WHEN ANDREW WOKE the next morning, he had to force himself out of bed. The day was cooler at least, but he was still somewhat lethargic from the night before. Gwen sat down next to him on the bed and leaned over to kiss him. Andrew slid his hands into her hair. “Good morning.”
Gwen smiled. “I thought I might have killed you.”
“I’m still deciding if you did. How is it you’re awake already?”
Gwen giggled. “I only woke up ten minutes ago myself.”
“What time is it?”
“Nine.”
He sat up and wrapped a hand around her waist as he leaned in to kiss her neck. “We’re supposed to meet Adam at ten.”
She put her hand on his chest. “Don’t worry. Breakfast is on its way and clothes are laid out and ready for us.”
He pulled her onto the bed. “In that case…”
“We don’t have time,” she said with a sigh.
“We have at least ten minutes. That’s all we need.”
Gwen raised an eyebrow. “Prove it.”
He did. Twice.
* * *
A knock came just as Andrew buttoned his breeches. He pulled on a robe and opened the door to find Mrs. Bean with a breakfast tray. “Thank you, Mrs. Bean. I’ll take that.”
Andrew closed the door and set the tray on the table. The couple ate quickly, dressed even quicker, and were out the door with time to spare. They chose to ride instead of take a buggy and stopped in to see Sophie before making their way over to the Maddens’.
“Hi, you two!” she said as they walked through the front door. Gwen held her arms out for Junior and Sophie handed him over. “What are your plans today?”
“Elizabeth, Charity, and I are going to do some shopping,” Gwen said.
Sophie smiled. “That’ll be a nice distraction from the conversation that’s going to happen next door.”
Gwen kissed Junior’s cheek. “We thought so.”
Sophie grinned at Andrew. “Did you eat, Andrew? We still have breakfast set out.”
Andrew shook his head. “I’ll get something more at Clayton’s. But thank you.”
Gwen handed Junior back to Sophie. “We should probably go.”
“I’ll come with you.” Sophie followed them next door and they arrived just as Elizabeth and Adam pulled up. The group was ushered into the dining room where breakfast was still being served, and Emma hugged everyone before she took the baby from Sophie.
“Is anyone hungry? Other than you, Andrew. We all know the answer for you,” Emma joked.
“We’ve eaten.” Gwen laughed when she saw Andrew grab a plate and added, “But not enough, apparently.” Gwen removed her gloves. “I, on the other hand, would love a cup of coffee.”
“I’ll get that for you,” Andrew offered.
Once everyone was finished, Elizabeth gathered Charity and Gwen up for their shopping excursion, and they made their way to the foyer. Gwen saw Richard pull Charity into the parlor and when they emerged, Charity was smiling and slightly flushed.
Andrew gave Gwen a quick kiss. “Have fun, sweetheart.”
Gwen grinned. “Oh, I will.”
Elizabeth led them out to the carriage and settled herself inside. “I thought we’d stop at the dressmaker’s first, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten. What would you two like to do?”
Gwen slipped the ribbons of her reticule around her wrist. “I’d love to buy a few books.”
“And I need scented oils,” Charity said.
Elizabeth nodded. “The bookstore and pharmacy it is then.”
They spent the majority of the morning choosing dresses and matching ribbons that would be delivered later in the week, but before going anywhere else, they decided to stop for a bite to eat. Elizabeth and Gwen sat down at a table outside and looked at a menu.
“I’ll be right back,” Charity said and went to find a ladies’ room.
“What do you feel like?” Gwen asked.
“I don’t know,” Elizabeth said. “I’m not particularly hungry, to be honest.”
“Good afternoon, ladies.”
Gwen gasped. “What are you doing here?”
Elizabeth frowned. “Edward?”
Gwen widened her eyes. “You know him?”
Elizabeth nodded. “He’s Adam’s cousin.”
Edward sat in the chair reserved for Charity. “I’ve come to escort you to my residence.”
Elizabeth waved her hand dismissively. “We’re not going anywhere with you.”
Edward sneered. “You’ve become quite the aristocrat since marrying my cousin, I see.”
Gwen rose to her feet. “Since you appear to be unwilling to leave, we will.”
“I don’t think so.” Edward flashed the pistols he held in each hand. “Sit down, Gwendolyn.”
She did. “What are you going to do?”
