At least Tilly and Charlie were safely out of Bill’s reach. They had departed for London yesterday. But if anything happened to Graeme, Sabrina would absolutely die.
She stood and began to gather her things. “We need to leave immediately.”
“Hang on,” Grant said. “We need a plan.”
“Not to mention fifty pounds,” Royal said. “I doubt any of us are carrying such a sum on our persons.”
“I am,” replied Sabrina. “I have it in my reticule.”
Ainsley blinked. “You do?”
“It’s rather a habit of mine.”
Sabrina always carried quite large sums of money, even though some might deem it foolhardy. It gave her a sense of security, and of freedom. Because she was not at home, and with life in Edinburgh a wee bit strange, she’d taken to carrying extra, just in case.
Thank God.
“Good for ye, lass,” Angus said. “Like a true Scotswoman, always prepared.”
“Then shall we go?” she prompted.
“We still don’t have a plan,” Grant protested. “We have no idea who this Bill idiot has with him, and don’t know the layout of the place.”
“I was there last week, so I can provide the necessary information,” Sabrina impatiently said. “Now, can we please be on our way before your brother is murdered? That is not what I had in mind for him.”
“All right, we’ll come up with something on the way.” Royal glanced at his wife. “You’ll hold down the fort and explain things to Nick at the interval?”
Ainsley gave a nod. “Sabrina, give me your jewelry. There’s no need to offer additional temptations.”
Sabrina unpinned her ruby brooch and stripped off her bracelets. She kept her garnet earbobs on. They weren’t terribly expensive, and might come in handy if further negotiations were necessary.
“Royal Kendrick, you be careful,” Ainsley said, pulling him down for a swift kiss.
“Always.”
“And keep Sabrina safe, or I’ll murder the lot of you,” she added.
Angus opened the door. “Come along, lass. We’ll follow yer lead.”
Sabrina threw her opera cloak around her shoulders. “Leading is what I do best.”
* * *
In the almost thirty minutes it had taken to secure the Kendrick town coach and then make their way to the coffeehouse, Sabrina had been dying inside. At least the extra time had given her a chance to fully explain the situation and the layout of the Wee Black Dog, and had allowed them to come up with a plan.
Angus, naturally, had wanted to charge in, pistols blazing, which had almost given Grant a fit. Royal, on the other hand, was cool-headed and decisive and had quickly devised a strategy. She saw much of Graeme reflected in the Kendrick family—he’d inherited the courageous but reckless tendencies of his grandfather, along with the strength and intelligence of his brothers. As a group, the Kendricks seemed well nigh unstoppable.
The men had made it clear that they were exceedingly unhappy with her participation in their hastily contrived scheme. Sabrina, however, refused to budge. Old Bill held her responsible for Tilly’s departure and was seeking to humiliate her. If an embarrassing and even risky scene could save Graeme’s life, she would happily suffer it.
Sabrina would suffer far more than that for Graeme Kendrick.
When the carriage pulled up, Royal glanced out the window. “Grant and I will make our way around to the back of the building and hope we find another way in.”
Sabrina grimaced. “I’m sorry. I wish I’d been more observant in that respect.”
Angus patted her knee. “The lads will find a way in.”
Grant handed her down from the carriage. Even in daylight, this particular laneway had been dark and uninviting. Now the gloom was positively Stygian, with only fitful candlelight flickering in the occasional tenement window. Past the light thrown by the carriage lamps, the night was inky-black.
The groom came around and handed Royal a pistol.
“Sorry, sir,” he said. “I’ve only got the one extra.”
“It’ll have to do.” Royal checked the weapon. “You need your weapon, since I want you to stay with the coach and keep an eye on the alley.”
“Aye, Mr. Royal.”
“I’ve got a knife,” Grant said, extracting a wicked-looking blade from an inside pocket of his greatcoat.
“And I’ve got a little popper,” said Angus, pulling out a small pistol.
Sabrina thought back to her first meeting with Graeme. “You certainly are a well-armed family.”
“Ye can never be too prepared,” Angus replied, winking at her.
