Playing With Fire by C.J. Archer Read Free Book Online

like her. They were devoted to one another."
    I would have challenged him over that if I didn't want to remain hidden. His daughter Violet had been involved in my kidnapping. Miss Levine may have orchestrated it with August Langley, but Vi had been an integral part of the operation. Her betrayal had shattered me. I doubt she'd ever been devoted, as he put it. I had been to her once. Not anymore.
    "We ought to consider that her departure wasn't voluntary," Wade said.
    "You think Tate took her?"
    "Of course I think Tate took her! Why else would I be here? Listen to me, Langley, we have to find her. It's been weeks. He could have done anything by now, be anywhere. I should have contacted you earlier, but I thought…hoped …she'd return. I've been a fool."
    "Yes. You have." In a louder voice, Langley said, "You can come in now, Hannah."
    I gasped and took a step back. Bollard appeared at the door. If his presence was meant to encourage me, it failed. Or perhaps he was there to catch me if I tried to run away.
    "It's all right, Hannah," Jack said. "I'll be with you."
    We might not be able to touch intimately, but his presence was enough to fortify my nerves. I gave him a smile of thanks and walked into the parlor. Bollard blocked the doorway as soon as I passed him.
    "Not you, Jack," Langley said.
    "Bollocks," Jack said and muscled his way through. It had to be said that Bollard stepped aside quite quickly, earning a scowl from Langley.
    Lord Wade rose out of his chair. "Hannah! You're safe, thank God."
    I'd only seen him face to face a few times in all the years I was relegated to the attic. I'd stared at the top of his head often when he climbed into and out of his carriage far below the window, but it wasn't the same. He was as tall as I remembered and solid across the chest, but the stoop of his shoulders was new. The lines across his forehead and around his eyes also seemed deeper than before. He wasn't quite so intimidating.
    "Lord Wade." I curtseyed with my head bowed as Miss Levine had taught us to do.
    "What are you doing here?" he blurted out.
    "I had her kidnapped from Windamere," Langley said.
    "You did what!"
    Langley held up his hands for calm. "It's too late for outrage, Wade. You've kept her in the attic for fifteen years, and you waited three weeks before reporting her missing."
    Wade sat heavily and smoothed his moustache with his thumb and forefinger. "Hannah…are you all right? Has Langley treated you well?"
    "Yes, thank you. I've been free to come and go." More or less. Aside from the first few days of my stay, I'd not been a prisoner at Frakingham. Unlike at Windamere.
    Wade had the decency to look sheepish. "Good," he muttered. "Good." He pushed himself out of the chair. "It seems there's nothing else for me to do here. I'll be going."
    "You don't want to know why or how I was kidnapped?" I asked. "Come now, my lord, you've had a long journey. Stay and take refreshments with us. Bollard, fetch some tea, please."
    Bollard didn't move. I suspected taking orders from me wasn't part of his job or in his nature.
    "I don't want tea," Wade said. "As to the why and how, I'm sure Langley has his reasons." The thick, bushy brows crashed together. "Who am I to question his motives? He and Tate always had their little secrets, their mysterious research that no one was allowed to ask them about. You see, Hannah, I'm well aware that August Langley isn't someone who can be idly questioned. Not if one expects a straight answer, that is."
    Langley clicked his tongue. "So cynical."
    "I know you well."
    "People can change over eighteen years."
    "Not in my experience."
    "Lord Wade," I said, cutting through their squabbling. "You may not wish to know why Mr. Langley kidnapped me, but I'd like to know some things from you. Please sit back down."
    Those impressive brows rose again. "I don't like your tone, young lady."
    "I did say please."
    He grunted but sat.
    "Thank you." I had to be careful. I didn't want to raise his ire and