“I stood there in that room for a long time that night, watching the comings and goings as a plan formed in my mind. I could blackmail Radnor about George’s death, take the markers and force your father to pay his debts, and then head for the continent.” He fell silent, his lips twisting with displeasure.

“And it would have worked perfectly. By this time tomorrow I would have the blackmail money. The money for the gaming debt would have followed and then I’d be on my way.”

“Except for Suzette and myself,” she murmured.

“Aye,” he agreed grimly, his gaze scouring her with displeasure.

“You realize she knows I went in search of you and will soon worry that I have not returned,” Christiana pointed out quietly. “You may as well release me and just go. I promise if you do that no one will pursue you.”

“I’m sure you think that a very kind offer,” he said dryly. “However, I am not going anywhere without the money.”

“Do you really expect my husband simply to pay, knowing it is you?”

“He doesn’t know,” Freddy pointed out. “And he will pay. In fact, I think I will just up the price now that I have an added bargaining chip in you.”

“Me?” she asked with surprise.

“Aye. Judging by the caterwauling that’s been coming from your room the last couple nights, I think it’s safe to say he will pay handsomely for your safe return.”

Christiana flushed and glanced away. She was definitely going to have to stuff a bit of cloth or something in her mouth when she and Richard were alone. It was too humiliating to know everyone could hear them.

A tearing sound caught her ear and she turned back, frowning when she saw that Freddy had retrieved an old shirt and was rending it into strips.

Wariness creeping up her spine, she asked, “What is that for?”

“To bind and gag you. We cannot stay here and I want to find that marker, but I am not sneaking you around to the office until I am sure you will not scream and give us away.”

Christiana stared at him wide-eyed, her mind working quickly. She was in a bit of a spot now, but if he bound and gagged her she would be helpless and she just didn’t feel like allowing him to put her in that position. She needed to draw attention while she could. Drawing in a deep breath, she opened her mouth to scream, but all that came out was a moan as his fist suddenly slammed into the side of her head, sending her into unconsciousness.

“I thought I heard voices out here.”

Richard glanced toward his office door as Suzette stepped out into the hall . She pulled the door closed as she glanced over them. Her eyes widened with surprise when she spotted Lord Madison there and she started forward at once.

“Father, what are you doing here?”

“He came to rescue us,” Lisa told her before anyone else could speak. “He even held Richard and Daniel at gunpoint until Robert and I explained the new situation to him.”