“It’s Miss Sutton, my lord. And I thought I’d made my wishes clear the last time I saw you. I do not believe seeing more of each other would be prudent.”
“Miss Sutton, if we saw much more of each other than we’ve already seen, I’m not sure there would be anything left to see.”
“Lord Henry!”
Hal tsked. “Missishness does not become you, dear. My reasons for being here are two-fold. The first is to offer you escort to your meeting with Parker.”
“I thank you for the favor, my lord, but Mr. Parker is set to pick me up. In fact, I expect him any minute now.”
“As much as it pains me to contradict a lady, Parker isn’t coming. I sent him a note…”
“You did what?”
“Ah, the difficulties with your hearing again. Shall I speak louder? I sent him a note, telling him I would deliver you to Mitchell House. After all, he has no carriage. It seemed like a waste of time and blunt for him to take a hack here to pick you up, only to take you right back to Mitchell House. Plus, this way you get to travel in a well-sprung Kellington carriage.”
Mel had to admit it did make sense, despite Hal’s high-handedness. “What was the second reason you had for coming here?”
“I have some news I would like to impart, but perhaps it would be best if we are away from the house when I do so.”
“This concerns your brother and sister-in-law?”
“Yes, and you will want to hear it.”
Mel hesitated only a moment longer, the urge to hear his news warring with her need to resist temptation. But since her need to resist temptation was also waging a battle with her desire to give in to it, she agreed to let him take her. She told him she would call for her maid.
“Very well,” said Hal. “Collect your extortionist and I shall deliver you to Parker.”
After delivering Flora to her beau’s and giving her only half of her demanded payment – Hal was becoming better at negotiating – Mel found herself alone in his comfortably equipped and very private carriage. Despite her resolve to stop seeing the scoundrel, she wondered what he would do if she closed the space between them and kissed him. He was devilishly handsome in his fawn trousers and dark blue jacket. His striped waistcoat was a lighter blue and she longed to unbutton it to better feel the impressive chest beneath it.
“Might I inquire as to what you are pondering?” asked the subject of her thoughts.
“No you may not. Now, what was the news you mentioned earlier?”
“One day, love, you will admit to the rather heated attraction between us and I very much look forward to it.”
“Your news, Lord Henry?” she asked, as she tried in vain to look unaffected by his words.
He bit back a smile then told her what he’d learned from Arthur and Vanessa.
“This is horrible,” said Melanie, who’d become more and more worried as he’d given her the report. “What is being done to find these women?”
“Now that my brother and his wife know, as well as Inspector Stapleton, I am sure an investigation will be launched. But knowing how busy Bow Street and the Home Office are, I cannot promise it will have a successful conclusion. Some of the women have been missing for a significant length of time, making it harder to find them.”
“But they will try, won’t they?”
“Yes. I can assure you that the three of them are committed to solving this case. However, they are only three people and I would imagine there are many who would make this a low priority given….” Here he trailed off.
“Given they are only whores?” asked Mel with an edge to her voice. “How dare they? These are some of the most vulnerable women in our society, driven to their profession by dire circumstances. Why, many of them are mothers with no other means to support their children. Do people expect them to go away quietly and starve?”
“Hush, love. I did not say I place a low priority on this case, and I know Arthur, Vanessa and Stapleton will work diligently. But most crime in London goes unsolved. It is not an indictment on anything other than a large number of criminals and a small number of men to go after them.”
Mel stared out the window, overcome with sadness at the plight of the women.
Hal moved to the seat next to her and took her hand. “What is it?”
She shook her head, afraid her voice would crack if she spoke. She took a moment to compose herself, then continued. “They’re so alone, with no one to take care of them. Not that a woman needs a man to take care of her, of course. But…” Here she trailed off and looked out the window again.
Hal gently turned her to face him. “But what, love?”
