The Impostor Prince. Tanya Crosby Anne

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СКАЧАТЬ suddenly couldn’t find her voice. She opened her mouth, but words became difficult.

      He lowered his fingers and dropped his chin to rest on his joined hands, his look concerned now. “What is it you need, dear girl?”

      Claire was grateful for his directness.

      Averting her eyes for an instant, she said a silent prayer that her father would forgive her for this moment of utter disgrace. Then she met Lord Huntington’s gaze, secure in the knowledge that her father would never accept his only son’s demise over the salvation of his family estate or his name.

      “I—It’s Ben,” she stammered. “My lord, please don’t speak a word of this to anyone—not even Lexie—but Ben…he’s…gone missing.”

      Lord Huntington sat up straight in his chair, dropping his hands to the desk. “What do you mean, ‘gone missing’?”

      Tears pricked at Claire’s eyes. “Well, someone has kidnapped him and is holding him for ransom. And I am expected to raise two hundred thousand pounds—one hundred fifty more—or they tell me…” Her eyes misted. “They say they will kill him.”

      Huntington slapped on the desk. “What?”

      “I’m afraid it’s true, my lord,” Claire assured him. “In fact, last night, they sent a particularly gruesome gift as a testament to their sincerity.”

      Choking back more tears, Claire disclosed everything—her father’s debts (of which he was already aware), Ben’s gambling (of which he was not), Ben’s disappearance and the box that had been delivered to Jasper last evening.

      Lord Huntington pursed his lips. She wondered if he didn’t believe her.

      “I have heard of this sort of thing before,” he said finally. “But, my dear, there is no need to panic as yet. They will not harm your brother as long as they know you are willing to deal with them. I have a friend with the Met,” he began.

      “No!” Claire exclaimed. “They said no bobbies!”

      He cocked his head.

      “They are watching. A strange man followed me from the—” She stopped, not quite able to share the indignity of having to sell her most-treasured family possessions. “Someone is following me. Were it not for the incompetence of this lunatic driver last evening and his arrogant…”

      The image of the man’s employer came into her head and momentarily dazed her. The memory of that smile—startling white teeth and crooked, mocking lips—accosted her.

      Claire blinked, forgetting for the briefest instant what she was saying. She fingered the scrape on her chin.

      “Were it not for this driver?” Lord Huntington prompted her.

      “Well, I might not have arrived safely home,” she finished a little breathlessly, embarrassed by her moment of absentmindedness.

      Lord Huntington didn’t bother to question her about the particulars of the accident, nor did he comment on her scratched chin. She must have concealed it well enough, she reasoned, and dropped her hand into her lap.

      There was an interminable silence.

      “So, then, what is it you need from me?” he finally asked.

      Gone was the fatherly aura. His visage was suddenly more like that of the pawnbroker’s, like that of a man considering his own affairs.

      In truth, Claire had hoped he would offer something without being asked.

      “I thought…perhaps…that you might let us…borrow the money …”

      Huntington lifted a brow. “Borrow?”

      “Yes, my lord. I am quite certain Ben would relinquish Highbury Hall to you upon his safe return.”

      She refused to consider the unthinkable—that he might not return. But if Ben should die, Claire would inherit the house and she would honor her agreement.

      “You could sell the house,” she persuaded him, “or keep it. It’s worth at least one hundred thousand pounds, and I am quite certain it is worth far more. I was told that Lady Kensington recently remodeled their home for the sum of seventy-three thousand.”

      “Nash’s services do not come cheaply,” Lord Huntington allowed, speaking of the architect who had been hired to do the task.

      “Yes. But their home is scarce the size of Highbury Hall. And they merely remodeled. The property itself is worth much, much more.”

      Lord Huntington sat back in his chair and eyed her. “And what would prevent Ben from reneging once he is released by his captors?”

      Claire leaned forward, hoping, praying for his agreement. “I could sign a note,” she offered.

      Lord Huntington said nothing for a moment and then shook his head. “No, that just wouldn’t do. Forgive me for speaking frankly, my dear, but your signature isn’t worth the paper it’s written upon. Not to disparage you, but your brother could very well renege and no one would so much as slap his hand for doing so.”

      It was true that she hadn’t the least bit of control over her father’s estate. She was a woman, after all. Claire’s hopes were dashed as quickly as they had been raised. Her shoulders slumped. “But, my lord, Ben wouldn’t!”

      “You cannot know that,” Lord Huntington countered. “He might very well claim I took advantage of your…predicament. And perhaps it would be true,” he admitted. “Certainly, many would believe it.”

      “But, my lord, I am offering,” Claire pointed out. “You are not taking advantage!”

      “No, I’m sorry,” Huntington replied.

      He wasn’t going to help; it was obvious by the tone of his voice and the stubborn set of his shoulders.

      Claire couldn’t entirely blame him.

      “However…”

      Claire’s head snapped up.

      “I have always thought you a lovely girl,” he suggested.

      “Thank you,” Claire said, blinking.

      “You must know that Lexie’s mother and I have been estranged for some time.”

      Claire’s gasp was almost inaudible. She was suddenly afraid of what he would say next.

      “In fact, as you know, she has taken up residence at our country estate.”

      Claire swallowed.

      “Let us not mince words, Claire. If you would, perhaps, be interested in an arrangement, I might consider the loan, after all.”

      Claire’s mouth opened to reply. Then she closed it again.

      She’d never expected such a scandalous proposition.

      She СКАЧАТЬ