She covered her mouth with hands stained from her dried blood to keep from crying out. Already she lost Tom, but to think of Lucinda, Jane, all the others dead, was unbearable. And Gabriel, how could she go on in the aftermath of his murder? She loved him the moment she first set eyes on him, yearning...dreaming for the moment when the two of them could come together. For a time while he courted Collette Halston, her hopes were dashed. But now the other woman was gone, no longer in the picture, and after spending time together at the morning meal, she felt a connection with him. Her heart soared when he asked her to call him by his first name. Then another thought, not so pleasing, struck her with velocity.
After these men are through with me, I may not be around either.
The second man’s wicked laughter, again chilling her bones, brought her back to the present. “Then she’d better be a good little miss and do everything she’s told.”
“Aye, I have no doubts whatsoever she’ll be at our disposal,” the first man reassured him. He cleared his throat. “Now, shall we have a better look at our little gem?”
“Aye,” the second man eagerly agreed. “I’ve been waiting for this all afternoon.”
The bolt was swept aside, and the door opened. She stepped away from the heavy portal just as two men dressed in red jackets, black trousers, and knee-high boots entered the basement chamber. Raising a defiant chin, she squared her shoulders and met the first man’s gaze.
He was a tall man of slender build but solid in the shoulders and chest. His blond hair fell into his eyes as he bowed politely and addressed her. “Good afternoon, Miss Flanders. It’s so nice to finally make your acquaintance.”
The second man was portly, actually pear-shaped with dark hair, skin tone, and eyes. He had a round face with hanging jowls and a very large nose.
As the blond man neared her, she stepped back, her hips coming into contact with the same table she sat upon as a child. Though they were troubled and rough times, she’d gladly trade them for the present.
“Stay away from me,” she choked out.
“Now, now,” he continued with false comfort and calm, “there’s nay a need for you to be frightened.”
She cast a quick glance at the second man, who came up beside her, rubbing his hands together like he were about to sit down to a mouth-watering meal.
“All will go smoothly if you remain cooperative,” the blond man said. She looked into his light gray-blue eyes and fear coursed through every fiber of her being. His gaze darkened as his eyes roamed the length of her and lips curled into a slow, leering smile. “And I think in time you’ll find we might even become friends.”
“I think not,” she sputtered, the thought of him...of either of them touching her was even more nauseating.
“I think so.” He raised a bushy blond brow. “I am willing to bet eventually we’ll even be intimate friends at that.”
Chapter Eight
“If you know who these scoundrels are, why are we not calling the authorities?” Gabriel snapped.
“Because in a sense, they are the authorities,” Simon returned.
He frowned. “The constables do not wear red jackets.”
“I’m not referring to England’s law enforcement,” the captain explained.
Frustrated to the tips of his toes, Gabriel took an audible breath. “Then who do you refer to, Simon?”
Simon arched a brow. “The Sea Patrol.”
Those words paralyzed his insides as thoughts of how close the Sea Patrol came to hurting one of his family surfaced. Originally it had been two sisters, Raven and Sunny, he had accompanied to England. After he was sure his siblings were settled in their cabins, he made up the excuse his luggage never came aboard. With that fabrication he could get a fast drink at a shore-line cantina they had passed on the way to their ship. But he had stayed too long, and his sisters discovered he had lied. That was when Raven left the England-bound ship to search for him. And when she did not find him, she hurried back to the vessel she believed was the one she left. With the twilight of day and the fog setting in, her perspective was clouded. She accidentally boarded the wrong craft, a cargo ship going to Ireland.
His sister’s illegal passage, if such a status was discovered by the Sea Patrol, could have caused her to be arrested and taken to prison. If not for the kindness of the Lord of Limerick, the ship’s owner, Braiton Shannon, agreeing to say the vows of matrimony with Raven to rescue her from such a horrible plight, she would have been lost forever instead of now being happily wed and living in Ireland.
