First was limiting those who entered his place to only men he knew. Almost all of the clientele at Six Belles were regulars, so of all the changes, it was the least difficult and cost him very little in the way of sales. Stopping in the middle of the afternoon to go fetch Bessie and Ellie was an imposition, but as the women were already together, it was not too big a burden.
At night, instead of accompanying each woman home individually, he and Devlin decided to double their strength. Clive was at their side while Devlin lurked behind to see who, if anyone, was following them.
The first night had been uneventful. A couple of runners skulked in the shadows, but they left them alone. Ellie had worn her cloak with the hood, and looked down as much as possible to hide her face. She was being unusually quiet, and Clive had caught her fingering something in her pocket. When he asked what it was, Ellie had pulled out an object just far enough for him to see that it was a gun.
“Why are ye carrying something dangerous like that?” he had half whispered, half barked in shock.
Ellie stopped, looked up at him, and said simply, “Because someone is following me.”
Clive waved his hand at the nearly deserted streets and buildings surrounding them. “If they are, lass, they cannot harm ye. Not with Devlin and I close at hand.”
Ellie had given him a look of appreciation, but she had not been totally convinced. He should have taken that as a warning, but instead he had dismissed her concerns. “’Tis a small little weapon ye have there. Do ye even know how tae shoot?”
Ellie resumed walking and said in a low, deadpan voice, “With deadly accuracy.”
It was not a boast, and consequently Clive had not doubted her. It only added to his curiosity about her. He should have been more concerned with why Ellie was so nervous with two men to guard her and a gun that she felt comfortable using.
But the second night, Clive learned that Devlin’s and Ellie’s fears were not as unfounded as he had initially believed. The runners were there as before, but there was also someone far more stealthy, sliding in and out of the shadows. Every time Devlin neared, the lurker would slip out of sight. The only two things Devlin could discern were that the man was of average height and extremely nimble despite a slight limp.
Last night, he had followed them again, but this time the runners had as well, and maneuvered the shadowy figure into a trap. But when Devlin had gone to see who the culprit was, he discovered that it was not the shadow who had been caught; it was the shadow who had caught one of the runners. And the runner had been beaten severely by a master in the arts of combat, for no normal man or soldier could cause such damage in such a short amount of time.
It was when Devlin had relayed this latest news that Clive knew that he could not continue doing nothing. Walking the women home, waiting for an attack that he could not prepare for, was not an option. Neither was remaining vulnerable.
But most of all, Clive was done with being ignorant. It was time everyone in their small group started talking.
“I’ve just done something I’ve never done before,” Clive began, “so make it worthwhile.”
A crash of thunder exploded outside just as Clive finished. Millie swallowed. The moment Devlin arrived, Clive had made everyone stop drinking and leave Six Belles. It had cost him in doing so, because he did not make one of them pay for their drinks, even though some had finished at least one mug of ale and were working on their second or even third round.
“Every one of us is keeping secrets, and while I normally hold firm tae keeping information tae oneself, a man nearly died last night and it could have been any one of us.”
Devlin waved his hand toward his chair at the hearth. Clive nodded and the four of them went and sat down in a semicircle. “Where do you want to begin?” Devlin asked.
Clive had thought his friend would volunteer to be first, as the man was the most eager to protect Ellie, but then realized that was the very reason Devlin would not go first.
“It’s me tavern, so I’ll speak me peace first,” Clive offered, just before lightning lit up the sky. He waited until the thunder subsided before continuing. “I’ve been keeping what I know tae meself for yer benefit,” he directed at Millie. “I had hoped that whatever problems ye had when ye came here would go away with some time. That was when I thought ye just needed tae learn tae believe in yerself and realize that whoever forced ye in tae this kind of life was not someone ye should ever go back tae.”
Millie was about to come to Chase’s defense when Clive raised his hand. “I’ve come tae believe now that my supposition was wrong. I think ye chose tae come here. And in doing so, ye brought danger with ye.”
