Samuel saw them inside.
“Where is she?” asked Seth.
“Well, after the inspector left, she looked worried. Said she was feeling tired, so she sent word to her brother to mind the club and took herself up to her room for a bath and rest. Said she’d had a rough night.”
“Bloody hell.” He shot Gavin a look, then took the steps to her room two at a time, ignoring Gavin’s mutterings of “Better you than me.”
He slipped into her room after a quick knock. “Phoebe?”
She was sitting by the fire in nothing but a silk robe, her hair still damp from her bath. Other than a quick glance at him, she said nothing. He crossed the room and knelt before her, taking her hands in his, not daring to look up at her, knowing he could not stand to see her angry with him, yet again.
“Phoebe, I’m sorry this has upset you, but it will all be taken care of.”
“And how exactly are you going to accomplish that? Would you mind telling me?” Her voice was thick was emotion. He looked up into her face, and saw she had been crying.
He pulled her into his embrace to offer what little comfort he could. “I cannot imagine he’ll want to pursue this, and risk having the fact that he assaulted you come to light. I’m sorry to have you worrying over it.”
She pulled away from him and said, “What do you really think people are going to believe when they hear what happened? Whatever it is, it will not be enough to justify your actions. Not in their eyes.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “Maybe not, but there’s nothing to be done for it now.” He then tried for humor, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips as he pulled her back into his arms. “I’ve yet to figure out how to turn back time, aye? Perhaps with my next tinkering?”
She pounded on his chest in frustration. “This is not funny.” Yet he could see her mood had turned. Just a little.
Taking the opportunity to change the subject, he asked, “Samuel is now your footman? You must really be angry with me.” He laughed as she pounded on his chest again, then tilted her chin up and kissed her. She tasted so sweet, her lips soft and hot, his kiss lingering just a moment more.
He could feel her soft curves through the thin silk, the warmth of her body tempting him to forget Gavin waiting downstairs for them.
Her head rested on his shoulder, and she clung to him desperately. “What if they take you away from me, Seth? What will happen if Victor does not drop the murder charges?
“We’ll figure something, aye? I do not want you worrying yourself.” He pulled her away so he could cup her face in his hands. He needed her to see he meant every word. “I love you, Phoebe, and I promised I would not leave you. I’ve every intention of making you my wife. We’re to be married, aye? Nothing short of death will take me away from you.”
“That is exactly what I’m afraid of, Seth.”
He pulled her back to him and kissed the top of her head, his arms tight around her. He hated to cause her this pain, but he’d done what he thought was right; kept her safe and defended her honor. And he would do it all again, consequences be damned.
Victor’s charge was just a play for power by a man who wanted to mend his pride and have his ego stroked. If he had not the power and influence of his position and class, the charges against Seth would never stand.
Phoebe pulled him from his thoughts. “I’m going to speak to him. Perhaps I can get him to drop the charges.”
The thought of her going to Victor and begging had his gut twisted in knots as his anger threatened to erupt. “You cannot!”
“I can, and if it means it will keep you from the gallows, then it’s a small price to pay.” A fire flared in her eyes, her own anger and frustration breaking through. “Or is this all about your own pride, now?”
He wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled and she saw sense. “Phoebe, you are the most infuriating woman I have ever met. The man caused you bodily harm. Have you already forgotten? Do you not remember how close you came to having your body violated?”
“Of course I remember!” She matched his temper. “But I also remember what it is like to be alone— to live without you. And my pride and honor are of little consequence if I have not the man I love.”
A knock at the door had them pulling back from each other, both of them still bristling. She turned away from him as another knock sounded, louder this time, demanding someone’s attention.
“What is it?” Phoebe called, exasperated.
The door opened and Gavin’s large frame filled the doorway, worry etched into the lines around his mouth. “I’m sorry to barge in, but the inspector’s here looking for ye Seth and he’s got a constable with him. ‘Tis not looking good, a charaid.”
