‘I still wonder why your father was so keen for you not to make an advantageous marriage,’ Olivia said. ‘It makes absolutely no sense.’
‘If I ever see him again, I shall ask him. All I know is that I was stranded in my grief with a baby and the small amount of money I had put aside.’ She sighed. ‘As you say, Eva, had it not been for Charles’s kind intervention, I don’t know how I would have managed.’
Olivia stood. ‘We have allowed the gentlemen quite long enough to interrogate those horrible people who took your son, Megan,’ she said. ‘Let’s go down and make them tell us what they have learned and what they intend to do with that information.’
‘But Sebastian.’ Megan hesitated. ‘I ought to…I don’t like to‒’
‘I understand.’ Olivia linked her arm through Megan’s. ‘He will be perfectly safe in here. This place is like a fortress. But to set your mind at rest we shall have a maid stay and keep watch over him.’
‘I expect you think I am being foolish.’
‘What we think is that you’re torn between wanting to guard your son yourself and learning what just transpired in the cellars,’ Eva surmised. ‘This way you can do both.’
‘You are very kind, both of you.’ Tears of gratitude swamped Megan’s eyes. ‘Thank you so very much.’
Chapter Five
Jake led the gentlemen back to the drawing room, having interrogated Faulk and his slovenly common law wife at length. It quickly became apparent that the couple were survivors. They realised that Jake held their fate in his hands and it took little encouragement to elicit all the information they possessed about those who had ordered the child’s abduction. It was precious little.
‘What did you make of them?’ Jake asked, directing his question to all three of his companions.
‘They told the truth, which is probably a rarity for them.’ It was Parker who answered him. ‘But we don’t know much more than we did in the first place.’
‘We do know they were given Lady Cantrell’s description and told where she lived,’ Charles said. ‘Which means I was right to suppose I must have inadvertently led the kidnappers to her lodgings. She has had no other visitors and didn’t give her real name to the landlady.’
‘You were not to know,’ Isaac said.
Charles let out a frustrated howl. ‘Perhaps not, but I knew she wouldn’t be safe and should have insisted that she hid herself better.’
‘She most likely wouldn’t have heeded your advice,’ Isaac replied. ‘We all of us underestimated Arabella’s determination to get rid of her and the baby, always assuming that Arabella Cantrell is the mastermind—which I for one can easily believe.’
‘I agree,’ Jake said. ‘I didn’t think she would be desperate enough to take this kind of risk. She would have been better advised to declare any proof that Megan produced of her marriage and Sebastian’s legitimacy as an elaborate forgery.’
‘Presuming that all the gentry in India who knew the truth would disapprove of Luke’s recklessness and side with her?’ Parker opined with an indignant sniff. ‘Closing ranks and protecting their own, in other words.’
‘Quite. We know Faulk was promised two guineas to snatch Sebastian and make him disappear,’ Jake said, steering the conversation back on course.
‘But had only been paid half in advance,’ Isaac pointed out. ‘Someone didn’t trust them.’
Jake raised a brow. ‘Would you?’
Isaac grimaced. ‘Good point.’
‘They couldn’t have known that Lady Cantrell would venture into the market that morning,’ Charles said.
Jake nodded. ‘Indeed not, but it was reasonable for him to suppose that she would have to show herself eventually, if only to purchase food and milk for the child. And since the market was on her doorstep, it was the obvious place for her to go.’
‘Faulk must have been watching her house then, damn his impudence!’ Charles surmised. ‘Had she come out alone, one must suppose he would have sneaked into the house and grabbed the child. But she emerged with Sebastian so he deliberately picked a fight with a stallholder he knew bore him a grudge, creating the distraction necessary for his wife to snatch the baby and melt into the crowd with him.’
‘Now we need to identify the person who put them up to it, and hopefully that person will have a connection to Arabella Cantrell,’ Jake said, frowning. ‘Faulk doesn’t know the person who approached him, or so he says. Actually, I believe him. They wouldn’t be stupid enough to have him deal with anyone he was acquainted with in case something went wrong. Faulk isn’t to be trusted and would point a finger at them to save his own hide, if it came to it.’
