The Lost Baroness

by Judith B. Glad

  "Yeah. I do." Tucking his arms behind his head, he turned his head to look at her. "Lord, but it'll be good to see them all again. All but Ellen, my oldest sister. She's back in Boston." He paused, and his gaze seemed to be on something far away or long ago. "You'll like my family, Siri. Ma's the salt of the earth, and Pa, well, Pa's quite a man. He's done about everything, been about everywhere..." His voice grew pensive. "Everywhere except Australia." He fell silent.

  The question Siri had been almost afraid to ask burst from her lips. "What has happened? Rosel--"

  "We don't know. A dozen of Silas's men are watching tonight. We'll go back in the morning."

  "But--"

  "Siri, my guess is that the bastard will take good care of her. It's me he wants, for some reason. We've already left him a message that I'll make a trade, me for her. My guess is he's thinking it over, looking for a trap. Silas reckons we'll hear from him in the morning.

  "I know it's a hard thing to do, but try to stop worrying. Everything possible is being done to get Rosel back to you. I promise."

  Rolf turned then, and burrowed into Buffalo's side. To Siri's great surprise, Buffalo pulled him closer. Then he held his hand out to Siri. "Can you scooch over here too? This bed's too damn big."

  She slid clumsily across the bed until she could rest her head on his forearm. "I guess I can't reach to kiss you goodnight," Buffalo said when she'd found a comfortable position. "Should'a done it before." His voice trailed off on the last word. The arm supporting her head relaxed.

  "Oh, Buffalo, how I love you," Siri whispered.

  She swallowed the tears that threatened to choke her. If only....

  * * *

  "Nej! I will not stay in bed!"

  Buff paused in his dressing. "Damn it, Siri, you were shot yesterday. Soomey says the doctor thought you cracked your collarbone. All you'd do is get in the way."

  "She is min dotter! I will go with you!" She looked about ready to spit fire as she fought to unbutton her nightgown.

  "No you won't. Now calm down. You're going to have your boy all upset."

  "He cannot hear me." Soomey had come to get Rolf some time ago, and now Buff could hear the two of them laughing in the next room. "Buffalo, please, you must let me--"

  They both jumped at the sudden rap on the door.

  Buff opened it, standing so she could not been seen. "What?"

  "There's a message," Silas said. "You'd both better come out here."

  Buff looked behind him to see Siri clumsily wrapping a long robe about herself. He stepped aside to let her pass. Her eyes were wide and her teeth worried her lower lip. Wishing he could reassure her, he caught her hand and walked with her to the sofa.

  Silas handed him the note. He tore open the envelope, good quality linen stock, with his name written in a spiky, bold hand. The single sheet inside bore similar handwriting. He read aloud.

  Lachlan,

  The child is unharmed. She will remain so until noon today, 8 February.

  You will come alone to the entrance to the New Market Theatre at noon. A carriage will be waiting. You will enter the carriage without resistance, and will follow all instructions.

  If Mrs. Trogen wishes her child to be released alive, she will be at the entrance of the New Market Theatre exactly one hour later. Alone.

  Any attempt to follow the carriage will result in the child's death, as will any other interference.

  Jaeger

  Buff crushed the note in his fist. "Thank God! She's alive!"

  Siri caught his hand. "Let me see!" She pried open his fist and removed the note. She read it though one time, her lips shaping each word. Then she laid it on her knees and read again, one finger tracing across the paper. "Look! He does not promise not to harm her after Buffalo goes to him. Only not to kill her!" Her voice trailed off on a sob.

  Buff took the note back and reread it. "That unspeakable bastard," he whispered as the implication he'd missed became bitter truth. "Silas, how many men can you muster?"

  "As many as you need. Too bad we can't call in the police."

  "Yeah," Silas agreed, just as Siri cried "No!" He caught her hand and squeezed. "Silas, by the time we've convinced them that Rosel's in danger, she could be dead--"

  "Not to mention," Silas said, his tone caustic, "convincing them we weren't really responsible for the imbroglio yesterday."

  "Well, hell! I hadn't thought of that. Okay. We've got three hours. Let's figure this out."

