Intimate 02 - Intimate Surrender (24 page)

“Come in as soon as you can, Humphrey. I’ll send for Dalia, and you can fill me in on everything that’s been going on since I left.”

“Right away, Miss Genevieve.”

Hannah handed her cloak, gloves, and bonnet to the waiting footman and sent word for Dalia to join her in the Lilac Room. The tea she asked for arrived at the same time that Dalia came into the room. The frown on her face told Hannah things were indeed bad.

“Oh, Genny. I’m glad you’re back.”

Dalia rushed to give Hannah a warm hug, then sat in one of the three chairs that formed a small cluster.

Hannah poured them each a cup of tea, then sat in a chair opposite Dalia. “Start at the beginning, Dalia. I want to hear everything that’s happened since I left.”

Dalia took a sip of her tea, then set the cup down. “Everything was peaceful at first. I don’t think Skinner realized you’d gone to the country. Then, about three weeks ago, everything changed.”

A knock sounded at the door, and Dalia stopped. Humphrey opened the door and stepped into the room.

“Sit down, Humphrey,” Hannah said, pointing to the third chair in their group. “Dalia was just telling me what’s been going on.”

Humphrey sat. “And a lot there’s been. Especially lately.”

Hannah looked back at Dalia.

“About three weeks ago, we got word that Skinner’s men had kidnapped a new girl and were bringing her in. Chastity volunteered to go after her, and two of Frisk’s men
and one of Razer’s men went with her. We’ve been sending three men to guard our girls each time.”

Hannah nodded. “Did word come through our regular source?”

“Yes. It came the same as always.”

“Go on.”

“Chastity and the guards waited where they’d heard the girl would be transferred, but when the girl showed up, so did a bunch of Skinner’s men.”

“It was a trap,” Humphrey said.

Hannah sat forward in her chair. “Was anyone hurt?”

Dalia and Humphrey nodded. “They were all hurt to some degree or other,” Dalia said. “Chastity took a few blows, but no marks that didn’t go away in time. The men, though, took the brunt of it. Skinner’s men fought them with knives. All of them were hurt. Some bad. One of Frisk’s men was hurt the worst. They didn’t think he’d live, but he has so far.”

A lump fell to the pit of Hannah’s stomach. The skirmishes were coming more frequently, but at least no one had died yet in this territorial conflict with Skinner.

“Since then,” Humphrey added, “Rauncher has joined forces with us, and so has Tumbler, from the East End. They’re all afraid of what Skinner will do if we don’t stop him here. He’s boasting that he’s going to ruin Madam Genevieve’s and take over this whole part of town.”

Hannah took several deep breaths. “Is there more?”

Humphrey and Dalia looked at each other.

“Last night the Earl of Hanbrooke’s carriage was waylaid near here and the earl was robbed.”

“Are you sure it was Skinner? It could have been any—”

Humphrey reached in his pocket and took out an envelope. “This came this morning.”

Hannah opened the envelope and three gold crowns fell out, along with a folded piece of paper.

These gold pieces belong to Hanbrooke. You can give them back, if he’s ever brave enough to visit Madam Genevieve’s again.

S

Hannah bolted to her feet and threw the crumpled paper to the floor. “How many has he robbed on their way here?”

“Hanbrooke was the third,” Dalia answered.

“In two weeks?”

“Yes.”

“Damn him!”

“What are we going to do, Miss Genevieve?” Humphrey asked.

“Is Madam Genevieve’s the only one Skinner’s targeting?”

Humphrey nodded. “It wouldn’t do no good to stop anyone on their way to the others. Their customers don’t carry enough coin to make it worth anyone’s while.”

Hannah paced back and forth in front of the window. She had to think of something. There had to be a way to fight Skinner. It wouldn’t be long at all before Madam Genevieve’s business would come to a halt if her clients didn’t feel safe traveling here.

“Where are these robberies taking place?”

Humphrey scratched his head. “Two of the carriages were stopped when they slowed to turn from Tottenham to Oxford. The other on Crown Street.”