“But I know what that’s like. To be alone.” She tried to turn away, but he wouldn’t let her. “I mean, there was never a chance I was going to be on the streets and I was very fortunate to be born to wealthy parents with family who took me in when they passed. But many women are not so blessed.”
Hal put his arm around her and pulled her close.
She spoke barely above a whisper. “When my parents died, something inside of me broke. I felt…it’s hard to describe. I felt…”
“Like you’d never be whole again?”
Mel looked at him as if she’d never seen him before. There was no trace of the rake, the ne’er do well who made everyone laugh. Instead, she saw a look of such despair in his eyes that she knew in an instant that he’d experienced the same overwhelming loss. While she knew his parents had died when he was young, she’d never thought it had made a lasting impact on him. He was too carefree, too superficial.
Now she was ashamed of herself for ever thinking such a thing. This man who’d offered her comfort was in sore need of it himself. But even as she thought those words, his mask was slowly falling into place. Before he became the jester once again, she closed the distance between them and kissed him.
That she took him by surprise was evident. She pulled back for fear of being rejected, but he put his arms around her and deepened the kiss. Not to the ravenous extremes of their earlier encounters, but a gentle supping at her lips. It was a communion of two souls who’d known great sorrow with the tacit understanding that they were no longer alone.
He broke the kiss and looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. “It was you,” he said. “In the garden at the Raleighs’.”
She couldn’t speak of that evening which seemed so long ago. The kiss he hadn’t remembered. The one she’d never forget. She could only nod her head.
“I…” he began. “That is….”
From outside the carriage, they heard someone clear his throat. Mel was surprised to find that the carriage had stopped, and the cleared throat likely belonged to a Kellington groom waiting for the signal to open the door. No doubt he’d been told to never do so unless explicitly instructed.
“It appears we have arrived,” said Hal in a voice that sounded nothing like this own. He reached past her to open the door. The groom stepped closer to offer his hand to Mel.
She turned to Hal. “Thank you for the escort, my….what are you doing?” she asked, as Hal got out then reached in to help her disembark. “I assure you I am perfectly capable of walking to the house unescorted.”
“Did I not mention?” he asked, all but lifting her out of the carriage. “I am your escort for the day – your chaperone, if you will.”
“Having you as a chaperone is rather like…” Here she paused, as he escorted her to the entrance of Mitchell House.
“Rather like having a fox watch the henhouse?” he supplied, as they were greeted by a young scullery maid, then escorted to the sitting room.
“I felt no need to finish the metaphor as the absurdity of you acting as a chaperone required no further clarification. Ah, Anne,” said Mel, as she greeted her friend. “I am so sorry to intrude on you this early – and with an unexpected guest. But I was wondering if Mr. Parker is here. We have some rather distressing news to impart.”
Moments later, she and Hal had informed both Ann
e and Parker about the missing women. They both looked unnerved by the news.
“I had heard some rumblings,” said Anne. “The coal man often brings more gossip than coal. But I didn’t know it was as widespread as that.”
“Do you think any of the tenants might know something?” asked Hal.
“Possibly, although they’re still abed.” Anne blushed, knowing everyone would realize what work kept them in bed so late.
“I must admit I found it hard to leave my bed, as well,” said Richard, with a smile for Anne. “The London air tires one out excessively.”
Both Anne and Mel smiled at him for smoothing things over. Hal only scowled at the man.
“Now that you mentioned the missing women, perhaps that is what happened to Miss LaRue,” said Richard thoughtfully.
“Miss LaRue?” asked Hal.
“She departed for America on the most recent voyage,” said Mel. “It would have been the last one to reach New York before Richard left to come here. Why didn’t you mention she didn’t arrive?”
“Yes, Parker,” said Hal. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Richard ignored Hal’s tone and turned to Mel. “I thought she either changed her mind in London or met someone on board and went off with him once they docked in New York. It would hardly be the first time something like that happened. Pray forgive me, Melanie. I never dreamed her absence could be part of a diabolical plot.”
