After the Abduction Read Free Page A

staggered back.
    But he did nothing to defend himself. Coolly he withdrew a handkerchief to wipe away the blood trickling from his mouth. He ignored Griff, who brandished his fists and demanded, “Come on, you damned blackguard, fight me! Or do you only bully women?”
    “What happened to Griff’s handling the interview with ‘discretion and gentlemanly calm’?” Juliet muttered to her sister.
    “Hope springs eternal,” Rosalind muttered back.
    Morgan’s companion grabbed Griff’s arm. “Here now, sir, what is all this? Are you mad?”
    Wrenching free, Griff pivoted to glower at the older man. “I regret to inform you, your lordship, but your wardis a scoundrel and a villain. Mr. Pryce has injured my family, and I shall see—”
    “Your lordship?” the older man interrupted. “Oh no, you are confused. I am not Lord Templemore.”
    “Then who is?” Rosalind burst out.
    Morgan stepped forward, blood-soiled handkerchief still in hand. “ I am.” As the three of them gaped at him, he flashed Griff an unreadable look. “And judging from your accusations, sir, you’ve recently run afoul of my brother, Morgan.”
    “ You’re Morgan,” Juliet blurted out, never so sure of anything in all her life. Then the rest of his statement arrested her. “Brother? He’s not your…that is…”
    The gaze he leveled on her now was remote and aloof, showing no sign of recognition. “I beg your pardon, madam, but I’m not Morgan. I’m Sebastian Blakely, Lord Templemore. I do understand your confusion, however. You see, Morgan and I are not only brothers, but twins. Identical twins.”
    Griff gaped at him. “That cannot be. I was informed that he was the baron’s…I mean, your ward.”
    A pained smile crossed his lordship’s handsome features. “No doubt you were. It’s a complicated story.” He straightened to his full height. She’d forgotten how very tall he was. “But I prefer not to discuss it with complete strangers.”
    The precise language, the gentlemanly demeanor, the wry smile were all Morgan’s. Yet the man was clearly master of the house, judging from the irate servants now gathering on the lawn to form a protective phalanx beside him. It was unfathomable that her Morgan could be a lord. Lords didn’t kidnap women and consort with smugglers.
    Still…
    Griff hesitated, then bowed stiffly. “I see that I must beg your pardon and provide introductions. My name is Griffith Knighton. This is my wife, Lady Rosalind, and my sister-in-law, Lady Juliet.” He nodded toward Lord Templemore’s companion. “I assumed from this other gentleman’s age that he was master of Charnwood. So when my sister-in-law recognized you, we both thought—”
    “That I must be Morgan,” Lord Templemore finished.
    “Yes. You have my deepest apologies, sir. I shouldn’t have struck you.”
    “Good of you to admit it.” His gaze flicked to her, then back to Griff, as if looking at her unsettled him. “Is your sister-in-law the person my brother ‘injured’?”
    “Yes,” Juliet answered for Griff, wanting Lord Templemore to look at her again. She couldn’t believe his assertions. There was too much of Morgan in him, not only in his looks, but his controlled manner, his refined speech…his arrogance. If she could only read his eyes…
    But he continued to gaze steadily at Griff. “Knighton, is it? Of Knighton Trading in London?”
    “Yes, that’s my business concern,” Griff responded. “We traveled all this way hoping to speak with your war—…your brother.”
    The older gentleman in puce snorted. “Speak with? You have a peculiar way of starting conversations, young man.”
    Griff flushed a dark red, and Juliet felt not a jot of pity to see him tug nervously at his cravat. “I’m afraid that ours is also a…complicated tale, Mr.…er…”
    “Allow me to introduce you,” Lord Templemore put in civilly. “Mr. Knighton, this is my mother’s brother: Mr. Pryce.”
    The familiar name made them all