by Laura Landon
She couldn’t count the number of times she’d relived the kiss they’d shared. She couldn’t recall the number of dreams she’d had about him. She couldn’t remember how often she’d ached to find herself in his arms.
She tied her bonnet beneath her chin with a firm tug. When she lifted her head, her eyes locked with the captain’s. “You’re not strong enough to travel to London,” she said.
He smiled. “Thank you for your concern, my lady.”
“You’re going to ignore me, aren’t you?”
“Actually, I’m going to assist you into the carriage so we can be on our way.”
He held out his arm, and Eleanor took his hand as he escorted her outside. She stepped into the carriage, and he stepped up behind her. Without the aid of his cane. The carriage lurched forward as soon as the door closed behind them.
They were both silent for several moments, but Eleanor knew it was only a matter of time before he brought up the kiss they’d shared. She only hoped that when he did, it wouldn’t be to apologize.
“I’m not going to apologize for kissing you, duchess. Because I don’t regret it. And because I don’t think you do, either.”
Eleanor felt her cheeks warm. “No, I don’t regret it. I only realize that nothing can come of it.”
She expected him to argue with her. Instead, he surprised her by saying, “You’re right, of course. Nothing can ever come of it. I would never presume anything so preposterous.”
His words confused her. “Preposterous? Why preposterous?”
“Even if you are able to forget our stations, I cannot.”
“You mean because I’m a countess?”
“And the granddaughter of the Duke of Hampstam. And I’m the son of a common laborer. You would forever be ridiculed if word of an association between us ever reached Society’s ears. I would be accused of pursuing you for your title and your wealth.”
“And you could not abide that,” she said, not as a question, but because she already knew the answer.
“No, I could not abide being labeled a fortune hunter.”
“Then it’s good that I’m not interested in finding another husband,” she said, knowing that it was a true statement. Even if it was a painful one to make.
They sat in silence for several minutes before he spoke. He changed the subject as though deciding not to dwell on the disheartening topic.
“She fell asleep in my lap, you know.”
Eleanor started, then turned a curious look on Caleb.
“Mistress Molly. She fell asleep. Right there in my lap.”
Eleanor blushed. She’d left the babe with him and returned to the house, so embroiled in the emotions their chat had unleashed that she had never even thought about the child. Not once. She’d left him there to get the babe back to the nursery on his own.
“Ah. I suspected she might.”
“That’s why you left her?”
“Oh. Oh yes. I knew . . .” She cleared her throat. “I knew it would be good for her to take some air. And to . . . to—”
“You forgot her, didn’t you, duchess.” His statement shattered the response she was struggling to make.
“What!”
“You forgot her. It was so hard for you to sit there next to me in the shade, trying so hard not to kiss each other, that you just walked away.”
“Captain Parker!”
He grinned. “But you’re over that now, aren’t you. I can see that.”
She turned her face toward the street, refusing to look at him. He shouldn’t have been so free with his thoughts. But how could she reprimand him when every word he spoke was the wicked truth?
“The two little sisters you rescued last week seem to be adjusting very quickly,” he commented.
Eleanor sighed. His ability to change the subject was second to none.
At last she spoke past the lump in her throat. “There were three, actually. A baby boy at Mary Warren’s and two little sisters at Dora Stafford’s. They’re just five and three, and they’ve already seen far too much of the kind of world Blackboot would groom them for.”
“No wonder Blackboot wants to shut you down. He has to be noticing a difference in the number of available children at the rate you’re taking them from his bailiwick.”
“What do you think his next move will be?” she asked.
He hesitated. “To discover how you’re able to take the children without him noticing.”
Eleanor felt a stabbing of fear for Mary and Granny and Dora.
“I’ve hired men to guard them,” he said, as if he knew what she was thinking. “They’re safe so far.”
“I can’t allow them to put their lives in danger. There’s no telling what Blackboot will do if he discovers that they’re helping me. Those dear women will just have to stop collecting the children.”
