Though the day was sunny, and very warm, Judith was shivering. She managed to articulate one word. “Worth?”
“Yes,” he answered. “It was he who kidnapped Perry; how I know not.”
“Oh no!” she whispered. “Oh no, oh no!”
He said in a constrained voice: “Does it mean so much to you that it should be he?”
She managed to control herself enough to say: “What proof have you? Why should he do so? This is not credible!”
“Do you think Perry’s fortune is not enough to tempt him?”
“He is not heir—” She broke off, and pressed her hands together in her lap. “Oh, it would be too vile! I will not believe it!”
“You are the heir,” he said. “But do not flatter yourself you were ever destined to be Worth’s bride, cousin. Had I not discovered by the veriest chance the plot that was being hatched you would have been forced, by some devilish trick or other, into marrying Charles Audley.”
“Impossible!” she said. “No, that I cannot believe! Captain Audley has no thought of marrying me.”
“Yet Captain Audley was to take you to London tomorrow, and Captain Audley carries a special licence in his pocket.”