Lorraine Heath - Midnight Pleasures with a Scoundrel

She rose up on her elbow to look down on him. His hair was mussed, his face in need of a shave. He smelled musky from their lovemaking. She quite simply wanted him again. “Before, you’ve mentioned your influence.”

He shrugged. “I have access to records, documents, gaols, and prisons. If I think someone has been sentenced unfairly, if I think intervention is justified, I might remove them from prison or replace them with someone who is deserving of the crime. Pentonville Prison is lovely for that, as the prisoners are not allowed to speak and they must wear hoods over their heads anytime they leave their cells. And of course, transportation always provides possibilities for switching one person with another.”

“Do you make a habit of this?”

“Hardly. But when the circumstances are right…Frannie has a skilled hand. She can forge any document or signature. I daresay, she could make me a duke and even the queen wouldn’t be able to detect that it wasn’t her signature on the document. Dodger often hides people in his gambling establishment or gives them a job. Cleaned up, dressed properly, with a new name in an area of London where no one knows them…they’re safe. Graves, who you’ve yet to meet, was a grave robber in his youth. If we ever need a body, he’s our man. Claybourne provides whatever financing is needed and is the one who usually serves as a go-between. He’s very good at straddling the upper levels of society as well as the lower. When we work together, we can give someone the opportunity to start over.”

“That’s what they thought you wanted to do for Eleanor and me.”

He trailed his fingers along her face, eventually taking some strands of her hair and twisting it around his finger. “It’s still a possibility. My hope is that by taking care of the others in this society, your earlier transgression might be overlooked.”

She laid her head on the center of his chest. “And if it’s not?”

“We’ll go to America.”

She jerked her head up. “You’ll go with us?”

“I know what it is to have you in my life. I know what it is to have you walk out of it. I will do whatever I must to see that you don’t walk out of it again.”

Tears burned her eyes. “Tomorrow, let it be me instead of Eleanor.”

“I can’t.” When she made a motion to move away from him, he stilled her actions by threading his fingers through her hair and holding her in place. “She’s suffering, Emma. I know you can see it. She needs to be the one who goes to Cremorne Gardens.”

She couldn’t deny the wisdom in his words, but she didn’t like it. She eased off him and rolled over onto her side. His arm came around her, holding her close, her back to his front.

“Trust me, Emma. Please trust me.”

“I do,” she whispered. But while her heart meant the words, her mind continued to worry.

As she studied her reflection in the cheval glass the following evening, Eleanor couldn’t deny there was a measure of anticipation thrumming through her that very much matched what she’d felt the night she confronted Rockberry. A bit of danger, a bit of risk, a bit of uncertainty. Regardless of how she tried to anticipate every scenario, it was always possible something would arise she’d not foreseen.

“You should have some weapon,” Emma said, standing nearby, scrutinizing every aspect of the red gown that the duchess had loaned Eleanor.

“Mr. Swindler said he’d provide me with one when I get into the carriage.” She studied her sister’s furrowed brow, the taut line of her mouth. “Please don’t worry, Emma.”

“I should at least go, to be there in case I’m needed.”

Turning from the mirror, Eleanor hugged Emma. “I’d be worried silly if you were anywhere near the gardens. I’m certain Mr. Swindler would as well. At least this way he’ll be focused on the task at hand.”

“You could call him James, you know.” It wasn’t often that Emma sounded petulant.

“He’s your beau, Emma, not mine.”

Eleanor walked to the vanity. It was time. She took a deep breath. “Will you place the silver around my neck?”

Emma crossed over cautiously, as though she dreaded looking once again at what Rockberry had given their sister. “How can something so pretty be so evil?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” Eleanor said.

Both sisters simply stared at the intricate, delicately designed jewelry for several minutes, neither picking it up, neither beginning the process of what needed to be done.

“If it wasn’t so pretty, it really would resemble a collar, something to indicate subservience,” Emma said.

“I hate it,” Eleanor said.

“Then don’t wear it.”

“I won’t be approached if I don’t. Come on, let’s just get this over with.”

With a brusque nod, Emma lifted the necklace and very carefully placed it around her sister’s neck. Eleanor was surprised by how weighty it felt, in spite of how delicate it looked. Emma fiddled with the clasp for a few minutes, and finally Eleanor heard it click into place.

“There, all done.”

“I thought you’d try to trick me and put it around your neck,” Eleanor said.

“I almost did. But I didn’t see the point. James would simply remove it and do it properly.”

“I think he cares for you very much, Emma.”

Emma nodded and reached for her, but not before Eleanor saw the tears in her eyes. “Please be ever so careful,” she whispered. “I won’t be able to stand it if I lose another sister.”

“Not to worry. I don’t plan any heroics.”

But as she marched from the room, Eleanor knew that matters didn’t always go as planned.

Emma plucked at her needlework. She didn’t know why she bothered. She’d never had a skillful hand when it came to using needle and thread. Well, except for once when she’d stitched up the gash in James’s head.

Sitting in the parlor, she could hear the tick, tick, tick of the clock on the mantel. It was likely to make her go insane. They’d been gone for two hours now. How long would it take? Was Eleanor all right? Was James? How much danger were they in? She stood up, then immediately sat back down.

“The waiting is always the most difficult,” the duchess said quietly. “I remember whenever Feagan would take a couple of the lads out for a burglary or a swindle, time seemed to move so slowly before they ever returned safely.”

Emma appreciated that the duchess was trying to distract her from her own painful musings, but they were running rampant. “I’m afraid I’m not very good company.”