Millie shook her head no. “I did not. I swear I did not.”
Devlin shrugged his shoulders and pulled his ankle onto his knee. “Not intentionally, but obviously you are not the only one interested in this green and white pinnace.”
Millie’s mouth gaped open for several seconds. Then her brilliant eyes turned dark. “Do you know who owns it? Have you known all along?”
Clive coughed. “Not all along. I only found out after Bessie started helping ye. Whatever trouble ye were in, I wasn’t going tae let it touch her just because she felt an obligation tae ye.”
Bessie said nothing. But with her crossed arms and piercing blue eyes, she did not need to. Clive ignored her and continued. “It belongs tae a ship called the Sea Emerald.”
Millie gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. Tears sprang from her eyes. “She’s safe!” she whispered. “Thank the Lord, she will come home unharmed.” Then, though she tried not to, Millie broke down in tears, crying into her hands with obvious joy and relief.
Devlin and Clive just stared at her in astonishment. Bessie, with the benefit of having overheard Ellie’s and Evette’s conversation, was just as surprised by her friend’s abrupt reaction, but not as confused as to the reason why. “Your best friend was on that pinnace, wasn’t she? That’s why you’re here. To learn what ship she got on.”
Millie nodded, wiping her eyes. “Since we were kids, Aimee, Jennelle, and I were never content to stay home and be proper. We were out looking for a thief when she was abducted by some men in a green and white pinnace.”
Devlin’s mind was spinning. “Who’s Jennelle?”
Millie nodded. “She was with us. People call us the Daring Three. I always thought it a compliment and sought out ways to look for adventure.”
Devlin rolled his eyes, chiding himself for not realizing it sooner. A noblewoman who enjoyed adventures. How else could she have made it this long working at Six Belles? “And the nobleman who was looking for you?”
Millie licked her lips and brushed away tears, despite the fact that new ones kept falling. “He’s Aimee’s brother,” she said, trying to be honest while protecting her husband’s name. “He blames me and he should. Aimee would never have gone if I had not agreed to go with her.”
“So it was her idea?” Devlin prodded.
“Yes, but . . .”
Clive threw his hand up. It was nice to know why Ellie was there and that it truly was not for nefarious reasons, but nothing she had divulged explained just why a dangerous man was following her. “You mentioned a thief,” he prompted.
“Yes. Nothing very serious. The man was taking insignificant items. Aimee’s brother actually thought it might be his friend playing a practical joke. We discovered it wasn’t when we snuck aboard and saw the thief sneaking off the ship.”
“Do ye think that man saw ye? Recognized ye?” Clive impatiently probed.
Millie shook her head. “I don’t see how. We were hidden the whole time. And even if he did, he could see us no better than we could him. And I could only tell you his height and that he had a slight limp.”
Clive immediately turned to look at Devlin, who stared back. Thunder again cracked overhead, filling the silence. Then Clive shifted his gaze to Millie. “I don’t know how, but I’ll bet a week’s earnings that whoever ye saw that night kn
ows ye work here.”
Millie’s heart stopped. Fear had been her companion for days now, despite her constantly telling herself that she was being ridiculous. “What do you mean?”
“When I was walking ye and Bessie home, Devlin followed us.” Both women’s eyes grew wide and settled on Devlin in surprise.
Devlin returned Millie’s pointed gaze. “Clive and I expected your friend’s brother to send some Bow Street runners to determine just who you are. We were right. But there was another person among them, and last night he nearly killed one of the runners for interfering. I have no doubt that this thief of yours is going to try again.”
Millie rose to her feet. “Then I have to go. If I remain here, everyone is in danger.”
“Why is he after you? Just what did you see?”
“Nothing. I . . . I . . . took something he dropped. He must think I still have it, but I do not. I swear.” Millie moved over to Clive and looked him in the eye. “Are you sure the pinnace belonged to the Sea Emerald?”
