“Did he board a ship? How long has the Crown known of this? And why are we just hearing of it? His late father died thinking his son had passed,” Evan said through clenched teeth, realizing this man was not responsible for the message, only its delivery. “His father hired an investigator,” he softened his tone and kept reading.
Matthew had sustained a head injury—probably the reason they failed to account for him after the battle. “Thank you.” Evan decided that the messenger needed no further information and had gone beyond his normal job. He fished a coin from his drawer and passed it to him. “My wife and I appreciate your thoughtfulness, and most especially the news.” He closed up the missive. “I assume we will hear of any updates on Colonel Romney,” he said, looking up from the paper.
“Yes, my lord.”
He walked the courier to the door. When he closed it behind him, he called to Bernard.
“Yes, my lord?” Bernard came from around the corner.
Had Bernard waited there the whole time he had spoken to the courier? The more he thought about it, the funnier he thought it to be. That’s how the old codger knows everything. He smiled to himself. “Have you received a message for me from Lord Banbury?”
“Yes, my lord.” He picked up the salver and moved it in Evan’s direction. “It came not long after you posted your own.”
Evan opened Banbury’s message and scanned it quickly. His friend had gone to Charlotte’s home and would stay there to watch over the place. He imagined that Lady Romney would have told him about Matthew, so he would wait on that until tomorrow. Perhaps there would be more news, he thought, making his way upstairs, thinking to wake Charlotte with the update on her brother. He was almost to the top when pounding sounded on the front door.
“My lord, I will see to it. I do not recall a time with more traffic . . .” Bernard said as he opened the door.
Banbury stood there for a second before pushing past. “I hoped that you and Lady Clarendon were together. Is she alone upstairs?”
“Yes, in my bed,” Evan supplied. “I had a courier. What is this about?”
“Her younger brother is missing. I believe they are both in danger.”
Evan took the stairs two at a time with Banbury in tow.
“She is in danger,” Banbury half-shouted.
“Danger? What are you about?” Evan asked, opening the door to his room. The window was open and his bed was empty. His heart hit the floor.
Evan ran to the bed. Her clothes and shoes were gone. Could she have gotten dressed before she left? A small cloth lay beside the bed. He picked it up and sniffed. Ether.
Every scenario led him to a dark answer he could not accept. Frustrated, he sat down on the edge of the bed he had shared with his wife less than an hour before and dropped his head in his hands.
“Get yourself together, man!” Banbury touched him lightly on the shoulders. “We must leave immediately. I received a message from Titan at Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s. He wanted us to know Lord Langdale had put the word out that he was hiring today. And worse, he planted a mole in the Romney household,” Banbury added.
“Her servants have been there for years, according to Charlotte.” He grew quiet. “All except for her lady’s maid, Jane.”
“I hired a Bow Street Runner when I heard from Titus, not wanting to bother you with this and hoping it was much ado about nothing. I am hoping he was watching the house and has followed the young lord. Her uncle is desperate, mad, or both. I have a grim feeling.” Banbury was direct.
“We should go to the Romney home and question Jane. She has to know something.” Evan was feeling desperate himself. He pulled on his boots, shirt, and waistcoat, and the two men sprinted down the stairs. “Have my horse—”
Banbury interrupted him. “Your horse is outside. I asked the stable hand to get him ready when I arrived.”
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the Romney house. Evan did not envy Lady Romney. She had lost her husband, thought her eldest son had died in a strange land, was trying to cope with the abduction of her young son, and in a moment, would find out her daughter was also missing.
He pounded on the door until Myers opened it. “My lord, Lady Romney is in her parlor. She is beside herself. Another gentleman and a lady, a Mrs. Dove-Lyon and Mr. Titan, arrived and are with her,” Myers said as succinctly as he could with the household staff running all around them.
“Myers, locate Jane and bring her to us.”
“Yes, my lord.” He nodded at Mrs. Graves, who turned and flew up the stairs to the servants’ quarters.
