The Sweetest Touch

by Marie Higgins

  But for very different reasons.

  Night had fallen completely, and the half-moon didn’t leave Louisa much light. She couldn’t complain. She was used to sneaking around in the dark. She’d been an expert at this for six years…and had hated every minute.

  Getting a horse was a little more difficult, but soon she pulled a mare out of the stable, mounted, and was on her way. The small wind tugged at her bonnet, threatening to remove the hat, but she didn’t care.

  Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to cry. Showing emotion would do her no good. As much as she hated returning to her former life, she must. Trevor and the twins meant more to her than anything, and she couldn’t allow Macgregor to harm them.

  Even if it meant stealing the dowager’s jewels.

  Tonight while wrapped in Trevor’s arms, it had been heaven. She never wanted to leave. When he had told her he’d loved her, she had tried to stop the words by pressing her mouth to his. Hearing those three little words had been a dream-come-true, but then reality sunk in, dragging her down like a boulder to the bottom of the ocean, she knew now that their love could never be. Once he discovered her past—and what she was going to do tonight—he would never want her for his wife. Her chest ached when she thought of a life without him and the twins, but it was something she would have to sacrifice in order to keep them safe.

  Not only that, her parents were better off not knowing about her past mistakes. All those terrible things she did while working for Macgregor. None of it could be forgiven, and she knew not to ask. It was better that her parents believed she had drowned.

  And Eliza…

  May Eliza rot in hell for what she had put Louisa through!

  Louisa knew not why her so-called friend had done this to her, but eventually Louisa would find out and make Eliza pay dearly for all those lost years.

  Thankfully, Mr. Featherspoon’s life had ended and he would have to explain himself come judgment day. And one day…when all of this was over and she knew those she loved were not going to be harmed by Macgregor, she would find a way to send that evil man to meet his Maker, as well.

  When Louisa came upon the dowager’s estate, she slowed the mare until she reached the back door to the servant’s quarters. She dismounted then crept inside the house. The kitchen sounded busy, so she avoided going near that room. Voices came from the dining room, and when she heard Trevor, her heart pitter-pattered. Having these kinds of feelings were not healthy, but she would always treasure the way she felt whenever he was around.

  It wasn’t hard to find the backstairs, so she hurried up toward the dowager’s chambers. The manor was grand—although not as lovely as Trevor’s. Still, Louisa found the double-doors leading into the dowager duchess’ room easily enough. A low fire in the hearth gave her light, and as she crept into another room, the lamps were turned low as well. The dowager had plenty of lovely things decorating her walls.

  Louisa unfastened her bonnet and laid it on a chair. Sadness grew inside her for what she was about to do, and she said a silent prayer the Lord would forgive her because she knew for certain Trevor would not.

  The first thing she found were empty satchels that Louisa knew dowagers like to carry with them when they were out in public. These would help Louisa to carry the jewels and hopefully hide them better when she left the manor.

  Once she located the jewelry boxes, Louisa stared, unable to move. So many lovely necklaces that were costly. So many rings, and broaches, and watches. If Macgregor even realized the dowager had this many pieces of jewelry, he’d have all of his children stealing from her constantly.

  With a shaky hand, she picked up the closest necklace, heavy with rubies and diamonds. I cannot do this, her heart screamed, but reason told her she must. It was as if an invisible hand tried to snatch the item back in a game of tug-of-war, but soon she brought it to the satchel and dropped it inside. Tears burned her eyes and grief burdened her already achy chest as she shoved two more necklaces in the small bag.

  Several voices in her head grew louder and clashed, some encouraging her to take the jewels, others begging her not to. The vision of Trevor’s handsome face formed in her mind. He smiled at her; lovingly caressed her cheek, and tenderly kissed her with so much emotion. Then she saw the twins. Their cherubic faces looking at her for help as Ms. Jacobs made them march…then their expressions glowed when Louisa became their nursemaid. Trevor and his children trusted her. Completely. Without question.

