by Aston, Alexa
London
Dez hadn’t been in his family’s London townhouse since he’d been sent packing, escorted to his new regiment by two ruffians who never let him out of their sight until he had been delivered to his commanding officer. The place had never felt like home to him because he and Dalinda had spent so little time here. They had been left in the country a majority of the time, only coming to London on rare occasions. Dalinda had spent a few weeks in the townhouse, thanks to her making her come-out, but she had not been back since her marriage to Gilford.
It had been difficult to write to his twin but he had done so, letting her know that Anna had been found alive at Gollingham Asylum. Dez had tried to write dispassionately about the circumstances but he remained haunted. By how he had found Anna. And by how she had left him. His heart told him that she loved him, as he did her, but she had some foolish notion that they couldn’t be together because of her time at the asylum. He had picked up on that when she referenced the ton being shocked by her return from the dead.
She was right. Once Polite Society discovered she was alive, it would only be a matter of time before someone found out where she had been and spread ugly rumors. That was the likely reason she wouldn’t accompany Jessa to town for her come-out. Anna would want her sister to secure a husband before her presence was made known, else it would jeopardize Jessa’s chances of ever making a worthwhile match.
Dez believed Anna thought to protect him, as well, from the gossipmongers of society. He didn’t care what they said of him. He was determined to wed Anna. They belonged together. Still, he knew despite what she said that she had to be emotionally fragile after enduring so many years locked away from the world. He told himself he would give her time to adjust being back. Only then would he pursue her in earnest. Dez had always had a stubborn streak. When it came to Anna, he would do whatever it took to convince her they belonged together.
In the meantime, he wanted to do what he could to rescue Lady Jergens. He had already put steps into motion over the last week, having met with the head of the Bow Street Runners, who assigned a man named Haggard to the case. Dez had explained to the runner in detail everything he knew about Gollingham Asylum and Lady Jergens and why he believed there was a strong possibility of liberating the woman from being a patient.
Haggard agreed and Dez pressed further, asking that the runner go to Gollingham and see if he could obtain a list of all the patients at the facility. He explained that if there were even one woman that he might be able to help, he wanted to do so and had given the man one hundred pounds to use as bribes, as well as traveling expenses. Haggard had left immediately for Hampshire and was gone four days. When he returned, the agent had a handwritten list of twenty-three women. Beside each name was listed the man who had committed her to the institute. Dez didn’t ask how Haggard had gotten the information and the runner hadn’t volunteered how he came to possess it.
What he did ask was that the agent find out what he could about the men and women on the list. If they could find another circumstance similar to Lady Jergens’, then he would take action. For now, he concentrated on her case.
He made his way to the drawing room because he was expecting guests. Dez had written to Lord Morton, whom Haggard discovered was Lady Jergens’ father, and asked the earl to call upon Dez, bringing along his solicitor and physician. He stressed that it was a private, urgent matter, one which he couldn’t explain except in person, and begged the earl to adhere to his request for a meeting in person. Morton had responded in the affirmative, probably curious as to why a former officer and new peer would seek him out.
Entering the drawing room, he found Haggard already present and greeted him. The agent was of average height and weight, with brown hair and brown eyes, not memorable in any way. It was probably what made him such a good investigator, along with his keen intelligence.
“Thank you for coming today,” Dez told the runner.
“I am happy to be here. I hope Lord Morton will come and be as eager as we are to get Lady Jergens out of that awful place.”
Haggard had shared that he had been inside the asylum once, late at night, and even someone hardened by all that he had seen had been shaken by his observations. He had told Dez that he would stay on the case as long as needed and hoped they could get as many women out of the asylum as possible.
His butler entered. “Lord Morton. Dr. Caymon. And Mr. Black.”
“Thank you, Johnson,” Dez said, stepping toward his guests. “Lord Morton, thank you for coming.”
