A Regency Christmas My Love

by Linda Hays-Gibbs

  “You will pay me what is owed and more. I have a job for you and you will do as I tell you.” His tone of voice changed and he was speaking to her in a very nasty manner.

  “I don’t understand. Why are you taking that tone with me? I have done nothing to you.” Vicky backed into the corner of the carriage wanting to disappear from the situation. This man was scaring her and her arm still hurt from his hand.

  “Oh, yes, you have done plenty to me”. He smirked at her then growled a low nasty sound. “I saw you at your father’s many times before and I knew then that I had to have you. You will fetch a very nice price and then I can use you as I wish. It will be a profitable arrangement and will provide a roof over your head. I cheated your father out of everything. He was a very poor gambler not to realize my tricks. I knew that it would be easy to get you and everything he had. I even arranged for their accident, all because I had to have you.” He reached for her and she slumped further into the corner of the carriage to keep his hands off her. She shook with fright.

  “Are you insane. I shall scream and bring the watch. I will howl my outrage. Keep your hands off me.” Vicky slapped at his hands and raised her leg to kick him.

  “ Struggle all you like. I will have you.” His smile turned into a hideous leer. Mister Crawley grabbed her arm and yanked her into his lap. His hands moved roughly over her chest and down her back. His mouth was mauling hers and bruising her lips, Vicky screamed and he slapped her but she screamed again until he hit her with his fist. Then Vicky sank to the floor of the carriage unconscious and very glad of it.

  ****

  Creighton came back to Vicky’s room and knocked about an hour later. There was no answer. He called and nothing. He went to the owner of the hotel, Mister Manner and made him check on his guest. The room was empty except for Vicky’s trunk and valise. Her only possessions were left behind. Her hat, gloves, and pelisse were still in the room. Creighton searched the whole of the apartments. The maid he bought was told to make herself useful and hang her gowns in the wardrobe. He shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. Something was definitely wrong and he would find out what happened.

  “I don’t understand it. She was waiting right here for her new maid. Do you know anything? Was there a visitor of some kind or did you see her leave? Mister Manner, you will answer me here or at the watch. I will know what has happened to my charge.”

  “I did have a man, a very tall man with a really tall top hat. He was searching for her. He said he was from the bank and that she owed him a debt.” Mister Manner paled.

  “What was his name? Did he tell you his name?” “No…yes…maybe…he said a Mister Crawley from the bank. That was it. He was very well dressed. I did not think there would be any wrong in telling him her room.” He swallowed hard and looked away.

  “He gave you some money for the information, did he not?” Creighton stood straighter and looked down his nose at the innkeeper. He was all aristocrat now.

  “ I am Lord Creighton Brewster the Sixth Earl of Brawley and if I find that you have done anything improper to Miss Grace, I shall see you prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Creighton’s face was red with rage and he stood over the tubby Mister Manner with his eyes glaring.

  “I am going to the New Bank of London and ask about this man. If I do not find him there, I will bring the watch back here with me.” Creighton walked toward the door but Mister Manner called him back. “Please my Lord, I meant no harm.” He swallowed.

  “Oh no…do not do that…I will tell you. He is a man that owns the largest gaming establishment in Cheapside. It is called the Frolicking Fellows. It is on the Eastside. I would not go there unescorted. It is a vile den of thieves. You must protect yourself, my Lord.” He bowed low to Creighton feeling very much in awe of the distinguished Lord in his establishment.

  Creighton jerked him up by his cravat and squeezed it tightly. “I will be back with the law.” He then bowed back slightly and turned on his heel to rush to the bank and to the watch. He was so angry he could not stay or he would kill the man.

  “No we do not know this Mister Crawley. I assure you we try to take care of our own business in house. I am Mister Rapene and I was the gentleman that visited the house this morning. I am our adjuster and assessor. The house and all the contents was impounded for the debts but I don’t think it will be enough.”

  Creighton flexed his muscles and clenched his hands into fists. His face was filled with rage and he flushed red with it. He spoke each word slowly and deliberately.

