Destiny of the Heart (Viking Destiny) (17 page)

"Indeed." Kristen agreed.
Chapter 19

When Derrick awoke, he had a splitting headache and
couldn't remember much. He was surrounded by many of the
hunting party and several of the ladies. Mel handed him an ice
pack for his head. From what Derrick could remember, he had
been hit over the head and knocked unconscious, but there
must have been a drug used on him as well because he was
groggy and slow to understand what everyone was saying.
Finally, Mel knelt beside him and quieted the others.

"Derrick, Kristen is missing. Have you seen her?" She
asked quietly.
"Of course he saw her! It's obvious he is the one who
abducted her, and she took him by surprise and hit him over
the head. I'm sending for Scotland Yard!" Lord Bentley
announced.
Derrick furrowed his brow, not at all sure what Bentley
or Mel were talking about.
"What in blazes is he on about?" Derrick asked Mel.
"Kristen. She's gone."
It finally sunk in, and Derrick's face dropped in surprise.
He tried to stand up, to go look for her, but was dizzy and fell
back in his seat. Oliver laid a steadying hand on his shoulder.
"What happened?"
"Well that's what we'd all like to know, Shane. What did
you do to her?" Bentley shouted.
"Me? You think I had something to do with this? That I'd
hurt her?"
"You were jealous that she liked me more than you."
Bentley insisted.
Mel and Oliver rolled their eyes, both thinking that
Bentley was a hot-headed moron if he believed that. Derrick
glared at him, his eyes glowing brightly.
"Let me be clear, Lord Bentley, as you seem to be
laboring under an ill-informed assumption. I am not jealous of
you. I have no cause to be. Lady Kristen, while certainly a
woman with her own agenda, does not like you anymore than
she would like a toad in her morning tea." Derrick said evenly,
causing a few sniggers from others standing near them.
Bentley pulled himself to his full height and puffed
his chest out like a peacock. Derrick sighed through his nose,
knowing exactly what was coming next.
"Lord Derrick Shane, I issue - "
"I suggest you think very carefully about the next words
that come out of your mouth, Lord Bentley." Oliver interrupted,
disgust evident in his tone. "As Derrick's second for every duel
some idiot lord has challenged him to, I can tell you he is a
superb shot and you have no hope of winning anything but a
doctor's visit. That is, if he lets you live."
Bentley paled a little, and Derrick couldn't help but pity
him. Most men had enough sense to stop challenging the
Shane brothers to duels. It never ended well for them. The
Shane's backed their notorious reputations with the skill and
willingness to do what was necessary to protect themselves.
Still, this Bentley fellow was determined to ignore the warning.
"Be that as it may, I still issue challenge. If you are his
second, I'll be sending mine 'round to give the place and time."
Bentley turned on his heel and marched off.
"Well, that was pretty stupid, wasn't it?" Mel asked,
rather annoyed.
Derrick shook his head, but thought better of it as the
pain lancing through his head caused tears to sting the back
of his eyes.
"What happened, Mel?" Derrick asked again.
Mel frowned. "We don't know. Kristen went to her
rooms early because she wasn't feeling well. Her maid went in
a little while later to check on her and she wasn't there. The
grounds have been searched and she wasn't found, but they
found you on the side of the road near the entrance."
Derrick frowned, trying to remember anything that might
help them locate Kristen. He was more worried than he cared
to admit. If something had happened to her, and he wasn't
there to protect her, well that just didn't sit well with him. Not
that she couldn't take care of herself, but whoever had her had
knocked Derrick unconscious and drugged him.
"I can't remember anything past dinner. It's a complete
blank." Derrick admitted.
Mel patted his hand reassuringly, but she was just as
worried. Derrick looked at Oliver, and the look on his face
didn't instill confidence in him either.
Derrick turned back to Mel. "Do you think it could be the
trouble she's in?" He asked.
Mel shrugged. "It's possible, but I'm not sure."
Derrick sighed in frustration. "Mel, I know you want to
protect your friend, but I need to know what's going on. I can't
help her if I'm in the dark."
She chewed on her lower lip and looked around. Mel
was not keen on telling anyone Kristen's personal affairs, but
at the same time, she was dreadfully worried that Ashby had
her, and what could happen if they didn't help her. What's
worse, it could be someone from her mother's past. Mel
worried the reason Kristen's family kept dying so suspiciously
was because they were being hunted by the man who had run
them out of Norway in the first place. But, Kristen thought that
theory was nonsense. She believed it more likely that Ashby
was involved. Still, Mel decided it was best to tell Derrick what
was going on, but before she could, Bentley arrived with a
detective from Scotland Yard.
"I need everyone to clear the room, except for you, Lord
Shane." He gave Derrick a hard stare, no doubt trying to
intimidate Derrick.
The guests who weren't involved were quick to file out
of the room. This was going to be the juiciest bit of gossip any
of them had witnessed in some time, and they were eager to
discuss it. But, Oliver, Mel, and Bentley remained. The
detective looked at each of them.
"I said Lord Shane was to stay. The rest of you may
go."
Oliver started to protest, but Derrick held up his hand.
