When a Marquis Chooses a Bride (18 page)

“It's all on the paper,” his mother said. “Mrs. Sorley was correct. He is gently bred.”

“If that is the case, we must find his family.”

Thea rubbed her temples as if they ached. “What I do not understand is why the stupid woman did not contact the Earl of Stratton.”

Glancing back and forth between his mother and Thea, Dom interpolated, “Stratton?”

As if he hadn't spoken, she continued. “Surely he would have paid her more than those blackguards.”

“I'm not sure, my dear,” Mama responded. “The earl is a hard man. What if his son had married a woman of whom he did not approve?”

“But to take it out on a child?” Thea clenched her small hands into fists. “That is criminal!”

Dom ran a hand over his face. What the devil were they talking about? “Would one of you please tell me what the Earl of Stratton has to do with Tom?”

Thea glanced at him, her wide eyes expectant as if Dom should know. “He is Tom's grandfather, of course.”

“Dominic!” his mother said sternly. “You will not use that language in front of either me or Dorothea.”

He growled and grabbed the slip of paper from his desk. “Yes, ma'am.”

James Cavanaugh and Sophia Cummings Cavanaugh. He shook his head. Tom's father was likely a few years older than Dom, and the only person he could think of to ask about it was Worthington.
Confound it.

“We could approach the earl first,” Thea said.

“I don't know, my dear,” his mother responded. “Better to discover if there is any bad blood between father and son first. Oh, why have I spent so much time immured in the country and at Bath?” She stood. “First let us see this Mrs. White. Although I shall own myself surprised if that is her real name.”

Thea rose as well. Dom stood out of habit. What did they think they were doing? Hadn't they come to him for advice?

“Dominic, I shall take Dorothea to Stanwood House after we visit St. George Street.”

Apparently not. Had all the women in his life gone mad? He probably should have known Thea would go and confront the woman, but Mama?

His mother smiled as if she was doing nothing more than paying a social call. Devil a bit. He'd sort them out later.

“Wait a minute. I'm going with you.” He jerked on the bell pull and a footman's head popped in. “Get the town coach, immediately.”

“Yes, my lord.” He closed the door. Dom could hear him running down the corridor. Damn. Tom must be distraught after revealing what he had to Thea. “Where is the child?”

Thea shoved a long pin in her hat. “He is asleep for now. Sally is with him with orders not to leave him.”

He opened the door and stood to the side. “Shall we go?”

When Thea reached him, she stopped. “I am glad you decided to come with us. A marquis is just what is needed if the job requires intimidation.”

He almost dropped his jaw. Then he wanted to laugh. She had finally found a good use for his rank. His uncle would have had apoplexy by now, yet Dom had never felt so alive in his life.

“That's what we marquises do best.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “I shall meet you in the hall.”

As she hurried out, he returned to his desk and removed a small, but accurate pistol from the top drawer. One never knew when rank might not be enough.

Chapter Fifteen

Twenty minutes later Dom's coach came to a stop in front of a modest house on St. George Street. The façade looked innocuous enough. Pale gray, from the London grime, there were a few steps up to a door whose knocker needed polishing. Still, the house gave the appearance of being respectable.

Roger, one of the two footmen Dom had accompany them, opened the carriage door, then walked up the shallow steps and pounded the knocker. A slight girl with mousy brown hair and an apron covering her drab blue gown opened it.

Not looking at the maid, Roger announced, “The Marquis of Merton wishes to speak to Mrs. White.”

The small bit of color in the young woman's face drained. “Don't know that she's here to visitors.”

The girl was obviously more afraid of her mistress than some random marquis. Dom stepped around his footman. “Perhaps you should inquire.”

When the maid tried to close the door, his servant stopped it with his foot, and said affably, “Here now, you don't mean to leave their lordship and ladyship out here, do you?”

The maid glanced at Roger, then Dom. “I guess not,” she grumbled. “Come in if you must, but I'll tell ye, she don't like seeing company.”

“Right old screw is she?” the footman asked.

The girl seemed to soften a bit. “Ye could say that. As soon as I find another position, I'm gone.”

Thea, now standing next to Roger, smiled. “Thank you very much for allowing us to come inside.”

The maid stared wide-eyed and bobbed a quick curtsey. “Yes, my lady. I'll fetch my mistress, right away.”

Thea glanced around the hall, swiped her finger on the newel post, and looked at her gloved finger. “This place could use a good cleaning.”

A few moments later, a young matron came down the stairs holding the hand of a child about the same age as Tom. When she reached the bottom tread, she looked up. “Oh, I am sorry. I did not see you there. Have you come to look at the empty rooms?”

Dom was about to deny any such thing, when Thea shot him a warning look. “Why, yes we are. Have you lived here long?”

The woman smiled. “Only a couple of months. I had planned to return to live with my mother while my husband is arranging our home in Canada.”

Thea wrinkled her forehead.

