‘I see. Then you will be able to apprehend the villains.’
‘Yes, yes, it is all in hand.’ He walked over to tug at the bell pull. ‘We will not detain you any longer, my lord. I am sure you must wish to get back to George Street.’
‘Not at all. I have no desire to leave here until I am assured of Miss Fairchild’s safety.’
Mr Pridham drew himself up. ‘Natalya’s welfare is our prime concern, Lord Dalmorren. We shall take the greatest care of her. Now, my lord, allow me to ring for the servant to show you out. I think it best if my niece is allowed to retire to her room and rest.’
Tristan hesitated and Natalya quickly stepped forward.
‘Let me add my thanks to those of my aunt and uncle, sir.’ She held out her hand to him. ‘A few days’ rest and I shall be quite restored.’
She squeezed his fingers, silently begging him to understand.
‘As you wish, Miss Fairchild. I shall send a messenger in the morning to enquire after your health.’ He added, his eyes teasing, ‘And every morning until you are well enough to see me.’
He bowed over her fingers and was gone. Was it her imagination or did her aunt and uncle exchange a look of relief with his departure?
Mrs Pridham was eager to carry her off to her room, but Natalya held back.
‘I did not recognise my abductors, Uncle. Which of the stable hands let them in?’
‘A new man, recently engaged,’ he replied dismissively. ‘You would not know him and you must not make yourself anxious over it. The matter has been dealt with. Perhaps, Mrs Pridham, you will take Natalya upstairs now?’
‘Oh, yes, yes, of course. Come along, my dear. I instructed a bath to be prepared for you and we must get you out of those clothes. They are quite ruined, alas. Aggie shall throw everything out.’
Natalya clutched the pink shawl closer. She would allow her maid to dispose of everything else, but not that. It was Tristan’s gift to her and, along with her memories, it was all she would have of him.
Tristan made his way back to George Street, a frown furrowing his brow. He felt uneasy about leaving Natalya at Sydney Place. If she had been willing, he would have preferred to take her into his own family until he could marry her, but she was insistent that she should return to Sydney Place. He could understand that, for she was anxious to question her aunt and uncle about her origins.
It was not that he thought the Pridhams were behind the abduction. Their relief at her safe return had been genuine enough, but it irked him that they had been more interested in the time he and Natalya had spent at Farnell Hall than her abduction. Pridham’s explanation about the rogue stable hand was a little strained, too.
Perhaps he was being unfair. It was possible the man was embarrassed that his niece could have been taken from under his nose. Well, that would not happen again. He would set someone to watch the house. He would not run the risk of her being spirited away a second time.
Tristan was still deciding which of his staff he would set to this task when he entered his house and was informed that Mr Denham was waiting for him in the drawing room.
‘Charles!’ He closed the door and crossed the room. ‘When did you get here?’
His secretary put down the newspaper and rose to his feet.
‘Last night.’ He gripped Tristan’s outstretched hand. ‘Your valet was telling me about your little adventure. Have you seen him yet? He will be in a stew until he knows you are safe.’
‘The servants will tell Hurley I am returned.’ He waved Charles back to his seat. ‘What news?’
‘I have been making enquiries about Miss Fairchild, as you instructed. I think I have found something.’
Aggie was helping Natalya into her dressing gown when there was a scratching at the door and Mrs Pridham came in.
‘Ah, you have finished bathing, my dear, good.’ She flicked one hand to dismiss the maid. ‘I thought I should come and see you, to talk to you.’
Natalya had never heard her aunt sound so conciliatory and she was immediately on her guard.
‘Very well, ma’am.’ She sat down at the dressing table and began to pull the pins from her hair. ‘What would you like to talk about?’
‘You have had a terrifying ordeal, Natalya.’
‘Not so terrifying. Lord Dalmorren rescued me within hours of my being carried off.’
Natalya watched in the mirror as her aunt paced to and fro, her fingers twisting restlessly together.
‘Yes. Quite. Lord Dalmorren is indeed to be praised for his swift action.’ She came to a halt behind Natalya. ‘He must appear a veritable hero to you, my dear. Such a handsome man, too. No one would blame you if you were to think yourself a little bit in love with him. And being alone with him like that, I am sure he could be very...persuasive.’
So that was it. By a supreme effort of will, Natalya did not blush. She met her aunt’s eyes in the mirror.
‘Lord Dalmorren did not seduce me, Aunt, if that is what you wish to know.’
‘Oh, good heavens, no one is suggesting anything of the sort! I would never—’
Natalya swung round on the stool. ‘My uncle asked you to come here, did he not?’ Her aunt’s little shake of the head was not convincing. ‘He wishes to know if I am still a virgin.’ She added bitterly, ‘If your investment has been devalued.’
Mrs Pridham looked distressed. ‘Really, Natalya, it is not like that at all. We are naturally concerned for you. We thought perhaps we might ask a doctor to visit you. To...to reassure us that you are unharmed.’
‘Indeed?’ Natalya kept her head up, her whole demeanour challenging. Not by the
