whatever you spend on my behalf.’
‘The hire of a horse would be little enough,’ George said. ‘I’m not sure it will be safe for you to go home just yet, Miss Blair—especially alone. Blake means to search for you.’
‘He cannot know who I am or where I live?’
‘I dare say your family will be looking for you—making enquiries, perhaps even offering a reward.’ George heard her indrawn breath and nodded. ‘It will not take Blake long to discover who you really are—and if you are sitting at home he may take things into his own hands. Once he has what he wants and takes himself off abroad, you should be safe enough, but until then …’
‘Until then my life is at risk? And my friend’s?’
‘I fear it may be so.’
‘What shall I do?’
‘I’m not sure. I’ve been thinking what to do for the best. It may be expedient to stay hidden for a while.’
‘What about you? Are you afraid that I shall betray you to the authorities?’
Jane winced as she took a step forwards. George hesitated, then swept her up in his arms, carrying her to where his horse was tethered. He thrust her up into the saddle, then mounted behind her.
‘Press back against me and hang on to the saddle. I’m going to ride hard for a bit. Blake might get suspicious and come looking for us. If he finds us, it will not be just you he murders.’
Jane was silent as she obeyed, holding on tight as he put his horse to a canter, then urged the animal on faster as it gathered speed. George had not answered her question.
It was obviously her duty to tell someone all she knew as swiftly as she was able. Mariah was in terrible danger, because Jane was certain that Blake was a ruthless man. If he discovered that Mariah’s fortune was tied up in trust and could not be released, he might decide it was best to kill her.
She had to escape and get help for Mariah! Now that she was with George her own fears had become less acute and it was her friend’s safety that worried her.
Riding through the darkness, her body pressed close to that of the man who had rescued her and now held her in his arms, Jane thought hard.
Could she escape George—or would it be best to befriend him and ask for his help in tracing Mariah?
‘Thank God you are back!’ Justin, Duke of Avonlea, exclaimed as he was admitted to Andrew Lanchester’s parlour and found him still dressed in his travelling cape, his boots spattered with mud. ‘I thought you might still be in Paris.’
‘I have just this moment arrived,’ Andrew said and frowned. ‘Something is wrong—Lucinda has not disappeared again?’
‘My wife is at home and in good health,’ Avonlea said, a smile on his lips. Then the smile disappeared as he recalled his news. ‘I am very sorry, Lanchester, but the news I bring must distress you. Your sister and Mariah Fanshawe were abducted this morning on the road to London …’
‘Mariah—Jane! Good grief.’ Andrew looked thunderstruck. ‘Why? Where were they going?’
‘Mariah received an invitation from Sir Matthew Horne and his wife—she is the late Fanshawe’s sister, of course. Mariah did not wish to go for some reason and would only consent to it if Jane accompanied her. The two have become such good friends of late.’
‘Damn!’ Andrew smote his forehead with his fist. ‘Did Mariah not tell you she was afraid of fortune hunters when she came to stay with you some months back, Avonlea?’
‘You think she may have been abducted by a scorned suitor?’
‘That is possible,’ Andrew replied and looked thoughtful. ‘Mariah is something of a flirt, I imagine. She might have led someone to believe she was interested and then changed her mind.’
‘Desperate men will do anything for money.’ Avonlea looked at him enquiringly. ‘Why should they take Jane, too?’
‘If they were together and the abductor believed Mariah to be travelling alone he might have acted on impulse. Jane can be very rash at times. She might have tried to obstruct them.’
‘You think she may have been taken because of what she saw?’
‘I fear that may be the case. She would not let her friend be taken without putting up a fight.’
‘Brave but foolish.’
‘I have told her to be careful a hundred times, but she puts her heart over her fences. Jane ought truly to have been my brother rather than my sister—and in part that is my fault. After our parents’ death I treated Jane as an equal. We were inseparable until I joined up, and since then she has looked after the estate for me. I fear she is too independent and perhaps reckless—but I would trust her judgement above any agent.’
‘You have only just arrived, so you will not know if a ransom note has been received,’ Avonlea said. ‘Mariah’s coachman came to me at once, but nothing has been delivered to me. Of course, the note might be addressed to the trustees of her fortune.’
‘You are not her trustee?’
‘No. I believe they are Fanshawe’s sister—and a lawyer. No doubt they will be approached for the ransom if a demand is made.’
‘It must have been Mariah they were after. I know nothing of her fortune, but I imagine Fanshawe was a warm man. Jane has only a few thousand. I would pay for her return, of course—but I doubt she was the intended victim.’
‘What will you do?’
‘I must visit Mariah’s trustees and discover if they have been approached—and I shall instruct an agent to discover what they can. What will you do?’
‘A Bow Street man? Good idea,’ Avonlea agreed. ‘In your situation I think it the best solution. I think you should leave Mariah’s trustees to me, Andrew. Instruct your agent by all means. I will talk to Sir Matthew and see what I can discover—then I’ll report to you.’
‘Yes, I dare say you are anxious for Mariah’s sake. She is like a sister to you, I believe?’
‘She was my father’s ward until he died, and of course Lucinda has become very fond of her,’ Justin said. ‘I know Mariah intended to ask my advice about some fortune hunter, but perhaps because of various problems it never happened. I feel responsible and must certainly do what I can to help recover her.’
‘Then we shall work together.’
‘Of course. You know I was grateful for your help with my problems.’ Avonlea smiled. ‘We may not always have seen eye to eye over the methods you employed, Andrew—but we are friends, and in this we are united.’
‘Yes. Good grief, I need all the help I can get,’ Andrew said and frowned. ‘I suppose the ladies’ abduction is for a ransom? Only I’ve been involved in a bit of business—secret stuff for the regiment that I cannot reveal even to you—but it might have a bearing.’
‘Well, you know your own business best—but
