by Wendy Vella
“It will not wait! Now help me remove your coat and jacket.” Thea gave him the look she had often used on her brothers when she wanted to bring them to heel and Oliver nodded, perhaps because he could see the desperation in her eyes. Her heart was thumping, her body filled with ice-cold fear, but she focused on her husband now, because she could not contemplate what could have happened, or she would fall apart.
Soon, between them they had him down to his shirt, and the sleeve was now soaked with blood.
“May I have your necktie, Daniel?”
“Of course, Thea.”
“Let us hope that none of the women you are trying to impress see you gadding about in a half-dressed state, brother,” Oliver said.
Thea let Oliver tease his brother as she rolled up his sleeve. She knew he was trying to calm both she and Daniel down with his words, as the carriage raced them toward home, but it was not helping her. She was terrified. He could have been taken from her today. This beautiful man, whom she now loved could have been killed, and the thought hurt so much she bit her lip to stop the sob that rose up inside her.
“It’s all right, Thea.” He put a hand on her neck, his warm fingers stroking her skin.
Nodding, Thea looked at his arm. The bullet had grazed the skin, but had it been in his chest he could have died. Dear God, she would not allow this to happen again.
His fingers continued to touch her as she took the necktie Daniel gave her and wound it around his arm, tight enough to stop the blood. When she’d finished, Thea helped him pull his jacket back on, then his coat, and he allowed her to button them up.
Drawing in a deep, steadying breath, she was then able to look up at him. Anger burned steadily in his eyes, although he tried to hide it behind a gentle smile.
“Come here.” He pulled her onto his lap.”
“Your arm—” Thea tried to stop him but he held her still.
“—Is fine.”
Daniel was pale, his eyes on Oliver, and she saw his anger, too, but like her, it was mingled with fear.
“What is to be done, brother?” He questioned Oliver.
“I will employ more men. Someone knows something, and we need to get them to talk,” Oliver said. “Whoever shot at me has now fled, so there is little use in sending someone back there to check.”
Thea leaned against Oliver as he and Daniel discussed what needed to be done. His heart beat steadily beneath her ear, and she vowed silently it would always do so.
Chapter Sixteen
Over the next two weeks, Thea got to know her husband better as she rarely left his side. He had decided that the best way to keep her safe was to have her with him, and as she felt the same, she was happy with this. He employed four more men to watch over them. Ted now traveled inside the carriage whenever they left the house. Beneath his jacket, he was armed, and they always had two men on horseback, one in front the other at the rear of their carriage and a driver with an armed man seated beside him.
His arm healed and the fear in Thea grew more with each day as no word came from the men Oliver had paid to find whoever was behind the attempts on his life.
He made love to her frequently, night and day, and she had long since lost her inhibitions as he exposed more and more of her sensual nature. Every day, Thea’s need for her husband grew and that in itself was terrifying. She’d always loved her family, but it was different with Oliver. He just had to walk into the room and her heart started to thud hard inside her chest. It was most annoying, and she hoped over time it settled down.
He’d given her boxing lessons, and he was a hard master—much tougher then Ted—and would not let her leave the room until she had achieved what he wished her to, but she loved these times because it was just the two of them.
This morning she had woken to find her husband had already left the house, and the message Thea found on her pillow had confirmed he’d done so early, so she would not insist on accompanying him.
‘I have gone to visit one of my factories, Thea, and as I wanted to do so without you, I left before you could raise hell about my decision. Knowing that you would want to inspect every piece of machinery and nuance of said factory, and my inability to deny you anything, I knew that had you accompanied me I would not have achieved the things I needed to. Forgive me, my sweet, for being evasive last night as to my activities today, and I promise one day to take you for a visit. However, not today. Not with so much going on around us. Please stay home until I return, and I shall be there in time for our evening meal and to listen to the lecture you will no doubt have waited all day to deliver.
Yours always, Oliver.’
She tried to quell the terror inside her that he had left alone, without Ted and only two men to watch over him as she ate her morning meal, but visions of him injured or worse kept haunting her. The food tasted like dust in her mouth, so she gave up attempting to eat and instead began to pace the halls of the house.
The day passed on leaden feet as Thea picked up books and discarded them, then tracked down Elliott just to have someone to talk to. She walked up and down the steps, looked at pictures and was close to screaming when her feet once again carried her back to the front door just as Elliot placed a note on a tray beside the hall table.
“Who is that for, Elliott?”
“Mr. Dillinger, my lady.”
Thea looked down at the writing on the paper.
“The word Dillinger is written there, Elliott, not Mr. Dillinger,” she said, reaching for the missive.
“I-I recognized the writing, my lady, and it is for Mr. Dillinger, n-not...”
“Me?” Thea finished for the butler when he stuttered to a halt. She had never seen him like this before, which only increased Thea’s determination to open the note. As she did so, the butler made a pained noise in his throat.
I have word on who is trying to dispose of you, come at once to Totting Lane. It was signed Angelique.
Thea knew who Angelique was—the woman who had saved her husband’s life.
“I need the carriage, Elliott, and please locate Ted to accompany me.”