  “I cannot do this,” she muttered. “I will not do this!”

  Wearily, she leaned against the dresser. She was not Louisa Hamilton the thief. Not any longer. She could not steal from the people she loved. There had to be another way to stop Macgregor. He wasn’t expecting these pieces of jewelry for a few more days. Surely, if she confessed to Trevor, he would be able to help her. Between the two of them—and perhaps his brother and Lord Hawthorne—they could come up with a solution to the problem. Would Macgregor really know she had told Trevor? The evil man couldn’t spy on her every moment of the day.

  Feeling better about her decision, she placed her hand back inside the satchel to withdraw the necklaces, but a noise from the other room startled her. She jumped and turned toward the sound. A man stood at the door.

  Trevor.

  Her heart sank, and her knees shook. Standing in the doorway, his narrowed eyes switched from her to the jewels in her hand. A frown marred his handsome face as sadness and distrust deepened his gaze.

  “Trevor, this is not what it looks like.”

  “It looks like you are stealing from my mother.”

  She placed the jewels on the dresser and hurried to him. “Trevor, please, let me explain,” she begged, clutching his overcoat.

  Disgust deepened his expression as he peeled her hands away from his body as if she were a diseased leper.

  “What could you possibly explain? Here I am, trying desperately to find your past while you are sneaking around behind my back and stealing from us.”

  Her heart broke and tears streamed down her eyes, blurring her vision. “No, Trevor. You don’t understand. Macgregor made me—”

  “Indeed, I’m certain he did.” He pushed past her and lifted the jewels, letting them spill between his fingers back into the satchel. “Take these to Macgregor and go back to his band of thieves.” He shoved the bag in her hands. “And tell him he’s done a fabulous job turning a lady into a criminal. You are certainly the best thief—and deceiver—I have ever come across.” Trevor took a deep breath. “Now please leave this house before my mother sees what you have done, because it would surely break her heart as it has mine.”

  Louisa fell to her knees and clutched his trouser leg. “No. Please listen to me. Don’t do this, Trevor—”

  “And do not call me that name ever again.” He pushed her away. “Leave now before I summon the police and have you arrested like I should have done the first time I met you.”

  Her world crumpled down around her worse than she could have ever imagined. Sobbing, she lifted herself off the floor and fled out the door as fast as her unsteady legs could carry her.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Richard Macgregor sat at his desk inside his tiny office, reading the missive that had just been delivered. He grinned and wanted to shout with happiness. Things couldn’t have gone any better if he’d planned them himself. Then again…mayhap he had planned it without really knowing.

  Of course he had. Chuckling, he glanced at the letter in his hand.

  Mr. Macgregor. I have thought over the brief conversation we had outside my uncle’s home yesterday, and I have come to a decision. I will take over where my uncle left off only on one condition. You must take care of Louisa Hamilton. Six years ago my uncle promised he would not harm my friend but take her far away so her family would never see her again. Now I find she is back and her family is becoming suspicious. I still do not want my schoolmate harmed, but please take her far away from London as quickly as possible. Once this has been
resolved, I will find children to work for you as my uncle had. Meet me outside the front steps of the hospital tonight at seven so we can discuss this agreement. Regards, Miss Eliza Watson.

  Smiling, Richard pulled away from the desk and gazed out of the window. The evening shadows played in the dark corners of the unlit streets as people scurried inside buildings or to their carriages. Fortune shined upon him for the first time in weeks. Things were coming together nicely. Soon Louisa would be in his grasp once again and doing his bidding as always. He would keep the two women away from each other, because he did not plan on sending Louisa away as Miss Watson had requested. His brilliant pupil was much too valuable for that. But now he knew how to blackmail both women to get his way.

  Shuffling of footsteps grew louder coming from the other room. Richard turned as David ran in, huffing from exhaustion. Moisture dampened his dirty brow and made hair stick to his skin.

  “What are ye doin’ here? Yer supposed to be at the Kensington estate watching Louisa.”