“Then Blackboot wins,” he answered.
A painful knot formed in the pit of her stomach. “Then what will we do?”
“We have to stop Blackboot.”
“How?”
“I’m not sure yet,” he said. “But this won’t end until he’s stopped.”
Eleanor didn’t have a chance to ask more. They were in London and nearing Mary Warren’s. There was a light in the window. The carriage slowed, then stopped, and the captain dismounted to help Eleanor. Instead of waiting for her to return with the child, he walked in with her.
The child was a girl of about ten named Peggy. She had several scratches and bruises on her arms and face.
“This one’s lucky to be here,” Mary said. “Blackboot’s men nearly had her, but she fought them and got away. She’s a quick one, she is.”
Eleanor wrapped a shawl around the girl’s shoulders and gathered her into her arms.
“Where were you when Blackboot’s men grabbed you?” the captain asked the girl.
“On Whitechapel and Mile End,” she answered shyly. “Most times I don’t go there ’cause all of us know it ain’t safe. Blackboot’s men hide in the alleyways and grab you.”
“Well, you’re safe now,” Eleanor said, giving the girl another hug.
“How did you know to come to Mary’s?” the captain asked.
“One of the older girls told me. Her name’s Sophie. After Blackboot’s men grabbed me, she told me I needed to come here.” The girl lifted a tearful gaze to Eleanor. “I wanted her to come with me, but she said it was too late for her.”
Caleb settled the girl in the carriage while Lady Grattling informed Mary that they’d make their collection on Wednesdays for a few weeks, just to keep Blackboot guessing. “Let’s get you to Southern Oaks and get you settled in, Peggy. Maybe later you can help me find Sophie, and we’ll see if we can’t talk her into coming home with us.”
They stepped into the carriage and made the rounds to Granny Carver’s and Dora Stafford’s, but the windows were dark.
The captain was silent on the return trip to Southern Oaks. Eleanor guessed that was because he was formulating a plan to eliminate Virgil Blackboot.
. . .
Caleb knew it was only a matter of time until Blackboot discovered one of the three places Eleanor used to rescue the children. And when he did, something terrible would happen to the women. And Eleanor would never forgive herself for putting them in danger. He had to eliminate Blackboot and do it quickly.
That prompted him to return to London the next day and pay a visit to the authorities. The inspector became quite interested when Caleb mentioned Virgil Blackboot’s name. The dark-hearted fellow was known to him as having been involved in several heinous crimes the force was investigating. But his men hadn’t been able to capture Blackboot and prosecute him. As Caleb revealed his plan, the inspector became more than eager to work with him.
“This is just the break we’ve been looking for,” Inspector Jeffers said. “But I want you to work closely only with me.” Jeffers pushed out of his chair and walked around his desk. “I’m afraid there’s a double-dealer in my office.”
/>
“What makes you think that?”
Jeffers looked mystified. “I only know that every time we go after Blackboot, he’s already gone. It’s as if he knows what we’re going to do before we do it.”
“Can you be sure he won’t hear of our plan?”
“I’m going to tell only two of my most trusted agents. I’ll keep everyone else in the dark until the plan is afoot.”
Caleb nodded. This would work. It had to.
Now he needed to explain the ploy to Eleanor and convince her to go along with it. Her lovely face flashed before him, rich with concern for her children. She’d go to any lengths to keep them safe. But this plan might just be more than even she could agree to.
Chapter 10
“No. No! Absolutely not!”
“Peggy won’t come to any harm. In fact, she won’t even leave the carriage.”
“I don’t care. Didn’t you see the bruises on her arms and face?”
“If Blackboot isn’t stopped, bruises are the least of what other girls Peggy’s age will suffer.”
Eleanor sucked in a harsh breath. She knew what he meant, and his words didn’t shock her. They couldn’t. She knew only too well what would happen to the girls Blackboot kidnapped.
