Wicked Wager (32 page)

Although her head ached and her stomach was unsettled, Penny forced herself to sit up. She swung her legs over the side of the bed so she could face Adrian with some dignity. “So, what
is
my future? Are you going to try to force me to marry this unknown man? Last I heard the woman does have to give her consent, even at Gretna Green.”

Adrian approached and brought his gloating face near hers, immediately assaulting her with the potent odor of gin. “There is no other man. I have another plan. A far better plan.”

“What is it?” she asked.

“I’m going to make Revington pay a ransom for you.”

“What?” Penny recoiled in shock. “Why would you think he’d be willing to pay a ransom when you had me break things off with him?”

“Well, he’d better. Otherwise…” The look in Adrian’s blue eyes turned cold and sinister. “Otherwise, you’re going down
with
me. If I can’t have Horngate, or be properly compensated, you won’t have it either.”

“What do you mean?” asked Penny, although she suspected she knew the horrible answer.

“Because you’ll be dead, you stupid bitch!”

Penny flinched. She’d known Adrian resented her, but she’d never guessed he felt such hatred. Perhaps it was because he was drunk. The cheap gin seemed to be rotting him away from the inside, leaving only a soulless, bitter shell.

She wondered if there was any way to reason with him. “Is that why you had me break things off with Revington, because you wanted an excuse to kill me?”

His expression turned sullen. “I had another plan, but it fell through. There was a man, but he refused to go through with it. He didn’t want to be leg-shackled, even to gain control of Horngate.”

“So, you did lose Horngate a second time.”

Adrian nodded. “This fellow wasn’t quite as easy to fool as Revington. He said he would have his blunt, or it would be my neck in the noose. In a manner of speaking, at least. I suspect he’ll find a far more painful way for me to die.” A muscle twitched in Adrian’s jaw, as if he was contemplating the end he might face.

A moment later, Adrian appeared to throw off his anxiety. He glared at her. “But I won’t let that happen. I’m going to force Revington to pay ten thousand pounds to keep you alive.”

Penny gasped. “Ten thousand pounds? That’s a fortune! I’m sure Revington doesn’t have that kind of money!”

“But he does.” Adrian bobbed his head. “He does. I know about the blunt he’s won over the years. Thousands of pounds, fleeced off everyone from green boys to dukes and earls. And he’s a cheeseparing bastard, too. Scarce spends any of his brass…until he got hooked up with you. That’s why I know he’ll pay the ransom. A man who spends money like Revington has on you is surely in love. Although why he fancies such a skinny long meg, I can’t imagine.”

Penny took a deep, shaky breath. She had to make Adrian see reason. “Perhaps Marcus
was
in love with me. But I ruined all that when you forced me to break off with him. I hurt him and hurt his pride, and I don’t think he’s the sort of man to forgive that.”

“Oh, I think he will. And I’m a far better judge of character than you.” His eyes turned flinty. “If he doesn’t, then I’ll carry through with my threat.”

“Which is?”

“I’ll inform Revington that if he doesn’t pay up, I’m going to kill you. If I don’t get the money, you’re the one who’ll have an ‘unfortunate accident’.” He jerked his head toward the window. “It’s two stories down. I doubt anyone could survive a fall like that.”

Penny’s churning stomach clenched even tighter. Once she wouldn’t have believed Adrian capable of such a thing. But no more. It seemed he truly despised her.

But Marcus wouldn’t know that. When he got Adrian’s note, he would think he was bluffing. Either that, or he wouldn’t care.

Adrian gave her another cold, sneering look, then sat down at a small table in the corner of the room. Uncorking a bottle of ink, he dipped his pen into it and began to write.

When he finished, he stood and waved the parchment to dry the ink. “Now we’ll find out if my assessment of Revington is correct.”

“How will you get the note to him?”

“I’ll pay some little street rat to take it to his door.”

He pulled something from the pocket of his jacket and approached Penny. Seeing the handkerchief in his hand, she shrank away. “What are you doing?”

“What do you think? While I doubt anyone in this wretched neighborhood would heed your cries for aid, I’m not taking any chances.”

“No, please! I promise I’ll be quiet!”

Adrian made a disgusted sound. “I’m not that big a fool.”

As he started toward her with the handkerchief, she cried, “Please don’t leave me tied up and helpless! What if I have to use the necessary?”

