My Gentleman Spy (The Duke of Strathmore Book 5)

by Sasha Cottman

  “Go! I will be but a minute behind you,” he said.

  Will dug his heels into his mount and it leapt away. Joshua gripped on tight to Will’s evening coat.

  Hunched low over the reins, Will urged his horse on. The streets were filled with carriages heading both ways. Several times they came to a halt as pedestrians stepped out in front of them.

  “Get out of the way!” Will screamed.

  The startled Londoners jumped back onto the pavement, waving their fists angrily at Will and Joshua as they sped away. Down Drury Lane, Will managed to make up precious time.

  He looked over his shoulder as he turned left into the Strand. Edgar Wright was right on his tail.

  “Surry Street,” cried Joshua.

  As he turned the horse’s head into Surry Street, Will caught sight of Waterloo Bridge. He was grateful to have Joshua on board. The bridge was recently built and Will would never have found it on his own.

  At the end of the street, he reined his horse in and jumped down.

  “Where?” he asked.

  Joshua pointed toward the river, where Will saw a small fire had been lit on the beach.

  “They come down here all the time to look for bodies. They search them for anything they can sell and then offload the body to the body snatchers,” said Joshua.

  Will turned as his ears picked up a familiar sound. Edgar had had the good sense to bring along a second pistol. He had it loaded and cocked. Will pulled his own pistol out of his coat and did the same. Joshua produced a badly battered pistol from out of his pocket. Will feared it wouldn’t fire straight but said nothing.

  Bile rose up in his throat. He had not had the need to kill a man in some time, but the memory of the stench of death came close behind, whenever he saw a loaded and readied weapon. He had seen hundreds of bloodied and dead men on the battlefield at Waterloo. No one ever became immune to the agonizing cries of a dying man.

  He turned to Edgar. If he was about to walk into a fight to the death to save Hattie, he needed to know the caliber of the man beside me.

  “How useful are you with a pistol Edgar? And don’t be vain about it. Your sister’s life could very well depend upon it.”

  He did not need to mention that all of them were currently in great danger. For himself, he would be relying on years of experience and muscle memory.

  “I train regularly at Manton’s shooting gallery in Davis Street. The pistols are well maintained. Other than that, you are going to have to trust that I am prepared to do everything within my power to save my sister. That includes shooting any blighter who gets in my way.”

  Edgar’s words were exactly what Will needed to hear. They moved down the street, closer to the water’s edge, keeping to the shadows to avoid being seen. As they crept closer Will was able to make out the shape of a half-dozen figures standing around the fire. To one side was a small hand cart.

  “The tall one with the battered top hat, that’s Tom, he’s the gang leader. See that cart over there, we use it to carry bodies around. I would bet all my coin that Miss Hattie is in the back of that cart,” said Joshua.

  Will prayed that Hattie was still in the cart.

  Still alive.

  A roar rose up among the gang as a fight broke out. Tom grabbed hold of what appeared to be a young boy aged about ten years old. He slapped the boy about the face several times. When the lad begged for mercy, he was punched cruelly in the face. The boy fell to the ground and lay still.

  Will and Edgar looked at one another. They knew that when they headed into the fight, there would be no mercy shown to them.

  Tom began to strut about, howling into the night air. When he reached the cart, Will’s heart sank.

  “Time to go lovey! I’m sure the fish will love to hear your bible preaching,” he bellowed.

  Several of the gang rushed over and dragged a sack out of the cart. It landed heavily on the muddy river shore. A muffled sound came from within the sack. Hattie was for the moment, still alive.

  The gang members began to drag the sack to the water’s edge. Will turned to Edgar.

  “Do not hesitate if you get a clear shot. You won’t get a second chance.”

  As the sack containing Hattie reached the water, Will made his move. Brandishing his pistol in one hand he raced out onto the mud flat of the river. A gang member stepped out, waving a large military sword. Will shot him as he drew close.

  Will then made a bee line for Tom who was now rolling the sack into the water. Cries from his crew alerted him to the arrival of Will. Edgar was in close pursuit.

  With one last heave, Hattie went into the water and disappeared. The gang leader put his boot on top of the sack, holding Hattie under. In a matter of minutes, she would drown.

  Will launched himself at Tom, knowing if he did not take him out, none of them would be leaving the river side alive. They fell into the dirty brown water.

  In the sinking river mud, he and the gang leader struggled to their feet. They were now between Hattie and the shore, cutting off any hope that Edgar may have had in trying to reach his sister.

  In the dim light, Will saw the flash of a blade. He dived out of the way.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Joshua waving his pistol in the direction of the remaining gang members. Fortunately, none of them were stupid enough to attempt a move to save their boss and Joshua was spared having to fire his weapon.

  Coming up, Will grabbed hold of Tom’s legs and tried to knock him off his feet. Tom raised his arm, in readiness to stab Will. Will saw the blade as it began its deadly descent. When it landed he would take the blow fully in his back. He braced himself for the knife’s heart stopping impact.