“No. I don’t believe it is, ” Seth said with a heavy sigh.
Chapter Thirty Six
Gabriel glanced at the address he jotted down, making sure he had the right building before knocking on the door. He slipped the landlady a coin and she confirmed that Anne was indeed home and directed him up the stairs.
He tapped on the door. No response. He tapped louder, then pounded until the door finally opened just a crack, revealing part of a face harboring a glaring eye. “Stop that knocking before the landlady throws me out on the street. What ye want?”
“I’m looking for Lilly. It is terribly important,” Gabriel pleaded.
“It always is, eh? Well, she ain’t ‘ere.”
She tried to close the door, but Gabriel shoved his foot in the opening, using his weight to push the door open. He stumbled into the small room and had barely a moment to register something was wrong, just a flick of her eyes over his shoulder. A blinding blow to his head sent him crashing to the floor, the darkness swallowing him whole.
When he came to, Lilly was lightly slapping his face with her small hand, her concerned face only inches above his.
“Ah. There ye are. Why didn’t ye use your name? You’re lucky I hadn’t gotten my knife.”
He rubbed the large bump on the back of his head. “Thank the gods for small miracles.” He had a blinding headache that throbbed with every heartbeat. Still, it was preferable to having a knife planted in his gut. “I need to talk to you about Niles.”
Anne spoke up before Lilly even had a chance to open her mouth. “She don’t know anything! Filthy bastard got himself murdered and she ain’t nothing to do with it. What ye care ‘bout him anyway?”
“He was my friend, but that’s not the reason I’ve come.” He looked back at Lilly. Though he and Lilly had both been close to Niles, they’d not had much opportunity to get to know each other as more than just acquaintances, the club taking up far too much of his time. He could only hope she’d still be willing to help him. “I need to find out what Niles was doing with Phoebe’s formula and how he managed to get it.”
Lilly gasped. “Lady Hughes? And ye’re meaning the formula for Viridis?” She shook her head, the blood draining from her face. “Honestly, this is the first I’ve heard of it. Do ye think it was the SS?”
Gabriel wished he knew. “I now know Niles was involved with the SS, but I think there was something else. Did he speak to you of any troubles or difficulties?”
“He never really said, though there were times I thought there was something— or someone giving him difficulties. After all, he never struck me as the type to be SS or for that matter to be stealing formulas, if ye know what I mean.”
He nodded. “I think I do.”
Anne did not invite him to sit down, and had yet to do anything but glare at him while cursing under her breath as she paced the room. He was not sure if she was just leery of strangers or if it was the difference in their class, but it was clear Gabriel was not welcome there. “I do not suppose we could go somewhere to finish talking and perhaps get a bite to eat?” He gave a quick glance over his shoulder at Anne, garnering him a smile from Lilly.
“Aye. Might as well.”
A short time later, Gabriel sat across from Lilly in the dark corner of
the smoky tavern, cautiously watching the crowd around him. He was surprised he’d convinced her to join him out in public, though she could see why she might want to escape for a short while. She was still worried about being followed, though she said she hadn’t noticed anything amiss in the last few days.
They ordered the roast mutton and a couple pints of ale, not saying much. Gabriel decided to wait until they had a bit of hot food in their bellies to question Lilly further, since the cold of night was made all the more brutal by the brisk wind coming off the Thames.
The mutton was delivered steaming and fragrant, the pints cold. After a few bites, Gabriel said, “I really appreciate you coming out and agreeing to help me. I know your sister is none too pleased about it.”
Lilly waved his concerns away. “We’ve only each other, ye see, an’ she tends to be a bit protective, aye? And Anne, well she’s still young and a bit suspicious like ‘bout people she don’t know. It ain’t been an easy life for her, though I did try to care for us. Best I could, at any rate.”
