if I wanted to, I couldn’t do anything for you. You aren’t meant for the haul ton. You use people, and you have contempt for everyone—do you think they can’t see it in your face? Don’t you realize that they’ll find out exactly what you are?”
She started in repulsed shock as Giuseppe came to her, putting his wiry arms around her, the flowery musk of his cologne
wafting in her face. He touched her chin with his hot, damp hand, and moved it to her throat. “Always you ask me, when do
I bring back your baby, when do I make an end to this,” he said silkily. “Now I tell you, it will end. But after you ‘elp to make
me part of this world.”
“No,” she said, giving a disgusted sob as she felt his hand slide to her heaving breast.
“Remember what we ‘ave together?” he whispered, confident in his powers of seduction, his body becoming aroused against
hers. “Remember the way I teach you love? The way we move together in the bed, the pleasure I bring to you as we make
our beautiful baby—”
“Please,” she said in a strangled voice, straining away from him. “Let me go. My husband will come soon to find me. He has
a jealous temper and he won’t …”
Suddenly a terrible, agonizing coldness came over her. She stopped speaking and began to tremble. With slowly dawning
horror she turned her head to find Alex in the doorway. He was staring at her in disbelief, his face stark white.
Giuseppe followed Lily’s unblinking gaze and made a slight exclamation of surprise. “Lord Raiford,” he said smoothly, dropping
his hands from Lily. “I t’ink you ‘ave per’aps a little misunderstanding. I leave now, and allow your wife to make the explaining, si?” He winked surreptitiously and left with a smug smile, certain Lily would smooth everything over with a few glib, wifely
lies. After all, she had a great deal to lose.
Alex’s gaze did not move from his wife. They were both silent, forming a frozen tableau in the midst of the elegant room.
The laughter and music of the assembly floated up to them, but it might as well have been a universe away. Lily knew she
should speak, move, do something that would take the dreadful expression from his face, but all she could seem to do was
stand there and shiver.
Finally he spoke. His voice was low and so raw that it was unrecognizable. “Why were you letting him hold you like that?”
In a whirl of panic Lily tried to think of a lie, something that would convince him he was mistaken, some clever story. Once she might have been able to. But she had changed. All she could do was stand there stupidly. She knew exactly how a fox felt when
it had been run to ground-stiff and cowering, waiting helplessly for the end to come.
When she didn’t answer, Alex spoke again, his face contorted. “You’re having an affair with him.”
A trapped, terrified look came over Lily’s features, and she stared at him mutely. Her silence was answer enough. With a
hoarse sound of pain, Alex turned away from her. A moment later, she heard his ragged whisper. “You little whore.”
Lily’s eyes brimmed with tears as she watched him stride to the door. She had lost him. Lady Lyon had been right … only death or betrayal could destroy him. Her secrets didn’t matter now. Somehow she managed to croak his name pleadingly. “Alex.”
He stopped with his hand on the closed door, keeping his back to her. His shoulders lifted and fell rapidly, as if he were trying to master emotions too violent to contain.
“Please stay,” she said brokenly. “Please, let me tell you the truth.” Unable to bear the sight of his still form, she half-turned, wrapping her arms around herself. She took a tormented breath. “His name is Giuseppe Gavazzi. I met him in Italy. We were lovers. Not recently … five years ago. He was the one I told you about.” She bit her lip until it ached sharply. “It must disgust you, having seen that contemptible man and knowing that he and I …” She broke off with a harsh sob. “It disgusts me. The experience was so dreadful that he wanted nothing more to do with me, nor I with him. I thought I was rid of him forever. But… that wasn’t quite true. My life changed forever after that night, because I found out … I found out …” She shook her head impatiently at her own stammering cowardice, and she forced herself to continue. “I was pregnant.” There was no sound from Alex. She was too afraid and ashamed to look at him. “I had a child. A daughter.”
“Nicole.” His voice sounded thick and odd.
“How did you know that?” she asked in dull amazement.
“You spoke it in your sleep.”
“Of course.” She smiled with self-derision, tears running down her face. “I seem to be quite active in my sleep.”
“Go on.”
Lily wiped at her cheeks with her sleeve, and steadied her voice. “For two years I lived with Nicole and Aunt Sally in Italy.
I kept my baby a secret from everyone but Giuseppe. I thought he had a right to know, that he might take an interest in her. He didn’t care, of course. He didn’t come to see us. Sally died during that time, and all I had left was Nicole. Then one day I came back from the market, and …” Her voice faltered. “She was gone. Giuseppe had taken her. I knew he had her, because later he brought me the dress she was wearing that day. He kept my baby in hiding and refused to give her back. He asked for money.
It was never enough … he wouldn’t let me see her, and he kept demanding more. The authorities couldn’t find her. Giuseppe
was involved in other illegal activities, and he was forced to leave Italy to avoid prosecution. He told me he was bringing my daughter to London, and I followed him here. I hired a Learie officer to search for Nicole. All he managed to discover was
that Giuseppe had become part of an organization, an underworld that has taken root in many countries.”
“Derek Craven knows about it,” Alex said tonelessly.