  “I have come from there because I discovered something.”

  “What have ye discovered?” Richard barked.

  “Tis not good news, I fear.”

  Richard grumbled and stepped closer. “Tell me.”

  “I kept an eye on the estate just as you’d asked, and I crept closer to the stables to hear anything noteworthy.” The scraggly boy shook his head. “Tis not good, I tell ye.”

  “Out with it before I whip ye.”

  “Louisa…she has left the manor.” David took in a ragged breath, still wheezing. “From what I’ve gathered, the duke let her go.”

  “Let her go?” Richard shouted as he grabbed the scrawny boy’s shoulders. “What do ye mean? The duke was in love with her. Why did he let her go?”

  “I don’t know, sir. That’s just what I heard.”

  “Then ye heard wrong.”

  David shook his head. “No, I didn’t, because I also heard the duke talking to one of his friends.”

  “What did they say?”

  “The duke said he didn’t want to see Louisa’s face ever again—or he’d summon the police and have her arrested. Apparently, he caught her stealin’ his mother’s jewels. He was pretty upset, I tell ye.”

  Richard grinned. His plan was working better than he thought. “Splendid.”

  “I also heard…” David said softer with a touch of confusion in his throat.

  “What?”

  “I heard something about Mr. Featherspoon. I heard he’d kidnapped us from our families and told them we were dead.” He took a hesitant step forward, blinking back tears as his lips quivered as if he would cry at any moment. “Is this true? Is my family really alive?”

  “Of course it’s not true.”

  “But I heard the duke tell his friend about two boys he’d helped. Norman was one of them.”

  “I have no way of knowin’ if Featherspoon lied to ye or not. But it doesn’t matter because now ye work for me,” Richard snapped and pushed David toward the door. “Now get out there and find Louisa. If ye see the others, tell them this is urgent. I need her found and brought to me tonight or ye’ll all go without food for a week.”

  “Yes, sir.” David sniffed and ran out the door into the street.

  Richard shrugged on his coat, then plopped a hat on his head as he walked outside. He had a meeting with a pretty lady he wasn’t about to miss. Now with Louisa missing, it would be easier for him to convince Eliza her friend was taken care of.

  He whistled and walked with a bounce in his step. Louisa would not stay away for long, he was certain. He didn’t know what exactly happened between her and the duke, but the girl was in love with Kensington, and because she wanted him and his children safe, she would bring Richard the jewels she’d taken.

  Come to think of it…he’d brainwashed all of his children quite well. Of course, he only did what came natural to him. He’d been orphaned at a young age and learned the art of picking pockets and lying his way through life. The older he grew, the more he learned about how to manipulate people. Now he was very good at it. The best, in fact.

  The wind became stronger the closer he came to the hospital. A spring storm was definitely brewing, and there weren’t as many large buildings around this area to block the wind. He bundled his coat around his neck a little tighter and hurried. He always tried to walk in the shadows, especially at night, to keep hidden. If spotted by a policeman, they’d recognize Richard right away. Being this close to Town made it harder to earn a living because the police knew Macgregor well. Yet this was the perfect time to be around London because of the season and all of society’s functions happening around them. Once the season was over, Macgregor would pack up his miscreants and leave for a little while.

  Across the street, two policemen trolled the area. Macgregor lowered his hat on his forehead and cast his gaze to the ground, hurrying his footsteps even more. The other two men laughed, and their voices echoed through the street. Thankfully, they hadn’t looked Richard’s way. And with any luck, they would keep on walking and not even notice Richard.

  But although they didn’t glance at him, Richard still felt like someone watched him. Closely. Slowing, he searched the nearly empty street to find the source of the eerie feeling running amuck through him. Too many shadows. Too many noises from the wind beating on the windows and walls.

  He turned a corner, only one block away from the hospital. It was nearly seven. Miss Watson would probably be waiting for him by now.

