The Wicked Heir (Spare Heirs #3)(129)

Portia struggled to understand. “But the information would be revealed only to us. We could keep it from becoming known any further.”

“No. I would betray this man to no one. Not even you.”

Lily’s tone was firm in a way Portia had never heard before. Warning bells sounded again in her thoughts. She glanced to Emma for assistance.

“I think we must honor Lily’s wishes, Portia,” Emma said. “Can you send a message to this Nightshade to call off any further investigation?”

Portia frowned. Lily’s insistence on protecting her rescuer’s identity struck Portia as exceedingly odd. That she chose to keep this detail to herself made Portia uneasy and suspicious. She wished she could come up with a good argument for Lily to reveal the full truth, but found none at that moment.

“If that is what Lily wants, yes, I can contact him.”

“Thank you.” Lily’s shoulders drooped a little in her obvious relief. “Now, I wonder if I might retire. I feel like I could sleep for a week.”

“I think we could all use some sleep,” Emma said as she rose to her feet, essentially signaling the conversation over. “Come, I will walk you up to your room.”

Portia did not follow them right away. Something was not right. She could not let it go.

Before leaving the room with Lily, Emma turned back again. “Perhaps you should send off the note to Nightshade before you retire.”

Portia had a better idea.

“Yes. I will do it right away,” she replied. “Good night. Or should I say good morning?”

Portia smiled and glanced toward the front window where the brightening dawn was displayed.

Emma shifted her gaze between Portia and Lily. Her sigh was quiet but weighted. “I am so proud of how both of you handled the events of last night. I will never forgive myself for not being here.”

Lily quickly tried to assure her. “You could not have known Hale would preempt his deadline.”

Which reminded Portia of Emma’s plan to win the money to repay the loan. “Speaking of…how did you fare last night?”

“I won more than enough to pay Hale,” Emma replied with another sigh. “If he had just waited until tonight as he had indicated he would…”

“Please, Emma,” Lily said, ever sensitive to the distress of others. “There is no changing what happened. I am home safe. Can we not put this all behind us and move forward?”

Portia planted her hands on her hips. “I agree. Once Hale is in custody, facing the full consequences of his crimes, we need never think of it again.”

“No.” Lily’s denial came swiftly. “We shall not report Hale to the magistrate.”

“You must be joking,” Portia argued. “He deserves to be hanged for this. Kidnapping is a capital offense. He sold you to a brothel, Lily.”

Her sister’s eyes narrowed. “I know. I was there. What do you think will happen once the ton discovers this little tale? The minute we report this, everyone will know where I was tonight. There will be no coming back from that.”

Portia hated the logic of her argument. She would much rather see the man responsible for Lily’s trauma properly punished, but her sister was right. The lack of justice was infuriating.

“Please, Portia,” Lily continued, “I do not fear Hale. He has his money and no further cause to threaten us. But I do not think I could bear it if this ignoble adventure were to become common knowledge. I am home. I am unharmed. Can we please let the rest of this go?”

“Of course, Lily.” Emma entered the fray to support Lily once again, which essentially closed the discussion, much to Portia’s frustration. “We can talk more about what we plan to do after we have had a chance to restore ourselves.”

Both women turned to leave, but not before Emma issued another reminder about Nightshade. “Do not forget to send that note.”

“Go on to bed,” Portia replied. “I will take care of it.”

And she would. Just not in the way Emma had instructed.

She waited until her sisters reached the second floor, then she rushed across the front hall. She knew exactly where Emma kept a handful of pound notes in case the cash was needed in a hurry. Portia had come across the stash a couple of weeks ago when she had begun to snoop around for more information about their financial situation.

Portia took just a few notes from the desk drawer in the study, along with some loose coins, before she went back into the hall. Luckily, her cloak was still draped on the hook by the door where she had left it. Securing it quickly about her shoulders, she stuffed the money into the pocket, then slid silently from the house and strode down to the street.

Though it was morning, it was still quite early. Portia’s impatience led her down the street for a while as she scanned for a hired hack. Not many people were about at that time as the gray sky of dusk gave way to a golden sunrise. Though Portia continually scanned her surroundings, taking note of those she passed, her mind was occupied with what she intended to say to Nightshade.

She had agreed not to allow Lily’s so-called rescuer to be identified, and she would not go back on that promise, but there was more than one way to ease her suspicions.

After walking a few blocks at a swift pace, she managed to hail a passing hack. The driver looked as if he wished to refuse when she gave the address she had memorized earlier in the night—just in case—but the man accepted her fare nonetheless. Within minutes she was on her way back to the East End and Mr. Turner.