“Yes. He’s tried to help me, but it’s impossible. Giuseppe holds all the cards.” She tried to get control over herself. “I’ve tried everything, I’ve done what he asked, but it goes on and on. Every night I wonder if Nicole is sick, if she’s crying, if she needs
me and I’m not there. If she’s forgotten me.” Her throat clenched in agony, and all she could force out was a whisper. “He showed Nicole to me just the other day … I’m certain it was her … but he wouldn’t let me touch her, or speak to her … I don’t think she recognized me.” The words dried in her throat. Lily felt as if she would shatter at the slightest touch. She needed to be alone … she had never been so defenseless in her life. But as she managed to break her paralysis and step away, she felt his hands close over her upper arms. Suddenly she began to shudder with the force of incoherent sobs torn from deep within her. Swiftly he turned her, and held her against his broad chest as she crumpled against him, crying with wretched, uncontrollable gasps, with the force of emotions that had been pent up for years.
Hot fears flooded from her eyes onto his shirt. Clutching at him, Lily crawled into his arms, the only safe haven in the world.
She writhed frantically to get closer, but slowly she comprehended that there was no need to struggle, he was not going to let
go of her. One of his hands cupped the back of her head, securing it against his shoulder. “It’s all right, darling,” he whispered, stroking her dark curls. “It’s all right. You’re not alone anymore.”
She tried to stifle the agonized sounds that seemed to be ripped from her throat, but the convulsive sobs wouldn’t stop. “Easy,”
he murmured in her hair, stroking her trembling body as she gave in to her shattering grief. “I understand now,” he continued hoarsely, his own eyes stinging. “I understand everything.” He would have willingly given his life to spare her such suffering.
He kissed her hair, her wet face, the small hands that clung to his shoulders. Wishing fiercely that he could draw her pain into
his own body, he held her hard against his sheltering strength. Finally she wilted against him, her tears abating. “We’ll find out
what happened to her,” he said roughly. “We’ll get her back, no matter what it takes. I swear it.”
“You should hate me,” she said brokenly. “You should leave me—”
“Hush.” His grip tightened, just short of bruising her. “Do you think so little of me? Damn you.” He crushed his lips in her hair. “You don’t understand anything about me. Did you think I wouldn’t want to help you? That I would abandon you if I knew?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Damn you,” he repeated, his voice choked with anger and love. He forced her face upward. The hopelessness in her eyes caused a cold pressure to squeeze around his heart.
Alex summoned a servant to show him a way they could discreetly leave the house without being witnessed by the guests.
He bid the same servant to give a message to Lady Lyon that Lily was ill with a headache and had left the ball precipitately. Leaving Lily alone to rest for a moment, Alex took a quick, determined tour through the Lyon mansion, but wisely Giuseppe
had taken his leave.
Lily was so drained that she was forced to lean on Alex as they left. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to their enclosed chariot, declining to give explanations to the surprised footmen. Once inside, he reached for her, but she warded him
off gently, telling him in a queer voice that she was fine. They headed home at a rapid pace, while Alex struggled with overwhelming thoughts and emotions.
It devastated him to know what Lily had gone through. She had chosen to endure it alone, she had chosen to withdraw and
build up defenses on that foundation of secrets, she had willingly chosen every moment of solitude … but knowing all that
didn’t stop the grief he felt on her behalf. He couldn’t give her back the years. He couldn’t even be certain of giving her back Nicole, though he would move heaven and earth in the effort. Burning rage spread through him, as if it were seeping out from
the marrow of his bones. He was angry at her, at Derek, at the damned useless detectives, at the Italian bastard who had
caused such misery, and he was angry at himself.
Another part of him was terrified. Lily had sustained her hope for so long … if the source of it was taken away, if Nicole could
not be returned to her, she would never be the same. The vibrant laughter and passion that he loved might vanish for good. He
had seen people lose what they loved most, and the way it had changed them. His own father had become an empty shell of a man, longing for death because life had lost all power to entice him. Alex wanted to beg Lily to be strong, but he could see that
she had no more strength left. Her face was pinched and tired and her eyes were dull.
They arrived in Swans’ Court and Alex escorted Lily to the front door. Burton greeted them with instant concern, staring at
Lily questioningly. He looked at Alex. “You’ve returned early, my lord,” he remarked.
Alex didn’t have time to explain anything. He urged his wife forward. “Have her drink a glass of brandy,” he told Burton curtly. “Force it down her throat if necessary. Don’t let her go anywhere. Tell Mrs. Hodges to prepare her a bath. And have someone with her at every moment until I return. Every moment, do you understand?”
“You needn’t worry, my lord.”
Alex exchanged a glance with him and relaxed slightly, reassured by the butler’s calmness. It moved Alex, the realization that Burton, in his own quiet way, had done his best to take care of Lily during the nightmare of the past two years.
“Good God, there’s no need to carry on,” Lily said in a ghost of her usual pert voice, pushing past them into the house.
“Make the brandy a double, Burton.” She paused to look back at her husband. “Where the devil are you going?”
The flicker of spirit she showed made Alex feel slightly better. “I’ll tell you when I return. I’ll be home soon.”
