Stolen Encounters with the Duchess

by Julia Justiss

  At his nod, the second man hauled Evers upright. The leader reached out to grip Randall’s shoulder with one large paw, his hold punishing enough that Randall cried out. Leaning closer, he said, ‘Had to sympathise, ya see. Got a daughter of me own—prettiest thing a man ever laid eyes on. So pretty, a fancy man tried to snatch her for a bawdy house. I ’bout lost my mind when I found her missing, but with the Lord’s blessing, I found her right quick. And that fancy man? Well, he won’t be snatching no more girls, ever again.’

  ‘No names!’ Evers agreed, his voice pleading. ‘Just let me go. I’ll pay you! And I’ll leave the bitch alone, I promise!’

  ‘Here, now, show the lady some respect!’ the first man said, nodding to the second man, who punched Evers again.

  This time, Lord Randall didn’t try to stand back up, but remained cowering on the ground. Between Evers’s sobs, the first man continued, ‘Don’t want your mama’s money. Don’t believe a muckworm’s promises, neither. No, we’ll have a little agreement, jes’ between me ’n’ you. You’ll take those winnings Aphrodite’s Dice allowed you tonight, and leave London. Go far away as you can get. I hear Calais is a good town for cheap living and high play. And you’ll stay there a good long while. Till my agitation with you simmers down. Understand?’

  He nodded to the second man, who hauled Randall back to his feet. ‘I understand,’ Randall sobbed. ‘Leave London, tonight. Won’t come back.’

  ‘That’s right. Good to know even a muckworm like you has some sense. But just in case you get to thinking, after we drop you at that lodging house to get your spare duds, that maybe instead of leaving, you’ll go complain to your mama, or the constable, or some such, remember this. We knew where to find you tonight. When a man don’t pay his valet, or his servants, or any what provide him with coats and hats and boots and such, there’s a lot of folk eager to tell whatever you want, to get a few coins back on what’s owed them. If you don’t leave London, I’ll know, and the next time I toss you in the water, there’ll be a rock in that sack with you. Doubt anyone will miss you, ’ceptin them what you owe money to. Now, think you can remember that?’

  ‘Yes,’ Randall gasped. ‘Please, just let me go!’

  ‘Dunno,’ the man said, his tone considering. ‘Not sure your memory’s that good. Mebbe need another dunking to strengthen it some.’ At his wave, the second man knocked Randall to the ground and started dragging him back towards the Serpentine.

  ‘No, please!’ Randall screamed, struggling futilely in the confining sack. ‘I’ll remember. I’ll leave tonight!’

  At his leader’s nod, the second man halted. The leader walked over to where Evers struggled on the ground and knelt next to him.

  ‘Sure you’ll remember? No more trouble for the lady? No recriminations for my mate?’

  ‘No! Nothing! I hope I never lay eyes on either of them again.’

  ‘Ah, yes—yer eyes. Now, if after a time you should come to think, from the safety of whatever rat’s nest you run to, that you might send yer money back to London and try to get someone to find me, save the coins. Oh, someone’d take them, all right. But you’d get nothing else for them. I’m a rather well-connected gent in certain parts; you have no power and no influence there. If you was to want to come back and settle up yerself—now, that’s a meeting I’d relish. Got lots of sacks, and there’s plenty of lonely riverbank. But I don’t think you’re up to that. Better you just take your winnings and get your miserable muckworm self out of London tonight, and stay gone.’

  ‘I’ll go. I’ll stay gone. Just take me away now!’

  ‘Sure you don’t need a little more water cure to help your memory?’

  ‘No, no, I’m sure! Please! Just let me go!’

  When Randall stopped to take a breath, the leader said, ‘Very well. Being a fair man, I’ll give you a chance to hold up your end of the bargain.’ He clapped his hands, summoning the coachman, who dismounted and came running.

  ‘Take him to his lodgings,’ he told the second man. ‘And keep watch. Don’t report back until you know he’s left London.’

