“Work hard and win a fortune,” has become a dry and mouldy maxim, distasteful to modern traders, and has yielded to one that is much smarter, viz., “There is more got by scheming than by hard work.”
~ The Seven Curses of London
Lettie watched Nathaniel’s face as he read the missive, but his expression revealed little. Receiving a message at a social event rarely resulted in good news.
“I must leave.” Nathaniel stuffed the paper into his jacket pocket.
“Is all well?”
His gaze held hers.
She drew a quick breath at the concern in his eyes. “What’s happened?”
“Mr. Langston needs assistance. Someone’s been injured.”
“I’m coming with you. If someone is hurt, I might be of help. As the eldest of four sisters, I’ve tended many injuries.” She was exaggerating, but she wanted a chance to help.
“No need.” Nathaniel stepped toward the door, but Lettie moved to remain at his side.
“I’ll tell my mother I’m not feeling well and a friend is giving me a ride home.” Lettie kept her voice low, not wanting to draw attention.
Nathaniel stopped. “Letitia, this is far too dangerous. I don’t know what the situation is. Langston didn’t provide details. I don’t know what trouble awaits us.”
“All the more reason I should come. You can deal with the trouble while I help whoever is hurt.”
As his mouth opened to protest further, she shook her head. “You’re wasting time. I’ll meet you outside.”
She quickly found her mother who was visiting with friends and made her excuses. Luckily, her mother hadn’t seen her speaking with Nathaniel so didn’t question her wish to go home early.
After retrieving her cloak from a footman, Lettie stepped outside, half expecting to find that Nathaniel had left without her. She knew he wasn’t pleased she insisted on accompanying him, but the man took far too many risks. She was determined to make him take more care.
To her relief, his black carriage awaited her. With a glance around to make certain no one she knew watched, she approached it. The footman hopped down from his perch and held open the door, assisting her into the dim interior.
The soft glow of the carriage light revealed Nathaniel in the far corner, his expression once again unreadable. She took a seat beside him and the carriage immediately departed.
“What do you know thus far?” Lettie asked.
“Langston has been following Culbert Rutter, a man we know to be associated with the taking of young girls. Rutter was waiting outside a shop this evening and followed a young girl into Whitechapel. He beat her.”
“What? Why?” Lettie could not contain her shock. A grown man beat a young girl?
“I don’t know. Langston is with the girl now, waiting for me.”
Lettie could feel the weight of Nathaniel’s stare. She needed to gather herself. If she truly wanted to help in difficult situations, she had to remain calm and use her intellect and logic to be of assistance.
With a lift of her chin, she said, “Then it’s a good thing I came along. I’ll comfort the girl. She might appreciate another female being there.”
Nathaniel pulled aside the curtain to check their progress. “I don’t think you understand the type of situation we might be walking into.”
Lettie refused to be intimidated. “I will soon enough. What do you intend to do?”
“Find Rutter.”
The certainty in his tone concerned her. “Nathaniel?” She said his name softly, almost as a whisper.
He glanced at her, his gaze holding hers.
She reached out and touched his hand with her gloved one. “Please take care. You are important to me.”
With a brief nod of his head, he glanced back out the window. Disappointment washed through her at his lack of response. That was why she needed to guard her heart from this man. He wasn’t interested in her in that way.
The ride seemed endless as the carriage paused in several places due to traffic. But as they drew nearer to Whitechapel, the streets were quieter. Lettie realized most of these people would rise early for work and so had sought their beds.
Soon the carriage slowed, the clopping of the horses’ hooves echoing on the cobbles between brick buildings. The evening air felt cooler here, or perhaps it was just Lettie’s nerves getting the better of her.
Nathaniel didn’t wait for the footman when the carriage finally drew to a halt. He eased past Lettie and stepped down. “Wait here.”
She remained there a moment. Barely. Then followed.