“They don’t normally have jurisdiction on land,” Simon added, breaking through his thoughts. “But they’ve volunteered to clean up London’s prostitute problem when not at sea.”
“And using the girls for their own purpose, no doubt,” Lucinda said.
“No doubt at all,” the captain agreed. “And I would say that’s the deal this Naomi woman made with them using Miss Flanders.”
“Aye, ’tis,” Tom admitted. “If I’d known for sure the wench was a traitor, I’d ’ave stopped ’er in some way.”
“Then we must go to the police and tell them what has been going on,” Gabriel suggested.
Simon let out an audible breath. “We’d only be laughed at and sent away like a hound with his tail between his legs.”
He frowned. “I fail to see why.”
“Think about it, Gabriel,” Simon continued. “The only proof we have is the word of a tosher?” He glanced at Tom. “I don’t mean any disrespect or offense, old chap.”
“None takin’, Captain,” Tom choked out hoarsely.
“That is not true,” Gabriel challenged. “They have kidnapped Riley and have her with them. When they are caught, her presence will be proof enough of their doings, as well as the note she carries.”
“Nay, it will not,” Lucinda said. “Riley was born a tosher as well. Folks have seen her on the streets as a child...still see her now and then when she brings food and blankets to Tom. The Sea Patrol could merely say they thought she was a street-walker. As far as the note goes, it could almost make matters worse, proving she was meeting someone wanted by the law. I’m afraid London’s social class is a hard society to breech. They look way too often down their nose at those who do not live up to their standards.”
Lucinda’s assessment brought to Gabriel’s mind the way the white agents treat his people. The Apache are considered the lowest of lows. America, as well as England, holds prejudice toward others. Except the English folk discriminate with a bit more manners.
“’Tis for that very reason, so far only street-walkers have been taken, that I’ve not been able to tell all I know to the authorities,” Tom pulled Gabriel back to the situation.
“And what do you know?” he prodded.
“I know they take the women to the Van Devere Hotel, which ’as long been abandoned, and lock them in the basement until they can move them to the next location. But I think we might ’ave caught a break ’ere.”
Gabriel’s frown deepened. “How is that, Tom?”
“I think the red-jackets must ’ave decided to raise their sights from the usual street-walkers they’ve been tradin’,” Top Hat said. “I ’eard around town Lord Wellington’s daughter, Suzanna ’as been missin’ for a few days.”
“Aye, I read of her disappearance in yesterday morning’s public chronicle,” Lucinda said. “Good heavens, do you think the same men who have taken Riley have Lady Wellington as well?”
“Aye, there’s a better than good chance of it, my lady,” Tom said. “And I think Naomi was also in on that kidnappin’.”
“What draws you to that conclusion?”
“I found out on the eve before last Naomi was ’ired to do laundry for the Wellingtons. She’d been at the job a few weeks.” For a moment Tom closed his eyes with his pain, cleared his throat, and continued. “The young society women, especially one still virtuous, can bring a larger bounty than a street wench. These scoundrels must ’ave propositioned Na
omi, since she was workin’ for a prominent ’ousehold. Paid ’er to get Lady Wellington in a position whereby they could snatch ’er.”
“And then Naomi’s greed brought her to think of Riley,” Lucinda said.
“Aye, that’s the way of it,” Tom agreed.
“So these men can move around freely, unsuspected because they appear to be cleaning up prostitution, when in truth, they’re just making it their business now,” Lucinda reflected in disgust.
“And a very lucrative one at that,” Simon added. “But I think Tom’s on to something. If the Sea Patrol has widened their scope to kidnapping society women for an increase in money, then finding Lady Wellington in their clutches would be the proof we would need to put them out of business for good.”
“You said they lock the women in the hotel basement until they can be moved to another location.”
“Aye,” Tom said.
“Do you know where they take them from that point?”
“I think I ’ave an idea,” Tom offered.
“Well tell us and be quick about it.”
