Page 131 of A Devious Secret

Lord Winsley tossed down his cards and shoved back his chair. Rising, he narrowed his eyes. “If you want my permission to marry my daughter, I will never grant it. Ever!”

“That is not what I need to speak to you about,” Stephen said.

Hawthorne’s voice came from next to him. “Forgive us, Winsley, but we were hoping for a moment of your time.”

Lord Winsley shifted his gaze towards Hawthorne. “What is this about, Hawthorne?” he asked.

Hawthorne gave him an apologetic smile. “It will make sense soon enough, but we need to speak privately.”

“Does he have to come?” Lord Winsley asked, gesturing at Stephen.

“I’m afraid so,” Hawthorne said.

Lord Winsley looked like he was going to refuse Hawthorne’s request, but to Stephen’s pleasant surprise, he nodded. “We can speak in the parlor.”

No one said anything as they followed Lord Winsley out of the card’s room and down the hall. Once they arrived at the parlor, Hawthorne closed the door behind them.

Haddington crossed his arms over his chest. “Where is your daughter?” he asked bluntly.

Lord Winsley gave him a blank look. “How should I know?”

Stephen took a step closer to the disgruntled lord. “Gemma informed me that she went out into the gardens to speak to you.”

“That is absurd. I have been in the card’s room since I arrived,” Lord Winsley said.

“Then how do you explain her disappearance?” Stephen pressed.

Lord Winsley scoffed. “Perhaps she was trying to get away from you,” he said. “It would have been the first sensible thing my daughter has done since she arrived in Town.”

Stephen clenched his jaw. “Gemma has no reason to run from me.”

“Doesn’t she?” Lord Winsley asked. “You are just a shipbuilder, and you aren’t worthy of her time or notice.”

As he took a commanding step towards Lord Winsley, Hawthorne moved towards him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Let us handle this, Stephen,” he ordered. His tone brokered no argument.

“Very well,” Stephen grumbled. The only reason why he relented was because he knew what Hawthorne and Haddington were capable of.

Hawthorne removed his hand from Stephen’s shoulder and addressed Lord Winsley. “You are going to have to do better than that. Where is she?”

“Why are you asking me?” Lord Winsley asked. “I’m afraid I haven’t spoken to my daughter in days.”

“If you didn’t arrange to meet with Gemma in the gardens, then someone must have lured her out there under the guise of speaking with you,” Hawthorne said. “Do you know who would do such a thing?”

“I do not,” Lord Winsley said.

Haddington uncrossed his arms. “You are trying my patience,” he stated. “We need answers, and we need them now.”

Lord Winsley grew defiant. “I do not have to answer your questions.”

“You do,” Haddington said as he retrieved a pistol from behind him. “It is simple- tell us the truth or you won’t leave this room alive.”

Lord Winsley stared at Haddington in disbelief. “You cannot be in earnest!”

“Lady Hawkinge is missing, and we don’t have time for games,” Haddington said. “Every moment we waste in here is a moment that we lose trying to find her.”

Lord Winsley put his hands up. “I know nothing about her disappearance. In fact, I am as outraged as you are.”

“Are you?” Hawthorne asked. “You don’t seem outraged.”