Both men paused, fortifying before opening the parlor door.
The sight of Mrs. Dove-Lyon in the room with his mother-in-law should have shocked him, yet Evan said nothing. There were rumors that the Widow had a heart. Perhaps the rumors were true because there she sat, comforting Lady Romney. She stood and motioned for the two men to follow her to the other side of the room.
“Several of my men are on the dock looking for a specific boat, a boat that heads to the Orient when it leaves this dock. It is my belief that Lord Langdale”—she practically spit the name—“has ordered his niece and nephew taken aboard.” She did not mince words. “Lord Langdale used Jane, the new maid, to monitor his niece.”
“How do you know all of this?” Evan challenged. She alluded to slave trading. It had been outlawed several years back. However, there had been renewed suspicion that it still operated illicitly.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon drew up her shoulders. “I understand you are quite distressed but know that I am here to help. There are two boats due to leave port tonight, according to the information Titan secured. He will go with you. You must hurry.”
Being told what to do by this woman rankled him, but he quickly set it aside. She had forced him into a marriage, and while he had satisfied that debt, he would owe one of gratitude if they could save his wife in time.
Screaming in the hall alerted him to Jane. “In here, missy.” The housekeeper opened the door and thrust the girl inside. “I caught her in Lady Clarendon’s room going through her drawers.” Mrs. Graves held up a small velvet bag, which he assumed contained some of Charlotte’s jewelry. “I will put these away.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Graves.” Evan stood in front of the maid. “My wife has been taken. Tell me what you know. My wife’s life could be in peril,” he said as forcefully as possible.
“He will kill me,” she cried, collapsing to the floor.
“Who? Who will kill you?” Banbury asked, pulling her to her feet.
“Lord Langdale. He threatened to if I let anyone know he had hired me.”
“Well, you will be lucky to live a month in Newgate if you do not tell me what I am asking. You have taken part in the abduction of two peers of the realm.”
“I heard him mention a ship named The Mermaid,” the young woman cried.
“I saw that ship,” Titus spoke up.
“Where is Langdale?” Evan demanded of Jane.
“I do not know—in his home, maybe, waiting to hear,” she cried.
“I will take two footmen and go to Langdale’s,” Banbury said. “You and Titan go to The Mermaid. As soon as I have Langdale in the magistrate’s hands, we will follow.”
“Thank you, Christopher,” Evan said quietly.
Myers stepped in. “I will handle the situation here.” He snapped his fingers, and a footman materialized from behind him. “Take her to Lady Clarendon’s wardrobe and lock her inside,” he demanded. “Make sure her mouth is muffled and her hands are tied.”
“Yes, sir.” The footman did as asked.
“Hurry, gentlemen,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon pleaded. “The Mermaid sails tonight.”
The four men took off out the door. The footman and Banbury left for Langdale’s. Titan and Evan mounted their horses and went in the opposite direction, heading to the shipyards of the East End.
“If you do not mind, my lord,” the bouncer began, “I know this area. Follow my lead, and I believe we will have a be
tter chance of finding the young lord and your wife.”
Evan nodded as a new realization soured his stomach. Titan was right. All this time he had worried about losing a wife to childbirth when greater dangers existed. Charlotte had been right, and he would tell her. Life was to be lived.
The dock area was black, and the air was thick with the smells of urine and vomit. Evan tried to keep his head down, hoping to evade the odors. The two men slowed their horses and rode slowly and deliberately down a cobblestone street that ran alongside a large corner tavern known as the Lion’s Head. “We will pay someone in the stable near the pub to hold our horses, my lord. From there, we will not be far from The Mermaid.”
Just as Titan had said, he rode to the stable at the back of the pub and whistled. A young street urchin came forth. “Watch these horses. Do not take your eyes away.”
