Page 92 of How to Start a Scandal

The disgusted grimace on Mr Pattinson’s face peeled up into a cold smile. ‘Revenge.’

Chapter Twenty-Six

‘What do you mean “protect my family”?’ Seth demanded.

Nash’s head lolled and his breath came in shallow gasps. ‘Pattinson’s daughter...’

‘My lord, a message for you.’ A servant rushed into the room, a young maid with blond hair who usually worked in the kitchens. ‘Gibbons wasn’t about and someone knocked at the door. I didn’t wish to keep them waiting, so I opened it. When I did, I found this.’

She held out a folded piece of paper as Seth got to his feet.

He took it from her. ‘Gather my family immediately. And tell Harold not to dare leave and have Lady Violet brought in. Post-haste.’

The woman hesitated at this new round of orders. Her gaze slid to Nash and widened.

‘Now,’ Seth commanded fiercely.

She leapt at the demand and bolted from the room. With shaking hands, he unfolded the note. The script there was bold, the two lines stark black against the white background.

I have your sister. Meet me at the abandoned brick building by the wharf and come alone.

Seth jerked his head up. Caroline. Pattinson had Caroline.

He knelt at Nash’s side once more. ‘What does Pattinson want with my sister?’ he demanded.

Nash shifted and gave a pained wheeze. ‘His daughter. Dead. Your brother...’ He grimaced. ‘Syphilis.’

Seth’s blood went cold. The man’s broken sentence was plain enough to understand. William had given Mr Pattinson’s daughter syphilis and it had been the cause of her death.

Seth’s chest went tight with fear. Whatever Pattinson wanted with Caroline, it was not good.

Seth would do as he asked and come alone, but he would not arrive unarmed. He pushed to his feet and went to his desk. He jerked open the drawer and pulled out his pistol. It was heavy and cold in his hand, the familiar weight of death.

Footsteps pounded out in the hallway and his mother entered the study. ‘Dalton, what is the meaning of this?’

Someone followed closely behind her. Confusion rattled Seth’s brain and made him look up to stare at the woman behind his mother. Caroline.

Seth regarded his sister curiously. ‘Caroline?’

‘Yes, I’m here,’ she said breathlessly. ‘What is it, Seth? You’ve given us all quite a fright.’

He looked down at the note. Was it a jest of some kind? It was a bloody awful one if so.

Who the devil would claim to have Caroline when he did not?

The blonde maid returned to the room at a mad dash pace that stopped abruptly short upon her catching sight of the Dowager.

‘Forgive me, my lord.’ She kept a cautious gaze on Seth’s mother. ‘I could not find Lady Violet. It appears she’d departed some time ago.’

She paused a moment and dragged in a ragged breath, clearly winded from having rushed about with such haste.

Seth cursed to himself. If Violet was outside the town house, she could be in danger.

‘That isn’t all, my lord.’ The maid’s face fell and she put a hand to her chest.

‘What is it?’ Seth asked, his voice hard.

‘Harold and Burton...’ A sob broke from her throat. ‘Harold and Burton are horribly injured.’