Hannah focused on the expectant expressions on Dalia and Humphrey’s faces. “How many men does Skinner send to stop the carriages?”

“There have been two each time,” Humphrey answered.

Hannah took a step closer to Humphrey. “I want you to round up a dozen men and place half of them in each location. Make sure they keep out of sight. If—rather,
when
—Skinner’s men attempt another robbery, we’ll stop them. Give the men instructions not to harm Skinner’s men. We don’t want to start a war. We just want to show our strength.”

“What do you want them to do with Skinner’s men?”

“Tie them up and take them back to Skinner.”

Humphrey laughed. “That will give Mr. High ’n’ Mighty something to think over.”

Hannah sighed. “That’s the purpose. Skinner doesn’t have the manpower we do. He’s just trying to put up a good show.”

“You think once he realizes he’s outmanned, he’ll give up?” Humphrey asked.

“That’s what I’m hoping,” Hannah answered. “Skinner’s not stupid. He wants power. He knows possessing Madam Genevieve’s will give him that power. As long as we don’t provide him with a reason to escalate this, I’m sure we can stop his efforts.”

“What kind of reason?” Dalia answered.

“Like injuring one of his men. Or killing someone. He’s just being a nuisance. A little like a fly that won’t leave a
horse alone. The horse will swat his tail at the fly to make him leave. For a while the fly ignores the horse’s attempts, but, after a while, the fly gets tired of getting swatted and leaves the horse alone.”

Humphrey laughed. “I like thinking of Skinner as a fly.”

“Well, I don’t,” Dalia said, clutching her hands to her upper arms. “He scares me. You never know what he’ll do next.”

“That’s why we have to constantly be on our guard. We’ll continue to strike him where it hurts—by rescuing the children he intends to exploit. And we have to make sure we don’t give him any ammunition to use against us.”

“What kind of ammunition?” Dalia and Humphrey asked in unison.

“Like taking risks that allow him to gain the upper hand. Putting any of Madam Genevieve’s girls in danger.”

“Then shouldn’t we stop going after the new girls Skinner brings in?” Dalia asked.

“No, that defeats our purpose in being here. The girls can go out, but they will remain in the carriage. The men will rescue Skinner’s targets. Our girls will not take any chances. We can’t risk Skinner holding anyone ransom. That will give him the ammunition he needs to gain the upper hand.”

Dalia and Humphrey nodded in agreement.

They discussed several other issues that had come up while Hannah was gone. Then, an hour or so later, Hannah left them and went to her rooms.

She was tired. She was unsure of herself. And she missed Rafe.

She wasn’t sure if she was doing the right thing where Skinner was concerned. What frightened her most was
the possibility that she might be underestimating how far he would go to gain the power he was desperate to have. Because if she was wrong, it could cost someone his life.

Hannah poured herself a glass of dark wine and sat in her favorite chair and took a sip.

Thank heaven Rafe wasn’t here. At least he was at Coventry Cottage—where he would be safe.

H
annah read Caroline’s letter over again and smiled. She almost had the words memorized, but she never tired of reading about Coventry Cottage’s successes.

According to Caroline, she’d heard of several positions that were open and had written to Rosie. Rosie immediately sent letters of reference to the homes that had positions to fill.

They’d placed five girls and two young men, all in excellent homes. Three of the girls and the two young men would have positions in country homes of friends and acquaintances of either Caroline or one of her sisters. The other two girls would go to town houses in London. The carriage bringing them to London should arrive any moment now. It would deliver its passengers where positions awaited them, then stop at Madam Genevieve’s. The driver would remain overnight, then leave in the morning with a passenger.

They’d rescued another girl from Skinner’s clutches last night, and she would be going to Coventry Cottage.