"It's alright Oliver. Send a missive off to Scott and tell him
what's happened. He will want to be informed."
Oliver nodded and offered his arm to Mel. She
accepted and they left, but not before both giving Bentley a
cold stare as they walked past. He was unfazed. The detective
looked at him again, a bit annoyed.
"You too, Lord Bentley."
"But, I'm the one who sent for you. I should be present
during your questioning."
"I'm afraid that is not necessary. Now, please leave."
Bentley clamped his jaw shut, clearly unhappy about
being dismissed. He glared at the detective. "Make sure you
find out where she is." He shouted, then took his leave.
The inspector turned back to Derrick and lifted a brow.
"A bit anxious, isn't he?"
Derrick shrugged. It wasn't the nobility's way to speak ill
of each other in front of those not of the nobility. Much as
Derrick didn't like Bentley he wouldn't be that dishonorable.
The inspector nodded and then pulled up a chair to sit in front
of Derrick.
"What can you tell me about the missing lady - " He
consulted his notes. "Kristen Ashby."
"Not much." Derrick said with a bored tone.
Derrick thought it best not to appear too emotional as
that might make him look guilty. Not that it mattered. When
Scott heard of this, he would be down at Scotland Yard giving
the head of the department an earful, and if this inspector still
had a job, Derrick would be quite surprised.
"Lord Shane, it would be better for you to cooperate
with me." The inspector said, not unkindly.
"Who says I'm not?" Derrick asked.
The inspector nodded and scribbled something in his
book. "And when was the last time you saw the Lady Kristen?"
"Dinner."
"Did the two of you argue?"
"No, she ignored me and I sat across the table with her
friend Meloney Atchkinson."
"And what did you and Meloney Atchkinson discuss?"
"My temperament mostly. Seems I'm causing quite a
stir when I make an appearance to these social events."
"Why is that?"
"I imagine it's because I don't normally attend them."
"And what has prompted you to attend them now?"
"I'm bored."
The inspector watched him through narrowed eyes. He
scribbled something in his book again. "So, you have no
interest in the Lady Kristen?"
"She's interesting, but no. I've no wish to marry her if
that is what you mean."
"Lord Bentley tells me you have been rather aggressive
and brooding as the Lady Kristen has been paying more
attention to him than to you."
Derrick laughed. It figured that Lord Bentley would be
so dishonorable. The bloody coward. Derrick thought this
might be a ploy to put Derrick in jail so that he didn't have to
go through with the duel. But, he found it even more amusing
that Bentley actually believed Kristen liked him. She might
have been willing to propose marriage to avoid trouble, but
she didn't like him. He saw it in her eyes.
"Inspector, I'm sure Lord Bentley has all kinds of
fantastic stories to tell, but I'm a Shane. We don't exactly lack
for female company, you understand?"
"Indeed. So, why is it that your reentry to polite society
is on the heels of Lady Kristen's come out for the season?"
Derrick shrugged casually. "I believe that is merely a
coincidence. As I've already told you, I was bored. I thought it
would be a nice change of pace to attend a few social
gatherings and see what was happening. Although, I have to
say, this is turning out to be a totally new experience, thanks
to you." Derrick grinned, doing his best to look foppish.
The inspector looked rather annoyed. "Lord Shane, is it
your intention to mock this investigation?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"You've been seen on more than one occasion in the
company of Lady Kristen. As I understand it, she left you
standing in the middle of a dance floor, she yelled at you to
leave her alone in the middle of dinner at the Albany, you
yanked her off her horse in Hyde Park, do you see where I'm
going with this?"
"Frankly, no. Inspector, if I wanted to harm Lady Kristen
and she had managed to knock me unconscious, she would
be here right now calling foul play. I am not responsible for her
disappearance, but the longer you sit here and question me
unnecessarily, the longer she is out there with whoever has
kidnapped her."
The inspector looked at Derrick, assessing him. Derrick
didn't know if the inspector was trying to make him
uncomfortable, but it wasn't working. The Shane's weren't
easily intimidated, although Kristen came pretty close to
making him uncomfortable. Especially since she was missing.
"May I make a suggestion, Lord Shane?" The inspector
asked.
Derrick looked at him in surprise. "Go on."
"Your last statement was the most honest thing you
have said to me all night, and it occurs to me that you
genuinely care for Lady Kristen, unlike Lord Bentley. I suggest
you figure out just how much you care about her, you
understand?" The inspector threw Derrick's own tone and
insinuation back at him, then got up and left the room.
Derrick stared after him in surprise. Why was everyone
so keen on him admitting feelings for Kristen, or telling him to
marry her? He was a confirmed bachelor dammit, and he
would not be getting married. But, Derrick didn't like the way
the inspector had said that Derrick cared about Kristen, unlike
Bentley. What did that mean? What were Bentley's intentions?
Was he responsible for her disappearance? Derrick growled
low in his throat. If he found out that Bentley had anything to
do with her disappearance, he would make damn sure the
fellow never walked again.