  A shot rang out in the night and the blade went wide of its intended mark. Tom’s hold on Will was suddenly gone. Will looked up to see the gang leader, stagger backward on his feet. A large bloody hole was now in the middle of Tom’s forehead. He fell back and disappeared under the murky waters of the Thames as Edgar lowered his pistol.

  The remaining members of the gang scattered in all directions.

  Will got to his feet in time to see Edgar and Joshua both wading into the water. He reached them as they managed to drag the sack back to shore.

  Joshua cut the sack open and Hattie spilled out onto the muddy beach. She rolled over and struggled up onto her hands and knees. She sucked air into her lungs in large gulps.

  Utter relief washed over Will. She was alive.

  “Oh, thank god,” he muttered.

  Edgar pulled his sister to her feet and for a moment she stood and stared at him. The look of shock and anguish on her face, showed that she had not expected to survive her trip into the river.

  She took two steps forward and flung herself into her brother’s arms.

  “You came for me. You came!”

  Edgar and Will exchanged a look of relief. They had done it. As Will reached their side, Edgar released Hattie.

  “Of course, I came for you. I will always be here for you. But Will is the one who really saved you. That blackguard was going to hold you under until you drowned. It was Will who fought him. I just put a bullet in his head.”

  She turned to Will with tears streaming down her face. In the chill night air, she began to shiver.

  “I swear to you Will, I didn’t seek the gang out. I did everything I could to avoid them.”

  He nodded in the direction of Joshua.

  “I know. Joshua told me what happened. You did exactly what I would have done. You read the situation and you made the right choice,” he replied.

  Edgar let go of Hattie and pushed her gently in the direction of Will.

  “Go to him. He is where you belong. I will always be your brother, but Will Saunders is your future.”

  She got to within a foot or so of Will and stopped. He sensed her hesitation. Will reached out and pulled Hattie into his arms.

  “Come here my girl.”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tig
ht. Will sent a thousand prayers of thanks to the heavens. She was alive. He had saved her.

  A carriage drew up at the end of the street and Francis jumped out. Edgar and Joshua walked toward him, waving.

  On the beach, Will and Hattie held tightly to one another. As the others walked away, she looked up at him. He bent down and kissed her tenderly on the lips.

  “You taste of the river,” he murmured.

  “Yes, I need a large brandy to wash my mouth out. I always thought the Thames looked filthy. Having now drunk at least a pint of it, I know for certain.”

  He ruffled what he could of her wet and tangled hair, and kissed her once more.

  “Promise me this will be the last time I have to go into the water to save you. I would rather you didn’t make a habit of it.”

  “I was doing just fine in Gibraltar as I recall, but yes, I promise this will be the last time,” she replied.

  Will put his arm around her and they began to walk toward the carriage.

  “When we get home, I have a plan I wish to discuss with you.”

  Chapter Forty-One

  Mrs. Little washed the dirty river water out of Hattie’s hair while Hattie scrubbed her skin in the bath. She had only been in the water for a matter of a minute or so, but she feared she would never get the stench of it out of her pores.

  When a travel trunk with Hattie’s clothes arrived from her brother’s house, Mrs. Little was too busy weeping to notice the obvious. Edgar had decided that Hattie was moving back into number forty-three permanently.

  Finally, dried, dressed and with her hair tied up in a soft chignon Hattie went in search of Will. She was keen to hear his plan.

  She found him in the main drawing room seated on her favorite floral couch. It was comforting to know that her favorite room in the house, was also Will’s. He greeted her with a devilish grin, then held out his hand. Hattie took it, letting out a playful squeal as he pulled her into his arms.

  He took her mouth in a surprisingly soft kiss. She could sense he was doing everything he could to keep his passion at bay. The time for love making would come later. At this moment, they had the serious issue of finding a way to make their impending marriage work.

  Will released Hattie.

  “We need to talk first,” he said.

  His words did nothing however to dim the spark in his eyes from the reflection of the fire’s glow. He wanted her as much as she wanted him right this very minute. The heat between them rivaled that from the well stoked fire.

  “Before I ask you the question which this moment requires, and of which Edgar has already given his approval. I have something to discuss with you. A plan for you to be able to have the best of both worlds. Would you care to hear it?”

  Hattie clasped her hands softly together, and nodded. Her nerves betrayed her and she was soon reaching to crack her first knuckle.

  “I shall pay you a farthing every time I get you to stop doing that,” he said.

  She gave him a sultry look and licked her bottom lip. If he wanted her to quit her habit she would only take payment in one form. Will raised a knowing eyebrow.

  “I went to see Father Brown after you left last night. He and I discussed the work you do at the church. He agrees that it has always been dangerous for you to venture into the streets around St. Giles. After tonight, you would have to agree that it is no longer safe for you.”

  Hattie nodded. Even with Tom dead, the Belton Street gang would have her marked for death if she ever set foot in Plumtree Street again.

  She gasped.

  “What about Joshua and his family? They won’t be safe either.”

  “Which is why they have been moved elsewhere. Francis went to see my man of business as soon as he got home. You didn’t think I would let the Mayford family stay in Plumtree Street another minute, did you?” he replied.