She’d never been to this area before and couldn’t help but glance about as she stepped into the foreign landscape. The tall buildings seemed to absorb the light cast by the gas street lights. A few windows glowed, revealing tattered curtains. The stench was...indescribable. Soot and waste coated with a foul odor. In truth, she didn’t want to know what caused the terrible smell.
With a glance over his shoulder at Lettie, Nathaniel muttered an oath then waited for her to catch up to him, taking her hand in his.
Somehow, she felt the darkness of this place in her very bones and was grateful to have Nathaniel at her side. How could this dreary, depressing neighborhood be part of the same city where she’d spent her entire life? She couldn’t imagine living here, never escaping the bleakness.
“I believe I warned you,” Nathaniel said even as he held her hand tighter.
“Over here,” a voice called out.
Nathaniel hurried toward the mouth of an alley from where the voice had come, Lettie at his side.
“What happened?” he asked as he released Lettie to kneel beside a man who held a young girl in his arms.
It took a moment for Lettie’s eyes to adjust to the dim light.
The man glanced at Lettie then back at Nathaniel. At Nathaniel’s nod, he said, “I was following Culbert Rutter as discussed. He spent a long while outside some shops just off Bond Street. Then when this young woman came out of Madame Daphne’s...”
Lettie stilled at the familiar name. Her gaze sought the girl, trying to see her face. “Alice?”
The girl looked up, and Lettie swallowed a gasp, stunned at the sight of Alice’s battered face. Her cheek and eye were swollen twice the size of normal, making her barely recognizable. Tears streaked down her reddened face.
“Oh, miss,” the girl whispered between sniffles as she caught sight of Lettie. “I’m ever so...sorry.”
“You’ve nothing to be sorry for,” Lettie reassured her, reaching out to take her hand. “What happened?”
“Culbert—” she hiccupped a sob, her words difficult to understand because of the swelling. “He said as how I talk too much, that I was interferin’ with his business.”
“What?”
“And how I was...actin’ better than I should. That I needed to learn to keep my mouth shut as I was spreadin’ rumors the jobs he’s offerin’ girls weren’t real.” She sniffed, still trying to control her tears. “But they aren’t, miss. They aren’t real. He’s takin’ girls to—to brothels. He’s not really givin’ them jobs.”
“I know, Alice. You are right.” Lettie shared a glance with Nathaniel before looking back at Alice. “I’m so sorry this happened.”
“I must warn...my family,” she said, her voice hitching. “He threatened to hurt them. He said my little sister will be the next one he takes.”
“We’ll make certain your family is safe,” Nathaniel reassured her. “Mr. Langston will see to that.”
Lettie couldn’t stop staring at Alice’s swollen face. She’d never seen such a thing. Dalia had fallen from a chair when she was only four or five and struck her face, causing it to swell terribly. But to know a man had deliberately hit little Alice, and not just once, appalled her.
Nathaniel touched Lettie’s arm, one brow raised as though asking if she was all right. She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Can you stay with her while I speak with Langston?” he asked.
She nodded and e
ased into Mr. Langston’s place as he stood, Nathaniel joining him. Wrapping an arm around the girl’s shoulder, she asked, “Can you tell me where you’re hurt?”
“My stomach hurts something awful. He punched me twice there.” The girl gave a shiver and Lettie shifted to put her cloak around Alice with the hope her own body would warm the girl.
“Can you move?”
“Mr. Langston tried to help me earlier, but I must’ve twisted my ankle. It’s throbbin’ terrible.” The girl coughed several times.
“We’ll have a doctor check to make certain nothing serious is wrong,” Lettie said, her stomach clenching when she saw the blood around Alice’s mouth from her coughing.
“No, no doctor. We don’t have the money.”
“We’ll pay for it, Alice. You need only try to rest. Soon we’ll have you somewhere safe and warm.”
“But my sister—”
“Mr. Hawke and Mr. Langston will see to your family. Do not worry.” Lettie had no doubt Nathaniel would make it right.
