Chapter 35

Chapter Thirty-Five

X enia reached Bottoms House just before dawn. She'd run all the way back, stumbling through the darkness, desperate to get started on the Sisyphean task of finding the treasure. She had less than a day remaining; Lady Jo had made the terms of her "bargain" explicit.

"To ensure your compliance, my men will be keeping your lover in a secret location," her mother had said. "If my treasure is not ready for me when I arrive, I will send word to my men, who will end your precious lord faster than you can shed a tear. However, if you are a good girl and do as your mama says, I will let your lover live."

Experience had taught Xenia not to put faith in her mother's mercy.

This is my fault. Despair suffocated her. Ethan's life is hanging in the balance because of me.

She entered the manor through the kitchen. Lighting a lamp, she moved stealthily, for she didn't want anyone to hear her come in and start asking questions. Lady Jo had been clear that she was to tell no one…to do so would put Ethan in danger. Yet she couldn't quell her doubts: even if she succeeded in finding the treasure, Lady Jo was likely to kill Ethan anyway. Once he was no longer a bargaining chip, he would become a liability…and Xenia would be powerless to help him.

I cannot save Ethan on my own. Who can I trust? Would the Blackwoods believe me if I went to them…or would they think I'm in cahoots with Lady Jo and have me arrested?

If she went to Ethan's family and they didn't trust her—honestly, who could blame them?—she might lose what time she had to look for the valuables and barter for his life. On the other hand, if she followed her mama's instructions and managed to empty the house, she would have to find the treasure on her own.

What if I fail? What if I cannot save Ethan?

She agonized over the right course of action, wishing she had someone to advise her. Wishing she was not so alone. Suddenly, a sensation swept over her: the feeling of another presence nearby. She looked around the empty kitchen, and instead of feeling afraid, she was comforted, even if the company was ethereal. When a cool draft caressed her cheek, she turned her head in its direction, and her gaze caught a copperish gleam on the floor.

Going over, she picked up the object.

A penny.

Xenia clutched the gift to her chest.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Summoning her courage, Xenia knocked on Lady Blackwood's door. As the housekeeper, she knew from the state of the marchioness's bed in the morning that her husband spent the night with her, but this did not prepare her for the sight of a disheveled Lord Marcus Blackwood standing in the doorway. Clad in a navy dressing gown, his thick hair tousled, he seemed even more formidable than usual.

"What are you doing here at this early hour, Mrs. Wood?" He frowned. "What happened to your face?"

"I need to speak to Lady Blackwood," she said. "Please, it concerns Lord Ethan."

"Marcus, darling, who is it?" Lady Blackwood's sleepy voice drifted over.

"It's Mrs. Wood." His gaze alert now, the marquess stepped aside to let her in. "She says it's about Ethan."

Inside, Xenia was greeted by Lady Blackwood, who'd obviously just thrown on her robe and was lighting a lamp. Nonetheless, her violet eyes were sharp.

"Xenia, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Ethan is in danger," Xenia blurted. "I need your help."

She told them everything.

About her mama and the life she'd led before running away at sixteen. About the work she'd done. About getting a job as Ethan's housekeeper, turning a new leaf, and falling in love with him. About her mama's threat, the supposed treasure, and Ethan being taken as hostage. She didn't spare herself: this was her fault, all of it. She'd been too weak to stop her mother, but she would do anything—even turn herself in to the authorities—if they would help her find the stolen goods and get Ethan back.

"I'm s-sorry." Her voice hitched as she saw the Blackwoods' expressions, which had gone from astonished to grim. She didn't know what else to say.

They hate me…and I deserve it. But please let them believe me. Please let them believe that I am not working for my mother—that I want only to free Ethan.

Lady Blackwood came up to her, and when the marchioness raised her hand, Xenia instinctively flinched. Yet it wasn't a slap that landed on her cheek but a gentle touch.

"You are not to blame for this," Lady Blackwood said firmly. "And we will get Ethan back."

Relief rushed through Xenia, and she shut her eyes, willing back the tears. Her body seemed to have lost its starch, however, and she swayed.

"Sit before you fall." The marchioness ushered her to a chair, then turned to the marquess. "What is the plan, darling?"

Lord Blackwood aimed a severe gaze at Xenia. "You have no idea where these jewels are supposedly hidden?"

"No, my lord." She shook her head helplessly. "And given that I oversaw much of the manor's renovation, I know every inch of the place."

"There must be a hiding place somewhere," the marquess said. "We'll comb the property."

"But Lady Jo told Xenia to get rid of everyone," Lady Blackwood pointed out. "She threatened to harm Ethan if Xenia breathed word of any of this. My guess is that she'll put eyes and ears on the property to make sure her orders are being followed."

Not for the first time, Xenia wondered about Lady Blackwood's uncommon acuity when it came to the darker side of life. Whatever the reason for the lady's knowledge, she was grateful for it. Humbled, in truth, by the marchioness's willingness to see beyond her shameful origins and give her the benefit of the doubt.

"You are right, my love," Lord Blackwood said. "Any search we conduct will have to be done with utmost discretion. As for the staff, do we know whom we can trust?"

"Other than Ethan's servants from London, everyone else is new." As much as Xenia hated to say it, she had to. "My mama could have bribed any one of them. Or, like Dobson Gill, they could be working for the Corrigans."

"Right. If we cannot trust them, then we need them gone?—"

Lord Blackwood turned as the door opened. "Owen?"

He drew his brows together at the sight of his youngest son. Lord Owen looked as if he'd been dragged through the bushes. His brown hair was mussed, his cravat missing, and his gaze was wild.

"Dearest." His mama looked at him with concern. "Is everything all right? Did you have another bad dream?—"

"They took Ethan," Lord Owen said hoarsely. "I was there with him…at the brothel. I was waiting for him and Mrs. Wood to, ahem, sort out their problems."

Cheeks flaming, Xenia realized he must have overheard her and Ethan's intimate interlude.

Sorting out our problems is one way of putting it.

"Out of nowhere, I saw a gang of cutthroats barge into their room. I went into the adjacent chamber and listened through the wall. I heard everything." He turned burning eyes on Xenia. "I heard your deranged mother beating you. I know she is holding Ethan ransom for the stolen goods. I wanted to intervene, but there were too many brutes to take on. So I decided to follow them instead."

Hope pierced Xenia to the quick.

"Do you know where Ethan is being held?" Lady Blackwood's trembling voice betrayed the fear she'd been holding in check.

Owen nodded. "Yes, Mama. It's not far from here."

"Good work, lad." Resolve hardened Lord Blackwood's features, and he issued commands like the military leader he'd been. "Go get James and be discreet about it. Penny, you fetch Gigi. Now that we have Ethan's location, we will work together and bring him home safely."