The Mistress of Hanover Square Read Online Free PDF

sight.
    Somehow, it seemed unlikely that the doll had come from Northaven. The man had always denied betraying his friends to the Spanish; he had been prepared to fight any of them in a duel to clear his name—but this doll was something very different. It was meant to disturb, to sow confusion and anxiety—though its message was obscure. Was the sender threatening his daughter?
    Gerard felt sick inside as he pictured his daughter being mutilated as the doll had been. Surely the sender could not be threatening Lisa? She was an innocent child who had harmed no one. Besides, what had he done that would cause anyone to hate him to this extent?
    ‘Gerard…’ Harry entered the room behind him. ‘I thought I saw you come in here.’
    ‘Yes. I wanted to open this…’ Gerard held the box out to him. ‘One of your footmen gave it to me a moment ago. Apparently, it was delivered earlier this morning.’
    Harry looked at the doll, his eyes narrowing as he saw what had been done to it. ‘Good grief! What on earth is that about?’
    ‘I have no idea. I wish I did.’
    ‘A threat, do you think?’ Harry’s mouth was a grim white line. ‘To your daughter—or a warning?’
    ‘Perhaps both…’
    ‘There was no message?’
    ‘None that I could find.’
    Harry picked up the box and looked inside. Then he saw a small card lying in the discarded paper and string and held it out to Gerard.
    ‘If you value her, stay away from her. This is your one and only warning and sent in good faith. Ignore it and the one you love may end like this.’ Gerard frowned as he read the words aloud. ‘What can that mean—how can I stay away from my own daughter?’
    ‘Are you sure the doll is meant to represent your daughter?’ Harry asked. ‘Only a few of us even know she exists, Gerard. Perhaps the person who sent this does not know you have a child.’
    Gerard stared at him and then nodded. ‘You are right. Only a handful of my friends know about Lisa. So if the doll isn’t her…’ His gaze narrowed. ‘You don’t think—Amelia…?’
    ‘It makes more sense,’ Harry said. ‘Whoever sent this used a fashion doll, not a child’s toy. Amelia is an extremely elegant woman and it is more likely that the doll represents her. We suspect an attempt to kidnap her was made that summer at Pendleton. Max had an idea that the reason no further attempts were made to kidnap her was because you were no longer around.’
    ‘Yes, he mentioned something of the kind some months ago, but I did not think it possible. Good grief!’ Gerard was horrified. ‘You think they tried to abduct Amelia because they thoughtI might be about to ask her to marry me—and then I returned to France. Nothing happened while I was away, but now I am back…’
    ‘And you receive this warning.’ Harry looked concerned. ‘If that is the case, Amelia could be in grave danger.’
    Gerard frowned. ‘She told me this morning that Miss Barton had asked her if her brother would benefit from her death. Apparently, he has been demanding that she hand over most of the fortune her greataunt left her.’
    ‘Is Royston such a brute?’ Harry pondered the question. ‘I do not know him well, but I would not have thought it. He might bully her into giving him money, but murder?’
    ‘Northaven?’
    ‘I am not sure that the murder of a woman is his style. He would be more likely to force a duel on you if he wished to pursue a quarrel.’
    ‘My thoughts entirely. It must be Royston—I can think of no one else who would be affected if she were to marry me.’
    ‘You cannot think of anyone who has cause to hate you?’
    ‘None that I know of,’ Gerard replied, but looked thoughtful. ‘Everyone makes enemies, but I cannot think of anyone who would wish to harm me or mine. Royston does not like me. He had me beaten when I asked for Amelia’s hand as a young man—but surely he has not harboured a grudge all this time? Besides, why harm his sister? If his quarrel is with me,