The Wicked Heir (Spare Heirs #3)(116)

Portia straightened her spine and looked the man directly in the face. She realized it was vital he have all the information available if this Nightshade were to have any luck in tracking down where Lily had been taken, but it didn’t make it any easier to admit her family’s secrets to a stranger.

“Since my father’s death several months ago, my oldest sister, Emma, began receiving notes from someone named Mason Hale regarding an unpaid loan. Last night, my sister Lily—the one who was just abducted—was personally threatened by Hale. He stated we had two days to repay him in full, with interest. He indicated he would have his money, one way or another.” She paused, looking for some indication that Honeycutt was listening. He provided no reaction at all. “Hale gave us until tomorrow to get the money to him. We had a plan to come up with the amount, but something must have changed. Hale must have decided not to wait. Lily was the first to exit the carriage when we arrived home this evening. Before we knew what was happening, our driver was knocked unconscious, and my sister was tossed over the shoulder of a very large man who stuffed her into a carriage across the street. They were gone in a matter of moments.”

Honeycutt was silent and unmoving for several minutes.

“Does anyone else have any cause to take your sister? Vengeance, lust, greed?”

“Not that I know of,” Portia replied, less certain than she would have liked.

A sick rush of guilt settled in her stomach. She and Lily had not been talking as much as they used to. Portia had been so ill-humored since she had begun her debut Season, she had not been very attentive to her sister.

“Do you know of Mason Hale? Where to find him?” Portia asked when Honeycutt remained silent longer than she was comfortable with.

He narrowed his gaze in irritation again, and Portia stiffened. If he wasn’t so bloody tight-lipped, she wouldn’t be forced to press him.

“I will address the issue with my employer,” Honeycutt finally replied.

The man turned his gaze to Angelique again. “As you may recall, his services require a partial payment up front. The urgency of the matter will demand a substantial fee, my lady.”

The dowager countess grunted in acceptance and reached into her reticule for a small sack of coins. She handed them to Portia, their eyes meeting briefly as she did so. The old lady lived on a limited allowance from the present earl, and Portia certainly had no money.

This was the bluff her great-aunt had mentioned earlier.

Portia brought the sack of coins to Mr. Honeycutt, looking him directly in the eye as she came to stand before him.

“That is all I have on my person at the moment, Mr. Honeycutt,” Angelique explained. “I did not waste time going for more funds but came directly here, you understand. I can promise the full fee once my niece is returned safely home.”

Honeycutt glanced down at the small purse in Portia’s hand, making no move to take it from her.

Portia’s anxiety grew unbearable.

He had to accept it. Nightshade was their only option at this point. Precious time slid away with every second Honeycutt took to respond. Lily’s image flashed through Portia’s mind. Her sweet and gentle sister needed someone to take action.

Now.

Portia stepped toward Honeycutt, her anger over his obvious reticence forcing her hand. On impulse, she grasped his wrist and yanked his hand out of his pocket. Before he could resist, she pressed the purse into his large palm. Holding it there with both of her hands, she looked up into his face, forcing him to meet her eyes.

“You have to accept,” she said through a tight throat. “Nightshade has to find my sister. There is no other option.”

He glared at her with narrowed eyes.

Portia, full of fear and stubborn determination, refused to back down. She could feel the tension in his body…but it was more than annoyance, she realized. He possessed a sort of physical readiness she hadn’t noticed before, when his slow movements and careless posture had suggested a distinct lack of interest. His hand, enclosed in both of hers, felt stronger, more capable than she had expected. Standing close enough that she had to tip her head back to look into his face, she sensed something powerful emanating from him.

Something that forced a subtle shiver to course through her body.

She peered into his eyes. They were shadowed by his bushy brows and distorted by the glass of his spectacles, but she swore she saw something significant there. She tipped her head to the side and a frown creased her forehead as she focused her gaze—trying to discern just what it was that had caught her attention.

But then he curled his hand into a fist, claiming the purse before abruptly turning to walk away.

“I will get a message to my employer. I offer no guarantee.” Honeycutt paused in the doorway. “Return home. Word of the investigation will be sent to you there.”

“We will wait here for news,” Portia replied.

“Impossible. There is no telling how long it will take for my employer to discover your sister’s fate. It could be several hours. Or days.”

Portia thought of going back to the house and awaiting word. She thought of Emma returning and having to be advised of Lily’s abduction.

No. She could not go home without some solid results…even if she had to go out into the night and get them herself.

She folded her arms across her chest and squared her shoulders. “We will wait here.”