“But, my lady,” Elliott looked as if he was in pain. His usually calm face was tense and color filled his cheeks.
Thea gave him a steady look. “Is there a problem, Elliott?
“Mr. Dillinger wished for you to remain in the house today, until his return.”
“Yes, I understand that he did, Elliott. However, this is a matter of importance. Therefore, I shall be leaving at once, and will return before my husband. She hoped.
Pushing aside the knowledge that Oliver would in all likelihood take some time, if ever, to forgive her for what she was about to do, Thea hurried to her rooms. Dressing in her warmest coat and bonnet, she pulled on boots and gloves, then hurried back down the stairs to find Ted standing beside Elliott by the front door. Both looked stern, and she knew the butler had informed Ted of where she intended to go and who lived there.
“Not one word if you please, Ted, and unless you are intent on restraining me, there is nothing you can do to stop me leaving this house. Therefore, I suggest you simply open that door and follow me to the carriage.”
“My lady, I must at least attempt to dissuade you,” Ted said as she reached him. “It is foolhardy to go to such a place, and Mr. Dillinger will be displeased if you do.”
“My husband’s life is in danger, Ted, and if I do not go to visit Miss Angelique, then he will, and in doing so, once again give whoever is trying to kill him another opportunity. I cannot allow that.”
He exhaled slowly. “Very well, but I insist that you take no unnecessary risks and allow me to see to your safety at all times.”
Thea agreed, and then, patting Elliott’s hand, she left the house with Ted on her heels.
The carriage stopped at the end of Totting Lane thirty minutes later, and Ted opened the door and helped her down. Early afternoon did nothing to enhance the dismal setting around her, as she and her footman made their way past the narrow buil
dings and around the children playing in the dirty streets.
“Stay close, please, my lady.”
“I will, Ted,” she said, walking quickly at his side until they reached the building that housed Miss Angelique’s brothel. Ted wrapped the knocker several times and then they waited. A man opened the door—big, with a crooked nose and bald head. His eyes went from Ted to Thea and back to Ted.
“What do you want?”
“Please tell Miss Angelique that Lady Althea Dillinger wishes to speak with her,” Ted said.
The man’s eyes widened as he once again looked at Thea.
“Follow me, and I’ll tell Miss Angelique that you’re here.”
They soon found themselves in a large parlor. The room was warm as a fire crackled in the hearth, and unlike the building’s neglected facade, this was clean and welcoming.
“Wait there.” He pointed to a sofa, but Thea was too nervous to sit, so she began to walk slowly around the room.
“We’re not needing any more girls at the moment.”
The woman who approached was dressed in bloomers and a tight corset that pushed her ample breasts upward. She wore high-heeled slippers, and several bracelets that jangled as she walked and around her neck was tied a red satin ribbon. Her cheeks were pink and her lips matched, and Thea had never seen hair that particular shade of gold before.
“Lady Dillinger is not here for that purpose,” Ted said quickly, as he moved to stand before her, as if to protect Thea from the woman.
“Are you Ace’s wife, then?”
Thea stepped around Ted and smiled at the woman. “I am. Do you know him?”
Her smile made her appear younger than Thea had originally believed.
“Yes. I’ve been here for years and knew him when he first arrived. My name is Mandy.”
“Were you one of the ladies who saved him, Mandy?”
The woman’s eyes narrowed. “I was. That bastard Blackheath nearly killed him before we got to him.”
Thea reached for her hands. “I can never thank you enough for what you did that night.”
“Tain’t nothing. We all love Ace, and he looked after us.”
Thea knew what it was like to be protected by Oliver Dillinger and understood exactly what this woman meant.
“You’re a handsome one,” the woman then said, turning her attention to Ted, who immediately took a step backward as she approached. Thea had to swallow her laughter, as it was not often she saw her footman so uncomfortable.
“Lady Dillinger, please follow me and I will take you to Miss Angelique.”
“I shall return shortly, Ted,” Thea said, following the man who had reappeared. “Perhaps Mandy could get you some tea while you wait?”
“Are you sure I should not accompany you, my lady?” Ted said quickly.
“No, I shall be fine thank you. Please wait here.”
Miss Angelique’s rooms were situated on the top floor of the house, and the woman was standing before the fire when they entered. She was not young, and lines bracketed her mouth and eyes and gray colored the temples of her elegantly styled red hair. She wore a rust dress that fitted a curvaceous figure.
“Miss Angelique, I am Lady Althea. It is a pleasure to meet you.” Walking forward, Thea offered the woman her hand.
“So he told you about me, did he?”
Her voice was strong and sounded like Thea’s had, the one time she had taken a mouthful of whisky.
“He did, and although he will hate me for it, can I say that what you did for him was a wonderful thing, and that I am extremely grateful to you.”
Angelique laughed; it was full-bodied and rich.
“My mind is now at ease, my lady.” Angelique took a seat and waved Thea into the other one.
“Why?”
“Because when I realized my boy was marrying a duke’s daughter I feared she would be cold and unfeeling and he would simply lose himself in his work even more. But you are not, are you, my lady? In fact, I would go so far as saying that you challenge him greatly.”