  “Do you know a Mister Crawley?”

  Mister Rapene swallowed hard and looked at the furious Lord, taking a step back as the Lord drew closer to stand over him.

  “ I am Lord Creighton Brewster, the Sixth Earl of Brawley, my father is the Duke of Chelsea so if there is more debt just send the bills to me. I will take care of this, myself. I will also check into every detail of the debts with my solicitors, so I suggest that everything be in order. Do you understand my meaning?” His eyes narrowed on the man before him in more meaning than he could say. He wanted to throttle someone, anyone.

  “Yes…my Lord…yes of course…everything will be in order. I assure you.” Mister Rapene fidgeted nervously and sat. He looked up at the furious Lord and shook his head.

  “Please do not upset yourself. Is there anything we can do to help you recover Miss Grace?” Mister Rapene was visibly paler and his eyes widened in alarm.

  “Tell me where this scum, Mister Crawley lives? I want to visit his home with the watch. Kidnapping is a criminal offense.” Creighton raised his eyebrow and fisted his hands. He was about to hit the nasty man if he did not tell him where she was.

  “Yes, my Lord, he lives by the wharf on Grant Road in Cheapside. I would suggest you take the watch with you.” Mister Rapene gulped and wiped his brow with his handkerchief before pouring a glass of brandy for himself. He offered a glass to the gent.

  Creighton shook his head and paced to the window. “I intend doing just that and you better pray that the young lady is unharmed. I will have your head if she is hurt.”

  Creighton marched to the window again and looked out on the city. How could this happen to one as innocent as Miss Grace. He had horrible thoughts of what this man could be doing to her and he was unable to stop it. Grabbing his great cape, gloves and hat, he turned and then glared at the man while stomping his boots to the doors. He would rescue her. She meant more to him than should be in such a short time. She was so innocent, beautiful and gracious. Her lips were the softest and warmest he had ever touched. He remembered how he had felt her breath on his cheek when he turned from their kiss and he knew she was the one. If he could only hold her in his arms again, and keep her safe for the rest of his days. He would devote his life to her. He had to find her.

  Chapter Three

  “Please Mister Crawley, let me out of this room. I am going to start screaming again. Let me out of here at once. I have done nothing to deserve such treatment. If you saw me at my father’s, you know this. I am innocent of anything you have imagined I did to you. Surely sir, you see the stupidity in this. Someone will come looking for me.”

  Vicky paced the floor and cried. She had cried more in the last two days than in all her eighteen years. What was this man going to do to her? He had mauled her with his hands but so far had not violated her and ruined her utterly. She had to be grateful for that. Her mouth was dry and she went to the pitcher and bowl by her bed and took a glass and poured herself a glass of water. It was good but she had not eaten in two days.

  “Control yourself Miss Grace. There is no one to hear you and no one to come for you. You are completely at my mercy.” He laughed a horrible nasty laugh and turned from her room’s door to walk back downstairs. His mouth watered with anticipation for what he would do to her after her got his money out of her. He made sure she was alone and completely at his mercy. He could do with her as he wished. He chuckled again.

  Creighton was be
side himself. He could find no one at the Bow Street Runners that was handy and brave enough to help him. He was forced to wait on Constable Harris. He paced the office and asked for the tenth time. “When will he be back?”

  He was told for the tenth time. “He is on his way my Lord.” Creighton checked his gun again and the knife in his boot. If the man didn’t come in the next hour, he would go by himself to get Victoria home. When had he started thinking of her in her first name? He did not like that name it was a little formal. He liked Vicky, yes, that was his favorite name but what if he had lost her already. He did not know if he could live with that. By the time it was almost dark again Creighton was a nervous wreck. He had tousled his hair till it stood out on end. His cravat was an untied mess and his boots were dusty from all the pacing. Constable Harris strolled into his office in a leisurely way and infuriated the Earl more.