Skepticism filled the earl’s face. “This is Dr. Caymon, my personal physician, and Mr. Black, my solicitor.” He frowned. “I have no idea what you are up to, Torrington. The only reason I came is because you aren’t your brother. He was a rake of the worst sort and a drunken ass.” He sniffed. “Of course, I have no idea who or what you are. No one in London does, other than you were in the military.”
“Yes, Lord Morton. I served a dozen years in His Majesty’s Army, attaining the rank of major.”
“Hmm. I am a former naval officer myself. Very well. Let’s get this done.”
Dez indicated seats and the five men took each took one.
“I would like to introduce you to Mr. Haggard, of the Bow Street Runners.”
Distaste crossed the earl’s face. “Get to the point, man.”
He took a calming breath. “The point, my lord, is your daughter. Lady Jergens.”
Morton drew in a quick breath. “You have news of her?” he asked anxiously. “Jergens is even worse than your brother. I learned too late that he is a dissolute gambler and skirt chaser. He has cut off all contact between Alice and me. I see her at no social events. My letters to her are returned unopened.”
“That is because Jergens committed his wife to a madhouse.”
Horror crossed the earl’s face. “No!” he gasped as both the physician and solicitor shifted uncomfortably.
Then Morton shook his head, tears brimming in his eyes. “Then my Alice is lost to me. I know the law. A husband exercises full rights over his wife.”
“If he is a true husband,” Dez said.
Immediately, he explained how he had met Lady Jergens in the asylum while helping his neighbor retrieve his own relative and what she had been able to reveal to him before she had been taken away.
“If this is the case,” Mr. Black said, “Lady Alice is still legally married and the marriage could not be annulled. Non-consummation is not grounds for an annulment.”
“Then what is?” Dez demanded. “I am appalled that Jergens wed her for her dowry and never touched her.”
The solicitor said, “The grounds for annulment include three instances. One is impotence—and a couple must have been wed three years before this charge can be brought.” He cleared his throat. “Insanity is another instance. Very few families are willing to seek an annulment claiming this since it taints the entire family. From what you say, Lord Torrington, Lady Jergens could actually be sane but has been legally declared to be mad. This does occur when a man wants to discard his wife, I am afraid.”
Dez began to lose hope but asked, “What is the third circumstance? You mentioned three.”
“Fraud,” Mr. Black said. “This would involve promises in the marriage that were not kept.”
“What kind of promises?” demanded Lord Morton.
Black thought a moment. “Breach of contract might include a non-consenting bride at the ceremony, which wasn’t the case with Lady Jergens. Or a promise of housing that has already been sold. A vanished dowry.”
He jumped on that. “Wouldn’t Jergens’ use of the dowry apply in the case?”
Black thought a moment. “I did draw up the marriage settlements, along with Lord Morton.” He turned to the earl. “Do you remember the clause in regard to where your daughter would live if Lord Jergens predeceased her and no heir had been born, allowing his lordship’s younger brother to assume the title?”
“I do,” the earl said. “Alice was to be given an u
nentailed estate in Sussex. Why do you ask?”
“We should investigate that at once,” Black recommended. “If Jergens’ debts are so large and the estate unentailed, he might have sold it—which would breach the marriage contracts established.”
Morton’s eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t put it past the bastard. He is young and arrogant. He would think he would outlive Alice—and me. If I weren’t around to hold him to the marriage settlement, and poor Alice was already locked away, he would believe he could get away with it.”
“If that is the case,” Black continued, “then we could have the marriage annulled due to fraud. Jergens would have to return the entire dowry, which I am sure would be impossible, considering his gambling debts.”
“I don’t care about the damned dowry!” shouted Lord Morton. “I just want my Alice back.” He looked to Dez. “I have heard rumors of these places. Is it as horrifying as they say?”
“You will want to remove Lady Alice as soon as possible,” he said gently. He turned to the solicitor. “As a peer, I wasn’t aware of non-consummation not being grounds for an annulment. I doubt the physician running the asylum or any attendant would be, either.”