Tears continued to track down Alice’s face, squeezing Lettie’s heart. Her throat tightened. What had she done? She couldn’t help but feel she was partly to blame for Alice’s injuries. Her ignorance had caused this. If she hadn’t spoke to Alice, she’d be unharmed. Culbert wouldn’t have been able to find her so easily if she wasn’t working at Madame Daphne’s.
Nathaniel was right—she hadn’t understood what she was doing. The idea of her attempting to help someone, only to indirectly hurt them, was intolerable.
She glanced up to see Nathaniel conferring with Mr. Langston a short distance away. She couldn’t hear what they said from her position, but merely having Nathaniel in sight reassured her. A more competent man she’d never met. If anyone could help right this situation, it was Nathaniel.
~*~
Nathaniel was enraged to think Culbert Rutter had gone to the extent of beating a young girl to make his point. But now was not the time for that. Nathaniel needed to see Alice and Letitia to safety, determine how severely the girl was injured, and then turn his anger on Rutter.
He made arrangements with Langston for him to explain to Alice’s family what had happened, reassure them she would be well taken care of, and relocate the family to a better neighborhood. Perhaps he could obtain a job for Alice’s father on his brother’s estate. That would take the whole family out of town, which was the only way he was certain he could protect them until he dealt with Rutter.
Langston left to speak with Alice’s family, enough money in hand to rent a room for several nights until other arrangements could be made.
Nathaniel returned to Letitia and Alice. “Does she need a doctor?”
Letitia nodded even as Alice protested.
“He hit her in the stomach,” Letitia advised.
“We’d best make certain you aren’t seriously injured,” Nathaniel said, doing his best to keep his tone even. “Let us see you to the carriage, Alice.”
“Her ankle is injured,” Letitia advised.
Nathaniel lifted her and carried her to the carriage, his leg protesting from the extra weight. The footman hurried to open the door at their approach.
Nathaniel set Alice down on the seat then offered a hand to Letitia to assist her. “Take us home,” he advised the footman. “Then you’ll need to fetch the doctor.”
After taking a seat inside, he leaned forward. “Mr. Langston will speak with your family and tell them what’s happened. We’re going to find another place for them to stay for a time so they’ll be safe.”
Alice nodded. Letitia had already placed her arm around the girl and shared her cloak with her but still Alice shivered. Within a few minutes, the carriage pulled to a halt outside his modest townhome.
Before Nathaniel could object, the footman opened the door and lifted Alice out of the conveyance.
Nathaniel couldn’t help but glare at the man.
“My apologies, Captain, but Dibbles will have my head if you’re sore on the morrow,” the footman offered then walked toward the front steps.
“Who is Dibbles?” Letitia asked as Nathaniel handed her out of the carriage.
“Butler, valet, surrogate mother,” Nathaniel muttered. “Depends on where he sees fit to stick his nose.”
Letitia smiled. “I believe I will like Dibbles. I’m most anxious to meet him.”
“Perhaps you should return home now. I wouldn’t want to risk your reputation with all this.” The idea of her and Dibbles comparing notes made him uneasy.
“Nonsense.” She drew up the hood of her cloak. “Alice will no doubt feel better if I’m here. I would like to hear what the doctor has to say. Besides, no one seems to be about.”
Nathaniel followed her gaze along the quiet street. “Very well.” He escorted her up the walk to the steps where Dibbles held the door. The footman had already entered with Alice.
“Good evening. I didn’t realize you were bringing home company.” Nathaniel could only shake his head at the man’s reprimand.
“Nor I,” he offered. Once Dibbles had closed the door behind him, he said, “Miss Letitia Fairchild, this is my...” He debated which title would least offend Dibbles. “This is Dibbles.”
“I’m pleased to meet you,” Letitia said with a smile as she lowered her hood. “I’m relieved to hear someone is watching out for the Captain’s welfare as he seems to have little regard for it.”
Dibbles’ stiff expression shifted into one far warmer. “I’m honored to think you might understand my burden.”
Letitia grinned as she slanted a glance at Nathaniel. “I can only imagine the challenges you face.”