‘Do you mean to let them go, Jake, and trust that they won’t double-cross us?’ Isaac asked.
‘That’s Charles’s decision, or rather Lady Cantrell’s, but I would recommend it. I don’t think Faulk is stupid enough to go against us. He hasn’t remained out of gaol all these years without being awake on all suits. Besides, he’ll be watched every second of every day and we will know who he speaks to.’
‘Who will be watched?’ Olivia asked, leading the ladies into the room.
‘Ah, there you are. We wondered what had become of you.’ He smiled at his beloved, his spirits always lifted by the sight of her. ‘I trust your son is comfortable and everything he needs has been found,’ he added, transferring his attention to Lady Cantrell.
‘Thank you, my lord, yes. He is fed, bathed and clothed and now sleeps peacefully.’
‘And we have been quizzing Megan about the pleasures of life in India,’ Olivia added.
Jake rolled his eyes. ‘I didn’t for a moment doubt that you would.’
The ladies took seats and Jake related the substance of the conversation that had just taken place between him and the other gentlemen.
‘Someone Faulk didn’t know offered him two guineas to snatch Megan’s son.’ Olivia shook her head. ‘How did they know he wouldn’t just pocket the money and disappear?’
‘They only paid him half,’ Charles reminded her. ‘He was to receive the remainder upon proof that he had followed instructions. A guinea is a small fortune to such a person.’
‘That still doesn’t explain how that someone was connected to the Cantrells, and it must be the Cantrells behind this since no one else would profit from the new earl’s disappearance. So how did people in such an elevated position know about Faulk? Their paths would never cross.’
‘People of Faulk’s ilk are easy to identify,’ Jake replied. ‘Parker tells me the house he lives in is derelict and overcrowded. Yet Faulk has secured the basement for his sole occupation and no one has attempted to take it from him. Joseph Cantrell probably found him through someone connected to him.’
‘That I can believe.’ Olivia nodded. ‘As for Faulk, he has a reputation—for violence presumably—that causes other paupers to leave him be?’
‘That is the conclusion that Parker reached and I tend to agree. Even with the disadvantage of being confined to my cellars, there is still a cockiness about him that rankles.’
‘Your cellars are a considerable improvement upon his customary living arrangements,’ Charles pointed out.
‘What are your recommendations, Lord Torbay?’ Lady Cantrell asked.
‘It seems to me that Olivia is in the right of it. Only your husband’s family has reason to fear your son’s existence, and they will have protected themselves beneath several layers of intermediaries. For the time being, with your approval, I suggest that we allow them to think they have succeeded in ridding themselves of Sebastian.’
Lady Cantrell swallowed but otherwise didn’t flinch, showing flashes of the determined young woman who had, according to Charles, defied her father’s wishes and married the man she had fallen in love with. ‘Yes, that would be best,’ she said with a decisive nod.
‘Then we shall go ahead. Faulk tells me he is to leave a message in a tavern close to his dwelling when the deed has been done. The person who asked him to ca
rry it out will then meet him that same evening to pay him off.’
‘What if he requires proof?’ Olivia asked. ‘I wouldn’t take Faulk’s word for anything.’
‘Perhaps that’s why they kept the baby’s clothes,’ Charles suggested. ‘They are too good a quality to have come from one of the second hand clothes stalls, which is the only source available to the likes of Faulk.’
‘Very likely,’ Olivia conceded.
‘They will know if they ask questions in the market that you lost your child, Lady Cantrell. They will also watch your lodgings and know that you and Sebastian have not returned to them,’ Charles said.
‘Won’t they wonder where I now am?’ Lady Cantrell asked.
‘If they are watching that carefully, they will assume you are combing London in an effort to find your son, I expect,’ Olivia said.
‘Quite.’ Jake inclined his head. ‘It is the instinct that would drive most mothers in that situation.’ He paused for a moment, trying to decide if he had overlooked anything significant. There was a great deal more to be said, and some of it would alarm Lady Cantrell, so now was not the time. ‘I would prefer that the Cantrells didn’t know that you are with us,’ he said. ‘As long as they think you are alone and unprotected, they will feel as though they have the upper hand, and will be less cautious as a consequence.’
