Read After the Abduction for Free Online

sympathy swelled despite her attempts to suppress it. What good were wealth and privilege when they cameat such a personal cost? To never know one’s mother or brother, watch one’s father ruin his own life—no wonder his lordship buried himself at his estate, away from prying eyes. Who wouldn’t?
    “In any case,” the object of her pity continued, “the war ended shortly after Father died, and Morgan decided to end the deception. He came here to meet me in the spring of 1815.” A ghost of a smile played over his lips. “Can you imagine my reaction upon first seeing my twin? It was amazing, an instant feeling of kinship.”
    He drank another swig, then another. “We had a month to get acquainted. One morning I told him I meant to reestablish him as a member of the family. He said he had an urgent matter to settle first that would take several months. But he promised to return for Christmas.” He swirled the brandy in his glass. “That was the last time I saw my brother.”
    Juliet swallowed. If this was an act, it was a very good one. And yet…
    “I take it that kidnapping Juliet for the smugglers and going aboard the Oceana were the matters he needed to settle?” Griff asked.
    Lord Templemore shifted his gaze to Griff. “I suppose so. Until now, I knew nothing about any smugglers or kidnapping. When he didn’t show up as promised, I searched for him, but could learn nothing. I only discovered where he’d been once the Oceana went down. The ship’s owners sent me a letter listing the passengers and crew who were lost.”
    Moving to the desk, he picked up a sheet of paper, and handed it to Griff.
    Griff scanned it quickly. “But this says, ‘in reference to your inquiries.’”
    Alarm flickered over Lord Templemore’s face, though he masked it so quickly, Juliet couldn’t be sure. “Yes. That’s how they found me. As a last resort, I’d sent inquiries to ship owners, hoping someone might have information regarding Morgan.”
    Griff glanced again at the letter. “The ship sank a few months after we saw him last. So it’s been nearly two years since he disappeared.”
    Lord Templemore merely nodded. They all knew what that meant. Two years—nobody came sailing home after two years lost at sea. Not alive, anyway. Tears burned behind Juliet’s eyes. It couldn’t be true. She refused to let it be true. Morgan was here, in front of her…and manipulating her sympathies once again. How typical.
    Rosalind’s voice broke the somber silence. “So you have no idea why he consorted with those smugglers? Or why he agreed to kidnap Juliet for them simply to gain the name of the Oceana and the date of July 17?”
    “No idea at all. I wish I did.”
    “Yes, so do I.” His uncle sounded almost sarcastic, and Juliet wondered why.
    “In any case,” Lord Templemore remarked hastily, “you now see why he can’t be in London spreading rumors about your sister-in-law. If he’d survived that wreck, he’d have come home. It’s far more likely that your family servants talked of the matter.”
    “Possibly,” Griff agreed noncommittally.
    Juliet’s gaze swung to him. He knew perfectly well the servants knew nothing.
    Griff stepped forward to hand Lord Templemore the letter. “I do appreciate your being so frank, your lordship. This is a rather delicate matter…for both of us.”
    His lordship smiled as he took it. “You keep my secrets and I’ll keep yours?”
    “Something like that.” Griff extended his hand. “We won’t take any more of your time. I can see you’ve done your best to find your brother. I’ll try a few inquiries myself, but it doesn’t sound promising. We’d appreciate your keeping us apprised of further developments.”

    “Of course,” Lord Templemore said, shaking Griff’s hand. “If there’s anything I can do to squelch these…er…rumors…”
    “Your stepping in would only make them worse.”
    “Probably.” He cleared his throat. “Well, unless there’s something