“Aye, every minute that passes is another they get farther away with Miss Flanders,” the captain agreed.
“They can take away the street-walkers without question, but with the society ladies they must take more precautions,” Tom explained.
“What precautions?” He prayed the old man did not pass out from the blood he was losing before he answered the questions.
Jane, who still tended to Top Hat’s wound, reiterated the same sentiments. “I wish the physician would get ’ere soon.”
Tom coughed. “I’ll be fine, miss.”
“Where does the Sea Patrol take the women when they leave the hotel?” Gabriel coaxed.
“To the River Thames where they board one o’ their special small steamers and sail on the English Channel to Lands End. Nay a soul questions them, as they think they’re just doin’ their job.”
“And then the women are held at Lands End,” Gabriel said.
“Aye, that’s where they stay ’til they are transported to the Isle o’ Wight.”
“How did you come by this information, Tom?” Lucinda said.
“I drink with a few sailors and on occasion some mud-larks, who ’ear things,” Tom said. “A drunken tongue will tell ye many secrets.”
Gabriel remembered when he first arrived in England, his sister’s husband, Rafe Cavendish explaining mud-larks were people who skimmed the Thames River for coal and other items to sell. “What happens then, Tom?” he implored, this time almost afraid to hear the truth.
“A ship arrives from the West Indies, mostly Santa Domingo, but there is a vessel from Egypt as well, and the women are sold.”
A cold knot formed in his stomach. “Who are the women sold to?”
“Sometimes Sultans and Princes, then...” Tom hesitated, swallowed hard, and cleared his throat. “Then they are turned into concubines or slaves. They prefer the young women, in fact the younger the better. ’Tis easier to change the young females into concubines, their obedience and adjustments are faster. Soon they are actually embracin’ their new lives. ’Tis then that they are truly lost forever to their families.”
With a gasp, Jane and Lucinda muttered “Mercy” in unison.
“No mercy would be more accurate.” The knot in Gabriel’s stomach tightened along with every other muscle in his body.
Lucinda’s voice broke with emotion. “What is there for us to do if we can’t go to the authorities?”
“I will go after Riley,” Gabriel said. “I will need to find Suzanna Wellington as well, so this all ends now.”
“I will join you, since I know the English Channel, where to get a small craft, and the uncharted island,” Simon offered.
“Count me in,” Oliver offered, “since I know where the hotel is and some o’ the mud-larks who might be o’ ’elp to us.”
“Nay, ye won’t, mite,” Addie protested. “When yer mum passed, I promised ’er I’d bring ye up to be a responsible man. And I plan on keepin’ my word to my beloved sister. So, all ye are gonna do right now is march yerself to the stable, drop yer britches to yer knees, and bend over for a birchin’ ye will never forget.”
Oliver blushed with embarrassment. “I told ye, Auntie, I’m too old for you to be doing that.”
“Nay, ye’re just a boy and a bothersome one at that,” Addie scolded.
Gabriel sympathized with the young man standing humiliated beside him. At Oliver’s age, he was embarking on learning to be a warrior. If his mother had made such a declaration in the presence of others, and actually carried out the punishment, it would have shamed him to the roots of his hair.
He held up a hand to silence Addie. “I mean no disrespect, Addie, or to come between you and what you feel you must do to correct your household. But who and what Oliver knows can be of great use to us in finding both Riley and Lady Wellington.”
“I understand yer way o’ thinkin’, sir, but ’tis my duty to my dead sister to make sure ’er son grows up right,” Addie said.
Time was of the essence. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his frustrations before he spoke. “And I believe you have so far done her proud. But I also think she would want Oliver to do all he could to rescue the women these men have captured.”
“Aye, I know she would want ’im to do all ’e could to ’elp,” Addie agreed.
“And you have my word, as soon as our mission is complete and we bring Riley safely back to Collins Stead, you can bare his backside anywhere it pleases you for that thrashing he will never forget.”