“Grandda, best put that away,” Royal said. “We don’t want to spook anyone before we get the lay of the land.”
“I’m nae booby. Not my first rescue, as ye well ken.”
“I ken,” Royal dryly replied.
Clearly, the Kendricks had an interesting history. It occurred to Sabrina that falling in love with one of them might be a risky proposition in more ways than one.
Too late now.
“Lady Sabrina, are you truly ready for this?” Grant asked.
“I am,” she firmly said.
“You’re a brave, fine lass,” he said with a wry smile. “My brother probably doesn’t deserve you, after all.”
“Och, Graeme is the best of ye,” Angus snorted. “Now be off, while yon lassie and I do our part.”
Royal tapped his grandfather’s arm. “Take care of her. Just keep everyone talking until we find our way in.”
“Aye, that.”
When Royal and Grant disappeared into the shadows, Angus took Sabrina’s arm and led her into the alley.
She did her best to steady her suddenly erratic heartbeat. Despite her bravado, she felt monstrously out of her depth. True, she’d faced down Cringlewood and also helped rescue Tilly and Charlie. But this was different. Now she was walking straight into the jaws of a dangerous trap, one where a life was at stake.
Graeme could already be—
“Dinna think aboot it,” Angus said, cutting into her panicky thoughts. “It’s always the worst before the fight. That’s when the nerves jangle ye.”
“I’ m hoping we avoid the fighting bit.”
“Aye, bribery is good, trickery better. But if the fightin’ starts, just do as Royal said.”
“Hide under a table?” She wrinkled her nose. “That seems rather cowardly.”
“Yer a brave lass, especially for a Sassenach, but yer nae used to fightin’.”
“Don’t forget that I pushed Lord Cringlewood over that balcony.”
He chuckled. “That ye did. But I’m thinkin’ ye’ll manage to talk us out of this wee spot of trouble. Royal and Grant are just for backup.”
That seemed wildly optimistic. But since she and Angus were now standing in front of the Wee Black Dog, there was no more room for doubt. They’d run out of time, and she could only pray that Graeme hadn’t.
There was just enough light from the windows of the coffeehouse to illuminate her companion’s calm features. Angus gave her a measuring look and lifted a bushy white eyebrow.
Sabrina pushed open the door and stepped down the stairs, stopping on the last one. When she cast a swift glance around, her heart sank.
Emmy stood behind the counter, grim-faced, while a bulky man with unruly whiskers kept her under guard. Old Bill sat at a table in the center of the room, flanked by two young men—very young, hardly more than sixteen. Their hard, thin features and the clubs they held in their hands more than made up for their appearance of youth.
Even worse, Sabrina didn’t see Graeme.
Angus nudged her off the bottom step and into the room.
Old Bill scowled at her from his seat. “I told ye to come alone, ye barmy chit. Who’s this old goat?”
Angus bristled but remained silent.
“Unfortunately, sir, I could not make my way to this part of town without assistance. As I’m sure you can see, my elderly compa
nion is hardly a threat,” Sabrina answered.
“I couldna let the puir lass come by herself,” Angus dolefully said. “I’m just a harmless old grandda, ye ken.”
When Sabrina caught a quiet snort from the dark cubbyhole at the back of the room, relief almost took her out at the knees. She would recognize that snort anywhere. After all, she’d heard it directed her way often enough.
“Where’s the Kendrick lad?” Angus asked.
“Back here. Tied up like a Christmas turkey,” Graeme replied.
Sabrina took a quick step forward. “Mr. Kendrick, are you—”
Angus pulled her back to murmur in her ear. “He’s tellin’ us his situation. That he canna help.”
Bill twisted around to glare at the nook. “Shut yer gob, or I’ll clobber ye.”
“I believe you already have,” Graeme replied in a hard voice.
One of the boys waved his club. “Want me to cosh him again, guv?”
“If you dare to hit Mr. Kendrick, I will not give you a single shilling,” Sabrina snapped. “And then I’ll take that blasted club and cosh you over the head.”
Bill loudly guffawed. “I said barmy? Complete loony, more like.”
“Easy lass,” Angus whispered. “Stick to the plan.”