Hannah couldn’t help but smile. That had always been her goal—to rescue as many innocent young girls and boys as she could from Skinner’s clutches, then send them to
Coventry Cottage where they would be trained with skills that would support them for the rest of their lives. When they were ready to go out on their own, the people at Coventry Cottage would find them positions where they were assured of having a better life than they would have living on the streets. Like the seven young people they’d rescued who were now embarking on a new life.

She wondered what path her life would have taken if she’d had a Coventry Cottage to help her when she arrived in London all those years ago. Perhaps she wouldn’t be the infamous Madam Genevieve now.

Perhaps she’d be Miss Hannah Bartlett, a nanny in someone’s home. She loved children and had the aptitude to teach. Or, perhaps she’d be a lady’s maid. She had an eye for clothes and what to wear on various occasions, and she had a talent at styling hair. Or perhaps she’d be—

She stopped fantasizing about what might have been when there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” she said.

The door opened, and Dalia entered.

“Has the carriage from Coventry Cottage arrived?” Hannah asked.

Dalia nodded. “The driver delivered the last young lady to her new post.”

“Good. Make sure he gets something to eat, then find him a room. Tell him he’ll have a passenger when he returns in the morning.”

“I’ve already informed him.”

Hannah recognized the serious look in Dalia’s eyes and her hesitation to leave. “Is something wrong?”

“I’m not sure.”

Hannah waited.

“You have a guest.”

“A guest? Who?”

“Vicar Waterford.”

“Rafe?”

“He accompanied the girls from Coventry Cottage.”

Hannah rose. “He can’t be here now. It’s not safe.”

“I hoped you’d realize that. Skinner doesn’t know he’s here yet, but when he does, it’s hard telling what he’ll do.”

“Where did you put him?”

“In the Gardenia Room.”

Hannah headed for the door. “Tell the driver he’ll have two passengers in the morning. He’s not to leave without both of them.”

Dalia may have answered, but Hannah didn’t hear her if she did. She was too concerned with reaching Rafe and making sure he knew he had to return to Coventry Cottage in the morning.

She walked down a long, narrow hallway to the Gardenia Room and opened the door.

Rafe stood on the opposite side of the room with his elbow resting on the mantel of the fireplace and one booted foot crossed over the other. When he saw her, he smiled.

Hannah’s heart shifted in her breast. She should be used to his smiles. Immune to his charm. But she wasn’t. She’d missed him more during the last few weeks than she thought she could bear—even doubted she could live one more day without seeing him and considered sending for him. But she knew how dangerous it would be for him to come to London. She knew the threat Skinner was to anything connected to her.

She closed the door and stepped into the room.

Rafe was already halfway to her.

She could almost feel his arms around her, feel the warmth of his body next to hers. Feel how safe she’d be next to him.

The voice of reason told her to avoid his embrace. The voice of reason told her to keep a distance between them and not encourage his overtures. But she couldn’t. She was too desperate to be held by him. She was too eager to be a part of him.

She walked into his arms and let him hold her.

“Oh, I’ve missed you,” he said. His finger lifted her chin, and he kissed her on the forehead. Then he lowered his head farther and kissed her on the lips.

She kissed him in return, but kept her kiss short. She needed to remain in control of her passion. “What are you doing here?” she asked.

She needed Rafe to know that she wouldn’t allow him to stay in London. She needed him to know that they had tonight, then he had to return to Coventry Cottage.

“When I found out the carriage was coming to London to deliver two young ladies to their new employment, I made sure I was on board.”

“You can’t stay. When the carriage returns tomorrow, you will be on it.”

Rafe dropped his arms from around her, then separated himself from her. “And if I refuse?”

“I’m not giving you that choice.”

His gaze narrowed. This was a Rafe she wasn’t used to seeing, a Rafe she’d only glimpsed once or twice. This was a stronger, more inflexible Rafe than people usually saw.

On most occasions he was a lighthearted, captivating charmer, whose charismatic personality drew people to
him with relative ease. Because of his easygoing disposition, he rarely had to use force. But Hannah knew beneath that good-natured charm lay a steely determination. She’d hoped she’d never have to battle it.