“You’re both going to walk calmly to the carriage waiting there across the pavilion. You will climb in it with me, and I’ll take you to where you’ll be held until my demands are met.”
“And if we don’t?” Gwen asked.
“Then one of you will die.” Edward shrugged. “It’s really quite simple. Do as I say and everyone lives.”
Elizabeth stood regally, and Gwen followed. Gwen happened to see Charity out of the corner of her eye, returning to the table. Gwen tried to mouth to her to “get help” and then followed Elizabeth to the carriage. She hoped Charity understood.
* * *
Andrew started when he heard the pounding hooves and creak of a carriage as it barreled toward the arena. He narrowed his eyes and his heart began to race uncomfortably when he saw that it was Adam’s. The driver pulled the horses to a stop and Charity jumped from the carriage almost before it stopped moving.
“Richard! Richard!” she yelled.
Richard rushed out of the barn and grasped her arms. “Charity? What’s amiss?”
Andrew jogged towards them, the rest of the men following. “Charity? Where’s Gwen?”
“Elizabeth and Gwen,” Charity said out of breath. “They’ve been taken.”
She burst into tears and Richard quickly pulled her into his arms.
“What do you mean, taken?” Adam asked.
Charity continued to sob as she leaned against Richard. “They’ve been kidnapped.”
“What do you mean by kidnapped?” Adam growled.
“Adam, give her a moment,” Andrew admonished.
Charity took a few gulps of breath. “We stopped for lunch and I left them for a few minutes. When I came back, they were both being led away by a man who looked like Adam. I think he had a gun, perhaps two. They got into a black carriage that had a gold and white crest on it and headed north. That’s all I know. Gwen told me to get help.”
“Excellent observations, Charity,” Richard praised.
Charity dropped her head back, tears streaming down her face. “If I’d been sitting with them, he may have taken me as well.”
“It’s Edward. Bloody hell!” Adam shouted.
Andrew dragged his hands down his face, and squeezed his eyes closed for several seconds in an effort not to kill his brother-in-law. “Now will you tell me what the hell is going on?”
“Edward has hated me since I married Liza.” Adam rubbed his forehead.
“Why?”
“He was in love with her.”
Andrew swore as he grasped Adam’s shirt. “So now Gwen is tangled in your mess!”
Christopher laid a hand on Andrew’s shoulder and pulled him away. “We will find her, Andrew.”
“If anything happens to them, Adam, I will kill you,” Andrew warned.
“How exactly is this my fault?” Adam scowled. “I had no idea he would come all this way. Particularly after so many years!”
“You should have acted sooner.” Andrew jabbed a finger at him in frustration. “You should have dealt with your damn family.”
“This isn’t going to do us any good,” Clayton said. “Let’s calm down and we’ll figure out what to do. We’ll find them.”
“For now, let’s get the ladies over to the Wades’ and have a detail surround the house. We must keep them safe,” Christopher said.
Clayton nodded. “We’ll meet in the library in twenty minutes.”
* * *
Christopher delivered Hannah to the Wades’ parlor with strict instructions not to leave the room. She sat with a huff on the sofa next to Emma. “Where am I going to go, Knight?”
Christopher gave her a warning look and then stalked out of the parlor.
“Are you okay?” Emma whispered.
“Yes.” Hannah removed her shoes and slid her bare feet under her bottom. “He’s just overprotective.”
Emma squeezed her hand. “Understandably. But they will find them.”
Sophie handed Charity a cup of tea and then sat in the chair next to her. “You did very well, Charity. What quick thinking to stop and notice details of the carriage and which way it went.”
Charity stared at the teacup. “I feel like I haven’t done enough.”
Emma shook her head. “Charity, if you’d alerted him to your presence, he would have taken you as well. Then no one would even know they had been taken for several hours. You have shortened the time considerably. Everything is going to be fine.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I’ll just die if anything happens to Gwen. She’s so much more than a friend.”
“We know how you feel, honey.” Sophie sighed. “I must get a message to Christine and Nona.”
Emma raised an eyebrow. “Where are they?”
“They’re both at the hospital. I’ll get Samson saddled and go over there.”
“Would you like me to come?” Emma asked.
Sophie shook her head. “No, you stay here and glean as much information as you can. I won’t be long.”
Christine and Nona arrived back at the house with Sophie, and Stephen arrived with Michael a few hours later.
