Chapter 16

Thomas Blukett paced his study long after his father had gone. He felt restless. His conscience had taken a heavy blow from the knowledge of the fact that he had fathered a bastard somewhere, and yet he had never sent out any money for the upkeep of the brat. The knowledge that that brat had grown into a beautiful young woman with his blood flowing in her veins, and now, his father sought to kill her – that knowledge was just too much. He was however, too weak minded to do anything as drastic as going over to Lord Gareth's house to warn him about the threat to his ward. If anything, it was possible that his father had had a rethink about harming his own granddaughter, base born though she may be.

If this were to be the case, it would be disastrous for him to warn Lord Gareth. The Lord of Parksfield would simply think him out of his mind – and word would get out! His wife would be appalled.

He thought of his wife who was at that moment playing with his neighbor's wife in the drawing room. In so many ways, she reminded him of his father. Both father and wife were of the opinion that he was nothing but a buffoon, to be tolerated at times, but most times to be ignored. He wondered what his wife might think if she found out he was involved in a scheme as big as this, a scheme which involved the much respected Lord Blukett, and even the Alpha of Farez. Perhaps then, his wife would start giving him the respect he deserved.

With his mind made up, and a new defiance in his eyes, Thomas Blukett began to look for his boots. He was going to save his long lost daughter, he was going to save her from his father.

His courage had already started waning in the time it took him to find his boots, and not wanting to encounter his wife or his children, he slipped out through the back door.