“You don’t have to entertain me, Emma. I know you’re worried about your sister and Jim, but Jim knows what he’s doing. And the lads will keep watch over your sister.”

Emma almost smiled at the duchess’s reference to the lads. She’d come to realize that it was how she referred to any of the men who’d been part of Feagan’s den of thieves. James. Claybourne. Jack Dodger.

“You’re very close to them all.”

The duchess smiled in fond memory. “They’re the brothers of my heart, if not my blood.”

“They’re very fortunate.”

“On the contrary, I’m the one who is fortunate. Now, tell me. Have you a place in your heart for Jim?”

With a deep sigh, Emma shook her head. “I’m so angry at him right now that I’m not sure. I know I should be flattered that he’d not risk me running about Cremorne Gardens, but if I lose another sister…I might very well lose my mind.”

“You must trust him.”

“I do, I just worry that he may have misread things.”

“He is the very best at what he does.”

“But he is not invincible. I fooled him.”

“I suspect because his heart was involved.” The duchess looked past her to the doorway. “Yes, Wedgeworth?”

“Lord Rockberry has come to call,” the butler announced.

“Please show him in, then.”

With her stomach quivering, Emma rose to her feet, along with the duchess.

Lord Rockberry strode in, his brow furrowed, his eyes showing concern. He bowed slightly. “Your Grace, Miss Watkins. Has there been any news?”

Offering him an encouraging smile, Emma shook her head. “Not yet.”

“I didn’t mean to intrude on your evening, I just…I could hardly sit still at home.”

“You’re more than welcome to wait here with us,” the duchess said. “Surely we’ll have word soon.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your kindness.”

The duchess indicated a chair.

Rockberry suddenly seemed nonplussed. “Now that I’m here, I’m not certain I can sit still for more than five minutes. I think a turn about the garden would serve me better. Miss Watkins, would you be so kind as to join me? I was quite taken with your sister. I would very much like to speak with you about her.”

She smiled warmly. “I would so enjoy talking about Eleanor.”

“Would you excuse us, Duchess?” Rockberry asked.

“Certainly. Here, Emma, you may borrow my wrap.”

Emma was grateful for the shawl as she drew it over her shoulders once she and Rockberry stepped outside.

“It’s almost midnight,” she said quietly as they reached the hyacinths. “I would think the plan would be well under way by now.”

“Yes, I quite agree. Midnight seems to be the magical hour. I’m anticipating hearing the outcome of tonight’s adventure.”

Adventure. A tingle of unease skittered up Emma’s spine. She thought about turning back, then silently chastised herself for being silly, so she continued on. “You said you wished to talk about Eleanor.”

“No.”

She peered over at him. His gaze was locked on her. If Eleanor had not sung his praises, told her how he’d wept knowing what his brother had done, Emma might have been frightened. Instead, she was certain it was worry over Eleanor that had her seeing danger in the shadows of his face. “But in the parlor, you said you wished to talk to me about my sister.”

“Yes. But not Eleanor. Elisabeth. I was quite taken with her, and I’m wondering if you’ll be as satisfying.”

Before she could react, he had his hand covering her mouth, while his arm held her against him. She could sense his determination. Then suddenly two more men were grabbing her, lifting her, carting her toward the alleyway. In spite of her valiant struggles, she couldn’t break free of their hold and her muffled screams mocked her.

No one would hear her. No one would save her. She had little doubt she was about to suffer the same fate as Elisabeth.

Growing weary, Eleanor headed toward the entrance to the pleasure gardens. It was long past midnight. No one had approached her. No one had called her Elisabeth. No one had commented on the silver filigree. She felt as though she’d failed a good many people, but she wasn’t certain what more she could do.

The gentleman to whom she’d been introduced on the way to Cremorne, the one who followed her as she took her leisurely strolls along one path and then the other, came to stand beside her. He smelled of rich pipe tobacco.

“Do you think Mr. Swindler had the right of it?” Eleanor asked.

“I’m afraid so, yes,” Sir David said.

“It seems I’m as poor a judge of a man’s character as my older sister was.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Men like Rockberry-both the previous marquess and the present one-learn to hide what they are.”

It didn’t make her feel any better knowing that Emma could be in danger.

“Perhaps we had the wrong night,” she said.

“Perhaps. But I doubt it.”

“I wouldn’t be opposed to your providing a bit of hope.”

“I’m sorry. I fear I’ve always been more a realist than a dreamer.” He made a signal, and a half dozen men stepped out of the shadows. They, too, had been following her as discreetly as Sir David. They reported to him, were part of a special unit of detectives that he oversaw. “You men are free to leave. I’m going to see Miss Watkins home.”

As the men silently left the gardens, Sir David placed his hand on her elbow and began guiding her toward a waiting hansom.

“May I ask you a question, Miss Watkins?”

“Certainly, sir.”

“The night you confronted Rockberry, do you know for certain that he was dead when you left?”

She staggered to a stop and looked up at him. He wasn’t nearly as tall or broad as Mr. Swindler, but he had a commanding presence. She couldn’t even begin to guess his age. At certain angles he appeared to be quite up in years, and at other angles he gave the impression of being a much younger man. “I…well, yes, I…I thought so. I jabbed him, and he fell to the carpet. He writhed for a bit, then stilled. Didn’t move. Made no sound. There was so much blood that I felt certain he was dead.”

“You only stabbed him once, then.”

“Yes. Straight in the heart.”

“Mmm. Interesting, that.”

“Why? What makes it so?”