Clive nodded his head. “It left for America on a scheduled trip and is expected back next week or the week after.”
Unconsciously, she reached out and gripped his hand. “Thank you.”
Bessie heard the finality in Millie’s voice and leaned forward to catch her arm. “You cannot be thinkin’ of leavin’.”
“I must.”
“Whoever this man is, he’s after you. Just where do you plan on goin’?”
Millie stood there and stared for several long seconds at Bessie and then Clive and Devlin. She had money and that meant she had options. But she knew that she was never going to be able to leave there tonight unless they agreed she was in a position to protect herself on her own. “It is time I told you who I really am.”
“A real marchioness?” Bessie hissed. She had come to doubt her theory of Ellie being a cast-out mistress, but it still seemed more plausible than the explanation she had just heard. “And I suppose your father’s a powerful duke,” she added under her breath.
“Actually he’s an earl,” Millie quipped defensively. Then immediately wished she had not and knelt down beside Bessie’s chair. “You’ve always been correct in believing that I came from a life far different from the one here. I wish every governess I ever had could have seen you teach me some of the lessons I learned under your . . . style of tutoring.”
Bessie produced a small smile, but Millie knew the news of who she was would take more time to digest. Even in her world of titled people and gentry, being married to a marquess was no small thing. Millie glanced at Clive, who remained unmoved. She knew his mind was whirling with all the repercussions of hiring a marchioness, and no doubt feared that Chase would return and retaliate by ruining Clive’s business and livelihood.
“I promise you the only person my husband will hold accountable for my being and working here is me. And while he will threaten to be angry with me for the rest of his life, as soon as he realizes that I am safe and was only here trying to correct the wrongs I did, he will calm.”
Clive snorted, then stood up and went to pour himself a drink. “I should have known,” he finally said. “As soon as he walked in and he held out yer portrait, I should have known what could make a man like that afraid. I should have told him who ye were.”
Millie felt her heart clench with guilt. “If you had, then I would not be able to tell him that his sister is safe and begin to mend what I did. You must understand, the three of us—myself, his sister, and Jennelle—have never been content to follow Society’s rigid rules.” She looked directly at Bessie. “Imagine never having any say in what you do or with whom. That embroidery and gossip are the highlights of your day. Work is deciding the evening menu and what outfits to wear. You have good food and nice jewelry, but in return you must dance until your feet are swollen and sometimes even bleeding when men stomp on them. You have to pretend to enjoy singing and playing for others even if the sound of your voice makes them want to leave the room screaming.”
Bessie looked up at Millie, and while not an unkind look, there was little sympathy in her eyes for her titled plight.
Millie stood up then, letting her anger show. “I’ve lived your life, Bessie. You have not lived mine. You dream of the benefits wealth brings, but you do so from a man’s perspective, not a woman’s. For my and my friends’ independent natures, the constraints are too often stifling.”
“And so you get into men’s clothes and search for thieves in the middle of the night. Makes sense,” Devlin huffed, and took the glass of whiskey Clive brought him. He downed it in one swallow.
Millie took a deep breath and exhaled in frustration. “It was not a whim. There were other reasons. Good reasons. But in my husband’s mind, every excursion the three of us undertake ends up in disaster. If you had heard Charlie that night, ordering me to go and stay in the country while he resolved another one of my mistakes, you would better understand why I had to fix this one on my own.”
Devlin felt a shiver run up his spine hearing Millie refer to her husband so informally. It just dug the knife in a little deeper. He had wanted his first name on her lips, to hear the love in her voice when she referred to him. Now Devlin knew he never would. “You both are fools,” he said, standing. “Your husband for thinking that putting you in a cage would work, and you for not understanding why he sent you away in the first place.”
Devlin walked over to the hook holding his overcoat and slipped it off. Putting it on, he said to Clive, “I need to get out of here, but I will send you a hack for Lady Chaselton.”