He thought about everything Phoebe had done for him and Imogene, despite the fact she was still so young when their mother died. She had sacrificed her childhood so they could have as much of one as she could manage to give them. It was exactly the reason why he needed to find out if Niles was responsible for the theft of her formulas. If that were indeed the case, then surely it could be no one’s fault but his own.
He knew Niles and Lilly had been remarkably close for the short amount of time they had known each other. If anyone might know, it would be she. “Did Niles ever mention to you anything about Phoebe or Viridis? Is there anything at all you can think of, perhaps looking back on it now?”
“I surely didn’t realize anything amiss at the time, or I’d ‘ve said something. Lady Phoebe has been real good to me and mine, and I couldn’t stand by and let her be robbed, had I known.”
“No, of course not, but any information you can think of may be of help. I do not believe he was stealing the formula for his own purposes, but rather someone else’s. I need to find out who put him up to it, for they may still try to take her remaining research or worse, do her harm.”
She thought about it some, between bites of food. “Well, I don’t know that there’s any truth to it, seeing that it’s just my opinion, like. So I’ll tell ye what I know and what I think, and hopefully it’ll be of help to you and yer sister.”
“It’s much appreciated.” Not wanting to be interrupted once Lilly got started, Gabriel waved them over a couple more pints.
“Ye see, the way I see it, Niles didn’t seem the type to be SS. Not to me at any rate. And well, ye knew ‘im too, so ye’ll understand what I’m telling ye. He was a terribly kind and gentle man, so I canna think him the type for thieving. But the man had secrets, no doubt, and I can only think the people wanting yer sister’s formula had found something out he’d rather have kept private.”
Gabriel felt his stomach sink, his appetite gone. “And you think it’s the SS that were using him to get the formula?”
“I don’t know, love, but I canna imagine him working for the SS otherwise. I dinna think it was for the money. He seemed to have enough of his own, and didn’t throw his money away on anything else like gambling or whoring, though he had mentioned being the second son would mean most of his family’s monies would be going to his older brother.”
Lilly took a long sip of her drink, then leaned forward as if to tell him a secret. Gabriel’s heart pounded with a combination of anticipation and fear. “See, Niles said he’d help me an’ my sister out. Said he could do with my help and would set me up with a monthly sum, in exchange for marrying him. Said I’d want for nothing; just needed a wife, more for show than anything else.” Lilly sighed and sat back in her seat with a frown. “Poor fella. It woulda been nice, aye?”
“That it would have, though perhaps not all hope is lost.” He managed a smile in her direction, his heart racing when she smiled back. He could see how getting married would have its advantages, and Lilly was a beautiful girl, kind and understanding.
“No. Perhaps all hope is not lost.” She put her hand on his arm, blushing with the gesture. “Thank ye kindly for the drink and food. I must say, ‘tis nice to be out and about again. I don’t know how much more I’d be able to handle, being cooped up like that. I love my sister and all, but that room starts feeling far too small after a day or two.”
“I imagine it would.” He took a long sip from his glass, the cold and bitter ale quenching his dry throat. “Have you gotten a good look at who’s been following you?”
“I think it’s been the same person each time, but I canna be sure. Even then I haven’t ever gotten a very good look at him.” Lilly took another bite, cleaning her plate. At least she was enjoying what little time she’d get away from hiding.
“We know Niles was SS, and it appeared he had been involved in infiltrating the Cause, but was there anything else, Lilly?”
“I’ll tell ye, cause I don’t see that it matters much now, with him in his grave. He’d started as SS and had tried his best to get involved with the Cause, but truth of it is, he’d seen the way it is for the poor of the city and did truly want to help.”
Gabriel sat forward, waiting to hear what he now suspected, as Lilly continued.
“I don’t know if he ever gave Moore and Clarke any SS secrets that could be of use to them, but it wouldna surprise me if he had.”
“You think he was working for both sides?”
“Aye, that I do.”
Chapter Thirty Seven
Phoebe ran into Seth’s arms, and held on for dear life, feeling like she’d drown in a sea of panic. “Seth, you cannot go!” Every horror story she’d ever heard regarding the conditions of prisons raced through her mind to terrorize her.
