“Yes,” she said again, quieter this time. “I don’t know where we’d have been without him.”
“In danger.” He paused, but he had to ask. “Did you recognize that man back there?”
She shook her head. “No, but I recognized his accent. He spoke like the men who killed my father spoke.”
“Do you think they’d still be looking for you after all these years?”
“I don’t know. I guess I have an ingrained sense of fear which I find hard to leave behind. I freeze whenever I’m threatened.”
It was only a short distance between Richmond Estate and Holkham, and they were soon home. As they pulled up outside the house, Sebastian suddenly knew what he had to do. He turned to her.
“You’re safe here. No one knows you’re here. Turn on the security system Charles had installed. There’s no way anyone can enter without your knowledge. Go inside and I’ll see you later.”
She frowned. “Are you going somewhere?”
“Yes. I’ll probably be gone overnight. But I need to go to London urgently. I’ll see you when I get back. And don’t worry.”
But the frown didn’t lift as she got out of the car and slammed the door.
He pulled away after a brief wave. He checked in the rear-view mirror. She had her hand held in the air in a motionless wave as he turned away and could no longer see her.
Although Sebastian had told Indra he’d probably be away overnight, she was still surprised when he didn’t return later that evening. She’d gone over their recent conversations and couldn’t imagine what had cropped up at the last minute, which had required an urgent and prolonged visit to London. So she’d waited up long into the night, reading and listening to music in the drawing room, waiting to hear the sound of his car coming up the long drive from the country road. But there was no sound. Nothing but the occasional call of an owl which drifted in through the open window. When the grandfather clock in the hall chimed midnight, she decided it was time to go to bed. And she had, but sleep hadn’t come easily. Something had happened, and she didn’t have a clue what.
The next morning, he still hadn’t returned, and she began to worry. She decided to go about her usual business. Then she received a phone call from Mr. Jackson, Charles Richmond’s lawyer. He said he was in the area, which she thought strange, and asked if he could pay her a quick visit. It turned out he was already outside the house.
“Please, come in,” she said, still puzzled by his call. “Would you like a coffee?”
“No, thank you. This isn’t a long visit and I appreciate you seeing me at such short notice.”
“No problem. Please, take a seat.”
He sat on the edge of his chair and fiddled with his glasses.
“Have you seen Sebastian this morning?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Is everything all right? He hasn’t had an accident or anything?”
“No, not at all. Not that I know of, anyway.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I won’t beat about the bush,” he said, with his cut-glass accent.
“I’d appreciate it.”
“It’s come to our attention that Sebastian”—he paused—“has been making enquiries which lead us to the opinion that he has … certain information which could put you at a disadvantage.”
“What information? What disadvantage? Please be plain.”
“Of course. As you may know, your step-father apprised us of your mother’s background, and we have a network of contacts who supply us with information for our clients. I’m sorry, but it appears your husband may be trying to blackmail you into walking away from the marriage.”
Her first inclination was to laugh. She shook her head. “What do you mean, ‘blackmail’?”
“It seems he knows of your connection to certain parties who you and your late mother have been avoiding for many years. People who could pose a threat to your life.”
Her mouth dried, and suddenly all the missing pieces of the jigsaw fell into place. Little by little, she’d exposed herself and she hadn’t even noticed doing it.
“I’m exposed?” she whispered.