  While Randall moaned and whimpered, the second man and the coachman half-led, half-carried him to the carriage, dragged him up the step, and tossed him in. After securing the door, the two men scrambled back up on the box, and a moment later, the coach drove off.

  Once it was well away, the leader walked over to where Davie waited in the shadows. ‘Where do the toffs come up with such scum?’ he asked. ‘Right tempted to toss him in the water again and leave him.’

  ‘Glad you didn’t,’ Davie said. ‘I wanted him cowed, not murdered. Though I doubt anyone but his mama would miss him, doing away even with a reprobate like Evers would cause too many problems. My conscience would have required me to fish him out, and I’d have been hard-pressed to make myself do it.’

  ‘Never can tell for sure, but I think he’s gone for good. I’ll have Jack watch him for a week or so, and keep Hines posted.’

  ‘He’ll write his mama and beg for more money, once what they let him win tonight runs out,’ Davie said. ‘But I don’t think he’ll be back to make accusations. Sadly, there are too many other women in the world for a man with money to bother, to keep pursuing just one, especially after you made him such a convincing case for moving on. Thank you.’

  Davie held out his hand, and the leader shook it.

  ‘Figure what I owe you for the gaming hell, the carriage, your men, and the surveillance, and let Hines know.’

  ‘Some for the lads and the gambling house, but nothing for me,’ the man said. ‘Putting the fear of God into him was my pleasure. Wasn’t bamming when I told him about me daughter. Wish I could bag up all the varmints that prey on females and toss ’em in the river! Good luck to you and your lady. You’ll be getting us common men our day in Parliament soon, right?’

  ‘I will keep pressing for it,’ Davie promised. Tipping his hat to Hine’s operative, he walked back to his horse, while the man disappeared into the night like the phantom he was.

  Reasonably sure that Randall had been dealt with for good, Davie rode back towards Albany, as satisfied with the results of the night’s manoeuvrings as he could be, without having been permitted the satisfaction of personally planting a few blows in the middle of Lord Randall’s smirking face.

  Now he had a more delicate task to accomplish: figuring out how to tell Faith what he’d done, and convincing her to visit Sarah until he was sure his ploy had permanently removed the threat of Lord Randall.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Encouraged by a note from Hines confirming that Lord Randall had indeed left London that night, followed by a second indicating their man had watched Evers boarding a packet bound for Calais, Davie was able to curb his impatience to see Faith again until a favourable opportunity arose. Which it did in the afternoon three days later, when he learned from Giles that the ladies were going to call on an elderly peer, an old friend of Lady Maggie’s father, who’d turned over his estate to his son and lived in a grace and favour apartment at Hampton Court.

  ‘Are you going to escort Maggie there?’ Davie asked.

  ‘Yes. Maggie and the Duchess will go to charm Lord Harvey, and I’ll come along to provide any details he may demand about the legislation. His lordship’s not as healthy or vigorous as he once was, but still takes an interest in Parliamentary doings, Maggie said. With the vote to come next week, we need to involve as many peers as possible.’

  ‘Sure he’ll vote with us?’

  ‘Maggie says he’s a realist. If we can convince him the vote must pass, he’ll want to have a part in doing what will prevent further unrest and distress in the country.’

  ‘Do you mind if I accompany you?’

  Giles studied him for a moment. ‘Wouldn’t it be better if you did not?’

  ‘Not this time. I have some info
rmation of a...confidential nature for the Duchess that shouldn’t be trusted to a note. The visit to Lord Harvey will allow me to convey it to her personally, upon an occasion in which our meeting will not excite any comment.’

  ‘This “confidential information” is related to the “business” you were so keen to take care of several days ago? Which, I assume, prospered, since you’ve seemed much more your normal self since then.’

  ‘Yes, and, yes.’ Davie gave him a wry smile. ‘Thank you for trusting me on this, and making no attempt to pry. And especially for not making any mention of it in front of Christopher and Ben, who would have no compunction about pressing the matter.’