“A ghaoil, I must. I’ll come back to you as soon as I’m able.” He pressed his lips to hers, and then pulled back to cup her face in his hands. “Promise me you’ll not go and see Victor.”
“It might be our only chance—”
“Promise me, Phoebe!”
She struggled to get the words out, but they stuck in her throat, and she could only nod in response, tears streaming down her face. He kissed her again, taking the time to do a more thorough job of it, and then pulled away.
Finding her voice, she pleaded with him. “Please, Seth. Let me at least come with you. I’ll get dressed.”
He brushed away her tears, and kissed each cheek, holding her to him one last time. “You cannot, my love. It’s best if you stay here.” Seth looked over her shoulder to Gavin.
“Come now, lass.” She felt Gavin’s grip on her arms, pulling her away from Seth as she struggled to keep her hold. She could not—would not— let him go again.
“Seth, don’t go!” She cried out one last time before Gavin was able to restrain her and Seth slipped out the door with a final glance. Desperation took hold as she thought of the gallows, now certain Seth would never come back to her.
Gavin held her as she wept, pounding futilely on his chest as she tried to break free from his grasp. Her heart was in pieces, her soul torn to shreds. Never had she felt so hollow, so empty.
“Hush, love, hush.” Gavin sat down with her cradled in his arms, trying to soothe her as she sobbed on his shoulder. “He’ll come to no harm, I promise ye.”
She shook her head the tears still rushing down her cheeks. “How can you say that? What if he ends up at Coldbath or Newgate? He could be dead before this ever gets to trial.”
“He won’t. The inspector will see to it, and we’ll get him the best solicitor available.” He brushed away her tears. “Dinna fash yourself, love. We’ll have him back in no time, aye?”
He pulled her back into his comforting embrace, and she let him, her strength to fight him gone with her tears. She thought of their wedding day, only a few days away. How could she have been so close to happiness, only to have it torn from her grasp? And all for the stubborn pride of men. She,
however, was willing to sacrifice her pride if it meant seeing Seth free.
She would do whatever it took— even if it meant pleading with Victor.
Chapter Thirty Eight
Seth took a deep breath and closed the door behind him, pausing for just a moment to compose himself. It was not fear of what may happen to his own person, but rather all he would be putting Phoebe through and what may happen in his absence.
He walked down the steps, taking his time with each one, reluctant to leave Phoebe in such a state. Inspector Thomas stood by the front door looking grim, a stern-faced constable at his side. Samuel stood by, looking like he was contemplating murder. Whether the inspector’s or his own, he could not say.
“Inspector.”
“I’m sorry to have to come, especially here, but I’m afraid it’s necessary for now.”
Seth nodded in acknowledgment as he shrugged into his coat, no words needed. There would be plenty to discuss soon enough. Before he walked out the door, he turned to Samuel. “I’m counting on you to keep a close eye on things here. I’ll be back as soon as I’m able. She’s safe for now with Gavin here, so I’ll need you to contact my solicitor, a Mr. John Campbell of Bishop Street. Send him to the police station.”
“The station is on Mission Street,” William added helpfully.
“Aye, sir.” Samuel pulled himself up straight and tall, bearing his responsibilities with pride and a seriousness that let Seth know he’d do all he could to not fail him.
Their trip to the police station was one of relative silence. The sun was just setting on the horizon, the night air bringing a bitter chill. He dreaded spending the night in a cold dark cell, but knew, even as the thought crossed his mind, he would likely be doing just that.
They walked into a sparse office with hard-backed chairs and a sturdy wood table. William dismissed the constable and then turned to Seth. “Please, sit. I’m sorry to say, I’m here to charge you formally with the attempted murder of Lord Victor Fenwick. I highly recommend you seek the council of a solicitor, before saying anything. Shall we wait for his arrival?”
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