To Have and to Hold by Rebecca King Page A

They are not much better now than
when we found her.   Indeed there are
times when I consider they are worse.   If
we hadn’t found her when we did she would not be alive now, I am certain of
it.   She definitely would not have had
sufficient strength or protection against the winter.   She had two half pennies left in her
pocket.”  
    Peter
swore.   “What has the Doctor said?”   Peter murmured knowing full well Isobel would
have received the best of care money could buy.   And money to Dominic was most certainly not an issue.
    “She has putrid
lungs and must remain in bed, kept warm and must eat as much as possible.   He has given us some tisane for her to drink
which she is still taking.   It does help,
but it is slow progress.   She has been so
weak.”   Dominic settled back in his chair
with a sigh.
    “Have you stayed
with her?”   Peter felt the brotherly
responsibility press upon him urging his enquiry and felt no qualms at asking
such an impertinent question.
    Dominic fully
understood Peter’s desire to protect his sister and couldn’t blame the man for
it.   After all, they both had the same
goal in mind.   “I have spent most of the
nights since her arrival in the chair beside the bed.   Today she was in a temper and had taken
objection to being confined to her bed.”   Dominic replied cautiously not willing to give the man the finer
details.   He had, after all, seen more
than enough!
    Peter nodded
knowing from past experience just how wilful his sister could be.   “She must be getting better if her temper was
roused.”   He added knowingly being fully
conscious of his friend’s discomfiture.  
    “She is
definitely chafing to get up and about, but with the weather, she is better off
keeping warm and safe in bed.”   Dominic
murmured.   “What have you managed to find
out about Rupert?   Why did they take
her?”   Dominic queried as companionable
silence settled around them.
    “Rupert is in
dire financial straight.   He has numerous
billets around Town, some of whom are starting to lose patience at his lack of
repayment.   Rumours are he has turned
towards loan sharks to repay some of his debts.   There are people looking for him.”
    “Most probably
why he has vacated London, and nobody has heard from him.”   Dominic nodded sagely.
    “Undoubtedly;
more interestingly he has become close acquaintances with Bertram
DeLisle.”   Peter replied quietly.
    “I know.   Do you know if Bertram or Rupert has a house
near here?”   Dominic queried.  
    “What makes you
ask?”   Peter rose to replenish their
glasses before moving to stand before the hearth.  
    “It was
something Rupert said in the village the day I found Isobel.   He mentioned he had a small house nearby
here, but I wasn’t aware there had been any property in the locale up for sale,
let alone anyone new in the area.”   Dominic murmured.
    “He could have
moved in while we were away.”   Peter
replied.   “After all we were gone some
several months and with Isobel -” He let that strand of conversation drop
quickly unwilling to recount one of the most difficult moments of both of their
lives.    
    “He may well
have.   I just wonder if it was where he
brought Isobel when he took her from Willowbrook.”  
    Peter huffed
cynically.   “ That would appeal to Rupert’s perverse nature.   To know you are looking for her and have her
stashed so blatantly nearby.   He would
enjoy that.”  
    Dominic raised
his brows but couldn’t fault Peter’s argument.   It certainly sounded like something Rupert would do.   “As soon as the weather clears-“
    “Sir?” Dominic raised
a brow as an agitated Manvers appeared in the doorway.
    “What is it Manvers ?”   Dominic
murmured, raising a querying brow as he watched his usually unflappable Butler
faintly bristle with indignation as he entered the room to stand before the two
men.    “There is something strange in the
Scullery.”