  Giles nodded. ‘I figured if the Hellions could be of any help, you’d ask, and if we couldn’t, it was none of our business. Especially as it seemed to relate to the Duchess.’ He hesitated. ‘Do you...have some notion of what you envision for that association?’

  ‘There’s where I’d wish it to go, and where it will likely end,’ Davie admitted.

  Giles clapped a hand on his shoulder. ‘If there’s anything I can do...’

  ‘Noted. When do we meet the ladies?’

  Giles consulted the mantel clock. ‘We’d best leave now. The Duchess was to take tea with Maggie at Upper Brook Street, with our carriage ordered to come around after.’

  Anticipation and trepidation rising in equal measure at the idea of seeing Faith soon, Davie rose with Giles and went to get his hat and coat. Some time after the meeting, he’d ask Faith to walk with him in the gardens.

  It had better be a long walk, he thought wryly. Because after he confessed what he’d done, she might hand him his congé this very afternoon.

  * * *

  When they joined the ladies at Upper Brook Street, the light that sparked in Faith’s eyes and the warmth of her smile at his unexpected appearance soothed the ever-present ache in his heart with an uplift of joy. Driving deep the hunger to touch and taste her that also leapt to the forefront the moment he saw her, he tried to convince himself he could be satisfied by a life where he met her only as a friend.

  ‘Mr Smith! What a surprise!’ she said, coming over to him as Giles and Maggie shared a hug.

  Wistfully wishing he had the freedom to share the same with Faith, he said, ‘Not an unwelcome one, I hope.’

  ‘Indeed not! I’m so pleased you’ll be joining our little expedition this afternoon.’

  ‘You’ve been well, I trust?’ he asked, knowing that Lord Randall had not been around to bother her, and hoping that she’d been able to suppress her anxiety over the threat he posed. ‘You look more rested than when I saw you last.’

  After this afternoon, she would have no more reason to lose sleep. The certain knowledge that he had eliminated for good the threat posed by her brother-in-law made it worthwhile to have acted without her knowledge or approval, even if it created a breach between them.

  Her safety was more important than anything else.

  ‘Yes, thankfully, there have been no...disturbances these last few days.’

  ‘Shall we go?’ Maggie turned to ask. ‘I told Lord Harvey in my note that we’d be there in time for a late tea. So many of his generation have already passed, he doesn’t get many visitors, so I know he’ll be waiting for us.’

  ‘Then let us leave at once,’ Faith said. ‘We’ll find an opportunity to talk later, Mr Smith?’

  ‘Certainly. Perhaps we might stroll in the garden after the business is complete, to give Maggie some time for a private chat with Lord Harvey?’

  Faith’s eyes brightened. ‘We could walk in the maze! I haven’t wandered through it since I was a child, but I remember being enchanted by it. Although, you are so tall, you may be able to see over the hedges.’

  ‘I’ve never been; you must show it to me. I promise not to peek and spoil the suspense.’

  With that, the ladies collected gloves and wraps and descended to the carriage. Thinking it wiser to avoid the temptation of sitting beside Faith—and any potential awkwardness on the drive back, if she should be furious with him—Davie chose to make the transit on horseback. Not wishing to mar even this limited contact being impatient or anxious, he forced his sense of urgency beneath the surface. Once they were out of the congestion of the city, he rode beside the carriage, keeping up a running conversation with the denizens of the coach, as he had when he’d escorted Faith and her sons to Lady Englemere’s.

  The day being warm and pleasant, the trip was enjoyable, with autumn wildflowers nodding beside the lanes and just a touch of chill in the air to warn of the approaching change of season. Their vehicle and Davie’s horse dispatched to grooms at the palace, they proceeded to the apartment occupied by Lord Harvey, where they found the genial gentleman and tea awaiting them.

  After introductions were made all around, the ladies launched into their mission of charming the elderly peer, accomplishing it so successfully that Giles’s announcement of the radical changes about to happen in Parliament drew nothing stronger than an exclamation of surprise from Lord Harvey. As Giles presented the major points, he asked a series of sharp, penetrating questions that made Maggie remark with a laugh that she was glad the more knowledgeable gentlemen had accompanied them.