Dibbles took her cloak only to study it with a critical eye. “We’ll have this cleaned while you’re seeing to the girl’s welfare.” He turned to Nathaniel. “I had the footman take her to the yellow room on the third floor.”
“When he comes down, he’s to fetch the doctor.”
Letitia caught his arm. “I fear she’s coughing up blood from the blows she took to her stomach.”
Nathaniel shook his head then turned to Dibbles. “Make certain he returns from the doctor as quickly as possible.”
“May I sit with her now?” Letitia asked.
“Of course. I’ll show you where she is.” Nathaniel gestured toward the stairs. He nearly groaned at the thought of climbing to the third floor with Letitia at his side. His injured thigh did not care for the motion required to ascend stairs.
“It is very kind of you to send for the doctor,” Letitia said as they walked. “I doubt we could’ve convince one to see her at her lodgings.”
Letitia continued her casual comments as they made their way to the third floor, never once asking if he was all right, much to his relief. He appreciated her not fussing over him, but rather allowing him to progress at his own pace.
The small bedroom at the top of the stairs was modestly furnished and rarely used. It wasn’t as if he ever had guests. One of his maids was seeing to Alice. Already the girl was sitting on the bed with her shoes off. Her eyes were big—or rather, the eye that wasn’t swollen was. She stared about the room as though she’d never seen one before. He well knew how different his home was from hers.
“Thank you for seeing her settled,” Letitia said with a smile to the maid as she took a seat beside Alice on the bed. “Why don’t you rest, Alice?”
The girl eased back against the pillow, looking very uncomfortable.
“Are you in pain?” Letitia asked as she took the girl’s hand.
“I shouldn’t be here,” the girl whispered. “I don’t belong in such a place.”
“You are welcome to stay, Alice,” Nathaniel reassured her. “I want you well before you return home.”
“Yes,” Letitia agreed. “The doctor will be here soon to see to your injuries.”
The girl held a hand to her stomach. Perhaps the pain was forcing her to realize it would be wise for her to stay for a time.
Letitia glanced at the maid. “Would you
please bring some warm towels so we can clean off the worst of the mud?”
“Of course, miss,” the maid said and departed.
By the time the doctor arrived, Letitia had wiped the girl’s face and hands and helped her don one of the maid’s nightgowns. She was resting, but still held her hand on her stomach and frequently coughed.
Nathaniel stepped out of the room to speak with the doctor privately to explain the situation. Then he waited outside the bedroom until the man finished examining her.
“How does she fare?” Nathaniel asked as the doctor closed the door behind him.
“It doesn’t seem as though she’s broken anything, but with her coughing up blood, her internal organs may have been bruised. Her ankle is sprained, and overall, the less she moves for the next few days, the quicker she’ll heal. By tomorrow, the coughing should ease. If not, you’d best send for me again.”
“Thank you for coming so quickly.”
The doctor looked him up and down. “How is your leg? I hope you’re taking care of it.”
“It is better than it was.”
“And the swelling?”
“Mostly gone.”
The doctor shook his head. “I hope for your own good, that’s true. Keep the girl in bed with her ankle elevated. I left her something for her pain.”
Nathaniel walked him to the top of the stairs then returned to the bedroom, only to find Letitia standing outside of it with the door closed behind her.
“Swelling?” she asked with a glance at his leg.
Obviously she’d overheard what the doctor had said. “Nothing with which to be concerned.”
“Rest?”
“I did and now my leg is much improved.” By the look on her face, he hadn’t reassured her. “Truly, I’m fine.”
She studied him for a long moment until he wanted to squirm. “Perhaps I should speak with Dibbles about this.”
Slight panic filled him at the thought. “He will tell you exactly what I told you.”
“Hmm...”
“How is she?” Of course, he wanted to know the answer, but even more, he wanted to shift her attention to something else.
“She’s resting now. The maid said she’ll stay with her since the poor girl is so nervous. She feels a little out of her element. What did the doctor say?”
Loving the Hawke (The Seven Curses of London Book 1) Page 15