The Duke's Forgotten Wife

Chapter Sixteen

The Royal Hotel, London

"I never expected it would take over a day for them get your money together, my dear," Reardon told her. "I should never have let the boy go before I had the money."

Amanda watched Reardon pace the sitting room of their suite at the hotel in an agitated state. He didn't want to spend the night on the ship in case Jamie informed anyone where they docked. They returned just long enough to pack a few items of clothing then to the hotel changing hacks several times to throw anyone off their trail. They registered under Mr. and Mrs. Lofton from America on a visit to England. A visit Reardon causally mentioned for Amanda to see her relatives to the man at the front desk.

Amanda hoped that either Devlyn's butler or her aunt, upon hearing Jamie's tale, would contact someone to help her. She was relieved that Jamie was now safe and would stay safe. She hoped, too, that Readon had not sent anyone to retrieve Jamie from Devlyn's house.

"I'm sure it will take sometime to count out that much gold and cash, Bradley," Amanda replied. "It took almost four hours in France for a smaller amount and we did not arrive here at the bank until the afternoon."

"Just remember if anything happens I'll find the boy again and kill him or hire someone to kill him for me," he reminded her.

"Yes, I know," Amanda replied worried about Readon's state of mind. "I've done everything you've asked of me, Bradley. The money is not that important to me but my son's life is. I don't want Jamie hurt in any way."

They both heard a knock on the door. Bradley had her answer it keeping his hand on the gun in his pocket he stood behind her. She opened the door to see the food they had ordered on a cart and a young man rolled it into the sitting room. "Is there anything else you need?" the young man asked once he had the food set on the table in the room.

"No thank you," Amanda replied. "That should be all for now."

"Set the dishes back on the cart and roll it out into the hall where someone will come by later and fetch it," the boy told her. Reardon tipped him on his way out.

"Go sit down and eat," Reardon told her and Amanda followed his order even though she didn't feel much like eating anything.

She worried as to what her fate would be once Reardon had the money he wanted from her. She worried he would take her with him and she'd never see Jamie or Devlin again. She put a bit of food in her mouth and it tasted as if she were eating sawdust. She took a sip of her wine to help wash it down and wished it was morning and they were getting ready to leave for the bank.

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"What did you learn?" Tony asked Devlyn upon his return to the house later that night after Sir Alex left him at Sir Humphrey's house to start putting their plan together to safely rescue Amanda. Myles and Avery were also there after receiving Tony's message about Jamie now here safe and sound at Devlyn's house. Jamie and Geraldine were still up waiting to hear as well.

"Amanda and Bradley Reardon arrived at the bank just after lunch time but were informed that that large amount of gold and cash couldn't be put together right away, it would take until tomorrow around noon before it would be ready for them. Sir Humphrey said he thought it odd she wanted to close her account. He told us Amanda seemed normal and nothing was out of the ordinary that he was able to tell, but then again he said he'd not seen her for many years.

"She told him Reardon was buying Herrington Shipping and she was returning to America to live. Informed Sir Humphrey she wouldn't be returning to England. When Sir Humphrey wondered about the dangers transporting that amount of gold she told him not to worry, it would be in a safe aboard her ship. She said they would return tomorrow at noon for the money. Sir Alex will have several men stationed in the bank and I will be hidden in Sir Humphrey's office when they return. That is the reason he didn't return with me. He is busy rounding up his men and working out a plan with the information on the bank that Sir Humphrey gave him."