Sabrina drew in a breath to steady her nerves and her fury. “All right . . .” She frowned. “I cannot keep calling you Old Bill.”
“I dinna care what ye call me. After tonight, ye’ll nae be seein’ me again.” He flashed a smile, one that sported a number of missing teeth. “And if ye ever do, ye’ll be wishin’ the good Lord ye hadn’t.”
“The only business you have with the good Lord is to ask His forgiveness for your truly wretched behavior,” she replied. “Before I give you the money, I will also have your word that you will abandon your criminal enterprise and cease using children for your nefarious activities.”
“Good God,” Graeme muttered.
Sabrina couldn’t blame him, since she had sounded rather demented. But she was simply following the plan. To keep Bill talking and distracted until the others found their way in.
Fortunately, Bill rose to the bait. “Ye can sod off, lady. The only thing yer getting from me—if ye pays up—is the big Kendrick oaf.” He glared in the direction of the cubbyhole. “And yer welcome to him. The bastard broke one of my bowman’s arms.”
Sabrina seized the opportunity to prolong the discussion. “Why in heaven’s name would a pickpocketing gang need a bowman? That sounds entirely deranged.”
Angus smothered a chuckle. “Bowman is cant for thief.”
“Aye, and a nasty break it was, too,” Bill snarled. “I’ll be havin’ to pay an old sawbones to fix it.”
“That is most unfortunate,” Sabrina said. “But as long as Mr. Kendrick didn’t break a child’s arm—”
“Of course I didn’t break a child’s arm,” came the irritated interruption from the back.
“Then I’m sure the bowman deserved it,” Sabrina finished. “Kidnapping Mr. Kendrick was thoroughly illegal Mr., er, Bill.”
“Everythin’ I do is illegal,” the gang leader replied, shooting her a disbelieving glare. “And now I’m down another man, on top of ye stealin’ away my best earner. Ye owe me, girl, and ye’ll pay up or yer gent here will get the worst of it.”
As if for emphasis, one of his young guards waved his club.
Sabrina pointed a finger at the lad. “You should be ashamed of yourself, young man. Going around hitting people, when you should be in school or learning a trade.”
The lad sneered. “I gots a trade, lady. I’m a thief.”
“Thieving is not a profession with a future, I assure you. In fact, you will likely be transported before you’re much older. Or worse, I’m sorry to say.”
When the young man took a menacing step forward, Angus whipped out his gun and leveled it.
“Stay put, laddie,” he calmly said.
“Want me to shoot ’im, Bill?” asked the bewhiskered guard, who had also pulled out a pistol.
“Not unless ye wants to be stuck like a pig,” Emmy said with grim satisfaction.
Apparently, while Whiskers had been retrieving his weapon, Emmy had unearthed a knife and was now pressing it under her former guard’s ribs.
The big fellow threw her a startled glance. “Come on, Em. No threats now, ye ken. We’re friends, ain’t we?”
“No,” the girl snapped.
“Could we please refrain from murdering one another?” Graeme barked. “You all need to put down your blasted weapons.”
“Glad someone is talkin’ sense.” Bill actually sounded almost amused.
Sabrina felt ready to jump out of her skin. Nor could she draw out this absurd conversation much longer. If Royal and Grant didn’t soon appear, it was likely someone would be shot or knifed—accidentally, most likely, given the way the evening was going.
“Girl, did ye bring the money or not?” Bill demanded.
“Best hand it over,” Angus advised in a low voice. “Looks like the plan went sideways.”
She sighed and opened her reticule, extracting the thick bundle of pound notes.
“Blimey,” exclaimed one of the lads.
Even Bill looked impressed. “Bring it ’ere.”
She shook her head. “First let Mr. Kendrick go.”
“Not until we’re paid and on our way.”
“It’s fine, Sabrina,” said Graeme. “Angus, take the money and give it to Bill.”
“Nae,” the gang leader snapped. “She gives it to me or the deal’s off.”
After a fraught silence, a quiet snarl emerged from the cubbyhole. “If ye touch a hair on her head, I’ll throttle ye. Then I’ll rip out yer guts and set them on fire.”
