Solomon shook his head. “No, ma’am. Something came after the man. Something big. The man had gagged both of the girls so that they were unable to yell, but he did not have a horse with him. He was holding onto the girls and running through the forest.” He shrugged. “I do not know what it was that came after the trio, but the man decided that the girls were not worth his life. He let go of the girls and ran as far as he could from the creature. I do believe that Miss Lacey told her father that it looked like some sort of dog, but that she could not be certain due to the velocity that the creature had been running. Regardless, it went after the man, so the girls were able to run back to their home and alert their father about the man that had captured them. The other two girls were returned the next morning. We can only hope that the remaining two girls are alive and well.”
Gia nodded. She remained quiet, her stomach bubbling with nerves. She desperately hoped that the girl she had stolen, Simona, was still alive and being taken care of. She knew Leander’s favorite type, and Simona fit that type to a point. If Leander saw how beautiful the girl was, Gia was certain that he would make sure that she had a better life than she would have had living on the streets, or working for Isaiah and his men. “What were the names of the missing girls? And the deceased?”
Solomon looked at Gia oddly. “Why are you so interested in the names, madam?”
Gia wracked her head for a story before answering. “I was going to London to be a governess, sir. I had overheard the names of some of the best families, and I daresay I am stricken to know if my requested has been one of the deceased.”
Solomon nodded in understanding. As the town doctor, he had seen a fair share of governesses pass from family to family, sending in different requests each and every time they were let go as the child aged into adulthood. It was a common practice among the wealthy of London. “Very well. Miss Juliet Acres and Miss Caroline Conroy were both declared deceased two days after their kidnapping. They were dropped off in each of their parents’ yards, respectively, with…” A look of sorrow passed over Solomon’s face, and he cleared his throat before swallowing hard.
He took a few moments to compose himself and, once he finally continued, he started anew, deciding not to continue with his description of what was done to the girls. “Juliet was my elder sister Callie’s middle child. She was only thirteen.” His voice was tight, and he had his eyes locked on the wall. He sniffed loudly before turning back to Gia, rubbing the back of his hand over his eyes briefly to force back any tears that had began to slip out.
Gia tried to lean forward to place a comforting hand on Solomon’s shoulder, but the pain in her side stopped her in her tracks. She grimaced as she leaned back, her hand instead pressing against the bandages to relieve the sparks erupting beneath the fabric. Solomon let out a tight smile before looking back down and sighing. He shook his head and cleared his throat again before looking back up. “Well, what’s done is done,” he said sadly. “Nothing will bring Juliet or Miss Caroline back. We just have to move on and live life out for them. Besides, the town has to keep going in case the last two do come back. Miss Simona Dickens and Miss Emma Worthers will need all the help they can get if they are found.” Solomon stood and put a hand on Gia’s arm, squeezing lightly. “Get some rest now, Miss Fletcher. You may be better, but you still don’t want to tire yourself out. I’ll return later with some supper for you.”
Gia smiled at the light haired man as he turned and left the room before she began to drift back off to sleep.
***
When Gia came to a few hours later, it was to voices in the next room of the house, in what Gia assumed was the parlour. A man’s voice, deeper and much more gravelly than Solomon’s, spoke softly. Gia had to strain to hear what was being said. “...getting desperate. You know that this is what I have to do,” the man was saying. “It’s been three months, and she still has not been found. My youngest angel is lost somewhere in the world without her father to turn to.” He sniffed loudly. “How ever will she make it?”
“Simon, there’s nothing that we can do other than wait for the search parties to come back and tell us if they have any news on Simona’s whereabouts. They should be back within the day,” Solomon was assuring the man. Gia couldn’t be certain, but based off the mentioning of Simona’s name, Gia assumed that this man must be the head of the Dickens family. “Let us go upstairs to the drawing room and talk about this more. My patient is sleeping, but there is no way to tell that she will continue to rest through this conversation. I do not wish to wake her.”