  "Nej, you cannot. He will kill you, too!"

  "Sweetheart, he's not going to kill anyone. Now, let's have some breakfast whilst we talk about this."

  For most of the meal, he attempted to calm Siri. He didn't blame her for expecting the worst. Life sure hadn't dealt her a decent hand thus far.

  "I'll go to meet him, just like he wants. Silas, your men can follow. But we can't take him until he releases Rosel."

  "That mean's he'll have Siri, too."

  "Not if I have anything to say about it."

  "We will never find her." Desperation made Siri's voice thin and flat.

  "Yes we will. Trust me. Trust Silas. It's not the first time we've been in a tight spot."

  She shook her head. "You will die, too," she whispered.

  "Don't you believe it. I'll be armed, if Silas will lend me his trick belt buckle. I've picked up some dirty fighting techniques I'll bet even he hasn't heard of. "

  "It's yours. I'll get it, then I'll go talk to Evan. He'll round up some help for you."

  "Wait," Siri said. "Soomey, will you let me use one of your little guns?"

  Soomey came to the table and hugged Siri. "Of course. You may have them both."

  "What the dickens--"

  "Be quiet. He wants me, so I will go to him. But I will also go armed."

  Buff glared at her. "The hell you will. You don't know how to shoot."

  Before Siri could answer, Soomey said, "She will not need to know anything but how to pull the trigger."

  "Come, Soomey. You will help me find a way to hide the gun, yet still use it." She pushed past Buff.

  He caught her good arm. "Wait a minute, Siri! You're not going anywhere. We'll get a man to pretend to be you."

  "Nej, you will not. I will not risk Rosel's life that way. The bad man wants me, and I shall go." She paused and her tongue flicked across her lower lip. "Soomey, if I...will you care for Rolf and Rosel? Please?"

  "There will be no need. But yes, I promise they will be as my own children, should anything...I promise." The two women embraced, both weeping.

  Buff's eyes were a little damp too. He joined them, putting his arms around both. He hoped they were as comforted as he was.

  When the storm of tears had subsided, he tried again. "Siri, you can't--"

  "I will not argue, Buffalo. She is my child. Do you not understand? I must!"

  "It's dangerous as hell. We don't know where he's holding your daughter, or how many men he has guarding her. Before we came back last night, we found out that there's a tunnel from the cellar of the hotel. We don't know where it leads, or what other tunnels it connects to."

  "So?"

  "So once we get in there, we may have to fight our way out. That means I need another man with me, one who's used to--"

  "She's right, Buff," Silas said. "This Jaeger isn't going to let the kid go until he's sure he has Siri. Sending in a substitute could get you all killed."

  The worst of it was, Buff knew they were right.

  * * *

  All was in place. The child was in a place they would never find. When Lachlan and the woman were dead, Jaeger would sell her to a white slaver for a good price.

  He took no pleasure in children.

  Here he came. Alone as instructed. But undoubtedly followed.

  A waste of time. Once on the river, anyone following would stand out clearly. And no one would hear the screams.

  Lachlan spoke to the carriage driver, who nodded. With a pause to look around him, the young man climbed i
nto the vehicle, which immediately began moving. When it turned the next corner, Jaeger looked to the roof, where one of his henchmen watched. A wave told him that no other carriage had pulled into the stream of traffic.

  Perhaps Lachlan had indeed come alone.

  He strode toward the dock where he could make certain his instructions were being followed. Everything was going as planned, which only proved that Americans, as a race, were short-sighted and ignorant. Any European would have suspected treachery and would have come prepared.

  The fact that he intended no treachery gave his plans a certain elegance. The child would remain alive, even if her mother failed to appear, an unlikely happening. Alive, but living in hell.

  Lachlan went quietly into the ship's boat. Although Jaeger watched the river, he saw no sign of followers. Good. His threat had been taken seriously.

  Once he had the woman in his power, all his plans would come to fruition.

  Then he could go home, away from this raw land filled with buffoons and simpletons.

  * * *

  Mr. Dewitt walked with her until the theatre was in sight. "I'll leave you now. He'll have someone watching, and we want him to think you're going in unprotected."

