The Lady and the Rake_A Scandalous Arrangement

by Penelope Redmont

  Hexham looked shocked. "Of course she hasn't been harmed. No one wants to harm her. I want to marry her. Here is the story – it's a very simple one. Miss Eardley would be held — unharmed — overnight. Then it would be put out that she and I were together. I never had any intention of being with her… please understand that and don't mistake me – when Partridge sent to tell me where she was, I would rescue her, and she would be returned to her home safe and sound."

  "I've never heard anything like it!" Sir Robert jumped up from his chair. "You, man, are —"

  "Robert, quietly please," Linton interrupted. "Let's save our recriminations until Mel is safe."

  He turned to Hexham, who was sitting in a chair with his elbows on his thighs, and his hands around his head. "I begin to see. Your aim was to ruin Mel's reputation. Then you as the white knight, would ride to her rescue so to speak, and ask her to marry you. Who developed this idea?"

  "It was Valerie. She wanted to get Miss Eardley away from you. She told me to seduce her. That didn't work, so Valerie came up with this other scheme. But I promise you that I never thought that she and Partridge would put the scheme into action."

  "We will find Mel today — not tomorrow. Before her mother finds out," Linton told Hexham.

  "How dare you leave her in the hands of a man who's a cut-throat!" Sir Robert roared the words, and advanced on Hexham.

  Linton sighed, and grabbed his friend's arm. "Robert," he said in warning.

  "I can't – that's the thing." Hexham groaned. "How can I? Only Peter Partridge knows where she is."

  "You'll ask Lady Ashby what Partridge has done with Mel. I mean to recover her today. Look at it this way," Linton said calmly. "Mel will be returned today, or you're a dead man. I won't do it myself. You will be aware that I'm a magistrate. I will have you held in custody. Then you'll have an unfortunate, fatal accident. A fall down the stairs, perhaps. Your disgrace and death will be a sad pity for your mother… who will be homeless thanks to your debts."

  "I tell you – I don't know where she is. I don't think Valerie knows where she is either."

  Linton seized Hexham's arm, and yanked him to his feet. "Robert and I will take you back to Lady Ashby's. He and I will wait in the carriage. Partridge didn't act alone. He has friends who helped him. You'll get information from that woman — or you're a dead man, and I'll see her hanged. Don't think that either of you will escape me."

  "You can't arrest me! I haven't done anything. I told you that it was Lady Ashby."

  "Grab his other arm, Robert."

  They dragged Hexham out to the waiting carriage, and shoved him inside, then got in after him. Linton ordered the coachman to Half Moon Street.

  At half Moon Street, Linton told one of his footman to watch the back of the house, and the other to stand at the front door. "You've got fifteen minutes," he snapped at Hexham. "I want Partridge's direction. Either get it, or I take you and that woman to the watch house."

  On the way to the small house, he'd informed to Hexham that he would have him and Lady Ashby charged with abduction, if he didn't get the answer that he wanted. Of course, he would prefer to avoid that. Charges would mean scandal.

  Hexham looked pale, and his hands trembled. However, he didn't try to justify himself or his actions.

  Linton told him that provided that Mel was unharmed, he would give Hexham and the lady 24 hours to leave London forever. If he saw either of them in the capital again, they would be immediately arrested.

  "Do you think we will find her?" Sir Robert asked, when the front door of the house had closed behind Hexham.

  "I've been a fool." Linton said in a low voice. When he got Mel back, he swore to himself that everything tween them would change. "I mean to marry Mel."

  "Yes — of course you do."

  "No, I mean that this time it won't be a pretense. I mean to marry her, if she'll have me. I wouldn't blame her if she didn't. Robert, do you think that I can be a better man?"

  Sue Robert looked startled. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean, a better man. Whether Mel agrees to marry me or not, I want to be a man that she can respect. I'm done with living a wasted life."

  "We'll find her," Sir Robert said gently. "Don't torture yourself."

  Linton looked at his watch. The minutes ticked past. When eight minutes had passed, he made to exit the carriage.