Footsteps drew near to Gia’s door before the floor boards creaked and the sounds of steps echoed from an increasing height. I must be near the stairwell, Gia realized, slowly sitting up in the bed. She thought back to all the times that she had sneaked around houses, trying her best not to be heard or seen by wives as she left their husbands’ bed chambers late at night. I have to know what they are talking about. If it is about Simona, I could help.
Gia pushed herself off the mattress and onto the ground as she heard a door near the top of the staircase fall shut. She quickly tiptoed out of her room, glancing out to make sure that no one was around before she scurried up the steps and pressed herself against a wall next to the door at the top. She leaned her torso over so that her ear was close to the crack, quieting her breathing so it was barely audible even to herself. After a moment, Solomon spoke. “How much are you considering paying for Simona to be returned to you?”
There was silence before the other man, Simon, said softly, “£100,000.”
Gia’s eyes widened as she heard the number. That was more than a hundred times what she had earned for Leander in all of his six years of owning her! There was so much that Gia could go with money like that…she would finally be able to leave the country and go wherever she pleased. She could truly be free of her past, could start anew somewhere she had never been before. She needed that reward money. Besides, she knew much better than any of these search parties or family members exactly where it was that Simona was located.
Gia heard the sound of something hitting the floor. Most likely Solomon had dropped something during his shock at the amount. “Simon, are you really in the position to pay that much money?”
The answer came back quickly. “Money is never an issue when it comes to my little girl’s safety. I will pay all the money in the world for her to be brought back to me.”
“You do not have that type of money to throw away any longer, Simon, not since Alessandra passed and you quitted working as often to devote more time to your daughters. You are keeping your land and your help because of Alessandra’s father’s adoration of your family, but where will £100,000 be found?”
Gia could hear the sound of Simon crying, the room filled with wet sniffs and heavy breathing. “Solomon, I could not bear it if I lost the one who looks so much like my beloved! She’s my youngest and the only one I have left. Rosamond is expecting her first babe, Winifred is getting married in ten days time, and Luciana and you shall be married by the spring’s end! I cannot be alone with my thoughts, not yet. I need my youngest to return to the safety of my arms.” He took a shuddering breath. “I have more than enough left to pay the reward. Winifred’s betrothed has given me a generous dowry for her hand in marriage, plus the payment that he has made into what is left of company. It is thrice the amount I am suggesting. Even with the reward money gone, I shall have more than enough to get by.”
“Just give it a little more time, Simon, that’s all that I am asking. We do not know what the kidnapper plans to do with Simona, or what he has already done to her. For all we know, she could be deceased. If the kidnapper gets word that you are offering a reward for her to be returned, who is to say that you will not simply receive her body?” Solomon sounded exasperated.
The room fell silent. After a few moments, Simon’s voice echoed in the room once more. “She’s my youngest child,” he said. “She’s my namesake. I’ll give the men another two weeks to t
ry and find her, but the moment they fail, I will alert others of my intent.”
Gia felt a stab of excitement in her gut at the prospect of winning the reward. She chose to listen to nothing more of the conversation, and quickly made her way back down to her room and lied back down in the bed, trying to figure out what excuse she would use to let Solomon let her go free and bring the girl back.
5
March 1871
A few days later, Gia’s chance walked into the house in the form of one Luciana Anne Dickens.
Solomon had been in Gia’s room, talking to her and checking the injury to make sure that the wound was healing correctly. They were discussing Solomon’s past, as well as Gia’s. However, anything after the age of twelve was adapted to make her life seem more enjoyable that it really had been.
Solomon had gone first, telling Gia more about his siblings and his parents, followed by his favorite Christmas memory. “I was nine or ten,” he had said, smiling at the thoughts, “and my elder brother, Justus, had just gotten his first horse. He was seven years older than me, and was saving up to purchase a farm several miles out of town for his sweetheart and himself, so my parents figured that he would need a horse to get him started on his new life.”