“Aye, guv.” The child smiled with several teeth missing. Titan tossed him a shilling, which he promptly bit before putting it into his pocket. Evan handed over his horse and also gave him a shilling.
“We don’t have far, my lord.” Titan pointed to the area beyond a row of buildings. A group of men dressed in sailors’ garb stumbled by, singing and laughing. Titan motioned to keep to the shadows of the building, allowing the men to pass without noticing them. Evan wished he had worn his greatcoat and a sword. All he had was a small knife in his saddlebag. The closer he got to the water, the colder he became.
The two men made it past the next row of businesses and buildings, bringing the ships into view. One ship had a lot of activity around it on the docks. The Mermaid. They edged closer and heard voices.
“Aye, the baron said he’d be here with money before the ship sailed. I want more. These two are worth more than we asked,” the larger man said, slapping an enormous arm on the barrel behind him.
“He’s late!” a smaller man said. “The damn little lord bit me, so I hit ’im! The baron won’t know it where they’re going.”
“The frilly piece was a bright and breezy take and was nearly wearing nothing. Took my pleasure with dressing her, I did, until she woke up like some sort of vicious animal. Gave me a black eye, she did,” the larger man said, touching a swollen eye.
Titan picked up two large sticks that were laying nearby and tossed one to Evan, signaling to continue in the shadows and move behind the two of them. They slipped behind the barrels.
A shriek sounded from the barrel behind the larger man, and he slammed his fist into it. “Shut up, woman! You’ll be lucky ta make the ship alive.”
Evan’s temper flared. Not waiting a moment longer, he took the stick and slammed it into the man’s head from behind. Titus did the same, wincing as the smaller man crumpled into a heap at their feet.
The two men pried open the barrels and sighed in relief.
“Are you well, my dear?” Evan’s voice was low. His wife sat huddled in the barrel. Her dress was torn but covered most of her.
“Yes. Aside from my pride, I am fine. My uncle paid them to hie us off to the ship. They called it slavery. I did not know such a ship existed. I was afraid I would never see you again.” Her voice trembled, but she did not cry.
Evan helped her from the barrel and gave her a brief kiss. “Stay in the shadow. We will be back.” Evan pulled his waistcoat off and handed it to Charlotte. She hugged her brother close, and the two of them did as he bid, staying in the shadows. Aside from a few bruises and being bound and gagged, Charlotte and Jason were mostly uninjured. He was grateful.
A whistle from the ship signaled that it was nearly ready to pull out. Evan and Titan worked quickly and stuffed the two unconscious men into the barrels that Charlotte and Jason had vacated, securing the lids.
Keeping their heads down, they rolled the two barrels to the edge of the dock near the boat’s gangplank. Two sailors in striped uniforms came down, accepted the barrels, and rolled them to the ship and up the gangway, closing the gate behind them.
The four of them made it back to the Romney house without further incident, where they met up with Banbury, who appeared to be leaving. They had convinced Lady Romney that lying down could do her some good, and she was sound asleep on the settee. Mrs. Graves nudged her mistress when they brought her son into the room.
“Mama!” he ran to her, and she pulled him close.
“My darlings!” The woman hugged and kissed Charlotte before snatching up her son and smothering him in kisses and hugs. Charlotte turned and threw her arms around her mother and her brother.
The scene tugged at Evan’s heart, when he realized that he had never shown his own son this much affection. I will remedy that soon. He cleared his throat. “What about Langdale?”
“We secured him quickly and turned him over to the magistrate, who said he will investigate immediately. I instructed the Bow Street Runner to assist him,” Banbury replied. “I will also send a note to the regent and ask him to help us sort this situation. It deserves his attention.”
“I will add to that note, if you do not mind,” Evan added. “I believe an audit of the funds Langdale handled would be in order.”
“What did you do with the men that had taken Charlotte and the young lord?” Banbury asked.
Titan tipped his hat, smiling mischievously. “This is our cue to leave, Mrs. Dove-Lyon. I should get you back,” he said, grinning toward his mysterious employer.