* * *
Gwen held Elizabeth’s hand and tried to pay attention to where they were going, but the windows were too dark. When the carriage came to a halt, Gwen glanced at Elizabeth and gave her an encouraging smile… she didn’t think it worked. The door was yanked open and Gwen and Elizabeth stepped down in front of a run-down house.
The outside didn’t tell the story of the inside, which was surprisingly pleasant. Edward pulled them up two flights of stairs, down the hall, and into a small room with only one window. A window too small for a child to climb out of, let alone an adult. Of course, if they were successful to climb out, there was a three-story drop that wasn’t conducive to survival, which he was quick to point out.
Edward stood at the doorway of the room and smiled at Elizabeth. “Your every whim will be met. Should you require anything, please do not hesitate to ask.”
“Why are you doing this, Edward?”
He smiled at her. “You know why, Elizabeth. This could have all been avoided.”
Elizabeth pursed her lips. “I don’t know how.”
“Of course you do. Now you’ll have the opportunity to make a different decision.” Edward shrugged. “For now, however, I don’t want you to feel as though you’re in prison. I want your stay to be pleasant.”
Elizabeth scowled. “A gilded cage is still a cage.”
Edward shrugged. “If you look at it that way, you won’t enjoy yourself.”
“Why Gwen, Edward?”
Edward stared at her before speaking. “I’ll have a servant return with a light repast and some tea.”
“I’d prefer coffee,” Gwen said.
“Coffee then,” Edward said.
He left the room and Gwen rushed the door and then let out a curse.
“What’s wrong?” Elizabeth asked. “Besides the obvious.”
“He’s bolted it from the outside.” Gwen turned to her. “What’s going on, Elizabeth? Who is this Edward character?”
“He’s Adam’s cousin.”
“I already knew that. What I don’t understand is why we are here, and what you have to do with it.”
Elizabeth sat down heavily on one of the beds with a groan. “I don’t know why you’re here, Gwen. But the reason I am is because I chose Adam.”
“What do you mean?”
“Edward wrote to my father after we returned to Harrisburg, requesting a formal courtship. I’d met both him and Adam while we were in England, and Edward expressed his affection for me before we left. But I declined him… then and after he wrote to my father.”
Elizabeth started to breathe heavily, her face suddenly pale.
Gwen rushed back to her. “Are you all right?”
“Sick,” she said.
“Lie down,” Gwen said.
“What are we going to do?” Elizabeth whispered.
Gwen laid a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out. Charity saw us, and I know she will have alerted Andrew and Adam.”
Elizabeth burst into tears.
“What’s amiss?” Gwen’s heart raced. “Besides the obvious, I mean,” she mimicked.
Elizabeth pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve and began to blot her eyes. “I’m pregnant.”
Gwen sighed. “I know.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “You do?”
Gwen nodded. “Yes. Adam told Andrew yesterday. He’s worried about you.”
“I don’t want to be pregnant.”
“I know that, too.”
“What don’t you know?” Elizabeth snapped.
Gwen smiled.
“I’m sorry, Gwen,” Elizabeth said quickly.
“I know you’re frightened.” Gwen sat next to her. “Andrew told me about the previous pregnancies, and I know you must be terrified of losing another child.”
“I can’t do it again,” she whispered.
Gwen took her hand. “Perhaps this time, everything will work out.”
Elizabeth let out an inelegant snort. “I highly doubt it.”
“If it doesn’t, Elizabeth, we’ll be there for you.” Gwen raised an eyebrow at Elizabeth’s huff. “Why do you shut yourself off from everyone?”
“It’s not that I shut myself off, necessarily.” Elizabeth twisted the linen in her hands. “I just don’t openly share.”
Gwen shrugged. “Semantics.”
Elizabeth sighed. “Perhaps, but I’ve just found that in my years on this earth, most people don’t actually care.”
Gwen laughed. “Elizabeth Whitman, you’re barely ten years older than I am. How did you get so cynical?”
She rolled over and sighed. “I don’t want to talk anymore.”
Gwen rubbed her back. “I’m sorry. I truly don’t mean to laugh at you. I’m simply trying to understand. You’re smart, you’re beautiful, and you’re married to a man who clearly loves you, so who would you think doesn’t care?” Elizabeth shrugged, but didn’t give any further information. “All right, Miss Liza. I won’t press you any further. For the moment.”
