“What are you saying?” Leah looked up at him.
“We are going to bring my uncle to law.” Kenneth growled. “Along with this Riphook character. It is the only way you can ever be truly free of their haunting shadow, and I mean to see it done.”
“You cannot mean it.” She was closer to him now, nearly brushing against his chest. He felt his heart beat rising rapidly and his body grow hot and electric. “Your uncle is too influential to be tried in court. He will be acquitted, and we will all be in danger.”
“I do mean it. And I mean everything else I say as well.”
“Such as?” she whispered, tilting her head.
“I love you.” he whispered back.
“Christ.” she bit her lip. “I love you.”
They came together, wrapping into a fierce embrace of passionate expression, lost to each other for the briefest of spells – so intense was the energy Kenneth felt for the woman in his arms that all else faded to nothing around him – before they were interrupted by clapping.
“Bravo!” the Marquess cheered. “Bravo indeed! Never in my life have I been so moved, or close to it, even in the theater. Good Lord, I suppose I might cry.” he dappled the corner of his rosy face with a kerchief.
“Bloody hell.” Kenneth jumped. “I had forgotten they were here.”
“So, did I.” Leah laughed out, and Kenneth felt his heart soar.
“So, you wana' get rid of Riphook and this Cornelius fellow.” Nash spoke up from the corner. “How exactly you goin' do that? Rip is holed up in Devil's Acre, good luck getting him out of there.”
“He's right.” Leah stiffened a bit, withdrawing from Kenneth's arms. “Those four streets are a tangled fortress.”
“Why are we trusting him?” Kenneth remembered dodging Nash's fists.
“I wana' get Riphook as bad as you,” Nash protested. “Look what he done to my face!” Nash let his hood down, and the whole room took a somber glance at the burns before Nash raised the hood again.
“We can trust Nash,. Leah said. “He doesn't work for Rip any longer. He warned Dr. Fowler that Riphook was after him.”
“The good Dr. Fowler.” Kenneth shook his head. “What a surprise indeed. He was always an odd one, but my, he has outdone himself.”
“What of the Parish watch?” Winchester spoke up. “Surely they would care to dispose of the rabble.”
“Getting all of them together is giving license to a mob.” Kenneth sighed. “We cannot rely on them. We must accomplish this ourselves. Let us think, how can we make him come out?”
“It is impossible to make him do anything he doesn't want to do,” Nash said. “He'll move on his own time. He's the boss.”
“Save for my uncle is his boss.” Kenneth chewed an idea.
“That's brilliant.” Leah smiled, clearly picking up on his train of thought.
“What are you two going on about?” Nash squinted.
“Surely my uncle does not travel to the Devil's Acre to meet with Riphook. He cannot be seen there. And Riphook cannot be seen entering his home or offices. Leah, do you remember where they met when you were with them?”
“It was a long pier, I remember that,” Leah replied.
“The wharfs,” Nash added. “It's a good spot.”
“But how do we know when they are going to meet?” Kenneth questioned. “And which pier? There are beyond many along the length of the river.”
“That one is simple.” Leah said casually. “We will ask him.”
“What do you mean, we ask him?” The Marquess gasped, fluttering his hand to his mouth.
“I mean we go to his house and force him to set up a meeting with Riphook.” Leah explained. “Then we have them both in one place, out in the open.”
“Why would Lord Wilson ever agree to such terms?” Winchester went on. “I find it unlikely.”
“He will have no choice.” Kenneth said. “For you will already be raising Judge Roberts.”
“I will?” Winchester cocked his head.
“You will inform him of the case we have built here, albeit hastily, alas you have enough of the main elements to grab his interest, do you not?” Kenneth reasoned out.
“I suppose I do,” the Marquess replied.
“So, my uncle's choice will be to either go alone to the law, or bring a culprit that will look much more favorable to the court alongside him.”
“That is my worry, again.” Leah interjected. “If you try Cornelius beside Riphook, and it is known Cornelius helped to bring Riphook under arrest, then he will surely go free while Riphook faces the gallows.”
“We cannot say that for certain.” Kenneth defended the legal system. “I trust that your testimony alone will be damning enough.”
“I believe that is highly optimistic.” Leah replied. “What is the word of a poor woman to the courts against a Lord?”
“Do you not trust me to keep you safe?” Kenneth appealed.
“I do,” Leah answered, touching his arm. “I only do not trust the courts. They will not accept my testimony as gospel.”
“But they will accept mine, as well as Worthington's.” the Marquess spoke up. “The more witnesses, the stronger the case.”
“But what will you have to say?” Nash contributed. “Leah has the damning information. All the two of you have is her words.”
“Hopefully, we will soon have words enough of our own. Our plan will stand,” Kenneth stated. “We will go confront my uncle, and surely he will confess his crimes to me. We must act swiftly; the whole of the underground is after them.” Kenneth nodded to Nash and Leah.