“Nay, that’s not fair,” Oliver chimed in, his neck and ears now turning as red as his face.
He put a hand over the boy’s mouth and whispered in his ear. “You must learn when to keep quiet.” Then he forced a smile Addie’s way. “I ask you to please postpone his punishment because right now I need him with me.”
“Aye, sir, I’ll spare his ’ide for the cause,” Addie agreed. Then narrowing her eyes at her nephew, she added, “And God ’elp ye if ye don’t do exactly as Mr. Eagle and Captain Cavendish tell ye.”
****
Riley thought the blond-haired man, who introduced himself as Captain Marshall Langley, examined her like a horse put up for sale at an auction. First he raised her skirt to her thighs, causing her such humiliation she thought for sure she’d be sick again.
“Get your hands off me!” She pushed him away.
Langley slapped her hard across the face, making her head spin. “You will cooperate if you want those at Collins Stead to live.”
For the duration of his inspection, she remained quiet, biting her bottom lip until she tasted blood and bearing the humiliation in order to save those she loved.
Throughout his duties the captain commented to the second man, Lieutenant Martin Beck, emphasizing the condition of her limbs. “She has good bone and excellent form, along with strong muscle and lastly, but most important, soft skin. My findings please me greatly, and no doubt will do the same for the client.”
Next she was made to open her mouth wide while he looked at her teeth. Again he was pleased at what he saw. Then he moved on to scrutinize her breasts, cupping each one in the palm of his hand as he evaluated their size. She swallowed hard, the tears of disgrace stinging the back of her throat. No matter what, she would not cry or look weak and frightened in front of these men.
Lastly, Langley forcibly turned her around. Beck placed a hand at the back of her neck and pushed her face down onto the table. Its ridge stuck into her stomach. Beck then held her shoulders down so her bum was elevated for Langley to properly observe.
As he squeezed and pinched her rounded derrière, he chuckled with pleasure. “It’s a perfect size and shape, not too large, but curvy enough to give a man pleasure.”
She did her best to control the shame and rage coursing through her body, reminding herself all the while Langley continued his examination that she needed to stay quiet for the sake of her family.
>
“I think we should remove her skirt and bloomers for a better look, Captain,” Beck suggested. “After all, how can we sell merchandise we know nothing about?”
Silence enveloped the chamber as Langley considered Beck’s remarks. And then, her heart sank completely when he said, “You might have a point there, Lieutenant.”
“Nay, please don’t do this,” she begged, trying to twist from Beck’s grasp.
Langley slapped her hard on the bum. “Do you want your family killed?”
She stilled her body, fighting back the urge to do a bit of killing herself. She always wondered what drove a person to take another’s life. But right here and now, if she had a gun, she’d shoot these two men in cold blood.
“Besides,” Beck added, “we aren’t going to hurt you. We just want to have a bit of a look, is all.”
Langley placed a booted foot between her own feet. Then he pushed her legs aside so she was made to stand with them spread wide.
God, please make them stop.
But when she felt his fingers begin to unfasten the buttons at her waist, she could remain passive no longer and exploded into action.
She threw her head back, clipping Langley in the forehead. He stumbled back. Beck, somewhat shocked by her exploit, released his grip on her shoulders. That’s when she ran at him with full force. She heard her neck crack when her head met his chest. He, after all, was a large man. Pain rioted down her spine, but she kept going. Normally such an impact probably wouldn’t have fazed him in the least, but she had caught him off guard.
Beck ended up flat on his back upon the floor, and she lay on top of him. He laughed in her face. “If I knew removing your skirt would get you on top of me like this, I would have suggested it sooner.”
“You are a pig,” she whispered, lowering her mouth to sink her teeth into the tip of his nose.
He threw her off him and jumped to his feet, shouting, “She nearly bit my nose off!” He raised a booted foot to kick her in the stomach, but the captain intervened.
“After the client has had her, you can do whatever you want with her.” He pushed Beck aside.
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