“Wait. I want to know what you did with the men too,” she said. Evan could not be sure, but he thought he saw the red lips spread into an enormous smile beneath the black veil.
“Madam, you would approve.” The sizeable man laughed. “I hope seasickness plagues neither of the men, because they are on their way to the Orient in the same barrels they used for her ladyship and his lordship.”
“Well, now.” She clapped softly. “This is a perfect outcome. Now, I must get back to my business.” She turned to Lady Romney. “I do not have many friends in this world, but I hope I can count you as one, as I have always counted your departed husband. Call upon me if ever I can help you.”
“Thank you, my dear,” Lady Romney said as she gave the Widow a hug.
Evan stepped forward. “Mrs. Dove-Lyon, I am once again in your debt,” he said earnestly.
“Lord Clarendon, there is no debt, so long as you give this lovely lady your devotion and your loyalty,” she said with her voice full of gaiety.
Evan hugged his wife close. Uncaring that her dress was damaged and dirty, he tipped her head up and kissed her.
Epilogue
Epsom, Surrey
Christmas Eve, 1816
Sitting in the freshly painted white rocking chair, Charlotte leaned back and rocked their very engaging young son, Edward. She felt well rested for the first time in more than weeks, since having thrust herself into the life of the man whose carriage had nearly run over her younger brother, Jason. Two weeks felt like a lifetime. Today, she only wanted to revel in her life, their son, this beautiful home, and the adoration of her husband.
The robin’s egg walls and cheerful yellow gingham curtains had given new life to the nursery her husband had known as a child. Mrs. Donner was a jewel and forever her employer’s supporter, having been given leave to decorate her worksite as she pleased. Earlier that week, she and the nanny had hired a seamstress to make curtains and matching lavender bedding for the woman’s bedroom, which adjoined the nursery.
Since meeting him two weeks past, she had spent every spare moment getting to know this dear sweet boy and falling in love with him over and over. Whenever he smiled up at her with those crystal blue eyes and pink cherub cheeks, her heart melted.
Evan was getting used to fatherhood, and she was enjoying being a mother, although she hoped that one day she and Evan would add to the nursery. Mrs. Donner kept Edward to a regimen, but Charlotte believed parents should also be engaged and encouraged her husband to join her in the nursery whenever possible. Her parents had stayed involved with her and her siblings and considered their nanny part of the famil
y.
Tomorrow would be Christmas, and Mrs. Donner was downstairs with their housekeeper making sure that all the boxes were ready for delivery to the tenants. Charlotte planned to accompany Evan and deliver each one, meeting each of the people whose work supported their home. Her father had always said that the token of appreciation could bridge immeasurable chasms. Charlotte saw it as her job to keep Evan’s tenants engaged and feeling valued in their lives.
“Ma-ma!” Edward played with her hair, pulling it loose around the edges while flashing the infectious grin of his. Charlotte felt at peace and hoped Amelia would approve of her love for Edward.
“Are you ready for your nap story?” She kissed his nose and giggled.
“Da-da!” He said proudly, pointing behind her.
Before Charlotte could turn, she felt a warm kiss on her neck. Her husband had been a complete surprise. While neither had mentioned love, their actions told her much. Making love had been more complete ever since she had been rescued from the dockside. There were no guarantees in life, yet they had decided that together they would take that chance and welcome the wonderful promises that life together could offer them.
“We have visitors downstairs who would like to see you . . .”
“Mama and Jason have arrived!” she exclaimed. Giving the cherub on her lap a quick peck, she bounced up from the chair. Her mother and brother had decided to join them on Christmas Eve, giving the three of them time as a family to adjust. It also allowed Mama to properly pack her things before joining them in the country. This would be her first Christmas without Father.
“Ahem!” The feminine voice came from the doorway behind Evan. Both Charlotte and Evan turned as one.
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