“But surely, with his mind intent on abducting Sophie, he would not pause to indulge himself in gambling?” said Louisa in disbelief.
“Who knows how Sir Charles’s mind works?” said James. “But I know the place you speak of, Timothy. It’s a flash establishment as I recall, and popular. There are plenty of rooms where he could hide Sophie until he has satisfied his need at the tables.”
Louisa looked at Alistair who had remained silent as he considered Timothy’s suggestion. “What do you think, Alistair? Is it worth checking out?”
“Anything is worth it, and this we cannot ignore. We’ll leave right away.”
Grabbing her cloak, which she had ready and waiting for this moment, Louisa followed them to the door. “I’m going with you.”
Alistair turned on her sharply. “You will do no such thing,” he thundered. “I forbid it. You will remain here and wait until we return.”
Louisa stood her ground, facing her husband with defiance in every line of her body, her face taut and determined. “No, Alistair. I insist on going. I have the carriage ready and waiting. We both know it isn’t Sophie that Sir Charles is interested in—that he has only abducted her to strike at you. It will not be long before she realises that—and I dread to think of the effect it will have on her. She will be bewildered and terrified.”
“But what about Constance?”
“Constance is sleeping and will be perfectly all right with the nursemaid until I return. When Sophie is found there is no knowing what terrors that monster will have subjected her to. She may be in a wretched state and will need me there, Alistair.”
Seeing she was not to be deterred, and not wishing to lose any more time arguing, he nodded. “Very well. James,” he said, turning to her brother, “you accompany your sister in the carriage. Timothy and I will go on ahead. We’ll go by way of Westminster Bridge, which is a little out of our way, I know, but we are likely to encounter delays if we try to cross London Bridge with all the renovation work being carried out just now. I just hope to God that Meredith’s lust for gambling is greater than his desire to ruin my sister.”
At this time gaming houses flourished all over London, and the White Hart Club was no exception, despite being situated in an unsavoury part of Southwark where brawls were common. When Alistair and Timothy arrived, they walked past the porter who was pacing up and down outside, and an usher appeared to show and light their way up the steps from the street. Decorated in sumptuous purple and gold, the two principle rooms were ablaze with lights shining down on the green baize tables, with huge mirrors reflecting the light and many ornaments. A few small, curtained alcoves were at the side of the room, offering seclusion for those who required privacy whilst eating and drinking.
Beautiful hostesses to serve and entertain the gentlemen added to the attraction of these establishments. Patched and powdered, with crimson lips, and dressed in body-displaying gowns, they encouraged them to spend money on food and drink, but most important of all to gamble at the gaming tables, for it was often true that the more the gentlemen spent on liquor, the more recklessly they gambled. The tables used for vingt-et-un, loo, French hazard, dice, and several other games of chance, were run by some of the more attractive girls, who were trained as dealers, and to watch out for card-sharps.
Timothy had been right, Alistair thought as he made his way inside, shaking his head to a waiter with a proffered glass of brandy, it was a busy night, crowded with people from all walks of life. Some of the customers were rough-spoken, and when in drink became rowdy and were often thrown out into the street. But there were men in elegant frock coats, lace, and powdered wigs, who took their gambling seriously. Money flowed freely and all the tables were full, with spectators standing around watching the play, and with someone always ready to step into a chair when it was vacated.
Alistair’s eyes casually yet thoroughly swept the two spacious rooms for Charles Meredith, hoping Timothy’s hunch would pay off and they would find him sitting at one of the tables, but they were disappointed. They mingled easily with the crowd, pausing and pretending to watch the games in progress so as not to attract attention to themselves, whilst scrutinising every corner and passageway that led off from the rooms for their prey.
Alistair’s eyes were drawn towards a staircase which led to the rooms above, rooms which offered privacy for those wishing to indulge in different, more intimate kinds of games. Couples went up and down, and with Timothy beside him Alistair slowly moved towards it, careful not to catch the eyes of two hovering strong-armed, brutish-looking men, in purple breeches and coats to match the decor, who were employed as bullies by the club’s proprietor in case of trouble.
