Blackstone's Bride Read Online Free PDF

your brother’s path diverged from his plan.” To Violet it sounded as if Chartwell were making an accusation.
    Papa strained forward so that he filled the space between himself and Lord Chartwell. “What’s been done to recover my son?”
    “Recover him?” Chartwell’s round eyebrows arched above the gleaming rims of his spectacles. “We are investigating his trail, questioning all who saw him, examining the ship, and interviewing its crew.”
    Violet pulled Papa back. “Was he attacked in the street then?”
    “Ordinary street ruffians might be to blame, but your brother is an experienced traveler, Miss Hammersley, and the one particularly valuable item he possessed was his report on the state of military finances in Moldova. The document is also missing.”
    “Who knew that Frank was carrying the document?” The government’s rapid and thorough response did not sound like concern for Frank. Something was not right in Lord Chartwell’s approach to Frank’s disappearance.
    “We must assume that everyone in the prince’s party knew that he carried those documents.”
    Violet picked up the blue and white china teapot and concentrated on filling Lord Chartwell’s cup instead of pouring tea over his round, freckled, unfeeling head. He was placating them, telling a shocked family that the government would do everything in its power to recover Frank, but his true concern was the missing document, not the missing brother. She recognized what was wrong with his tone. Chartwell was annoyed. Frank’s disappearance was inconvenient. He didn’t say it directly, but it was plain nonetheless. The government suspected someone in the prince’s party of murdering or abducting Frank.
    He ended by saying that all the government required was a little cooperation on their part. No one in the prince’s party must know of the investigation.
    “To aid in the recovery of your son, we have created an inconvenience for the prince and his party with Milvert’s Hotel and have advised them that they will lodge with you for the first week of the royal visit. That will give us time to investigate.” He looked at Violet. “We have added two servants to your staff, Miss Hammersley, who will be of material advantage in the investigation.”
    Violet saw Papa swell with outrage again. His voice boomed out. “We are supposed to host the prince and his people at Hammersley House for the duration of a state visit when one of them might have murdered Frank?”
    “The best way to find your son is to keep the prince’s entire party under scrutiny.”
    “And allow the murderer a chance to get at us in our own beds?” Violet tried to picture Granthem defending them and failed.
    “We will arrange for you, Miss Hammersley, to have protection close at hand wherever you go.”
    “Do you recommend that I carry a pistol?”
    Lord Chartwell’s round face registered a faint distaste. He resettled his glasses on his nose. “Not necessary, I assure you. We have a man who will be at your side at all times.”
    “I beg your pardon. Won’t such an arrangement appear odd to the prince and his party?”
    “Not if the man at your side has a right, indeed a duty, to escort you wherever you go in the coming week.”
    “Outrageous!” Papa sputtered.
    Violet watched Chartwell straighten his coat. “What man has such a right?”
    “A fiancé, Miss Hammersley.”
    She must have misheard. They were talking about Frank, missing, not her unmarried state.
    “Lord Chartwell, a woman does not acquire a fiancé in the same way she acquires a hat.” She should have thrown the teapot at him.
    “We will provide the fiancé, a reliable man.”
    “Really! I think the young ladies of London should know that the government keeps a supply of eligible men available. How soon do you expect to find Frank?”
    “The sooner the better.”
    “If Frank is alive, what are his circumstances likely to be?”
    Lord Chartwell shrugged, and Violet contemplated the poker