“Yes, well, a woman gone missing might have at least been mentioned,” said Hal. “I will be sure to tell Arthur and Vanessa about this Miss LaRue. Once you get a girl to agree to go to America, what do you do?”
“It depends on their circumstances,” said Anne. “Some stay here until their departure. But that can present problems if a girl’s employer seeks her out. Often times if there is a threat of violence, a girl will stay with her employer until the last possible moment, then she goes to the ship right before it sails.”
“Do some of the girls change their minds and choose not to go?”
“Unfortunately, some do,” replied Anne. “But the turning point is when a girl realizes there’s the chance of a better life somewhere far away. A life she deserves. Once she accepts that, she’ll likely follow through. The challenge is to convince these girls of their self-worth. Unfortunately, it’s one of the first things a woman loses in that profession.” She continued softly. “And that’s if she ever had it to begin with.”
Mel ached for her friend. Anne Cartwright was one of the kindest people she knew. There had never been a Mr. Cartwright and Mel suspected Cartwright wasn’t even her real name. It was a shame that she chose to hide herself away at the boarding house. But each attempt Mel had made to get her to accompany her out for the day had been gently rebuffed. It was clear that Anne wanted to be left to her exile.
But Mel wouldn’t give up on her. Perhaps Richard could convince Anne to accompany him to America. She would hate to say good-bye to her friend, but would love to give her a second chance at life, far from the one that had been filled with so much pain.
“I think our first order of business is to talk to the ship’s crew to see if they remember Miss LaRue,” said Hal. “What does she look like, Mel?”
“She had vibrant red hair. She had a boisterous laugh and her most distinguishing feature was…” She blushed to a shade of red that would have rivaled Miss LaRue’s hair.
“Yes?” asked Hal, with laughing eyes. “What was Miss LaRue’s most distinguishing feature if not her vibrant red hair or boisterous laugh?”
“I believe you can suss that out,” said Melanie primly. “Now, if only we could speak to associates of Miss LaRue without raising suspicion.”
“Where did she work?” asked Hal.
“I’m surprised you would have to ask, my lord. She was employed at Madame Thurmond’s. I assumed the two of you would be fast friends.” She hated the twinge of jealousy that arose in her at the thought of Hal with Miss LaRue.
“Ahh, Miss LaRue,” he said, with the pieces falling into place. “She of the red hair and the, uh…” He made a motion in front of his chest. “We had a passing acquaintance, but no knowledge of each other, if you understand my indelicate meaning.”
“I am not obtuse, my lord,” said Mel, taking an absurd amount of pleasure from that fact that there was at least one prostitute at Madame Thurmond’s he hadn’t fornicated with. “Perhaps you should speak to her associates at her place of business while Richard and I question Captain Clinch at the docks.”
“The docks are no place for you,” said Hal, sounding for all the world like someone’s father.
“I can ensure her safety, Kellington,” said Richard. “She will be in very good hands. Let me get my coat, Melanie, and we shall be on our way forthwith.”
“When shall we meet up with Lord Henry again?” asked Melanie.
Richard looked very much like he’d rather not see Hal ever again, but they agreed to meet up at three of the clock. Then Parker ushered Mel from the premises, leaving Hal to wonder how great of a sin it was to plant a facer on a Quaker. He rather decided he would like to risk it. But before he could trail after them and prove what a jealous fool he’d become, Anne smiled shyly at him.
“I believe, my lord, that in order to win a race, one must first enter it.”
He smiled at the woman who’d seen too much sorrow in her young life. “I’m not scared of entering the race, Mrs. Cartwright. But I don’t have the slightest idea what I’d do if I won.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Charles Francis laughed so hard that Hal thought he would choke on his breakfast. Then he laughed so long that Hal wished he would.
“What you won’t do to win a bet! I say, Kellington, most chaps would’ve conceded by now. You’re going to a lot of trouble for one bloody little kiss. Just pay me and you can give up this charade. Or have you fallen for the charms of our sweet little colonial?”