He watched and knew it was time for his final salvo. “You know what Blackboot’s intentions are. You know if we hadn’t rescued Peggy, he’d have sold her to a bordello.” Caleb stepped in front of Eleanor. “What kind of depraved man would you prefer she service? One who preys on young virgins? One who likes to inflict—”
“Stop!”
“Why? Because you don’t want to believe it happens?”
“I know it happens. And it sickens me.”
“Then help me get Blackboot off the streets.”
“That’s why I hired you! But I never thought you’d resort to using a ten-year-old girl to get the job done!”
Caleb rubbed a hand across his forehead. “That stings, duchess.”
Eleanor paced the width of the study. She walked to the window and looked out on the lawn where the children played. She shouldn’t have said what she had. He knows the way a blackguard like Blackboot thinks and using Peggy might actually be brilliant.
She pressed her fingers to her temples and rubbed circles where she obviously hurt. Then, ever so slowly, she turned to face him. “What is your plan?”
“Come,” he said, indicating he wanted her to sit on the sofa. When she did, he sat in a chair opposite her. “I’ve met with the authorities. They’re very interested in finding Blackboot and locking him away. He’s involved in other ventures equally as bad as the selling of children.”
Eleanor lowered her gaze. He’d shocked her again. What could possibly be as bad as that?
“The key to capturing Blackboot involves Peggy’s friend, Sophie. I need to speak with her. She obviously knows as much of what goes on as anyone. If someone can identify Blackboot’s lair, it will be Sophie.”
“What if she won’t talk to you?”
“Well, of course she won’t talk to me. That’s a fact. That’s why we need Peggy. She’ll show Sophie that we’re to be trusted.”
Eleanor worried her bottom lip. “When do you want to go to find her?”
“Tonight.”
Eleanor’s eyes opened wide, and she rose from the sofa. She paced to the window and looked out again. After a long moment she turned. “Very well. We’ll go tonight.”
Caleb stood. “There’s no we, Eleanor. You won’t be going.”
“Then neither will Peggy. I won’t allow her to go without me.”
Caleb swiped his hand down his face. “You can’t go. It’s not—”
“Don’t you dare tell me it’s not safe,” she countered. “If it’s not safe enough for me to go, it’s not safe enough for Peggy, either. So which is it to be?”
Caleb ground his teeth in frustration. He’d known this would be her answer, but that didn’t make it any less exasperating. “Be ready in two hours. You may go, but you’re not to leave the carriage.”
“Of course I won’t. Peggy and I will stay safely inside the carriage.”
She looked at him with an expression that told him she was aware that she’d won an excruciating victory.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll explain it all to Peggy. I don’t want her to be afraid.”
Caleb watched Eleanor leave the room. He knew that what had started out to be a mission with few risks had now turned into a dangerous venture. He didn’t trust Eleanor to stay inside the carriage any more than he could trust a thirsty horse to walk past water. Especially if Eleanor saw a child that needed rescuing.
. . .
Caleb forced himself to wait until the moon was high in the sky. The silence was ominous as they drove to the place where Blackboot’s men had grabbed Peggy, and circled the area enough times that their carriage would draw attention. Peggy kept an impatient watch for Sophie.
Eleanor fidgeted next to Peggy, and Willie rode atop the carriage. Willie not only knew the area better than anyone, but he’d turned into an excellent guard and protector. He let Jamie drive and kept his eyes searching the darkness for signs of trouble. Both were armed.
Caleb kept a hand on the pistol tucked at his waist. It was Blackboot’s practice to send just one or two blackguards to snatch an unsuspecting child. Their three to his two would be adequate. And a half dozen of Caleb’s men were covering every nearby alley to make sure Blackboot wouldn’t have unexpected reinforcements. He’d taken as many precautions as seemed necessary.