Understanding dawned in the earl’s eyes. “You are saying we should go and claim that anyway in order to have Alice removed and placed into my custody.”
“I do,” Dez said. “Even if Mr. Black cannot prove fraud and annul the marriage, she would be free of that place. I know legally Lord Jergens could simply send her back—but he would have to find her first. You could have her go abroad. Even to America. Anywhere would be better than Gollingham.”
“I agree,” Lord Morton said firmly.
“My carriage is waiting and we can leave for Hampshire immediately. We could be there by late afternoon.” Dez hesitated. “That is, if you would allow me to accompany you.”
Morton sprang to his feet. “I am ready and would appreciate your company, Torrington.” He looked to the two men who had accompanied him. “Will you go with me?” he pleaded.
Dez added, “Mr. Black will be able to explain the so-called legalities to the physician in charge. I thought it would be wise to ask Dr. Caymon to come, as well, so that he might examine Lady Alice and verify that her hymen is intact. Even though we now know that is not grounds for annulment, I believe we can get away with it and spirit her away.” He gestured to Haggard. “Mr. Haggard helped me track you down, Lord Morton, and verified the connection between you and Lady Jergens.”
The earl went to Haggard and offered his hand. “I regret I was so dismissive of you before, Mr. Haggard. I offer you my thanks from the bottom of my heart.”
The runner shook Morton’s hand. “I only hope you can remove your daughter from Gollingham, my lord. Others, too.”
The earl frowned. “Others?”
“Yes. I have a list of the other patients who have been committed to the madhouse. Lord Torrington is having me look into each one to see if there is a possibility of freeing any of these women, such as Lady Alice.”
“Then I wish you the best of luck, young man.” Morton looked to Dez. “And I will pay for Mr. Haggard’s services, reimbursing you for anything you have spent, as well as any other costs incurred with regard to these other women.”
“That isn’t necessary, my lord,” Dez assured the earl.
“It may not be to you but I want to help in whatever way I can. Shall we split the bill?”
He grinned and stuck out his hand. “You have a bargain.”
The men shook and he suggested the earl also take his carriage.
“Why?”
“Having just removed a patient from the same facility, I can tell you that Lady Alice will be quite fragile, both mentally and physically. I am not saying she is mad. She seemed far from it but she has suffered inhumane treatment and been without hope. She may not wish to be in the presence of others as we return to London. I would be happy for your physician and solicitor to return with me. As it is, you will need to stay overnight. It will be too late to begin the journey to London. Grantham is the nearest village to Gollingham. Alton is a bit larger and might be a better place to stay the night.”
“I will take your advice, Torrington,” Morton said. “Would you ride with us for a bit? At least to whatever inn we stay at. My daughter might recognize you and be comforted by your presence.”
“I would be happy to do so.”
“Then we should leave at once,” the earl declared.
“I can have messages sent to your homes and offices,” Dez offered to Black and Caymon.
Both men took him up on the offer and they quickly dashed off notes. Black said his would ask for his associate to look into Lord Jergens’ financial affairs and determine whether or not he had sold the estate, which was to have gone to his wife, according to the marriage settlements. Dez gave the notes to his footman to deliver. With that accomplished, the five men ventured outside, where Dez’s carriage waited next to Morton’s.
“I won’t be going along, Lord Morton,” Haggard said. “You have the men you need with you to bring your girl home. I will remain in London, running down leads on the list I brought back.”
“Thank you again, Mr. Haggard,” the earl said. “I will ask to see you once I return to London with Alice.”
“Very good, my lord,” Haggard said and took his leave.
The earl asked Dez to ride with them and he instructed his coachman to follow. The driver already knew the final destination and nodded.
*
They reached Gollingham at close to four o’clock that afternoon. As they disembarked, Dez told his coachman that they would return to Alton and spend the night in order to allow the horses to rest.
“Do you have need of me, my lord?” the driver asked, glancing up at the structure before them.
“If I need an extra pair of fists, I will know where to come,” he replied. “Hopefully, it won’t come to that.”