“Oh.” The woman gave a small laugh and put her hand to her mouth. “I must sound like such a pea-goose. My husband is in the army and will be stationed in Canada for the next few years. We shall join him after he has arranged housing. I was going to stay with my mother, but Mrs. White has been so kind that my husband and I decided I would remain here until he sends for me. If he pays the rent in advance, she will even give us a reduced rate for the time I am here with my daughter.”

Thea glanced down at the child. “Such a lovely little girl.”

The young woman got a sort of misty smile. “Thank you. She is so good and will be rewarded with a little brother or sister in a few months, which is the reason my husband does not wish me to travel with him.”

Thea's body seemed to stiffen, but her countenance remained calm and relaxed. She touched her stomach briefly. “How does Mrs. White like children?”

“She loves them. Why she even gave Susan here some toys that had been left by a previous tenant. So kind.”

Thea stilled and Dom could see the effort it took for her to continue smiling.

He'd give odds the toys were Tom's. Something was very wrong here. “Madam, has your husband already departed?”

“Not yet. We still have another two weeks together.” She held out her hand to Thea. “I'm terribly sorry, so rude of me. “I'm Mrs. Horton.”

Thea responded in kind. “I am . . . Mrs. Merton and this is my husband and mother-in-law. What happened to the people in the empty apartment?”

The woman looked slightly confused. “I'm not sure. They left very suddenly about a month ago. She had been very kind to me. Her child was due sometime in the autumn . . .”

“Mama, can we go now?” the child asked. “Bessie will be waiting.”

“Yes, my love, of course.” Mrs. Horton smiled at Thea again. “Perhaps we shall be neighbors.”

Thea's lips tilted up. “Wouldn't that be nice?”

No sooner had the door to the street closed, when the maid came back in. “She'll see you now. She
says
she ain't feelin' well, so you can't stay long.”

Dom placed his hand at the back of Thea's waist as they followed the girl down a narrow corridor. The whole atmosphere of the house bothered him, and he needed to touch her, keep her safe.

They entered a parlor decorated in some tawdry flowered material. An assortment of vials and small boxes on the table next to a chaise, upon which a plump middle-aged woman, with improbable blond curls covered by a lacy cap, lay. A brightly colored shawl with a long fringe covered her ample proportions and a piece of wet linen was on her forehead. Unfortunately, it caused her heavy face powder to run. She reminded him of a Drury Lane actress.

“My lord, my ladies, forgive me,” she said in a loud whisper. “I have been laid low and am unable to arise.” She made a sweeping motion with her arm. “As you see I am almost at death's door, but I am honored by your presence in my humble house.”

Thea made a choking sound and his mother a soft harrumph.

Dom stepped forward, inclining his head slightly. “Mrs. White, we have come to collect Mrs. Cavanaugh's effects.”

For a moment, the woman turned a light shade of green under the powder and really did look sick, but she recovered quickly. “Poor unfortunate lady, I have nothing of hers left. I had to pawn the lot to pay her rent.”

Clenching his jaw, he stepped forward again. “And her son?”

She gave a dramatic sigh. “The poor little mite ran away. I searched for days—”

“Enough.”
He took another step and stood right over her. “I will not be lied to.”

Her hand went to her throat. “My lord, please. My heart.”

“I don't believe you either.” Thea stepped out from behind him.

“No, neither do I.” His mother glanced around the room. “In fact, I would not be a bit surprised if most of these gewgaws belonged to the families of your victims.”

Mrs. White narrowed her eyes and snarled, “You just try to prove it.”

Thea had come around to stand at the head of the chaise. She picked up a silver box and stepped back. “I believe this is part of the proof. It is engraved with SC
.
Tom's mother's initials. Perhaps he will recognize it.”

Mrs. White moved, but Thea was faster, dancing away from the woman's claw like fingers. “She gave it to me. As a present.”

“Just like Tom gave you his toys?” Dom gritted his teeth. “I don't think so, Mrs. White.”

The woman's terrified gaze went from Thea to Dom and then to Mama. “I told you he left. Ain't seen him since. Distraught he was.”

Dom had never in his life wanted to throttle a person like he did now. Not even Worthington filled him with such rage. “So distraught that he remembers you sending him away with two men?”

Thea stood off to Dom's side, while his mother inspected the other objects in the overcrowded room. “That is what he said, is it not, my dear?”

She nodded. “Yes, that is exactly what he said.”

“Said?” Mrs. White's tone was faint and for the first time she looked as if she'd swoon.

He reached toward her, but Thea put her hand on his arm. “Let the Runners handle it.”

The minute the Runners were mentioned Mrs. White jumped up from the chaise and dashed to the door. Dom grabbed her shoulder. She swung around and tried to hit him, but her arms were too short; then she started to wail.

“What the devil is that sound?” a man in the uniform of the 95th Rifles demanded. “Oh, sorry, ladies, I didn't see you. What's wrong with Mrs. White?”