“I don’t see Sir Charles,” said Timothy. “Maybe he isn’t here after all. Do you think we ought to take a look upstairs? If we can, that is,” he said quietly, eyeing the bullies warily, “without attracting attention to ourselves.”
“Most definitely. Although it won’t be easy getting up those stairs without a wench on our arms,” Alistair replied. “But in a moment, Timothy. I think I have just seen our quarry.”
Timothy followed his gaze and gasped softly and with relief when he saw Sir Charles just emerging from a curtained alcove with a lusty-looking wench whose thrusting breasts were half exposed from a gaping dress, and a man whom he knew to be the proprietor, Mr Ingram. “Good Lord! So it is.”
They watched Charles Meredith move into the other room and take a vacant chair at the French hazard table, looking as if he intended to remain for some considerable time when he placed a pile of coins and banknotes on the table before him. The proprietor disappeared into his office with a glass of brandy and closed the door.
Timothy made as if to move a little closer to Sir Charles, but Alistair placed a restraining hand on his arm, halting him, a murderous gleam in his eyes. “No. Step back, Timothy. This is my affair and mine alone. I shall deal with Sir Charles Meredith in my own way and shall resent any interference. I intend to settle the score once and for all. But first we must find where he has hidden Sophie,” he said, glancing up the stairs. “Although I have to say that I do not relish approaching one of the girls to show me around. It might prove awkward.”
“Then how do we get past them without apparently submitting to the charms of the ladies for sale?”
Using his quickness of mind, Alistair smiled. “I believe I know a way.”
“What have you in mind?”
“Louisa and James should have arrived at the club by now. I shall recruit my own dear wife to act the part of a lady of the night. You know as well as I how adept an actress she is,” he said, with wry meaning. “You continue to mingle, Timothy—play a game or two of chance if the fancy takes you—but keep your eye on Meredith. If he moves from the hazard table come and tell me.”
Alistair went outside and was relieved to see that the carriage carrying James and Louisa was just pulling up outside the club. Fortunately the street was crowded and the porter and ushers showing people into the club were busy. Opening the door and taking Louisa’s arm, he almost pulled her out of the carriage.
“Louisa! James! Thank goodness,” he said urgently.
Louisa looked at him in alarm as James alighted to stand beside her. “Why, what on earth is the matter, Alistair? Have you found Sophie?” she asked hopefully.
“Very likely. At least we have found Meredith. He’s at one of the hazard tables—and will be for some time, I hope. And you, my darling, will serve my purpose exactly.”
Quickly he divested her of her cloak and threw it inside the carriage, looking her up and down with a critical eye. To Louisa’s surprise he began removing the combs and pins that held her artfully arranged hair in place, tossing them inside the carriage also. She stared at him in dazed wonder while his hands shook her hair out so that it lay thick and full about her bare shoulders. Self-consciously she let her gaze drop to his finely moulded mouth, watching as a slow, lazy, appreciative smile moved across his face and seeing that his
eyes were full of admiration.
“Now, are you going to tell me what this is all about?” she asked softly.
“I’ll go inside and find Timothy,” said James.
“It’s pretty congested in there, but I left him at the bottom of the stairs keeping an eye on Meredith. Mr Ingram, the proprietor, has disappeared inside his office, where, with a bit of luck, he will remain. Try not to let Meredith see you, James, otherwise—aware that you are my brother-in-law—it may make him suspect that something is afoot and bring him upstairs before we’ve had a chance to look for Sophie.”
“Never fear. I’ll take care.”
James disappeared inside while Alistair gave his full attention to his wife. “I recall how proficient you are at acting, Louisa.”
“Am I?”
“The best—but please don’t take that as a compliment,” he teased gently.
“And what is the part you want me to play?”
“A whore.”
Louisa stared at him, unable to look affronted, for she knew he must have good reason to suggest she should play such an outrageous part. “A whore? But I am your wife, Alistair.”