  All Siri could do was nod. Her mouth was so dry and her throat so tight she doubted she could make a sound.

  He looked down at her, his face grim. "Remember what Soomey told you. You'll only have one chance. Make it work."

  Siri nodded. She saw only drays and freight wagons on the street. Licking her lips, she forced a whispery sound from her lips. "Thank you. I will..."

  Not knowing what else to say, she turned and walked away from him. Her shoulder ached and her belly clenched as she forced her feet to take one step after another. As she drew close to the theatre, she saw a carriage approaching from the other side. She stopped walking and waited.

  It pulled up in front of her. "Mrs. Trogen?" the young man on the seat said. He looked young and decent. Had he any idea he could be taking her to her death?

  Siri nodded.

  "Get in," he told her, "and don't open the blinds."

  She obeyed, with difficulty. The step was high. Having only one hand meant that her skirt twisted around her legs when she raised her foot. She all but fell inside, then had to untangle herself so she could pull the door shut.

  As soon as the door slammed, the carriage moved. She tried to look out of the narrow slit between the wall and the closed blind beside her, but could only see motions and colors. Shivering from a bone deep cold, she huddled into the corner and wondered how much longer she had to live.

  Would she see Rosel before she died?

  The journey seemed interminable. They went around many corners, as if they were driving in a circle. The carriage slowed at last, and she heard a curious rumble. Then it moved, and the sound of the wheels changed, as if they were driving on a wooden street like some of those in Astoria. Fetid odors came to her nose, of filth and rotting meat and decay.

  At last the carriage halted. She sat unmoving, not knowing what to expect. Her driver spoke to someone, but she was unable to hear the words. Then the door opened. "Get out."

  The man who stood there was hideous. His face was scarred, one eye was milky white, and he had only one ear. She cowered back, even though she knew it would do her no good.

  "C'mon, girlie. Out ye come. We've a ways to go yet." The man held out a three-fingered hand, as if to help her. "I ain't a'gonna harm ye."

  Siri ignored the hand and stepped out of the carriage. Although her surroundings were dim, lit only by gray light from the opposite end, she could tell she was inside a warehouse of some sort. Crates and bales were stacked haphazardly along both walls. The center, a few yards beyond the carriage, was open water, a covered berth that could accommodate a small vessel. Outside she could see the river, and a sailing ship at anchor.

  "This way, girlie. There's a boat waitin'."

  "No--" The icy core of fear in her belly broke free and froze her. Siri turned to run, but an iron-hard hand clamped on her wrist.

  "I hates to do this, but I been paid for the job," the hideous man said. "Come along."

  She was all but jerked off her feet. Stumbling, twisting her arm, she fought every step of the way. When she lost her footing, she was dragged to the edge of the floor. The man released her and she simply lay on the filthy, splintery floor, panting.

  "Jiggs! Git up here and give me a hand. She's half-faint."

  A sailor came up a ladder. Between them, the men lowered her into a rowboat. "Now, girlie, I reckon you got two choices," the hideous man told her when they'd dumped her into the boat. "You can lay there and be good, or you can thrash around and capsize us. I ain't much of a swimmer, and neither's Jiggs here, so if we go in the water, we'll be busy savin' our ownselves."

  Fighting a panic that threatened to paralyze her, Siri crawled onto the seat. She clung to the rear transom, terrified of rocking the boat, as the men rowed out to the sailing ship. Her skirt was wet and cold against her legs, soaked by the filthy water sloshing around the floorboards. In her belly, terror pulsed with every heartbeat, ready to consume her.

  I must be calm. Rosel depends on me.

  Buff saw the rowboat approach, through the curtains of icy rain. Neither of the two deckhands seemed alarmed, so it must be bringing Siri.

  Damn it all! Why'd I let them talk me out of having someone disguised as her?

  Fat lot of good all our plans are. Why didn't we think of a ship? No boat's going to approach unseen.

  He couldn't even get to the knife in his belt buckle, not with his arms tied this way. Nor could he sit, to reach the small dagger concealed in his boot heel. What a devilish position, with his arms spread wide, caught by lines to the foremast and the base of the bowsprit.