Gia thought for a moment before asking, “How old are you now?”
“Me?” Solomon looked up at the sudden question. “I am twenty-seven.” He shook his head. “Anyway, back to the story. Justus wanted to try out his new horse, and he wanted to take each of us children out in turn. He took the baby of the family first, Estelle. She was five, at the time. He then let Callie ride alone, since she was a year older than he was. He took me last, and we went for the longest ride.” His eyes twinkled in remembrance. “We raced for a miles and miles, as fast as that horse would go. Once Argo had worn himself out, however, we stopped by a field and ate our weight in blackberries before we rode home for Christmas dinner with our parents and Callie’s betrothed.” He looked back at Gia. “What about you? What is your best Christmas memory?”
Gia wracked her mind, trying to remember what would be the best one that happened before she had been taken. When she could remember none, she shrugged, saying, “My family never really celebrated Christmas when I was younger, and I went to live with…” she paused, “a different family when I was twelve when my parents fell ill.”
Solomon nodded, reaching out and squeezing her hand. “I am sorry,” he said sympathetically. “I understand. I lost my father two summers back, and it still makes any sort of celebration difficult to enjoy.”
Gia nodded, saying nothing more. She looked down at the quilt that Solomon had placed on the bed the night before, when Gia had been complaining about being cold. It was checkered blue and green flannel, and was large enough to be folded in half and still overlap the edges of the mattress. She pulled it up further so that it was to her waist, keeping her legs nice and warm. She was about to open her mouth to speak when the sound of a foot maid scurrying into the room. “Miss Dickens is here to see you, sir,” the girl said, curtsying. She bowed her head before looking up at Gia. “I am glad to see you are feeling better, Miss Fletcher.”
Gia smiled at her. “Thank you.” The foot maid smiled back before looking to Solomon to see what to do about the visitor.
“Tell her to come in, please, Julia,” Solomon said. The girl nodded and curtsied again, her long black and white dress spread as she did so. She turned and left the room.
A few moments later, a twinkling voice called out, “Solomon?”
“In here, Luce!” Solomon called back, his face lighting up when he heard the woman’s voice. The blonde came into the room moments later, the hem of her robin egg dress sweeping against the carpet. The skirt was dotted with damp patches where Lucie had walked through the freshly fallen snow. Solomon stood to remove Lucie’s fur shawl and dark gray wool bonnet, brushing snow off the sections of the blonde’s hair that had been uncovered. He kissed her lightly before pulling her into a light embrace, running his fingers over her arms to warm her up. He pulled away and smiled at the girl before turning to Gia, his arm wrapping around Lucie’s waist. Gia stood and moved forward until she was only a few feet away from the couple. “Gia, this is Luciana Dickens, my fiancée.” He looked back at the blonde, his eyes filled with love as he gazed at her, a small smile gracing his face.
“You can call me Lucie,” the blonde said, pulling off her gloves and smiling. She stretched out a porcelain hand, her long, thin fingers unblemished and soft. Gia smiled back and took her hand, shaking it lightly before Lucie leaned in and air kissed either side of Gia’s face.
Gia did the same back before introducing herself. “My name is Georgiana Fletcher, but I go by Gia,” Gia replied.
Lucie smiled wider, her cerulean eyes sparkling. “It is such a pleasure to see you alive and with the world again. Solomon was so worried when everything he tried only seemed to make you sicker.” She laughed before glancing at Gia’s nightdress. “I see that Solomon finally decided that you could wear more clothing than just your pantalets and chemise?” She winked as Solomon began to sputter and blush.
“Before she was able to communicate and understand me, it would not have been possible for me to fix her wounds if she was fully dressed—“
“I was just teasing, Solly,” Lucie interrupted, grinning as she squeezed the man’s cheeks. He flinched away, rubbing at his face with the back of his hand. The blonde kissed him on the cheek before smiling at him and meeting his eyes.“You did exactly what was required of you to save Miss Fletcher’s life.” She turned and looked at Gia. “I need to speak to my fiancé alone for a bit. Is it alright with you if he and I go out to the parlour for a tick?” Concern colored her face as she glanced down at Gia’s waist before her eyes shot back upwards. “Are you going to be all right if we are gone?”