He responded with a quizzical lift to his brows. “Spare me your maidenly protests, my dear. For the next half-hour I want you to forget that.”
“But I don’t look like a whore.”
“You can if you put your mind to it. Listen to me, Louisa,” he said urgently, serious once more. “I have a hunch that Meredith is keeping Sophie upstairs in this establishment, and I want to search without arousing suspicion. To get past the bullies guarding the stairs I have to make it look as if I am taking one of the girls who works here to the rooms above for pleasurable purposes—so don’t refuse to do as I say, my love, otherwise I shall have to avail myself of one of them instead.”
“Don’t you dare, Alistair Dunstan,” Louisa flared. “But they’ll know I’m not one of them.”
“I doubt it. I’d swear there’s a girl to every gentleman inside this place.”
“Very well. But if I am to play a whore I might as well go the whole way.” And, so saying, she pulled her dress off her shoulders to reveal her ample bosom.
Alistair scowled, clearly disapproving of her action, and roughly jerked it back up again, almost lifting her off her feet. “I don’t want you to go that far. You can manage to look alluring without being half-naked. Remember, you can pout, pose and posture all you like—but don’t overdo it. There’s nothing to be worried about,” he assured her. “You’ll be by my side the whole time.”
“And if we succeed in getting up the stairs?”
“We look in the rooms. Hopefully we’ll find Sophie unharmed in one of them. Whatever Meredith’s intentions are where she is concerned, I think he is saving her for later.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Louisa’s first impression on entering the club was that it was vulgar, pretentious and tasteless, the kind of establishment she would never have entered had it not been forced on her by circumstance. With her cheeks flushed, her mouth slightly open and smiling, and her eyes sparkling with a confidence she did not feel, on Alistair’s arm she sailed past a party of drunks, all of them making lewd, suggestive remarks. She laughed charmingly at an old roué in a fancy waistcoat, who was also half-drunk, slapping his hand good-humouredly when he screwed up his face to wink, and reached out to her as she passed.
“You’re a fetching wench, sweetheart. Care to come upstairs with me later?”
She smiled gaily, fluttering her lashes prettily and trying hard not to look disgusted and insulted as she tossed her head. “You’ll have to wait your turn, love. You can see it’s a busy night tonight.”
She caused a stir of interest, receiving more of the same before she reached the bottom of the stairs, rebuffing each offer in turn in the same feisty spirit. As she was about to place her foot on the first step and proceed to the upper floor, one of the bullies moved forward and obstructed her path, eyeing her suspiciously.
“What’s this? Who’re you? I haven’t seen you at the White Hart before.”
Louisa’s fingers tightening on Alistair’s arm were the only sign of the sudden alarm that gripped her, but she managed to grin up at the bully, cocking her head cheekily on one side.
“No, you “aven’t. That’s “cause I’m new “ere. One of the regular girls didn’t show and Mr Ingram asked me to stand in. Mindst you,” she said, leaning forward to give him a full view of her ample cleavage, “between you and me, I “ope she misses tomorrow night as well. I could take to this place, I can tell yer. Never seen so many fine gents in one place before,” she said, looking provocatively up at Alistair, thinking how impressive he looked, so tall and striking and marvellously attractive. With his authoritative air, she could see all the other girls envying her her partner.
The bully looked Alistair up and down before standing aside to let them pass. “Just make sure he pays you the going rate.”
“And what is the going rate?” Alistair asked him politely.
“Ten pounds.”
If the situation were not so serious Alistair would have laughed out loud. “That, my dear, was quite a performance,” he said as they moved on up the stairs, glancing down at Louisa with admiration. He loved her like this. She was like a restless, wonderful, exciting flame fluttering in the wind.
Louisa smiled up at him. “Thank you, Alistair. I’m doing my best.”
“I told you that you don’t have to enjoy it, you little baggage,” he said between his teeth. “When all this is over and we have my errant sister back in the fold, you and I will have some serious talking to do.”