They were far into the East End, and the level of squalor and filth was more than depressing. For the first time, Caleb wished he could load up the nobility and give them a tour of the poorer side of London. Not that he thought it would help, but . . .
“There she is! There’s Sophie! Sophie!” Peggy yelled out the window.
The girl for whom they were searching turned away from the sound and started to run.
“Sophie, it’s me! It’s Peggy!”
Sophie stopped running, and Jamie pulled the carriage closer to where Sophie stood.
“Come here,” Peggy said, not as loud as before. “I want you to meet someone.”
Sophie shook her head. She was obviously too wary of such invitations to be lured to the carriage.
“Sophie? Sophie Dunnell? My God, it’s been ten years but I’d know ya in a heartbeat,” Willie said from atop the carriage.
Sophie’s gaze lifted. “Willie? Can’t be! Is it you?”
“Yes, Sophie.”
Willie climbed down and stood near the door. “Come here. It’s safe.”
Sophie came closer. The lamplight shrouded in mist gave her face an ancient look. This young girl had surely seen more of life’s wickedness than any child ought.
She peered at Willie, still hesitant to shake her suspicion. “You’ve grown up, Willie,” she said, her face softening.
“So have you, Sophie. It’s good to see you.”
The two looked at each other for a long moment, then Sophie’s gaze shifted to the window. She smiled when she saw Peggy inside. “Are you all right, Peggers?”
“Yes. They take real good care of me,” Peggy answered. “You should see how much food there is. The other kids tell me they never go hungry. And I have a bed of my own!”
“That’s good,” Sophie said, the prospect of food bringing a crooked smile to her face.
Caleb leaned forward, and Sophie’s gaze shifted. She focused on him, and her eyes opened wide. “My, but you’re a big un,” she said. “And you’re nice to look at.”
Caleb tried not to smile but failed. “Thank you.”
“He’s taken, Sophie,” Willie growled.
The boy’s reaction to Sophie’s flirting struck a nearly humorous note but not enough to dispel the gathering tension they all felt.
“We’ve come for your help, Sophie,” Caleb said.
“Who do you need to find? I know nearly every child around.”
“
It’s not a child. It’s Blackboot.”
Sophie took a step back and shook her head. “I ain’t goin’ near Blackboot. And if you’re smart, you won’t, neither.”
“We want to stop him.”
“You in that big a hurry to die?” she asked.
“No, I’m in that big a hurry to rid London of the bloke.”
“Why don’t you get inside,” Willie said. “It’s not safe for you to be seen talking to us.”
“You’re right there.”
Willie opened the door and helped Sophie inside, then he mounted atop the carriage again even as it lurched forward.
“How do you think you’re gonna trap Blackboot? The bobbies been trying forever, poor fools.”
“We don’t have to catch Blackboot. We only have to catch one of his men when they kidnap one of the children. Once the authorities get their hands on them, they’ll tell everything they know to go free.”
“The authorities will let them go free for ratting on Blackboot?”
“Yes. They’ve already assured me they would.”
“So what do you want me to do?” Sophie asked.
“I’d like your help in locating the most likely places Blackboot’s men use lately to kidnap the children they sell.”
“That’s easy enough, but that won’t get you Blackboot. Whoever nabs the children will only say the kid’s his. There are enough homeless kids around that no one will be able to prove any different.”
A lump fell to the pit of Caleb’s stomach. He’d made a fatal mistake. He’d not been thinking like his prey.
Sophie was right.
“There’s only one way to catch him.”
Caleb focused on Sophie. So did Eleanor.
“What’s that?”
“I let ’em catch me.”
“No, Sophie,” Peggy said. There was a frightened tone to her voice. “You can’t. You know Blackboot wants you.”
“Don’t worry, Peggers. He’s not gonna get me.”
“But he almost did when you saved me.”
“But he didn’t”
“Shh,” Eleanor said as she wrapped her arm around Peggy’s shoulders. “The captain won’t let Sophie get hurt.”