Elizabeth nodded and closed her eyes. Gwen walked the room looking for any escape options or weapons. She heard the bolt on the door slide and turned to see who it might be. Elizabeth sat up quickly and then stood. Once again composed and regal.
A woman in a gray uniform and white apron, clearly a servant, opened the door. A large man stood behind her, obviously to keep them from escaping. The woman set a tray on the small table next to the door, made a curtsy, and left. The door slammed shut and the bolt locked with an ominous sound. Gwen walked to the table and found an impressive choice of food.
“This looks quite nice.” Gwen poured herself a cup of coffee and grabbed a sandwich. “Would you like something?”
Elizabeth shook her head and sat back on the bed. “No.”
“Elizabeth. You must eat. You haven’t had anything to eat since this morning and you need to keep your strength up.” Gwen put two finger sandwiches on a plate and handed them to her. “Here. Eat these, please. Both of them.”
Elizabeth gave a sigh of annoyance but took the plate.
“Eat,” Gwen ordered.
“I’m not hungry.”
Gwen narrowed her eyes. “What would Adam say? I would imagine he’s terrified right now. What would happen if he knew you refused to take care of yourself?”
Elizabeth frowned. “Are you always this vexing?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, I am.”
Elizabeth smiled. “My brother really has his work cut out for him, doesn’t he?”
Gwen giggled. “Most definitely.”
Elizabeth took a bite and chewed slowly. “These sandwiches are quite good.”
“Yes, they are.” Gwen waved a hand toward the bed. “Now, you might want to rest a little bit and save your strength.”
Elizabeth finished her lunch and stretched out on the bed.
Day turned to night and there was still no evidence of rescue. Gwen had been unsuccessful in finding a way out and sat in the only chair in the room, staring at the door.
“They’re not coming,” Elizabeth grumbled.
“Don’t give up yet.”
Their captor visited them just before dinner. “Good evening, ladies. I hope you are enjoying your stay.”
Gwen glared at him but refrained from comment.
Elizabeth stood and clasped her hands in front of her. “Edward. Stop this, please. Tell me what you want. And for God’s sake, let my sister-in-law go.”
He stared at her for several seconds. “This can’t be stopped, Elizabeth. Adam made his bed and he will lie in it.”
Elizabeth huffed. “Is this all about revenge, then? If you just tell me what you want me to do, I’ll do it and we can go our separate ways.”
Edward reached out and ran a finger down her cheek. Elizabeth leaned back with a scowl and Edward chuckled without humor. “What I want from you would never be given freely, and I would never take it from you.”
“He will kill you. You realize that, don’t you?” she asked quietly.
“He will try.” Edward stepped back. “We have nightgowns for you both, and our maid will bring a tray with dinner. A nice bottle of wine will also be provided.”
“Generous,” Gwen said sarcastically.
He didn’t answer. Simply turned and walked out the door.
Gwen ran her hands through her hair. “We need to figure a way out of here.”
She started to walk the perimeter of the room and heard voices from the west wall. She put her ear up to it and heard their captor and another man speaking.
“I can hear them,” Gwen whispered and motioned for Elizabeth to join her.
The women stood at the wall and although the voices were somewhat muffled, they were able to hear most of what was being said.
“Did you send the demand?” the man asked.
“Yes. A few moments ago,” Edward said.
“Do they have any idea the real reason for the ransom?”
“No. They think it has to do with the Aries,” Edward said.
“You were supposed to get the other two.”
“I understand that, but they were not accessible,” Edward said.
“I would imagine that Christopher and Clayton will be keeping their wives guarded now.”
Gwen glanced at Elizabeth, startled.
“Regardless, they will all come,” Edward said.
“You’d better hope that is true. I’m growing increasingly weary of your incompetence.”
“We do have his sister,” Edward argued. “And I have the one I want.”
“Are the men ready?” the man asked.
“Yes sir. We have twelve men in various places throughout the area. All with instructions to shoot on sight.”
“I want Lincoln’s men shot first. I don’t care about the other two. They’re not significant to my plan.”
Gwen gasped and moved away from the wall. “We have to get out of here. We can’t let them walk into this trap.”
Elizabeth crossed her arms. “We are bolted in, Gwen. How are we going to do this?”
Gwen thought for a few minutes and then smiled. “I have an idea.”
The women sat on the bed for the next hour and planned in whispers. There were no guarantees any of it would work, but they were going to try.