“There’s no necessary in a place like this. You’ll have to piss in the pot under the bed like a regular wench.”

“I can hardly do that when I’m tied up. Please…who knows how long you’ll be gone?”

He gazed at her sullenly. “Very well, I’ll untie you and let you take a piss. But then I’ll tie you up again.”

As Adrian knelt to undo the bonds around her ankles, Penny decided to make her move. As soon as her ankles were free, she thrust her knee upward, trying to strike his jaw. But she was too stiff to move quickly and he jerked out of the way in time.

“Damn bitch! Try that again and I’ll knock you senseless!” His bloodshot eyes fixed on her, dark with malevolence. “I should just tie you up again and leave you to piss yourself.”

“No! Please! I promise I won’t try anything.”

He gave her another threatening look, then pulled the chamber-pot from under the bed.

“There. Do your business.”

“I can’t possibly manage with my hands tied.” She held out her wrists and gazed at him pleadingly.

He jerked his head toward the window. “There’s no reason I shouldn’t toss you out right now. Revington won’t know you’re dead. He’ll still pay the ransom.”

His expression was so filled with loathing; Penny feared he might truly do it. “What if Revington wants some sort of proof you have me and that I’m safe? Do you really want to risk killing me until you’re certain?”

Adrian stared at her. Finally, he reached out and untied her wrists. He moved swiftly to the other side of the room. Half turning away, he said, “Do what you have to do, and hurry.”

Since her need was real, she complied. As soon as she finished, he came over and seized her wrists. She stood stiffly while he tied her again, wondering if she should make another attempt to get away before he retied her ankles. But without a weapon to incapacitate him, it seemed futile. Better to wait until he’d left and see if she could wriggle free and escape. But when he fastened the handkerchief over her mouth, she wished she’d tried harder to get away.

****

“This just came for you, sir.”

Marcus glanced up as Bowes entered the room and his heart beat faster. Maybe it was a note from Penny. Maybe she’d explain why she left. But as soon as he saw the handwriting, his heart sank. It wasn’t from Penny. Opening the packet, he perused the note. With each line, his anxiety deepened.

“Bad news, sir?” asked Bowes.

“You could say that.”

No wonder he’d felt something was wrong ever since Penny disappeared. Curse Withersby! He’d always known Penny’s cousin was a greedy, unprincipled bastard. But this… Was he so depraved he was willing to kill her?

Marcus couldn’t take that chance. “Have Jeremy bring round the phaeton.”

“Very good, sir.”

As soon as Bowes left, Marcus went to the escritoire and pressed on a pin beneath the drawer to open the secret chamber. He took out the small key and went to the safe, hidden beneath a picture on the wall where he pulled out several bags full of coins. He reached for a stack of banknotes, then stopped. What was he doing? He couldn’t give Withersby his whole savings without some proof he had Penny and that she was safe.

His stomach clenched at the thought of Penny being hurt or in danger. Did Withersby actually mean to kill her? Or was this a bluff?

He replaced the sacks of guineas and relocked the safe. Before he did anything, he had to talk to James.

****

He arrived at James’s townhouse, and Vincent took him to the drawing room to wait. James entered, looking decidedly unlike his usual self. “What is it now, Marcus? Did you come to harass poor Lily again?”

“I’m sorry about that, James. But I’ve found out I had good reason to be worried. Look at this.”

He held out the ransom note to James, who quickly skimmed the contents.

“What do you make of that?”

“I’m not certain what sort of game Withersby’s playing,” James responded. “Or, how big of a fool he thinks you are. Penny’s his cousin and his only claim to the estate. If she dies, the property will pass on to another relative, some grandnephew of Penny’s mother, who’s still a child, I believe. I researched all this when you first got involved with Penny.”

“So, you think his threat to kill her is a bluff?”

“He probably thinks you believe he’ll inherit if she dies.”

“But what if you’re wrong about it being a bluff?” Marcus asked. “What if he truly means to do her harm?”

“There must be some way to find out what he’s up to. The logical thing to do is hire a Bow Street man to look into it.”

“There’s hardly time for that. The note says he wants the ransom by tonight!”

