Page 89 of The Viscount's Silent Pugilist

“To help Gen,” the young man seated across from him said as the carriage lurched forward.

As fear infused his blood, Jonathan regarded his unknown traveling companions. All three of them had wide blue eyes.

Gen’s eyes.

“Sophia and Christopher?” he asked.

The young man nodded.

Years of pristine breeding and etiquette abandoned Jonathan in his befuddlement. “Where is Genevieve? What happened to her?” He glared at the man he suspected was Gen’s father. When he’d seen the man inside the building, Jonathan thought he’d had on a worn brown waistcoat. Now that he was closer, he could see it was bluish-gray and exquisitely tailored.

On further inspection, perhaps this was not the same coat. Or the same man, for it were, Gen would be in the carriage with them.

“Lord Shipley, meet Viscount Jonathan Davenport,” Robinson said. “Lord Davenport, this is Geneveive Bailey’s uncle, the Earl of Shipley, and her siblings, Christopher Bailey and Sophia Bailey.”

Jonathan’s thoughts spun, trying to make sense of what was happening. Alas, he had no clue. “I must confess, I am at a disadvantage, because I do not understand anything that has happened in the last fifteen minutes.”

“Let me explain,” Robinson said.

“Please,” Jonathan said while trying to school trepidation.

“My investigations into Genevieve’s true identity led me to the earl,” Robinson said.

Jonathan had managed to deduce this much.

“I did not know how far my brother had spiraled,” the earl declared, his voice quivering. “It has been years since I’ve seen Arthur. He forced me from his home at pistol point years ago, and I have not visited since. In truth, I have done everything to avoid him.” The earl wrung his gloved hands. “I knew he would kill me for… well… my predilections.”

Jonathan held his tongue since mentioning the earl’s cuckolding predilections wasn’t appropriate conversation in front of the young girl. Not that Gen’s mother deserved her tragic fate.

“Once I expressed my concerns,” Robinson explained, “Lord Shipley accompanied me to Thorn Manor.”

“Uncle and Mr. Robinson showed up just in time,” Christopher added. “I was preparing to leave and go after Father, when I realized I didn’t know where he was headed. All I knew was that he had gone after my sister—with nefarious intent, no doubt. Luckily, Mr. Robinson knew Gen was at the Duke of Griffendale’s mill. You see, Father has become increasingly erratic since Gen left, and now I fear for our safety, especially Gen’s, so we must hurry. I know him well enough to know that he will not rest until he has her locked away at Thorn Manor. Probably in the cellar, where he tried to keep me whenever he wanted to punish me. Melvin, our butler, and Mrs. Whistler, our cook, sneaked me food, and, after a while, helped me escape anytime I needed fresh air. Of course, I could not leave the property for good, because I would never abandon Sophia.”

Moaning, the earl rubbed his forehead. “I didn’t know what you were going through. I swear. Although I suppose I should have. He has always been cruel.”

“How do you know he is taking her to Thorn Manor?” Jonathan asked.

“He gave Melvin a missive to send to Lord Kilsby,” Christopher said. “Since Melvin has also become concerned about my father’s excessive drinking and violent tantrums, he brought the missive to me yesterday after Father left.” Christopher slid his hand into his pocket, producing a folded note.

Jonathan winced. It would take him hours to decipher the message in a moving carriage without his shield. “Please read it to me. That is, if it is appropriate for the young miss to hear.”

The line of her lips stoically firm, the girl lifted her chin. “I know everything that is happening, my lord.”

It warmed his heart to learn that Sophia Bailey was as intrepid as her sister.

“Kilsby,”Christopher read. “I found Genevieve and am going after her. She will not give you another moment of trouble. I will see to it. If you want her unscarred, be at Thorn Manor two days hence. Any later than that, and I cannot guarantee her pleasant appearance. This should clear my debts. AB”

“May the devil smite him dead,” Jonathan declared. It might be days before Kilsby received the missive, which meant Arthur Bailey had every intention of harming Genevieve.

Tears glistened in Sophia’s eyes. She swallowed and wiped them away. “Why must Father be so cruel? I hate him.”

Her brother bopped her nose. “I hate him too, Mouse.” Christopher’s gaze met Jonathan’s. “Sir, are you in love with Genevieve?”

“Yes. I intend to marry her. I offered, and she has accepted.” He’d just as soon strangle her father as ask for his blessing. “I hope I have your blessing, Christopher.”

Christopher nodded. “I support whatever Gen wants. However, if you intend to marry her, then you need to know the truth of what my father confessed during one of his inebriated rants. ‘When I find her,’” Christopher said, imitating a drunken slur, “‘I’ll s-strangle her just like I did her whore of a mother and her meddling s-stepmother.’ He was so deep in his cups he didn’t realize that Mouse and I were right outside the drawing room and heard him.”

“My mother was so kind and pretty,” Sophia said.