  “Just how long were you planning on staying away from your duties? I will have you know I have waited on you for hours while a young woman may be meeting her death. I could get no cooperation from the famous Bow Street Runners and I will report this to the Regency at White Hall.”

  “What…oh…well…what of it? Who the devil do you think you are?”

  “I am Creighton Brewster, the Sixth Earl of Brawley and the son of the Duke of Chelsea. I will have you brought before the crown. My lady, Miss Victoria Grace has been kidnapped by a horrible man called Mister Crawley. He has taken her to Cheapside to his gambling establishment with mischief in mind and if anything has happened to her person? I will see that you are hanged or in Newgate for the remainder of your pitiful existence. I do not appreciate having to wait with only cowards in your employ.” Creighton’s face was a mask of unadulterated rage. His eyes glared at the rotund Constable. “No one was brave enough to help me rescue the Lady.”

  “I am...I am…at your disposal. I will get some men involved immediately. Roger, Heflin, Michael, Connery, come here now.” The office was immediately filled with the four men. Constable Harris put his finger between his cravat and his Adam’s apple and tried to swallow but it was difficult. He paced the office and measured his words.

  “We seem to have a situation in hand. Mister Crawley has taken this woman, the Earl’s lady to Cheapside with lascivious intentions. We must recover her immediately. Is there any of you that knows his establishment and the best way to get inside and find the poor young lady? I also want to know why no one would help the Earl before now?”

  “We all thought he was bonkers Constable. He was raving like a crazy man.”

  Creighton grabbed the man. “I beg your pardon?” Creighton had the man by his shirt and off the floor. Constable Harris raised his hands in a peace offering.

  “Gentlemen, gentlemen, we can solve nothing like this. Please control yourself my Lord. Please tell us Michael what can we do?” The Constable ran his fingers through his hair and sat. “Please my Lord have a seat.” Creighton shifted into a chair by the window.

  “Well, I used to gamble there before I was a runner, Constable. It is a fortress with thugs on every plank. We needs more men if we be going there. He has a great many people that owes him money and he makes them pay dearly.”

  “Can you get us in Michael without being discovered so we can at least have an element of surprise?” Michael shook his shaggy head and then nodded, “I can try.”

  “I could get Connery since he is part gypsy to get his gypsy friends to help us and maybe we could get some of the guards to help. I know there is a bunch of soldiers that aren’t working that might go with us if there was a bit of money involved.” Heflin volunteered. Creighton sat up straighter and eyed the men, appraising them.

  “I am the Earl of Brawley and I will pay you each a gold crown to rescue this lady. She is a complete innocent and he has taken advantage of a lady.”

  “I knows some peoples in Cheapside Constable that owes me. I know they would be happy to help a lady for a crown.” Roger shifted his weight and straightened. He was chewing tobacco and he spit into a spittoon by the door.

  “Thank you Roger. Maybe your friends in Cheapside will come in handy this night. Please Heflin jump in with another suggestion. We need all the help we can get. This is a dangerous mission.” Heflin was the smaller of the men and his eyes brightened.

  “I know Constable, I was thinking maybe someone ought to sneak in and carry the lady out before all manner of hell breaks loose. There is no telling what will happen if they smell the law in there.” He paced to the door and folded his brawny arms.

  “I know…I know but we must try. I met the young Lady when I told her about her parents’ deaths. She is a beautiful and sweet young lady. Let us remember that this is what we are trying to do. Protect the innocent and bring law and order to London.”

  Creighton paced in among the men. He turned to them. “I must see this lady safe. I will do anything I can to help you. What if I go into the establishment and start gambling to find out where she is. I could be a distraction while they try to steal all my money.”

  “They will probably do that and more. You would not be safe my Lord. We don’t want to be responsible for your demise. What would the Prince say if we got you killed?” They were all shaking their heads no.

  “You can’t mean to keep me out of it. I must help her. I am about to lose my mind. Please let me do something. I can’t be that bad in there.” All the men looked at each other and then at him in astonishment. Then they all whistled.