‘Yes, I suppose they will.’
‘Franklin remained behind at Faulk’s dwelling,’ Parker told the ladies. ‘We were concerned that it would be invaded by those anxious for a roof over their heads once they saw the door had been kicked in and that Faulk had disappeared.’
‘How sensible of Franklin,’ Olivia said.
‘He is arranging for the door to be fixed and keeping guard from inside until the Faulks return.’
‘You don’t trust them, Jake?’
Jake smiled at Olivia’s question. ‘Not an inch. Parker will arrange for them to be followed everywhere they go. If they sneeze we shall know it.’
Parker had his own network of trustworthy Londoners who were anxious to earn a few extra shillings when called upon to assist with Jake’s nefarious vigilante activities. Shifts of paupers would watch Faulk, blending in with their surroundings and making it almost impossible for them to be spotted.
‘Then by all means, Lord Torbay, release the Faulks and let’s see where they lead us.’
Jake inclined his head in acknowledgement of Lady Cantrell’s decision and indicated to Parker that he should put the necessary arrangements in place.
‘Time is getting on,’ Jake said, glancing at the long clock in the corner of the room as it struck the half-hour. ‘I trust you will all accept my invitation to dine here this evening and we will be at leisure to discuss the matter further.’
‘Thank you, Jake.’ Isaac smiled. ‘For our part, we should be delighted. Come, my dear,’ he added, taking Eva’s arm. ‘We shall return to Brook Street to change and return at the appropriate hour.’
‘I…I cannot‒’ Lady Cantrell glanced down at her scruffy gown and shook her head. ‘You must excuse me, my lord, but‒’
‘Nonsense!’ Olivia said briskly. ‘Come back to Cheyne Walk with me now. We will establish Sebastian in the nursery, find you something suitable to wear and come back to enjoy the fruits of Jake’s chef’s labours.’
‘It would be better not to argue with Olivia,’ Charles said, smiling. ‘She is an unstoppable force when she makes up her mind on a particular course.’
‘Well then, thank you. If you are sure it will be no inconvenience.’
‘None whatsoever,’ Jake assured her.
‘Let me help you with Sebastian,’ Charles said, leaving the room with Lady Cantrell. ‘Excuse us, Olivia. We shall be but a moment.’
Alone with his beloved, Jake fixed her with a resigned look. ‘I suppose it would be pointless trying to persuade you and Lady Cantrell to remain here until this business in settled. You will be much safer and I won’t have to worry about you getting caught up in the danger if the Cantrells somehow track your new friend down to your residence.’
‘You seem to forget that you trained me personally and that I am able to look after myself.’
‘And you seem to forget that you are carrying my child.’
‘Never!’ She stood on her toes and covered Jake’s lips with her own. ‘I can see the sense in your suggestion and I might have been tempted to abide by it, but for the trifling difficulty of our engagement being announced in tomorrow’s newspapers.’
Jake shook his head, smiling. ‘It makes not the slightest difference.’
‘Use your sense, Jake. We will be inundated with callers, both here and at Cheyne Walk, offering congratulations and more anxious to pick up the gossip behind our rush to the altar. If I am never at home but always here it will fuel the flames of the gossips’ fire. I don’t care for myself but I do care for your sake. You have already suffered the backlash created by spiteful tongues when your brother died and you unexpectedly acceded to the earldom. Now you are marrying a notorious woman and I don’t want that to tarnish your reputation.’
Jake wanted to tell her that he didn’t give a damn what society said about him but knew it was a subject upon which she was deaf to the voice of reason. Megan Cantrell’s problems had rejuvenated her insofar as they had taken her mind off of the difficulties that only she was creating regarding their union.
‘Infuriating woman!’ Jake pinched the bridge of his nose and conceded defeat. ‘Have it your way. But only if you agree to take Franklin with you and retain his services until this is over.’
‘You are being over-protective again,’ she said impatiently. ‘You forget that I still have Finch, whom you refuse to take back. My house is not large to accommodate another guardian. Besides, Finch is perfectly capable of keeping us all safe.’