Bill went a bit pale, which was understandable. Graeme’s low, lethal tone was terrifying.
Perversely, it made Sabrina quite lighthearted.
“Not to worry, Mr. Kendrick,” she said. “Old Bill doesn’t frighten me in the least.”
She marched up to the table and held up the wad of notes. But when he grabbed for it, she pulled it out of his reach.
“First, I’ll have your word that you will leave Tilly and her brother alone,” she said.
He gave her a sour look. “Aye, ye have it. She was gettin’ to be more trouble than she was worth. Too cheeky by half.”
“Yes, abusing children tends to make them cheeky,” she replied in a withering tone. “Which is why I will also have your word that you will cease recruiting children.”
“Oh, aye, and just how am I supposed to support myself?”
“I am about to hand over fifty pounds—that’s more than enough to help you get started in a respectable business.”
He snorted with disgust.
“And the Kendricks will know if you employ children again. They will put a stop to it.”
“Oh, lass, I’ll be puttin’ a stop to Old Bill, regardless,” drawled Graeme. “Count on it.”
Annoyed by his unhelpful interruption, she glanced at the cubbyhole and got a terrific shock. From her new angle, she could now see Graeme. With his face cut and bruised, he looked like he’d been dragged backwards through a thorny bush. He also looked mad as hornets and ready to throttle everyone in the room, including her.
It took her a moment to recover. “Please, sir. Let me handle this.”
After a tense couple of seconds, Graeme nodded.
She turned back to Bill, who was regarding her with no small measure of surprise. Sabrina didn’t blame him. In no scenario could she have ever envisioned negotiating with a crime lord, even a minor one. But since meeting Graeme Kendrick, life had consisted of one surprise after another.
“Do we have a deal?” she asked. “No more recruiting children?”
Bill seemed to ponder that for a few moments. “I’ll be losin’ a powerful lot of blunt without the kiddies. And I’ve gots to pay for a sawbones, ye ken. For my bowman.”
Breathing out an exasperated sigh, S
abrina unhooked the garnet bobs from her ears and threw them onto the scarred tabletop. “These should fill the gap.”
Bill swiped them up with a grin. “Hand over the money, and we’ve gots a deal.”
“I’ll have your word as a . . .” She couldn’t bring herself to call him a gentleman.
Bill spit on his hand and extended it. “On my honor as a thief.”
Regretting the loss of her best pair of gloves, Sabrina shook his hand. Then she placed the money on the table.
He picked up the notes and stood. “And I hope never to see ye again.”
“One can certainly hope,” she tartly replied.
Bill strolled to the door, followed by his young guards. They gave Angus—still holding his pistol—a wide berth. Whiskers came around the counter to join his leader.
Sighing with relief, Sabrina turned toward Graeme. He’d managed to climb to his feet, despite being wrapped by a great deal of rope.
“You will, however, be seeing me again, Bill,” Graeme said. His eyes were glittering emerald shards. “And there will be a reckoning.”
Bill paused by the door. “I’m thinkin’ not.”
Sabrina went to work on the big knot binding Graeme’s wrists behind his back. “He’s leaving. Don’t start trouble,” she hissed.
Graeme kept his focus on the gang leader. “And why should I not hunt you down and kill you?”
She struggled with the insanely complicated knot. “Because it would be illegal?”
Graeme cast her a brief, incredulous look.
“And because I’m gonna do you a favor,” Bill said. “More rightly, I’ll be doin’ yer lady a favor.”
Sabrina blinked and straightened up. “What do you mean?”
“I like a lass with spirit, and ye got plenty. Although yer costin’ me plenty, too,” he added with a chuckle.
Angus impatiently waved his pistol. “Get on with it, man.”
“Grandda, put that bloody gun away before you shoot someone,” Graeme snapped.
“Amateurs, the lot of ye,” Bill sneered. “And ye, mister, thinkin’ yer so clever, askin’ yer sneaky questions all about the town.”
Sabrina took one look at Graeme’s furious expression and hastily intervened. “What is it you wanted to tell me?”
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