“You’re not seriously thinking of paying, are you?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps if I offered him a portion of the ransom, he’d be satisfied. I can’t imagine he thinks I’m going to bring him the whole ten thousand pounds. I doubt I could carry that amount by myself, even if most of it was in banknotes. He might be satisfied with a bag of guineas.”

“But even if you pay him, what’s to say he’ll let Penny go? He might hang on to her and keep bleeding you for more.” James shook his head. “I say you shouldn’t give in to him. I think it’s all a bluff.”

“It very likely is,” Marcus agreed. “But how can I take the chance? It’s one thing to risk money or property in a card game. Quite another to gamble with someone’s life.”
Especially Penny’s.

As his turmoil increased, Marcus began to pace. He’d believed James would be able to advise him, but his friend was too logical and rational. He couldn’t understand how it felt to know the woman he loved might be in danger. Unless…

He whirled to face James. “What if it was Lily who was being held for ransom? Would you be willing to risk
her
life, and take the gamble that her kidnapper didn’t mean to harm her?”

James raised his eyebrows. “There’s a difference. Lily hasn’t been meeting with Adrian Withersby. And Lily didn’t suddenly disappear and leave a note that makes absolutely no sense.”

“What? You think Penny is a part of this?”

“It’s possible, isn’t it? She disappeared with no real explanation.”

“I can’t believe you’d think that of Penny. I thought you liked her.”

“Liking hardly comes into it. I’m merely saying that from a logical standpoint, her disappearance, followed by her cousin’s ransom note, is highly suspicious.”

Was James right? Had Penny played him for a fool? “I don’t see what Penny has to gain with this ransom business. She has Horngate and the profits from it.”

“Who knows what motivates her? Her behavior up until now hasn’t exactly been consistent, or rational, either.”

Marcus thought back to Penny’s erratic behavior over the past few weeks. He couldn’t help wondering whether James was right. Had anything they’d shared been real? Or had she been acting the whole time?

Part of him couldn’t believe that. It didn’t seem possible she hadn’t felt anything when they made love. Women were supposed to be the more sensitive, emotional sex. If he’d found their lovemaking so incredibly moving, how could she not experience it that way?

He turned to his friend. “Maybe I’m a fool, but I can’t believe Penny is part of this. Frankly, I’d rather risk losing all my money than risk her being killed.”

He started toward the door. James called, “At least make the bastard prove he has her before you pay him anything.”

James had a point, Marcus realized. Turning back to his friend, he said, “I’ll do that. In fact, I think I’ll seek out Withersby right now.”

****

He found Withersby at his usual gambling hell, sleeping in the back room. He looked utterly done-up: disheveled hair and clothing, and bloodshot eyes. He reeked of gin, as if he’d been drinking steadily for days on end.

As soon as he saw Marcus, he demanded, “Did you bring the blunt?”

“Before I pay you anything, I’ll need proof that you have Penny.”

Withersby smiled. He reached under the narrow bed and pulled out a reticule Marcus immediately recognized as belonging to her. “How’s this, Revington?”

A chill went down Marcus’s body as Withersby opened the purse and withdrew some kid gloves and a handkerchief.

“It did contain a handful of crowns and other coins,” said Withersby. “But I had a few expenses.”

Marcus’s sense of dread was rapidly replaced by the urge to seize Withersby and tear him limb from limb. The villain clearly saw his intent, for he took a step back. “I wouldn’t try it, Revington. I’ve got Penny stashed somewhere nice and secret. She won’t last long without food or water. By the time they find her, it will be because of the stink of her dead body.”

Marcus sought to swallow his rage. He had to keep his wits about him. No matter what James said, he couldn’t risk Penny’s life to this madman.

“Is Penny safe?” he managed to get out.

“Yes, perfectly. Now, get the money and we’ll talk.”

Marcus gave a curt nod and left. Although he still hadn’t decided whether to pay Withersby, he couldn’t stay in the same room with him any longer or his anger would get the best of him. The thought of Penny at the mercy of this monster made him feel sick. He had to find her, but how? If only he had more time. He could hire a runner to investigate, as James had suggested. Yes, that was it. He’d stall for time. Tell Withersby he needed a few days to raise the blunt.

He made his way back through the hell and again confronted Withersby. “I need more time to get the money. I don’t keep ten thousand pounds in my home. I’ll have to collect what I can from other sources. Then I’ll be back.”