  Hattie looked down at the floor, embarrassed to have doubted Will and his ability to see all the needs of a situation. He lifted her hand to his fingers and placed a tender kiss on her finger tips.

  “Do you know what Father Brown and I discussed to the early hours of this morning? A soup kitchen is what is needed at St. John’s church.”

  Hattie frowned. At least she now knew why Father Brown had been so tired and grumpy all day, but Will’s plan was nothing new.

  “Father Brown and I already hand out soup to the poor,” she replied.

  “I mean a real soup kitchen, funded by us and our friends. One that is stocked with fresh vegetables, barley and some meat. With an oven for baking fresh bread. A soup kitchen that runs every day. Something that will feed dozens of the needy of St. Giles. I remember what you said about your father and that his mission was all about numbers. With a proper kitchen which you could manage from St. John’s your work will continue and it can grow.”

  Her heart flipped. Will had been earnest in his endeavors to find a solution to their impasse. He had spoken to Father Brown and found the one area where they could make the biggest difference in people’s lives.

  She would never need to venture back into the rookery. The people she wanted to help could come to her at the church.

  “And I take it that in return I shall have two burly footmen with me at all times. And I will keep you informed of my daily schedule and send word if I am to return home late?”

  It went without saying that those were Will’s terms, but she needed to give voice to them.

  “Yes. And I think you would agree that a couple of useful lads could be put to work around the church, doing repairs etc. Father Brown is not a young man. They can also help with peeling and chopping vegetables.”

  “Thank you for finding a way. If anyone could, it was you. My answer is yes,” she said.

  She had not dared to dream that her deepest desire to have the best of both worlds could come true. That Will could actually be hers.

  Hattie licked her lips, teasing him. Will growled. She leaned over and planted a soft, but enticing kiss on his lips. Their bodies were close, intimacy beckoned. She had given him the answer he needed, now she would allow him to claim his reward.

  The shackles of polite social behavior were tossed aside, in its place was a deep hunger which demanded to be slaked. Will claimed Hattie’s lips with a kiss which brooked no misunderstanding.

  She gave into her deepest desires. As Will's strong arms pulled her tightly against him, her hands searched for his hair. She speared her fingers through his dark brown hair offering him her unspoken encouragement. They both knew where she would be sleeping this night.

  As they finally ended the kiss, Hattie realized she still had one question which needed answering. She knew Will wanted her, but she did not fully comprehend why. Somewhere in the deep recesses of her mind there was still the worry belief that he felt compelled to marry her.

  “Before you ask me the question that we know is coming. I need to understand why you want me. For many women it would not matter, but since I fled a betrothal to someone who didn’t want me for me, I would like to know.”

  Will kissed her once more.

  “I want you because I love you. I love the Hattie Wright who is before me. The Hattie Wright who made the decision to claim her role in the world. The instant I saw you drop over the side of the ship and into the harbor you became the woman for me. The girl who Peter Brown took by force is long gone. In her place is you, a woman who makes choices about her life, and about whom she wishes to love. I can only hope and pray that it is me,” he said.

  She cupped his face in her hands.

  “I have done everything I could not to fall in love with you. I ran away because I knew I would never be able to resist you if I stayed. You have held a power over me from the very first day.

  Believe me Will, when I say I never saw you as something to use and then throw away. I wanted our affair on the boat to happen because I knew you were someone whose love, even if it were held for only a short time, would be worth it. To tell you the truth, I was frightened of
how you made me feel. When we made love, I felt reborn. You touched a part of my soul I thought no longer existed, something I didn’t know if I wanted to reclaim.”

  “So, what you are saying is that you love me?”

  She chuckled.

  “Of course, I do. Any woman who does not fall for your charms is made of stone. I love you Will Saunders. You have rescued me, and I promise to spend the rest of my life making sure I stay that way,” she replied.

  She kissed his forehead. He smiled when she kissed his nose. As she pulled back to take in his handsome face, she saw the light of passion ignited in his eyes.

  “So, you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Thank god.”

  The sense of relief in his voice had her on the verge of tears. No one had ever wanted her purely for herself. In Will she had found someone who valued her for just being Hattie. Joy mixed with overwhelming humility left her speechless.

  “Which now leaves the question of what to do with you tonight,” said Will.

  It would have been easy enough to ask Mrs. Little to make up Hattie's old bed. But sleeping anywhere else but in Will’s arms tonight, was out of the question.

  “I won't force you to do anything against your will. Ever,” he said.

  They had come so very far from the day they had met. She trusted him and her heart felt fit to burst knowing that he trusted her.

  “I have gone half mad missing your touch. I need you inside of me. I need to hear your roar when you come,” she murmured.

  The growl of need and desire which came from deep within him gave her the answer she craved. He had missed her too. Knowing he wanted her, filled her with the furious need to be naked and under him. To seal the connection that was no longer in any doubt between them.

  He rose to his feet, pulling her up with him.

  “Come to bed.”

  She mewed disappointment, and looked at the couch. The couch was the right height; and had a soft enough back that he could easily take her while she was bent over it.