Chapter 28

Chapter 28

How could this have happened to him? He was a wanted man. When the constables caught him, he would be sent to gaol.

He'd stolen enough money from another guest at the tavern in York, where he'd stayed last night, to last him a couple of months. He should have thought of this way of making money sooner. All it took was a lonely traveller choosing to play cards with a stranger and a regular supply of cognac. Sir Rodney Pelham would have no idea how he'd lost his bank notes. Even if he ever remembered, he wouldn't know the identity of the stranger who might have stolen his money.

Money meant information, and he'd sent word to his spy in Montbury village asking for an update about Lady Arabella Farrington and Henry. The reply had astounded him. They had left for France.

He had to find out where they had gone. His source told him they had left in the Duke of Montbury's carriage, along with the duke's mother and sister. How he hated anyone with the name of Montbury. If they had not interfered in Henry's life, then he would have had custody of the child by now, and Violet would not have left him.

She had travelled to York to find him and given him an ultimatum. He must stop trying to get custody of Henry. It had been a fine plan, but the letters arriving at Farrington Hall suggested that now Lady Arabella Farrington was engaged to the Duke of Montbury, the case had no hopes of success.

She had looked at him with disdainful pity. "You cannot prevail. The chance to take the child with the court's blessing has passed. I agree with your sending that false letter to try to get Henry to Farrington Hall a little earlier. However, all this scheming is out of hand."

"All exaggerated, my dear. Lies put about by Montbury's lawyer." He smiled at her, knowing she could never resist him.

This time, she could, and he was quite wrong.

"Mr Yarborough tells me he will have nothing more to do with you. You have supplied false information to the court, and charges will likely follow. It is serious, Christopher."

She looked at him as if she didn't recognize him. "Leave with me now. We can go to live with Mama and work to sort out this legal mess. Hopefully, the court might fine you rather than send you to gaol."

He'd laughed in her face, and she had gathered the dignity she had left and walked away. She'd taken the next stagecoach and gone further north to her family estate.

His Violet had left him.

When an express arrived with information about the Duke of Montbury's estate in Burgundy, he knew what he must do next.

He had enough funds to travel to the continent. He couldn't stay in England, so a journey to France seemed an excellent plan.