Dom loosened his grip, and the woman fell to the floor. “If I were you, I'd get my wife and child out of here.”

“Major Horton?” Thea asked.

“Yes.”

“I am Miss Stern. This”—she pointed at Dom—“is my betrothed, Lord Merton, and here is his mother, Lady Merton.”

Thea put a hand on the major's arm. “This is not a safe place for your family.”

He took in the scene and frowned. “Where are they now?”

“Safe, at the park they were going to,” Dom's mother responded.

He nodded. “It's good they are not here for this. It would distress my wife.” He paused, and seemed to study Dom. “Merton? Not Worthington's cousin?”

Dom stifled a groan. This incident would probably be all over Town by dinnertime. What had he been thinking of allowing his mother and betrothed to take part in something like this? Why was he there? What would Uncle Alasdair say?

“Didn't think you had it in you.”

He stopped berating himself and stared at the major. “What?”

The man grinned. “From what Worthington said, you were too much of a dry stick to involve yourself in anything like this.”

“That is not true.” Dotty came to stand beside Dom. “He is as compassionate a man as there can be. He has helped me rescue kittens—”

“My love. Thank you, but it's not necessary.”

A twinkle entered Major Horton's eyes. “Kittens?”

She raised her chin. “Yes, and a child. Which is the reason we are here.” She glanced down. Mrs. White was taking the opportunity to crawl away. “Stop her!”

The major stepped in front of the door.

She rose to her knees, clasping her hands in front of her chest. “Oh, Major,” she cried in a theatrical voice, “you must help me.”

“I would like to know what is going on, if I may.”

A knock sounded. “My lord”—Roger appeared in the doorway—“is everything all right in there?”

“Yes, if you'll call the constable to send to Bow Street, I think that will do.”

“Major, if you will assist us, we would be happy to tell you what we know.” Lady Merton handed Dotty the drapery cords. “I really think we should tie her up. She is liable to try to escape again.”

Dom took one set and the major the other, making quick work of securing Mrs. White's hands and feet. Dotty pulled up a footstool and sat next to the landlady. “Tell me the whole story and do not leave anything out.”

Mrs. White turned her head away. “I ain't talking to you. You got no proof I did anything. No one's going to believe a boy.”

Thea raised a brow and in the calm commanding voice she used the night they were betrothed, said, “We need to question the maid. My lord, you might offer her employment if she gives an accurate accounting of everything she knows.”

“She ain't that stupid.” Mrs. White sniggered. “She says anything, and they'll come for her.”

Taking out his quizzing glass, Dom fixed it on the landlady. “Not if she's under my protection.”

Pressing her lips firmly together, she fell silent.

Dotty stood. “Since there is nothing to be gained here, I'm going to talk to the girl.”

A tick formed in Dom's jaw. “Alone?”

She nodded. “I'll be fine. Roger will be with me. You need to remain here for the Runners. My lady?”

Her future-mother-in-law glanced at her. “Yes, my dear.”

“Could you search through all this stuff and find anything with initials or an engraving?”

Lady Merton grinned. “What a wonderful idea, I'd be happy to.”

Mrs. White started screaming and the major pulled out his handkerchief. “My lord, if you'll give me yours, I'll stop this caterwauling.”

When Dotty got to the hall, the maid was sitting on the steps with Roger hovering over her. She sat on the stair next to the girl. “Tell me your name.”

“Sukey.” A tremor ran through her.

“Well, Sukey. It seems as if there have been some goings-on here.”

The girl nodded. “Roger here says his lordship will take care of me if I talk to you.”

“Roger is correct.”

“What if they come after me?”

“Lord Merton will offer you employment in the country if you like. He has several estates. You will be perfectly safe.”

Roger took her hand. “That's what you said you'd like. His lordship protects his own.”

She glanced up at the footman and nodded. “I've been here 'bout a year. The first couple of times I believed my mistress when she said the folk had just up and left. But then there was the time a lady drank the tea Mrs. White gave her and she died.”

Dotty bit down on her lip. “A lady?”

“Yes, ma'am. She was down on her luck, and Mrs. White took her in. I think she was breeding, but she had no ring.” Sukey looked at Dotty. “Like she weren't married.”

Or the ring no longer fit. She signaled the girl to continue.

“About a week later a man came to the kitchen door. Mrs. White shooed me upstairs, but I hid behind the curve. “He'd come for the lady.”

Dotty shook her head a little. “What do you mean?”

“He was to take her to a place called Miss Betsy's.”

Roger sucked in a breath.

Dotty turned to him. “Do you know what that is?”

“Yes, miss, but it's not fit for your ears.”

Sukey continued her story about other ladies being carted off while they were asleep and children disappearing. Dotty didn't have the experience to understand what all of it meant, but she was sure the Runners would know. At the end of Sukey's tale, Dotty took the girl's hands. “Thank you for your help. We will stand by you. I promise.”