  Sir Robert put his hand on his arm. "Give them more time. Lady Ashby will argue. I don't think that she will take well to being exiled."

  "Better than the noose," Linton muttered, but he sat down again.

  When twelve minutes had passed Hexham appeared. He crossed swiftly to the carriage, and stepped inside.

  "I don't have a direction… but Valerie says that Partridge frequents a public house call The Blue Boar at the docks."

  Linton gave the order, signaled to his footmen to take their places on the back of the carriage, and they set off.

  Hexham had regained some of his color. He didn't speak, and Linton reflected that that was just as well.

  "What do you intend to do?" Sir Robert asked Linton. "It's not likely that Partridge will reveal what he's done. He knows that it means the hangman's noose."

  In such a house, none of the patrons would be keen on seeing one of their number dragged away. Linton knew that if he and Sir Robert and his footmen went into the public house, and tried to drag Partridge out, they would soon be overwhelmed.

  "Hexham can go into the public house and if Partridge isn't there, he can attempt to find a direction for the man," Linton said.

  "We should have contacted the Runners."

  "I want Mel safe, but you're right. Robert, will you oblige me by fetching a couple of Runners to The Blue Boar?"

  Robert nodded. "Of course — I'll take a hackney."

  When Linton had signaled to his coachman to stop, he told Robert that he would meet him at Linton House. "With Mel."

  "I'll hire the Runners, never fear."

  The bargain

  When Sir Robert had left the carriage, Hexham shook his head at Linton. "You can't go into The Blue Boar."

  Linton didn't respond.

  After several moments, Hexham spoke again. "I have a solution. It will cost you £10,000."

  "I am sure it will. On the other hand, it will cost me nothing to have you taken up."

  "Lord Linton – I'm serious. Most of the money isn't for me. Well, some of it is. I need the money for Terence Bousfort. He's the only man that I know who can control Peter Partridge."

  Linton had heard of Bousfort. His was a well-known name beyond the rookeries of St. Giles. "You know Bousfort?"

  "Yes, I have reason to know it. I supplied men for him — former soldiers."

  "You did what?"

  "Those men need money, and Bousfort needs men who are reliable and can intimidate other men. He pays well. I won't say that he is an intimate of mine, but I know him, and for a sum of money, he can supply men and get information. This idea of entering The Blue Boar — dealing with Peter Partridge directly won't work. You know it won't. You need men."

  Unfortunately, Linton did. He'd been trying to bend his brain around that knowledge. When Partridge saw them, he would run. Linton and his footmen would try to stop him. That meant a brawl. At the very least, there would be injuries.

  It wouldn't help Mel if Linton were found dead in an alley on the waterfront. "How long will it take you to contact Bousfort?"

  "I know where to find him. He has a house in St. Giles. I'm known there, so if you will supply me with a horse, and some earnest money, I can have him and his men at The Blue Boar to capture Partridge… You will have Mel within a few hours."

  When Linton didn't respond, Hexham went on. "£5000 is for me and £5000 is for Bousfort."

  Linton knew he could argue. But what if Mel were harmed? The fact that Hexham wanted money reassured him that the man was confident in Bousfort's abilities to capture Partridge and find Mel. "I will get the money."

  He gave the or
ders to his coachman to return home.

  At Linton House, Linton saw Hexham supplied with a horse and several hundred pounds. He ordered two grooms to accompany the man. "You will wait for Captain Lord Hexham outside St. Giles. Don't enter the rookeries," he warned them.

  Then Linton called for his man of business and tasked him with obtaining £10,000 in banknotes. He hoped he wasn't being a fool.

  13. The carriage

  She had been abducted.

  Melly landed heavily on the floor of the carriage. She had the wits to throw her arms up to protect her head when thrown into the carriage, but her shins had hit the iron steps. Blinding pain flared through her.

  For a moment she was too stunned to move.

  When she realized where she was, all she felt was pain. Her stomach hurt. She gasped for breath, and struggled with disbelief. Surely this couldn't happen?