  He shivered as another gust of rain-laden wind buffeted him. At least they'd left him his britches and his boots. Cold he could handle, but without a weapon, he'd have a piss-poor chance of taking care of Jaeger.

  They brought her aboard like a sack of meal, slung over a big sailor's shoulder. He dumped her on the deck where she lay limp and still. Before Buff could call out to her, Jaeger came out of the cabin. He went to her and grabbed her by the hair. Tipping her face up, he studied it. "A shame to color your hair, Mrs. Trogen. It was the only attractive thing about you." He thrust her away, and she collapsed into a defeated heap.

  Buff renewed his efforts to twist a hand free. The lines around his wrists were already red with his blood, where he'd worn the skin away. Neither gave, though his shoulder joints cracked with strain.

  The fellow who'd brought Siri aboard heaved himself over the rail and disappeared down the side. Jaeger came toward him. "At last, Lachlan. I have waited long for this moment."

  "Why? What have you got against me?"

  "Against you? Nothing. No more than you have been an irritation to me for a long time. I am tired of you, so..." He made a throwing-away gesture. "So I am ridding myself of you as I would a gnat that irritated me."

  "Then why did you want Si...Mrs. Trogen? She's done you no harm."

  Jaeger picked up a quirt from where it lay atop a hogshead. Leaning against the fife rail, just out of Buff's reach, he drew the thick braided handle through his hands, then snapped the whip thongs across Buff's chest, just missing his face. As Buff recoiled involuntarily, Jaeger gave a hard jerk on the line between Buff and the foremast.

  Buff pretended to fall, then stumbled back to his feet.

  "Ah, you have good balance." He tucked the quirt under his arm and pulled a long-bladed knife from somewhere under his coat. "A worthy opponent. In other circumstances, you and I might have been friends. Sooner or later, though, one of us would have died. We are too well matched." He used the tip of the blade to clean under his fingernails. "I think it would have been you, but the amusing thing is that I am not sure."

  "So you decided to kill me first. Aren't you man enough to do it face to face?"

  Anger darkened Jaeger's feat
ures, giving him character he otherwise lacked. Buff had never seen so nondescript a face.

  "I am a better man than you will ever be, you ignorant, American savage!" He slashed the leather thongs across Buff's ribs again, leaving two stinging cuts. "But never mind. I have only this one day, and I intend to make the most of it. First you will watch me kill the woman, and then you will die. Slowly. Painfully." He licked his lips and an unholy smile crossed his face. His eyes went wide, with the whites showing all around.

  Buff reined in his rage, almost berserker in quality. "At least tell me why. You owe me that, if I'm the worthy opponent you say."

  "Why? Because I want to go home. I am sick of travel, of coarse food and crude lodgings and low company. Of women with rough hands and worse manners. Since Honolulu I have been following you, waiting for you to lead me to my quarry.

  "Congratulations, Lachlan! You found the woman I sought! So I will kill you both, and then I will go home. I will tell Thorssen that his sister is safely dead and he will pay me well." He bowed from the hips, a formal, polite gesture.

  "I salute you. To have learned so much, from such meager records, is an accomplishment worthy of respect. And now your quest ends."

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Thinking rapidly, Buff gaped at Jaeger. "Thorssen? Who's he? What the hell are you taking about?"

  "You forget perhaps? The woman has so distracted you that you no longer remember you were seeking the lost daughter of Baron Thor Mogensen?" A harsh laugh. "So it always is. Common men such as you have no constancy, no loyalty to their betters." He turned away, as if watching the river traffic. "The baron is dead. If found, the girl will be baroness--an absurd circumstance, but unavoidable under the terms of the entail. She will inherit half of a vast fortune. Her unfortunate younger brother, who was such a good, loving son, will be left with no title and only half of what he deserves."

  Well, hell! Maybe he has been following me like he says. "And you won't get paid, I expect." This put a whole different light on the situation. If he knew Siri was Astrid Thorsdotter, then there was no way Buff would talk him out of harming her. And if Siri died, what about her kids? Were they in line to inherit? If they are, he'll do his best to kill them, too.