Gia nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed by Lucie’s worriment. “Of course, ma’am,” she said, her voice tight. She coughed to hide it, taking a step back to sit back on the bed.
Lucie shook her head at Gia’s words. “No need to ‘ma’am’ me, Gia. I imagine that I am only four or five years above you.” She laughed. “Why, we might as well hold the same level of maturity, with so few years between us!” She smiled again before she took Solomon’s hand.
“I will be just a shout away if you need anything, Gia,” Solomon said, patting the end of Gia’s bed as she slipped back under the heavy quilt. The brunette smiled and nodded at him as the couple walked out of the room. Gia settled back against the pillows and began to look through a photo album that Solomon had left sitting on the side table, getting lost in the photos of Solomon’s past.
***
By the time that Gia had finished flipping through the album, Lucie and Solomon were returning to the room. “Hello,” Gia greeted them, pulling up the blanket higher around herself as a chill seeped through the open door.
“Hello, Gia,” Solomon responded, nodding at the girl. He sat at the end of the bed. Lucie came to stand next to him, wringing her fingers nervously. Solomon glanced at the blonde before turning back to Gia. “Listen, Gia, Lucie and I need to talk to you about something.”
Gia sat up straighter, putting the photo album back on the table. “What do you want to talk about?” She smiled at the couple.
Lucie was the one to answer. Her voice quivered as she spoke, and a quick glance down at her fingers that were gripping Solomon’s shoulder alerted Gia that the shakiness was from nerves, not sadness as she had first assumed. “Do you remember anything about the night that you were attacked? Anything at all?”
Gia pretended to think, squinting up her eyes in thought as she made up a story. She had to play this out properly if she wanted that reward money. If she said too much, Lucie and Solomon would know exactly where to look to get Simona back. If she said too little, she would eventually be on her own to figure out to get back to Leeds, and without any money… well, that would be an impossible feat for Gia to conquer. She would have to somehow co
nvince Lucie that she had a slight theory that could get Simona back.
After another moment of thinking, Gia began to speak slowly as she pretended she was really struggling to remember anything about that night. “Everything is a bit fuzzy… I remember getting lost and hiding in the back of a carriage for shelter. I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I remember is waking up and hearing two men speaking.”
The sandy-haired man’s eyes widened and he leaned forward. “What were they discussing? Can you recall any specifics?” His eyes were pleading. “Please, Gia, anything at all that you remember about their conversation could save Simona’s life.
Gia closed her eyes, once again pretending to be thinking hard. “I remember them saying something about gathering girls for some sort of… working class, perhaps? Or a prostitution ring? I think they mentioned a couple of towns as well, but I’m afraid that I cannot remember what towns they said…” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but that is all that I can remember right now. It was such a tragic night, I seem to have simply blocked much of it out.” She cast a small apologetic smile Lucie’s way.
Lucie sighed, sniffing and blinking rapidly as frustrated tears sprang to her eyes. “I-it is fine. Thank you for telling me what you do know, Gia.”
Gia nodded. “I’m sorry I cannot tell you more.” She yawned, exhaustion suddenly overwhelming her limbs, the excitement of plotting catching up to her. She pulled the blanket up higher on her chest as she lied back further against the pillows.
Solomon stood, patting Gia’s calf in a comforting gesture. “Get some rest. We’ll just be out in the parlour if you need or remember anything else.”
“Sweet dreams,” Lucie added, smiling sadly. Gia nodded at them both before dropping her head, watching the couple leave through her lashes before she drifted off to sleep, dreams of what she would do with the money filling her head.
Saving Simona (Alone In The World Trilogy) Page 6