  “Yes, my Lord it is. It is literally a den of thieves. If her father had anything to do with this man, then his money was stolen and maybe his life, and that of his wife as well. It is not a safe place for man or beast.” The Constable rose from his chair.

  “Well, I don’t give a tinker’s damn. I am going and you bloody well, better let me.”

  “Yes, my Lord.” The Constable raised a hand and nodded. “I understand.”

  They continued to plan for a few more hours until Creighton shouted. “Bloody Hell! Please let us go and rescue the lady before it is too late.”

  “All right, you go with Heflin and my other man Adam. You will go into the place and start gambling. I hope you have some knowledge about how to handle yourself. You serve in the war?” He raised his eyebrows at Creighton.

  “Yes, I was in the forward guard. I was a Colonial. I think I can handle my sword, gun and knife to satisfaction too.” Creighton stood a little straighter.

  “They won’t let you in with a sword but if you hide a knife and gun that would be good.” “I have my gun and my knife on me now.” Creighton smiled at them.

  Constable Harris laughed a hardy laugh at Creighton.

  “Then let’s get started before it gets any later.” They all rose and left by the door.

  ****

  Chapter Four

  Vicky was brought a hot bath and some of the flimsiest clothes she had ever seen to wear. She was not about to put the garment on when a rather large woman came in and literally dressed her. Her heart was beating so hard with fright she could hardly breathe. It had been hours and now they were escorting her to the middle of some kind of saloon. She was so embarrassed she hid her head in shame.

  They took her and lifted her onto a dais in the middle of the room where all the men could stare at her in her see through dress. She began to shake. What were they going to do to her? Why did she open her door? She should have waited for Creighton to come back, called his name, something. She was such an idiot. She cried and shook her head.

  “Please leave me alone. Let me go home. She started wiping her tears away with the backs of her hands. Her sobbing seemed to inflame the men more.

  “What are you doing?” Mister Crawley strolled about the room like a peacock and said,

  “We are having a virgin auction. We examined you while you was unconscious and found you intact so you should fetch a nice sum of money to pay your father’s debt to me.” Vicky almost retched when she heard that and then she turned in astonishment.

 
; “Oh my God, you can’t be serious. What will they do with me? Oh, no, please, stop this.” All the men were laughing and talking and paying no attention to her cries. She tried to look into their faces but all she saw was rabid lust. Her heart broke.

  Suddenly everyone got very quiet as Mister Crawley took the stage.

  “Gentlemen! Please let me have your attention. We have a delightful treat tonight. I have a pure as the driven snow virgin to offer to the highest bidder. She owes me her Father’s debt and has consented to pay with the only thing she has left, her virtue.” His laughter echoed off the walls and ended on an ugly note. He was red faced and gloating in his prize.

  “How do we know she is a virgin, Crawley?” Some men shouted at him.

  “We checked her out.” Crawley smirked and it is attested to by the doctor himself.” More laughs erupted. Some men nodded in satisfaction. Vicky turned to look at them.

  “I have not consented. I will have you know. I was kidnapped and the law will come for all of you.” The laughter increased and the men guffawed at her naivety. Some men started to whistle and the talking grew louder. They were paying no attention to her but laying money on tables in record numbers. Crawley rubbed his hands together in glee. He was having a wonderful time.

  Lady Victoria Grace was not. Her face was streaked with tears and she had her arms wrapped about herself to hide her embarrassment. Her body shook with fright and she thought she might feint but struggled on. She tried to leave but arms pushed her back.

  There had to be a way to run out of this building and get away, especially with all the men concentrating on the money instead of her. She edged closer to the stairs and looked for an opening. Her eye caught the back door and it was cracked open with onlookers from outside trying to get a look at the prize. Vicky lunged for the door and fought her way through the crowd. Her feet flew to the door and she threw her weight onto the door with her shoulder scattering the onlookers. Crawley’s men were outside as well and soon had her in hand. They lifted her bodily with her feet dangling and brought her back to the dais. Her screams only excited the crowd in the room. She looked about her and screamed again. Someone would hear her, surely.