Hal thought perhaps he was in the process of doing that very thing, not that he’d admit it to Francis. This had stopped being about the bet a long time ago. He wished he’d never made the stupid wager, although he never would have gotten to know Mel if he hadn’t. “Francis, a woman is missing, presumed dead.”
“A whore.”
“Yes, but a woman nonetheless. You knew Miss LaRue. Aren’t you even the least bit curious as to where she is?”
“Not really, Hal. Oh, don’t look at me that way. You look too much like Lynwood when you try to get serious and mature.”
“Leave my brother out of this.”
“I wouldn’t dream of bringing him into it. All I’m saying is you’re not acting like yourself lately. You missed the most amusing contretemps the other night between Wallingford’s wife and mistress. It almost made the Norbys’ ball worth attending. Almost. The rest of it was a dreadful bore.”
“Then why were you there?”
“It was the place to be at that moment. If I don’t at least look like I’m in the market for a wife the pater will cut me off without a sou. He means it this time. No idle threats for me. And while I truly doubt Mama would let him, I would still be dragged all the way to the country and be forced to listen to a dreadfully boring lecture. Better I stay here, attend the odd ball and musicale, then spend the rest of my nights more enjoyably. What say we go to Dill’s tonight, then on to Madame Thurmond’s?”
Hal considered it. Perhaps time away from Melanie Sutton was exactly what he needed. She had her Mr. Parker. Let him help her solve the disappearance of Miss LaRue. Then he pictured Mel and Parker doing exactly that. “I cannot join you tonight. I have plans.”
Francis shook his head in disappointment. “Don’t tell me…you and the colonial will be scouring the East End for clues. How absolutely droll. The chaps at White’s will love this.”
“There’s no need to tell the chaps at White’s anything,” said Hal, irritated. “Can you find nothing better to do than gossip?”
“Yes. I can win blunt at the tables and fuck. Both of which
are much more fun than gossiping. But I’m man enough to fit all three activities into one evening.”
“Well, you can do it without me tonight,” said Hal.
“As you wish. But I do hope you can have a laugh about this when you finally get over the charms of the colonial.”
“Her name is Miss Sutton. And you’d be wise to start calling her that.” Hal turned on his heels and left. He heard Francis’s laughter on the way out.
* * *
It was easy to believe that the port of London was the busiest in the world. So many ships were anchored at the wharves that it looked like it might be possible to jump from one to another all the way down the length of the docks. While the size was impressive, it also presented a daunting challenge when trying to find answers about Miss LaRue.
Mel and Richard reached the Cassandra and informed Captain Clinch of their news. He didn’t recall meeting Miss LaRue on board during that trip, which was unusual since he generally spent time with the women on the voyage to lessen their fears. He’d been occupied with getting the ship underway when Mel said she’d arrived with Miss LaRue. Upon checking his log, he saw there’d been a delay in shoving off that morning because of an inspection by the harbor master. It was possible that Miss LaRue had left the ship after Mel dropped her off. Indeed, there was no mention of the woman during the voyage, although her name had been listed on the manifest.
“Is it not possible that she simply changed her mind about going?” asked the Captain, “You might be worrying for nothing.”
The same thought had occurred to Melanie, but she didn’t think it was true. She had spoken to Miss LaRue over a period of weeks about going to America. It had taken a lot of persuasion and even a few promises about her new life that Mel wasn’t sure were true. But it had all been for the good of Miss LaRue. Surely even working as a charwoman in Philadelphia would be better than life as a prostitute in a London brothel.
As Richard began asking his own questions of Captain Clinch, Mel looked at their surroundings. They’d found the captain on his ship overseeing repairs before their return journey to America in a fortnight. The ship itself seemed to be relatively clean and well-maintained. He had only a skeletal crew aboard since they worked in shifts, with the others granted shore leave.
Never Run From Love (Kellington Book Four) Page 15