“There’s nothing you can do,” Lily said wearily. “Nothing that Derek hasn’t already tried.”
In spite of all his sympathy and devotion, Alex found himself giving her a cool, caustic stare. “Apparently it hasn’t occurred
to you,” he said pleasantly, “that I have influence in places where Craven doesn’t. Go have your brandy, darling.”
Annoyed by his condescension, Lily opened her mouth to reply, but he had already turned and gone down the steps. He
paused at the last step and spoke to her once more. “Tell me the name of the man you hired.”
“Knox. Alton Knox.” She smiled bitterly. “A top-notch Learie officer. The best that money could buy.”
*
Sir Joshua Nathan had come to prominence as a chief magistrate of the city a few years before, when Alex had used his
influence to sponsor and pass a bill creating several new public offices. The political battle had been vicious and bloody, facing opposition from a number of corrupt “trading justices” who were in the habit of altering sentences for gifts of money, women,
and even liquor. It had taken Alex months of debating, making speeches, and asking for personal favors in order to push the
bill through. Alex had done it not only because of his own belief that the bill was worthy, but because Nathan, a man of integrity and courage, had been a close friend from his school days.
Nathan’s name was always paired with that of Donald Learman, the fiery young magistrate who served at the Westminster
office. The two of them shared the same unorthodox beliefs in the method of policing, considering it a “science” that needed
to be reformed and improved. Together they had worked to train their officers as meticulously as military squadrons. At first
they had been ridiculed by a society accustomed to only the meager protection of aging watchmen. Despite their lack of popularity, the results of their efforts had quickly become apparent, and other precincts were beginning to follow their lead.
The members of Nathan and Learman’s crack foot patrols, known as “Learies,” were often privately hired by banks and
wealthy citizens.
A lean, well-groomed man with an unassuming presence, Nathan greeted him with a calm, friendly smile. “Hello, Alex. A welcome face from the past.”
Alex reached out to clasp his hand. “I’m sorry to visit at such a late hour.”
“I’m quite accustomed to late hours. The nature of my work. As my wife observes, her only hope of seeing me is in the middle
of the day.” Nathan led Alex to his library, and they sat in dark leather chairs. “Now,” he said quietly, “enough pleasantries.
The sooner you tell me the problem, the sooner we may set things to rights.”
Alex described the situation as succinctly as possible. Nathan listened thoughtfully, occasionally interrupting with a question.
The name of Gavazzi was not recognizable to him, but the mention of Alton Knox seemed to be extremely significant. When
Alex concluded his monologue, the magistrate leaned back in his chair, forming a triangle with his thumbs and forefingers as he thought. “Child-stealing is a thriving business in London,” Nathan said cynically. “Attractive little boys and girls are a profitable commodity, efficiently harvested from shops and parks and ometimes right from the nursery. Often they’re sold to buyers in foreign markets. It’s a convenient business—easily dismantled at the first sign of trouble and just as easily resurrected when
the scene is clear.”
“You think Gavazzi may be involved in such a scheme?”
“Yes, I’m certain he’s part of a rookery gang. From your description, he doesn’t seem the kind who could manage
this on his own.”
The following silence seemed to spin out endlessly, until Alex couldn’t stand it anymore. “Dammit, what is it?”
Nathan smiled sardonically at his friend’s impatience, and then his thin face turned somber. “I’m considering some disquieting possibilities,” he finally said. “The man your wife hired, Mr. Knox, is the pride of Learman’s Westminster office. Lady Raiford
was not at fault for believing him to be trustworthy.”
“Is he?” Alex asked tersely.
“I’m not certain.” Nathan gave a long sigh. “In the course of their duties, Alex, my officers become quite familiar with the underworld and its workings. Sometimes they are tempted to use this knowledge in evil ways … trading innocent lives in
return for money, and therefore betraying every principle they are pledged to uphold. I’m afraid your wife and her daughter
may have been victims of this devil’s bargain.” He frowned in disgust. “Knox has earned a large amount of ‘blood money’
this year, in the form of rewards for recovering stolen children. His unusual success leads me to suspect he could be in collusion with the criminals who are responsible for the abductions. Feeding them information, warning them when to change locations, helping them to avoid arrest. Knox may actually be partners with this Gavazzi.”
Alex’s jaw hardened. “What the hell are you going to do about it?”
“With your permission, I would like to set a trap, using Lady Raiford as our front.”
“As long as she won’t be exposed to danger.”
“No danger of any kind,” Nathan assured him.
“What about her daughter?” Alex asked tersely. “Will this help to find her?”
Nathan hesitated. “If we’re fortunate, it will lead to that.”
Alex rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes. “Dammit,” he muttered. “That’s not much to take home to my wife.’
“It’s all I can offer,” came the quiet reply.
Chapter 13
“Mr. Knox was helping Giuseppe?” Lily demanded in outrage. “While he was working for me?”
Alex nodded, taking her hands in his. “Nathan suspects Giuseppe may be part of a rookery gang, and that Knox is in collusion
with him. Recently Knox has been making a large amount of ‘blood money’ in addition to his regular salary.”
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