He rejoined the others and they made their way to the door. Lord Morton pounded on the door and shouted, “Open up!”
After a few moments, the same servant who had answered before when Dez had come calling with Shelton opened the door. His eyes darted among the four men standing in front of him and paused when they landed on Dez.
“No. Not again,” he proclaimed and slammed the door in their faces.
Before the attendant could throw the lock, Dez turned the knob and pushed it forward forcefully. It slammed into the man and he went crashing to the floor.
Quickly, he scrambled to his feet and began shouting, “Matron! Matron!” as he scurried up the staircase.
“Follow me,” he told the others and he hurriedly ascended the stairs in pursuit of the man.
They reached the landing and turned to go up the next flight when a commanding voice from above said, “Stop right there.”
For a moment, he obeyed and saw a large woman with hair as gray as iron and a sour look upon her face. Behind her was the attendant, who said, “He’s the one in front. The one who took her. He’s back again.”
Matron stared down at them. Dez ignored her glare and continued up the stairs, willing the others to follow him as he had done on the battlefield so many times. They reached the top and the woman had to step back to accommodate them.
“We are here for Lady Jergens,” he said calmly. “Fetch Dr. Cheshire.”
“He ain’t here,” she said belligerently.
“It doesn’t matter.” Dez indicated the man to his left. “This is Lord Morton, her father.”
Matron sneered. “A father won’t do much good in this circumstance,” she said haughtily. “Only the lady’s husband can extract her. From what I know, that will never happen. That woman will die in here, decades from now.”
Lord Morton choked. Whether in sorrow or rage, Dez didn’t know but he did know a bully when he saw one and stepped toward her, forcing her further back until she bumped against the wall.
Drawing near to her face, he hissed, “You will send s
omeone for Cheshire. In the meantime, you will find Lady Jergens. The law is on our side, Madam. She is not Lady Jergens at all but rather Lady Alice.”
As he stepped back, he saw both anger—and fear—in the woman’s eyes.
Mr. Black crisply said, “The marriage is to be annulled because no marriage existed. Marital relations did not occur, thus rendering things invalid.”
Understanding lit Matron’s eyes. She remained defiant, however, as she said, “That will be up to Dr. Cheshire to decide.” Glancing to her right, she told the hovering attendant, “Fetch the doctor. Be quick about it.”
He hurried away, throwing a glance over his shoulder.
“Produce Lady Alice,” Dez said, his voice ringing out.
“I am here,” a voice called.
Looking past Matron, he saw the usual line of silent women hunched on the hard benches they inhabited for all of their waking hours. One woman had risen, however, and unsteadily made her way toward them.
“Papa?” she asked as she drew closer. “Papa?”
“Alice. Alice.” Morton rushed to her and wrapped her in his arms.
She began weeping profusely, clinging to him. Dez had to look away because the emotions flooding him were so powerful. He glanced to his companions and saw they, too, had a hard time watching the reunion between father and daughter.
“Stay here,” Matron said and she moved down the staircase.
Dez walked down the corridor, looking at the various patients. Not a one met his eyes or said anything. No one moved other than the attendants, who began hurrying off, making themselves scarce. He withdrew the list Haggard had composed from his pocket.
“Miss Stone?” he called.
When no one replied, he repeated the name. Finally, a voice said, “I am here.”
He started toward her and came to a halt. “I want to talk to as many of you as I can before Dr. Cheshire arrives. I need to ask why you were placed here.”
In the next few minutes, Dez tried to speak to every woman on Haggard’s list. Seven of them knew their names and little else so he moved on, eager to gain as much information as he could in the short amount of time he had. Three patients looked at him in such fear when he addressed them that he believed they regretted even giving their names to him. All three became mute afterward, despite his pleas that he was here to help them. Regretting having to abandon them, Dez again shouted out a few names from his list, despair filling him. Two of the women came forward when he did so but they hurried back to their seats when he tried to question them regarding why they were placed at Gollingham.