  Content to let Giles explain their position, Davie curbed his impatience to get Faith alone and simply appreciated the joy of being around her, watching her with even more than his usual intensity.

  The enquiring angle of her head as she listened to Lord Harvey pose a question, or Giles answer it, reminded him again of that summer of debate they’d shared. So full of dreams and purpose they’d been, he thrilled that Sir Edward’s patronage would allow him to take part in turning his ideas for a new England into reality, she giddy with anticipation to enter the adult world.

  She was just as lovely as she’d been that summer, a girl poised on the brink of becoming a woman. She still lit up the room, and his heart, with her smile. But the struggles of her marriage and the responsibility of motherhood had created layers of reserve and complexity that made the woman even more fascinating than the girl. After enduring heartache, disappointment, and disparagement, she’d raised that little chin, and with a militant sparkle in her eyes, ultimately refused to be defeated by the neglect of her husband, the disapproval of society, the criticism of her mother-in-law—or the crude threats of a reprobate.

  Which just emphasised the need for him to be eloquent this afternoon. His newly confident Faith wouldn’t be dictated to, or metaphorically patted on the head and told what he’d done without her approval was for the best. He would need to persuade her that his actions had been well thought out, fitting—and effective—in order to preserve her trust.

  Would he be persuasive enough?

  With tea consumed, Lord Harvey having reached the end of his questions and the personal chat between their host and Lady Maggie beginning, he was about to find out.

  ‘Shall we have that walk now, Mr Smith?’ Faith asked, turning to him, obviously eager to begin the stroll he both anticipated—and dreaded. He absolutely hated to spoil their precious time together bringing up something that was sure to make her angry. But he’d rather have her distressed with him, than to have stood by and done nothing as she’d begged him to, and have her still at the mercy of the infamous Lord Randall.

  Wraps and coats collected, they exited Lord Harvey’s apartment and strolled across the palace grounds to the entrance to the maze.

  ‘Isn’t it lovely?’ Faith exclaimed, examining the handsome stand of boxwood at the entrance. ‘I don’t think even you will be able to see over it, Davie.’ Taking his arm, she said, ‘Though it would be amusing to discover who could solve the key and reach the centre first, I simply can’t bear for us to part, and waste this opportunity to be alone, far from prying eyes and listening ears!’

  ‘I doubt we’ll be overheard, though we might
still be observed from the upper storeys of the palace,’ Davie noted. With her perfume infiltrating his nose and the touch of her hand on his sleeve setting his body into a full clamour for more, he was struggling to keep her enchanting presence from distracting him from the serious matter he had to discuss.

  ‘The trees will block the view—or well enough. Oh, Davie, it’s so good to be with you again!’ Taking his arm with both hands, she marched him at a quick step down the first avenue and around the corner, into the sheltering walls of the maze.

  And then before he was aware what she intended, she reached up and pulled his head down for a kiss.

  Desire incinerated surprise the instant her lips touched his. Prudence, discretion, the confession he was about to make—all cindered as well, as his whole universe narrowed to the woman pressing her lips to his.

  He wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close, sighing as the softness of her bosom contacted his chest. Though he was so starved for the taste of her, he wanted to possess and plunder, he kept himself still, letting her set the pace.

  And discovered there was something intensely erotic about letting her initiate and probe and explore, opening his mouth only when she demanded entry, meeting her tongue with his only after she sought it out. Her little gasps and sighs filling him with a tenderness almost as vast as the passion they inspired, he opened to her as she pressed deeper, the vibrations created by the sensuous plush of her tongue rubbing his so intense, he thought he might reach his peak from her kisses alone.

  Devil take it, how he wanted her! So much, he blessed this narrow walk, bordered on either side by nothing more comfortable than evergreen shrubbery, else he might lose all control and take her right here, right now. But her artless passion deserved wine, and wooing, and fine linen sheets, and hours in which to show her how much he desired and cherished her.