Page 132 of A Devious Secret

“Well, I assure you that I am,” Lord Winsley said. “Gemma is my only child and I cannot lose her.”

Stephen interjected, “Your actions speak otherwise.”

Lord Winsley glared at him. “You know not what you are speaking of.”

“You abandoned her when she needed you the most,” Stephen asserted.

“She abandoned me!” Lord Winsley spat out. “I may not have been the most attentive father, but she was the one that decided to cut ties with me.”

Stephen opened his mouth to object but Hawthorne spoke first. “We are not here to rehash the past,” he said. “We just need to know where Gemma is.”

Lord Winsley tossed his arms up in the air. “I do not know!” he exclaimed. “And I resent the accusation.”

“I resent everything about you,” Stephen said.

“The feeling is mutual,” Lord Winsley shouted.

A knock came at the door before it was opened and Lady Haddington and Lady Winsley stepped into the room.

Lady Haddington closed the door behind her and said, “I had the most intriguing conversation with Lady Winsley.” She turned towards Lady Winsley. “Would you like to tell them or should I?”

“Tell us what?” Lord Winsley asked, confusion on his face. “What is she talking about, my dear?”

Lady Winsley pressed her lips together. “I don’t rightly know.”

“It would appear that your wife was involved with your daughter’s disappearance,” Lady Haddington announced.

“I think not,” Lord Winsley said. “Kitty would never do something so underhanded. Isn’t that right?”

With a slight wince, Lady Winsley replied, “I had to do something before Gemma threw her life away by marrying a shipbuilder.”

Lord Winsley’s expression grew crestfallen. “Say it isn’t so.”

Lady Winsley tilted her chin stubbornly. “Lord Hawkinge came to me and explained everything,” she said. “If we didn’t intercede when we did, then our names would be dragged through the mud.”

“So you arranged for Lord Hawkinge to abduct her?” Lord Winsley asked.

“With good reason,” Lady Winsley said. “They are going to get married.”

Lord Winsley lifted his brow. “It is illegal to marry your brother’s wife or had you forgotten that detail?”

“Only in England,” Lady Winsley responded. “They are going to sail to France and get married.”

“But we are at war with France,” Lord Winsley pointed out.

Lady Winsley bobbed her head. “Lord Hawkinge has found a merchant that has agreed to take them to France.”

Lord Winsley stared at his wife in astonishment. “You are mad.”

“I am not,” Lady Winsley responded. “I did this for us.”

“No, you did it foryou,” Lord Winsley declared. “Did you not consider the scandal that would ensue when Gemma marries Lord Hawkinge?”

“It is far more preferable than marrying a shipbuilder,” Lady Winsley stated.

Hawthorne interrupted, “Where is Gemma?”

Lady Winsley clasped her hands in front of her. “I won’t say.”