“I shall look forward to it.”
“Have you no shame?”
“It would seem not,” she twinkled, turning and giving the bullies another smile just to defy him, while never losing sight of their purpose for being there. “You will pay me the ten pounds when we get home, won’t you, Alistair?”
He looked down at her for a long moment with his magnificent blue eyes, and then he smiled. “We’ll see about that. You’ll have to earn it first.”
They were relieved to find the landing, off which there were several private rooms where the girls took their well-heeled clients, relatively quiet, with no one watching who came and went. It was obvious to Louisa and Alistair, from the sounds coming from within, which rooms were occupied. Only two remained empty and after a quick look inside the cheerless interiors, with no sign of Sophie, they moved to another landing, which, because it was dimly lit and quieter, they presumed must be the living quarters. But Alistair was determined not to leave until he had satisfied himself that Sophie was not being kept in one of these rooms.
He moved to a door at the far end of the landing, and on trying the knob found it to be locked. He was about to move on, then paused and frowned, looking at it again and knocking on it softly. When nothing happened he rattled the knob, and his demand for admittance drew a response from within. They heard a shuffling behind the door and then a voice, quiet and clearly frightened.
“Who—who is it?”
Simultaneously Louisa and Alistair uttered a deep sigh of relief.
“Sophie?” Alistair said, his head close to the door.
“Yes,” she cried, relieved to hear her brother’s voice. “I can’t get out. The door’s locked.”
Without more ado, Alistair put his shoulder to the door, which swung open after a few desperate thrusts, and in a flash a weeping and extremely distraught and disillusioned Sophie flung herself into her brother’s arms.
“Oh, Alistair—thank goodness you’ve found me. I’ve been such a fool; I should have listened to you.”
“Yes, you should, but we’ll speak of it later.” He held her at arm’s length, looking at her hard. “Has Meredith harmed you, Sophie? Has he touched you?”
She shook her head dumbly. “No. Please forgive me, Alistair. When I met him in the park I thought it was to be for just a little while, but he refused to let me out
of the carriage and drove off at such speed. I became frightened and begged him to take me back—telling him that I had been so very foolish and impulsive in sending him my letter.”
“You what?” thundered Alistair, unable to believe what he was hearing. “You wrote to him after all I had said?”
Sophie nodded, flinching from his wrath, her cheeks awash with tears that spilled uncontrollably from her eyes.
“Did it not occur to you what his intentions were? Had it not been for Timothy Hacket we would never have found you.”
“I’m so sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused,” she cried.
“Alistair, please,” said Louisa. “This is neither the time nor the place to go into this. Sophie is clearly distraught.”
“I told him you would be furious, but he laughed at me,” Sophie went on. “He was horrid. He was so changed I could not believe it. He ignored my pleas and brought me here to this awful place and locked me in that room.”
Louisa put a comforting arm around her, knowing that when Sophie had heard Charles Meredith turn the key in the lock all her romantic dreams about him had come to a brutal and bitter end.
“We must get out of here. Which way did he bring you, Sophie? Can you remember?”
Swallowing her tears, she nodded. “There are some stairs leading down to the street.”
Quickly they found the stairs in the kitchen of the living quarters. When they were outside Alistair handed them up into the waiting carriage.
“Wait here. I’ll send Timothy out to accompany you back to Dunstan House.”
Louisa gripped his hand in alarm. “And you, Alistair?”
He looked at her, his face grim, his eyes glittering like steel flints in the dim light. “I have things to take care of here first. There’s only one thing left for me to do and that is to settle Meredith’s account.”
Chapter Fifteen
Sir Charles Meredith was having a successful night at the hazard table. The stakes had run high and heavy and fortunately the odds had been in his favour. Always a reckless gambler—believing gambling to be an effortless way of making money—he drank heavily as the night wore on, the liquor increasing his readiness to take insane risks, but his luck was in, and the money steadily piled up in front of him.
An Innocent Proposal Page 30