  Despite the pain, she managed to sit up. "Help!" Melly tried to scream, but the word emerged no louder than a whisper.

  "Up you get missy!" The large man leaned into the carriage and without ceremony grabbed a hunk of her hair.

  He climbed in while still holding her hair.

  Melly's eyes watered at the pain. Before she could comprehend what he was doing, he'd hoisted her up onto the seat.

  He sat opposite, glared at her, and slammed the door. "Let's be off!" He roared.

  Melly shuddered. Tears ran down her face. She rubbed her head with one hand and her shin with the other, realizing that he was the man who'd pulled her off Daisy. He filled the seat opposite her, and she could smell him. He was her mother's age, his tattooed face was round like the moon.

  "Why?" She managed, bracing herself against the side of the carriage as the carriage jolted, then moved forward. Where was he taking her?

  He braced himself against the motion and pulled down the shades. "Sit there quietly, and I'll not tie you up, for now. But make no mistake, I'll truss you like a Christmas goose if you don't sit still."

  She narrowed her gaze at him as awareness of her situation arose. "Why?" She asked again. She was sure she didn't know this man. He had to be a seaman. She'd heard of tattoos, but she had never seen them before.

  When Melly realized that she was staring, she looked away. "I'm not an heiress," she said, her voice stronger. Heiresses were abducted, and she wasn't an heiress. Perhaps the man didn't know that.

  His voice was a deep rumble. "You're Miss Eardley, miss. Sit quietly now. No harm will come to you."

  So he knew her. But why was she here? Her hope that he had mistaken her for someone else died. Suddenly she remembered and looked up. "My horse… What have you done with my horse?"

  "I'm not a horse thief — I don't want your horse," he said stiffly, as if she had insulted him. "Be quiet now. We mean you no harm, miss. All you need to do is be calm and quiet. You'll be back with your family before long."

  She curled herself into a corner of the carriage. She had to escape.

  But how? She looked at the carriage door — could she open it?

  Slowly, her breathing became easier. The pain in her shins dulled, until it was just a persistent ache. She tried to think. Poor Daisy was free in the park. Henry would find her, and would wonder what had happened to her. What if Daisy bolted out of the park, and was lost? Or injured herself?

  The man was still watching her. "You must release me," she said. "My sister is still in the park, she will be very concerned."

  "Stop worrying about your horse and your sister, miss. And that door — I can see you looking at it — you've no hope of escape… Calm yourself. All will be well. Just rest yourself — you'll come to no harm." He looked down.

  Melly suddenly realized that her legs were visible to him. She adjusted the skirt of her riding habit hastily, and sat up so she could brace her feet on the floor of the carriage.

  As her shock faded, so did her fear. Her temper arose. She knew that she couldn't fight him, at least not in the confined space of the carriage. Not could she leave the carriage. He'd be on her if she reached for the door handle. He was at least twice her size. But she would get away from him, and she would make him suffer.

  Henry would be frightened, as would Daisy. And her mother, when she learned what had happened.

  Why would he abduct her? He'd been a seaman, but he didn't speak roughly. A gentleman, then. Or perhaps he'd been a servant to a gentleman… Someone had hired him, and his cronies, to snatch her in the park.

  "I insist that you tell me who has put you up to this — you are being paid, are you not?"

  He compressed his lips, folded his arms, and glared at her.

  "What's your name?" She asked.

  He didn't respond.

  "Very well, if you're frightened of giving me your name, I will call you Mr. Smith."

  "I'm not frightened. I'll tell you my name, and much good it may do you — you may call me Peter."

  "Whatever you've been promised, I can pay you more. Tell me how much you're being paid, and my family will double the amount, if you take me to Grosvenor Square."

  "Be quiet, ma'am. You can't bargain with me."

  With one part of her mind, Melly paid attention to activity in the streets outside the carriage. At this hour of the morning, carts and drays predominated, with a few carriages, and fewer solitary riders.

  Where were they taking her?

