No?”

“I have signed nothing. I will not transfer a penny to you.”

For a moment there was absolute silence.

Marina stared at her husband. She did not understand. Had he changed his mind? Did he intend to risk losing Emma?

Douglas’s face reddened.

“Then I shall have my daughter.”

“No,” Ambrose said.

“You cannot simply refuse me!”

“Watch me.”

Douglas made a sharp, furious sound.

“You think yourself above the law because you are a duke? I shall have the constables here. I shall tell everyone how you and your witch of a wife have kept a grieving father’s child from him.”

“That will not be necessary,” Ambrose replied.

Footsteps sounded in the corridor.

Several constables entered the morning room.

Douglas turned toward them triumphantly.

“At last. Gentlemen, you arrive at an opportune moment. I require your assistance in recovering my daughter from these people.”

The foremost constable did not move toward Marina.

Instead he faced Douglas.

“Douglas Stathmore, Earl of Rutland, we have a warrant for your arrest in connection with allegations of blackm-”

“What?”

“You will accompany us.”

“This is absurd. I am the Earl of Rutland.”

“Your title does not alter the warrant, my lord.”

Douglas looked from the constables to Ambrose.

“You did this.”

Ambrose said nothing.

“You have interfered with my family for the last time!”