‘Don’t try my patience, my sweet. You must take Franklin or I will not permit you to leave.’
‘You will not permit…’
Jake tried not to laugh at her predictable indignation. She was never lovelier than when incensed. Her bosom heaved, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glistened with such sensual disobedience that if she didn’t adjust her expression she would soon have more problems to contend with than a difference of opinion about her domestic arrangements. There was only so much provocation a man could take.
‘I would feel better knowing Franklin was there,’ Jake said with a calmness in direct variance with her growing exasperation. ‘Think of the baby, if not yourself. If Faulk does double-cross us and the Cantrells learn that Sebastian’s still alive, and if they find out where he is…’
‘That’s an awful lot of ifs, Jake.’
‘They are desperate to be rid of the child and appalled at having a girl from the middle-classes thrust into the bosom of their family. It would be unwise to underestimate that desperation.’
She let out a slow breath as she cocked her head to one side, a slight frown creasing her brow as she regarded him with misgiving. She was right to be suspicious. Much as he wished to protect Lady Cantrell and her son, his primary concern was for Olivia’s safety. ‘Very well,’ she said abruptly. ‘If you will insist upon imprisoning me in my own home then I suppose Franklin had better come too.’
‘Very graciously put.’ With his patience exhausted Jake pulled her roughly into his arms. ‘Perdition, Olivia, why do I never get you to myself, and when I do, why do we always seem to fight one another?’
‘Because you like me to challenge you. You have had quite enough of sycophants to last you a lifetime. If I had followed their example, you wouldn’t have spared me a second glance.’
‘Ha!’
‘And as to not seeing me, you will become sick of the sight of me once we are married.’
She leaned into him in anticipation of receiving his kiss. Jake obliged but was forced to make it brief because he heard footsteps approaching the room.
‘Lady Cantrell is ready to leave,’ Charles said from the doorway, standing behi
nd the lady in question as she cradled the drowsy child in her arms.
‘The carriage is ready,’ Jake told them.
He went to the door with Olivia and Lady Cantrell and handed Olivia into the conveyance himself. Charles performed the same service for Lady Cantrell.
‘Until later,’ Jake said, raising a hand as the carriage moved off with Franklin, who had recently returned to Grosvenor Square, on the box seat beside the driver.
***
Olivia smiled at Megan as the carriage made the short journey to her own establishment. The markets and shops had closed but the dinner procession had not yet started so the streets were relatively quiet and they were not delayed.
‘Here we are,’ Olivia said when the conveyance rattled to a halt outside her front door. She was not as unconcerned about Megan’s presence in her establishment being detected as she had implied to Jake. If the Cantrells had made the connection to Charles, it wouldn’t take them long to recall that he was a close friend of Jake’s. And Jake had earned a reputation as a champion of lost causes, even if that put him at odds with his own class.
Especially when it did that...
Be that as it may, Jake must be made to understand that she would not be mollycoddled just because she was carrying his child. He ought to know by now that she could not abide having her wings clipped.
‘It’s not nearly as grand as Jake’s home, I’m afraid,’ Olivia added, ‘but I am very attached to it and shall be sorry in some ways to give it up.’
‘It looks delightful,’ Megan said, alighting from the coach and glancing up at the three-storeyed house.
Olivia followed the direction of her gaze, not seeing the elegant façade, the sparkling windows or the freshly painted railings protecting the steps down to the basement. Instead she saw the comfortable home that she would be reluctant to leave. Following the parody of her first marriage, Olivia had vowed never to make the same mistake again. She had the means to support herself in her widowhood, but the moment she laid eyes on the dashing earl everything had changed. She wondered at first if that had been because she was beholden to him for rescuing her from a near certain appointment with the hangman, but hours of speculation following her acquittal had convinced her otherwise. She had seen the reaction he elicited from all females, hated to predictably follow their example but couldn’t seem to help herself. Something stronger than her own will had drawn her to him, which was why she had agreed to join his vigilantes and learn to protect herself. Being close to him and keeping her desires a secret would be better than not seeing him at all.
Fall From Grace Page 7