“Leah and I will use the second-story window.” Nash added. “He'll know somethin's amiss if we're with you in the parlor.”
“Good point,. Leah agreed. The Marquess looked baffled at how easily they discussed entering a home on the second floor. “Are we agreed then?”
“We are agreed.” Kenneth grinned, that wildness creeping back into the foreground of his conscious. He was ready to tear the town apart until he had made the world safe for Leah, even if it meant shattering whatever semblance he had left of a happy family. “Winchester, you should be off to Judge Robert's.”
“What of the criminals?” He looked concerned for his safety.
“They won't come near you, not around here, ‘specially with them watchmen about.” Nash answered. “St. James’s Square is sort of like, you could say, out of bounds.”
“How strange.” Winchester blinked, soaking up the information. No doubt it was his first ever contact with these elements of London life.
“Take heart!” Kenneth reassured him. “There are carriages near, around Piccadilly. We have come to the true test of our mettle, my friend, and it is upon you to step up to your commission. Ready then! Come on man!” Kenneth rallied the Marquess with a speech that could have come from his days in the army, and it seemed to trigger something within the man.
“Right you are.” the Marquess leapt up with surprising speed. “I shall be off!” He pattered to the side entrance, peered through the ensure the coast was clear, and then escaped out into the night.
“Now we three.” Kenneth looked between Leah and Nash, “Let us go and pay my uncle a visit, shall we?”
Chapter 22
Cornelius was at home, and he was feeling rather good about himself. He warmed his feet by his crackling hearth, which was largely unnecessary on the summer night, but Cornelius lit the fire regardless. He always felt as if his bones were cold, even in the dead of summer.
Still, his toes were piping warm as he sat in his armchair and casually drank wine from a glass.
The moon shone elegantly through his large windows, and he admired the ripples in his wine as the pale light was reflected back up towards him.
Soon all will be well. Of course, there was still the small matter of ensuring his nephew's crime bill did not pass through the House of Lords, but that would be simple enough when the time came.
Cornelius greatly admired Kenneth
's ambitions, even if he were flawed in his methods of execution.
Perhaps one day he will truly be ready, but first we must be rid of this troublesome urchin that he finds himself so fond of.
Cornelius was pondering his options. After this Benson woman had been dealt with, he could move onwards with a number of operations.
Riphook was becoming a nuisance, and Cornelius was eager to find his replacement. I can no longer reply upon his discretion. He has become a liability to my entire operation.
As he sat in his chair, he moved his gaze from the rim of his glass to the wide window before him. The glare of his own fire on the panes played games with the moonlit shadows, and he squinted out into the obscured darkness.
What was that? Cornelius hunched forwards, looking hard out the window. Am I imagining things? I thought I saw something moving.
“My Lord?” there was a tap at his door, and Cornelius turned about, distracted.
“Come in.” He sighed as he gave the window one last look, and then turned fully to address his footman.
“His Grace, the Duke of Worthington is at the door.”
“Here?” Cornelius was surprised. It was unlike Kenneth to make an unscheduled social call to his home. The woman must have run off. Cornelius smiled brightly. “By all means, see him in then. I shall meet him in the parlor.”
“Of course, my Lord.” The footman bowed and took his exit.
“Poor Kenneth.” Cornelius muttered as he descended his staircase.
He must have a broken heart. I shall console him, and he shall forget her entirely. Riphook's men should take care of her by the end of the day if she decided to return, and how could she not? She's got nowhere else to go.
Cornelius entered the parlor and saw Kenneth standing before a painting of the sea. He was surprised to notice pistol and shot hung over Kenneth's shoulder, and there was a dark fury in the lad's eyes. He truly is distraught. I must be careful with my words.
“Kenneth, dear boy.” Cornelius began, reaching out his arms to embrace his nephew.
“I am sorry to have disturbed you at this hour, Uncle, I am glad to find you still awake.”
“I hardly sleep, dear boy, not in my old age. You are no disturbance, but a welcome interruption of my monotony. What brings you to my door? I cannot help to notice you carry pistol and shot, and you seem rigidly upset.”
“Rigidly upset.” Kenneth laughed out heartily, then appeared to catch himself from devolving into hysteria. “I am Uncle, I am terribly upset.”
“Come, tell me of you troubles.” Cornelius beckoned for the two of them to sit.
“Leah has gone, vanished from the house, I know not what to do.” Kenneth let out, exhaling deeply.
“Oh, Kenneth,” Cornelius said softly. Excellent. Everything is going according to plan. “You are out looking for her?”
“Perhaps we might speak upstairs, in your study.” Kenneth said rather sharply.
His temper is ever so hot at the moment.