  "A blindfold, miss." Peter showed her a handful of blue material. "I need to put this on you now. Sit forward, and I'll sit beside you — just for a moment — so that I can tie it on. I give you my word you will not be harmed."

  Her eyes widened. "No!" She couldn't allow him to blindfold her. Her terror returned. She began to shake.

  He shook his head at her. "Settle yourself," he growled. "Remember the Christmas goose?" His deep voice grated. "Want me to bind you?"

  Melly inhaled deeply. He meant it. Her heart dropped to her stomach. She swallowed hard.

  "You won't be harmed," he repeated.

  What choice did she have?

  He moved quickly for such a large man, sat beside her, and before she knew it, he'd tied the scarf around her head. It smelled of tobacco.

  The carriage tilted as he moved back to sit opposite her. "Just a few minutes more."

  "What will you do with me?"

  "I've said you'll not be harmed, miss. You'll have a decent room, and food. You will be safe…" He paused. "When we get our money, you will be released."

  He was lying. Melly forced herself to be calm. She knew he had lied to her about the money, but why was he lying?

  Finally the carriage stopped. She heard the horses snort, and stamp on cobblestones.

  "We're here. We'll go inside the house. I'll ask you not to scream… It's not an area where anyone would pay attention — I will carry you inside if you make a fuss."

  The carriage lurched when he climbed out. "Here — take my hand."

  She didn't have a choice. He didn't let her use the carriage steps, he lifted her out of the carriage as if she weighed nothing at all. Then he took her arm, and guided her, telling her where to lift her feet, so that she could go up the steps.

  The sea. She smelled the sea. She heard voices, and laughter too — the clink and creak of harness, and heavy hoofbeats of a team pulling a heavy load. They were at an inn, close to water, she realized.

  Now they were inside. She inhaled the stale aroma of cabbage, ale, and sweat. Definitely an inn.

  "Upstairs… Here." He turned her, and unknotted the scarf.

  A kitchen, with a large table, a fire in the hearth, but no one with whom she could plead for aid. She had no time to look around. He took her arm, and shoved her towards stairs.

  She stumbled up them, despite the pain in her shins. Then a landing, and another flight of stairs.

  He dragged her along a dark hall, and opened a door.

  A large hand in the middle of her back pushed her inside.

  "I need to leave, but I will return. You'll have food, and no one will troub
le you… but Miss Eardley, the two men I leave in charge of you are uncouth and not —" He hesitated. "They will not trouble you, but do not make a fuss of any kind… They will not take kindly to it."

  She looked around the small room. A bed, a small table, and a chair. "You're leaving me?" She asked. She didn't know why that upset her, but it did.

  "Yes. I need to make some arrangements." He stood in the doorway. "You'll be calm, and quiet while I'm away, miss. As I say, no one will disturb you — unless you start shrieking. We can't have that."

  "When will you release me?"

  "Well — when I'm paid?" He sounded amused.

  Again she had the sense that he was lying. She longed to slap him. "But how long?"

  He washed his face with his hands. "Not long."

  She stared at the door as he closed it. Then she heard the key turn in the lock. Waiting for a moment, until she heard her abductor on the stairs, she tried the door. It didn't open.

  When terror threatened to overcome her, she forced herself to relax, and to breathe… She had to avoid panic.

  At least the room was clean, but it was small. Within four steps, she'd reached the small window.

  The inn

  The window looked out over the back of the inn.

  Melly took off her gloves and tucked them into her belt. She pressed her fingertips against the glass and peered through it. A dray had just pulled in to the inn's yard. Beyond the dray, she saw a stable with a horse looking out over a loose box, and other outbuildings, including a small lean-to, alongside.

  Horses! With a horse, she could escape.

  She fumbled with the skirts of her riding habit. Her pen knife was in her pocket, and she blessed Catherine for it.

  Catherine had always insisted that she and her sisters keep a pen knife with them at all times, most especially when they went riding.

  "Horses are dangerous," Catherine had said. "You never know what they will do. If you're tossed and can't get your foot out of your stirrup – you need a way to cut yourself free."