Kristen woke up in a cage the size of a large kennel. It
smelled like one, too. Wrinkling her nose in disgust, she
looked around. The last thing she remembered was being
pistol whipped by the cloaked woman. Leaning back against
the cage, Kristen sighed. Her life was a series of events that
honestly made no sense. First Ashby, now some cloaked
woman who wanted her dead for God only knows why. At
least with Ashby dead, she didn't have to rush into a marriage
anymore. She could take her time, really get to know the
gentleman, and perhaps even wait for the proposal to come to
her.

But, this mystery lady was another matter entirely.
Kristen had no idea who she was dealing with, nor what the
woman wanted from her. As Kristen glanced around the cage
and the small room again, she didn't get the feeling she was
going to enjoy whatever this woman had in mind.

The door creaked open slowly, and a sliver of light
crept along the floor toward Kristen's cage. She glued her
eyes to the doorway, hoping to see who was coming in,
but the dense darkness of the room made it impossible to see
anything. The figure stood in the doorway, silently staring. It
gave Kristen an awful feeling in the pit of her stomach. And
then, just as suddenly, the door was closed. Kristen blinked
rapidly, and then chills ran up and down her spine.
Chapter 20

Kristen had been missing for five days, and Derrick was
going mad with worry. Mel wasn't in much better shape. They
had returned to London from the country part, and Mrs.
Sheffield was beside herself with grief, fearing no one would
attend her parties again. Mel had rolled her eyes and
remarked it was a terrible shame that Kristen's life was in
danger because now no one might come to the Lady
Sheffield's parties. Lady Sheffield took the hint and wisely
stopped moaning. Of course, Lady Cecilia and her friend Lady
Marlene were beside themselves with joy. Derrick overheard
Marlene telling Cecilia that it served her right for the way
Kristen had treated Cecilia. If they hadn't been ladies, Derrick
would have punched them where they stood. As it were, he
glared at them until their shrank away in fear.

Scott had gone to Scotland Yard and raised a fuss over
them accusing a member of his family of such a dastardly
crime. When the inspector assured Scott that questioning
Derrick was merely routine and he was not a suspect, Scott
was somewhat appeased, but told the inspector that any
further questions would be handled directly through him.
Derrick didn't care. He was too consumed with trying to find
Kristen. He had expected a lecture from the circumstances,
but when none was forthcoming, he was rather grateful. In
fact, Scott seemed genuinely interested in finding out what
had happened to Kristen himself.

As for Lord Bentley, he sent his second 'round to Oliver
to give the time and place of the duel, wanting to meet on
neutral ground the morning following Derrick's questioning by
Scotland Yard. Oliver had tried to make Bentley's second see
reason, but the fellow insisted there was nothing he could do.
Oliver had sighed and told the gentleman to be sure he paid
his respects to his friend that evening. The little fellow left
quite scared, and the next morning neither Bentley nor his
second showed up. Derrick wasn't surprised. He had already
gathered that Bentley was hoping Derrick would be in jail.