“Certainly, dear boy, whatever you like.” Cornelius changed the direction of his gesturing. “Let us take a drink there.”
“Indeed.” Kenneth waited for him to move first, and then began to follow him up the elegant staircase. “You have such fine art, Uncle.” Kenneth suddenly commented.
“You are most kind.” Cornelius replied, giving a slight bob of his head.
“How much do you think you spent, on this collection?” Kenneth asked.
“A fair amount.” Cornelius answered shortly. “Here we are.” and he pushed open the door to his study.
There were two people in the room. One of them sat casually atop his desk. At first this seemed so impossibly strange that it did not entirely register, and so Cornelius took that first step into the room. Then Kenneth's large frame appeared behind him, and latched the door shut.
“Hello Cornelius,” Leah sneered from atop the desk. “so good to see you again.”
“Why you–” Cornelius realized he had been had, but it was much too late, and he felt Kenneth's pistol lodge into the square of his back.
“Keep your voice down, Uncle.” Kenneth whispered into his ear. “This is a residential neighborhood.”
“What is this?” Cornelius hissed. “What have you done, Kenneth?”
“I'm not so sure you want us to take that road, Uncle.” Kenneth snapped back. “Why don't you just take a seat.”
Cornelius took uneasy steps to his chair and sunk into it heavily. He faced Kenneth, Leah, and a hooded lad who stood beside the open window. I saw something after all out that window.
Cornelius shook his head, laughing.
“So, what happens now, Kenneth? Hmm? What are you going to do with whatever it is that you think you know, that forces you to behave in such an uncivilized manner?”
“What I think I know?” Kenneth had accepted his challenge. He needed to break Kenneth down, and he couldn't do that with Leah around. “How dare you? My kind and caring Uncle, all along the cause of all London's suffering, and trying to murder the woman that I love? You are sick! You are a monster!”
“I am hardly the cause of London's suffering.” Cornelius scoffed. Just like his father. “I merely turn a profit from it. Keep your voice down. This is, after all, a residential neighborhood.”
“So very clever.” Kenneth spoke through gritted teeth.
“Don't let him work you over, Kenneth.” Leah said, sliding off of the desk. “Do what we're here for.”
“You're right.” Kenneth shook his head.
“Oh, she's right, is she?” Cornelius grinned. “You can think for yourself, can't you Kenneth?”
“Blast it.” the hooded lad barked. He crossed to the chair in two swift strides and let down a hearty blow upon Cornelius brow. The pain shot out around his dome, and a few stars flashed over his eyes. I haven't been hit like that in years!
“Nash!” Leah yanked him away.
“He's yanking us around, I won't have it.” Nash's hood fell from his face, and Cornelius saw his injuries.
“So, you're Nash.” Cornelius chucked as he lolled his head around in the chair, running his hands over his hair. “Strike well for a scrawny fellow.”
“You best tell us how you set a meeting with Riphook.” Nash spat back at him. “And you best do it now. We're bringing you both down tonight.”
“Oh, I doubt that.” Cornelius clicked his tongue and drank from his wine glass which he had previously left in the room.
“You don't understand Uncle.” Kenneth took the seat across from him, the pistol still in his palm. “My friend, the Marquess of Winchester, has already gone to rise Judge Roberts. We have built a case against you, and we mean to see it through. If you deliver Riphook to us now, then perhaps the court may consider it an act of charity during sentencing.”
“During sentencing?” Cornelius raised his eyebrows.
I will have to pay Roberts a small fortune, but I will recover it all after he meets with an untimely accident. The old fool can be bought just as any other official in the city.
“You have no choice.” Leah added. “The law is already on its way. You know Kenneth's got the coin to pay for prosecution.”
“That I do.” Cornelius mulled it over. Perhaps this is the best chance I'll have of disposing of Riphook. He won't let the law take him alive.
“Please Uncle, see some sense in all of this madness.” Kenneth stressed. The pistol barrel was unwavering. How many men has he shot in the war, and is he truly willing to shoot me?
“You wish for me to set a meeting with Riphook, so that you might arrest him, is that correct?” It is better to take the safer road. This may in turn serve all of my purposes.
“That is correct.”
“Very well.” Cornelius saw the wave of relief was over Kenneth. “Although it is not so easily done. Someone must bring him this message.”
“Who?” Kenneth raised an eyebrow. “We cannot contact anyone from their organization.”
“Someone like h
im.” Cornelius pointed to Nash.
“Me?” Nash balked. “Are you touched in the head? Riphook will want me dead.”
“Why?” Cornelius was intrigued. The politics of their little underworld shifted ever so suddenly.
“Not if Fowler got out alright,” Leah said, turning to Nash. “If he got out, then Rip won't know you talked with him. You'd just be trying to get back in with him. He loves that groveling nonsense.”
The Ambiguous Enigma of the Hunted Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 24