“Please, call me Thea.”
“And I am Angelique.” The woman lowered her head regally, and Thea thought that she could give a few noblewomen lessons on how to behave.
“Do you love him?”
Thea wasn’t sure she wanted anyone to know her feelings so she simply said, “He is a wonderful man.”
“That he is, and you have come because you read the note I sent for him.”
“Yes, I did,” Thea said without shame. “And as my husband is at present away from home visiting one of his factories, I felt it important to get the information you have so I can relay it to him upon his return.”
“And he will be furious that you did so.” Angelique laughed softly. “And you do not care because you want only for this man to be caught, the one who dares to try and kill the man you love?”
“Yes,” Thea whispered. “I want that very much.”
“Put it there.” Angelique waved to a small table as a servant brought in a tea tray.
“Who is it, Angelique? Please, we must know and take steps to stop this person from hurting, Oliver.”
As she said the last word, the door swung wide and Thea watched her husband storm into the room. He looked big and mean, and his eyes were directed at her.
“I told you to stay in the house!” His roar could no doubt be heard throughout the entire brothel. “Did I not make it clear that leaving it without me puts you in danger?”
“Calm down, Oliver. Your wife wishes only to protect you,” Angelique said.
“Calm down!” He reached Thea’s chair and hauled her out of it. “How the hell am I supposed to do that when I return home to find your note and a distraught butler, telling me my wife has charged off without thought and into one of the more disreputable parts of London to enter a brothel?”
“I had hoped to return before you,” Thea said, trying to placate the raging beast before him. She didn’t fear him; Oliver would never hurt her. However, she was not sure that he wasn’t capable of picking her up and storming from the house, and they needed to get the information from Angelique first.
“And that is supposed to make me feel better?” He lowered his head so his eyes were level with hers, and she saw the anger and fear in their depths. “Christ, woman, anything could have happened to you.”
“I have Ted with me.” She slipped her hand inside his overcoat and rubbed it over his chest. “I had to do this, Oliver. If you did not return until late this evening, then that would be yet one more day we did not know the identity of who is trying to kill you.”
He was tense, the muscles beneath her fingers bunched as she felt his breath rise and fall rapidly. His journey across London to get to her had been undertaken in haste and while she felt guilt that she had distressed him, she’d have done what she had again without hesitation. This man was now her life, and to live the remainder of her days without him was not something she could contemplate.
“Oliver, please sit down. Then we shall all take tea, and I will tell you what I know.”
“You are leaving now, wife.” He took her arm and began to lead her from the room.
“No.” Thea tried to shake free. “I have a right to know who is trying to kill you!”
“You will do as you are told.”
“I am not a child, Oliver, to be sent from the room.”
“Your behavior would suggest otherwise, Madam, as your actions today were reckless and foolhardy.”
“Oliver, it is John Blackheath!” Angelique did not shout the words but both Thea and Oliver heard them, as the fingers around her arm tightened briefly before he released her.
Dear God, the man whose brother Oliver had killed wanted him dead.
“Are you sure, Angelique?”
“Yes, Oliver, my source has seen him and is reliable.”
Thea took a step backward and then another until her back was against a wall; only then did she feel able to support herself. Her legs were weak, a
nd her head light. Dear Lord, this man had harbored his revenge for many years, and would not stop until he had killed Oliver. How was she to keep him safe?
“At least I now have a name,” Oliver said, still standing by the door, his eyes moving from Angelique to Thea, where they stayed, pinning her in place.
“It seems he escaped his captors and returned to London a few months ago,” Angelique said, getting to her feet. She then walked across the room to Thea and took her hand. “Come and sit, my dear, and take some tea. You are quite pale.”
Thea did as the woman said, because her head was feeling odd, and she couldn’t seem to collect her thoughts.
“Your wife is upset, Oliver. Stop growling and posturing and come and see to her welfare,” Angelique added.
“We are leaving.” Thea felt him beside her once more and braced herself, as she was sure he would lift her to her feet once again.
“Drink this, my lady.” Thea did not look at her husband, instead taking the cup in both hands and sipping the amber liquid. Heavily laced with sugar, it felt wonderful sliding down her dry throat.
“I have started men looking, Oliver, and will send word once I hear anything about Blackheath’s location.”
Oliver replied to Angelique in clipped tones, as they discussed what needed to be done, and when Thea had finished her tea, she replaced the cup on the tray and regained her feet.
“Thank you, Angelique. I shall be leaving now.”
“I am so pleased we have met,” the older woman said, placing a kiss on Thea’s cheek.
“Do not be too hard on her, Oliver. She thought only of you when she came here,” she then heard her say. Oliver did not reply.
His hand stayed on her back as they walked from the brothel and down Totting Lane to where her carriage waited. He lifted her inside and then followed, as did Ted, and the silence was thick and heavy as they traveled back to the house. Thea did not look at him, but felt his eyes on her for most of the journey.
Elliott was waiting, his face pale with worry, and she hoped Oliver had not been too hard on him.