  From a nearby alleyway, a cat screeched. Richard jumped, and then chuckled at being so skittish tonight. Even if the police were after him—and several enemies wanted Richard dead—he would never get caught. His children feared him too much to go against him. And the police… Well, Richard could slip from them easy enough just as he’d done for several years.

  Quick footsteps pounded behind him. He reached for the knife he always kept in his coat pocket for protection. Gone. Grumbling, he walked faster, his mind twirling as he tried to remember where he’d put the weapon. He never took his out of his pocket…unless it was to use it on someone. But he hadn’t had to threaten anyone with it for weeks.

  Now was not the time to panic. Neither was it the time for someone to threaten him since he could not protect himself.

  He just needed to turn the corner up a little ways and he’d be within shouting distance of the hospital. Up ahead, there were more street lamps lighting the way as well.

  Macgregor…

  His name whispered with the wind as it blew against his face. Ridiculous. The wind wouldn’t say his name… But someone had.

  He stopped, swung quickly around, hoping to catch whoever followed him. The street remained empty.

  Macgregor…

  There it was again. He jerked toward the sound coming from a different direction. Something wasn’t right, and he didn’t like the spooky feeling crawling up his spine.

  Nearby, hurried footsteps crunched on the road, coming closer by the second. He couldn’t be frightened. He was never frightened. People were afraid of him, not the other way around.

  “Who goes there?” he shouted then heard his questioned echoed. “This is ludicrous.” He grumbled and turned back toward his destination.

  As he passed an alleyway, a woman cloaked in brown and black rags, rushed out and grasped his arm. “Please, govna, I beg ye for some money. I’m starvin’ and need to feed me fam’ly.”

  Gagging, he pushed her away. Her stench of raw onions and fresh urine was more than he could stand. “Leave me alone, ye old crow.”

  She reached for him again, and he stumbled over his feet to get away, bumping into someone else. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his back, cutting through his clothes and slicing his skin. Fiery agony blazed through his body as his shirt dampened quickly from his blood. He jerked around to see who had stabbed him, but all he could see in the shadows was a hand holding his missing knife…coated with his own blood.

  The pain became unbearable, a
nd he collapsed to his knees. Coldness seeped through him like liquid pouring through his veins. Each breath he took became more difficult until he couldn’t breathe at all. Quickly, his vision turned black.

  * * * *

  Trevor sat at the breakfast table, staring at his plate of untouched food. For three days he hadn’t had any ambition to do anything, let alone eat. Since finding Louisa stealing from his mother, he had locked himself in his home, refused visitors, stayed in his chambers more than he should, and turned away the offer of playing with his children.

  Everywhere he looked, he saw Louisa. In the brief time she’d spent in his household, she had turned everything around. Even his servants had smiled more. That was before she left, of course. Before…he bade her to leave and never return.

  The sorrow in his heart was at times, more than he could bear. Gwen’s death had never crushed him as much. Now he wondered how he could go on. He’d given his whole heart to Louisa, and for the first time in a long while, he believed in love and trust…only to have her show him that love and trust didn’t belong in his life.

  He’d lain awake at night, trying hard not to remember her smile and the way she stared dreamily into his eyes. Desperately, he tried not to think of kissing her and the way she’d melted into his arms. He tried not to recall the way his children loved to be around her and the way she made them laugh. The way she’d made him laugh.

  He wouldn’t allow his emotions to get the best of him. He refused to cry, although a few times when he’d drift off to sleep only to awaken to find his pillow damp.

  “Your Grace,” Hobbs walked in with a package in his hands. “This just came for you.”

  Trevor’s frown deepened. “Who brought it?”

  “It was from a courier, my lord.”

  Hobbs set the package on the table then laid the newspaper beside it. “And here is your daily paper. Is there anything else you need now?”

  “Not right now, thank you.”

  The butler nodded and quit the room. Trevor stared at the small package, having no idea who would have given him this—or why. He really didn’t feel like opening it, but curiosity nudged him enough to move his plate aside and slide the package in front of him. Quickly, he tore off the paper just to get it over and done with.