Clive grimaced in understanding. He had known Devlin liked Ellie. The news she was married had to be somewhat of a shock. “I’ll make sure her ladyship gets home safely tae her husband before I go home tonight.”
Opening the door, a cold blast of wind blew in just as another lightning bolt lit up the sky. Any minute the rain would begin to pour. Devlin looked one last time at Millie.
She stared at him, confused and angry over what he had said. Damn if she did not look even more beautiful. It was no wonder the marquess fell in love with her. Her spirit was infectious and no doubt a constant nuisance, but it could warm the hardest of souls. Devlin had let it thaw his, and it hurt to know that this would be the last time he ever saw her. What had he expected? Had he really thought he was going to somehow whisk her away to his home? That by gaining her love and support he could solve all his problems? She would have only caused more.
Just like him, Ellie—Lady Chaselton, he corrected himself—had only temporarily escaped from her real life and responsibilities. Just as she needed to go and reclaim her identity, it was time for him to do the same. He had gathered more than enough funds to recover what his father had lost. All he needed to do was go home and face what he had to do.
Millie wanted to scream out of frustration. She was standing in a tavern, her hair in a simple bun that she herself styled, wearing a dirty garment with tips hidden inside, looking nothing like a woman who had any wealth, let alone a titled husband. And yet, the moment she had revealed who she was, all three of them had begun to treat and talk to her as if she were some fragile piece of china. They no longer saw her, but her title.
Devlin MacLeery had not asked if she wanted to go home. He and Clive just decided to send her there. Could they not understand that Chase would be furious for bringing yet another problem for him to resolve?
“I will leave, but I won’t go home,” Millie announced unequivocally. “I will not give my husband another reason to believe I have brought nothing but trouble into his life when he married me.”
“I have no doubt that ye are as much trouble as ye say ye are,” Clive said softly. Millie’s head whipped around to glare at him, but he just shrugged it off. “But there’s something ye should know about yer man. The night he came in here looking for ye, he was in pain not knowing where ye were. And a man who can feel that amount of loss over a woman is never going tae change his need tae protect her. That’s just a fact.”
He pointed at Bessie and continued. “Bloody hell, if it were Bess, I would be doing the same thing. And, aye, she’s trouble. Lots of it. Damn woman is either insulting the men who come in here or making them crazy with lust. But that wouldn’t have anything tae do with why I would be hiring every runner I could tae bring her back tae where she belonged.”
It was Bessie’s turn to jump to her feet. “Who says I belong anywhere?”
“I do. Ye belong here and ye belong with me. Something ye and I have known for a while now.” After realizing all that he just said and what it implied, nerves claimed Clive. Both women were staring at him in shock. Suddenly he felt the need to disappear. Ducking down, he grabbed an empty crate and announced, “I’m going in the back tae get some more whiskey.”
Bessie’s mouth was open in shock. It was Millie who found her voice first. “I told you that Clive was far more interested in you than you believed.”
But before Bessie could respond, another huge gust of wind blew the front doors open. With it came various pieces of material that had been flying around in the streets. It was a miracle nothing had hit and broken the main window.
Bessie headed toward the door. “I gotta get the shutters closed.”
Millie nodded and grabbed her cloak to help, but Bessie stopped her. “That wind will throw your ladyship all around. You best stay inside.”
Millie thought about arguing, but she did not want to distress Bessie any more than she already had. She handed Bessie her cloak and said, “Then wear this.”
“I’m not puttin’ that on.”
Millie ground her teeth in frustration. Bessie would have taken the thing from Ellie, but now that she was Lady Chaselton, the pride-filled woman was refusing. “Bessie, I remember someone giving me a thorough scolding for not accepting tips because I did not think I had earned them. That woman would have snatched this cloak when it was offered, regardless to whom it belonged. She would say only a fool would be cold when they did not need to be.”
A Woman Made For Sin Page 33