“If we hadn’t begun ‘sticking in our noses,’ as you say,” Lady Lancaster replied, “you would very likely be dead, as would a fair number of other people. And many more would be in the poorhouse, homeless, ruined in the face of society, and far worse. We do what we do for the greater good, and it is time you learned to accept that fact.”
Emily could actually see the anger drain out of Alex.
“It’s hard to argue with that. And you should know that I support this club and all of you, but you cannot blame me for worrying…about all of you. This is a dangerous game you are playing.”
Placing her hand on Alexander’s shoulder, Emily said, “I, for one, appreciate that you care enough to worry.”
Hannah also came forward and hugged Alex. “I do too, brother.”
“Frankly,” Lady Lancaster said, “I would think less of you if you did not bring up your concerns. It shows a great strength of character and heart.”
The dowager seemed to be looking directly at Emily when she spoke. Now why would that be, do you suppose? she wondered. Was she trying to tell her something? About Alexander?
Emily was too worried about Eleanor to try to figure it out.
Speaking of Eleanor…
“Are we all ready to go now?” she asked, glancing at Alex in particular.
He nodded, as did everyone else.
“Good,” Emily replied, “then let us be on our way.”
And with that, the four individuals tasked with this rescue mission left the house—by way of the servants’ entrance—and climbed into the hack that was already waiting for them. The trip to the city was spent going over and over the plan. Melinda and Alex had the most defined roles, but Roddy and Emily were just going to have to do the best they could once they arrived.
Luckily, Roddy was very familiar with the Tavistock Arms. He and his friends had been hired quite often to catch rats in the basement. The idea of rodents made Emily’s skin crawl, but she was rather glad of the boy’s knowledge. It would be very helpful in this situation. She sent up a small prayer asking God to watch over them all.
The group had the carriage stop a block or so from the pub. Once they had departed the vehicle, Alexander paid the driver handsomely to wait for them. Emily only hoped he would do as he was asked, as she and Roddy went one way—down the back alleyways—and Alexander and Melinda went the other, along the main street and through the front door of the establishment.
Chapter Seventeen
When looking for rescue, make sure you don’t end up trapped by your own weaknesses.
~The Duke of Lancaster
When Emily and Roddy reached the back of the pub, the boy was able to lead her to a door that led directly into the basement. He said that it was where deliveries—from food to coal—were made. Emily could see that such an entryway would make sense for a pub or other such type of business, but it was especially convenient for their purposes.
Looking around in what she hoped was a casual manner, Emily checked for any undue interest from passersby. Luckily, the alley was practically empty and she and Roddy were able to duck into the building unseen from prying eyes outside. She could only hope that no one was inside as they were sneaking in the door.
Again, luck was on their side. The small, dirty space was unoccupied and very dark and dank.
This may have been where supplies were brought in, but the room appeared to be primarily used for coal storage. The black sooty walls made the area seem even darker than it was, and its only little window was almost obliterated with the same black dust.
Initially, Emily did everything in her power to avoid brushing up against anything, but realized a second later that it likely didn’t matter, as she wasn’t dressed in her typical finery. A little extra dirt on her dress was not going to hurt a thing.
Nevertheless, she was eager to get out of the shadowy cave and into a place with a bit more light. She also really wanted to find her friend to ensure she was all right.
Roddy took the lead. He opened the door a crack and looked out into what Emily assumed was a hall of some sort. Apparently, the coast was clear because he motioned to Emily to follow him, and he darted out of the room. It turned out Emily’s suspicions were correct. The coal storage area was behind one of many similar doors leading to the right and left sides of a fairly long hallway. The walkway appeared to run the length of the pub itself, with one end housing a set of stairs that she guessed ran up to the first floor.
Emily could just make out the first step at the end of the hallway. She kept darting her eyes from side to side expecting to see or hear someone coming down the stairs or out of one of the other rooms. She did not like to be so out in the open with no place to hide. But there was nothing for it. They had to find Eleanor.
…
Alexander still couldn’t believe that he was doing what he was about to do, but they all had come too far to turn back now. So he and Melinda entered the Tavistock Arms and took a moment to look around. It was early afternoon, but the bar was surprisingly full. The clientele ranged from simply seedy to completely nefarious, and Alex felt the sudden urge to take a long, hot bath.
“With whom are we meeting?” Melinda asked quietly.
“I have no idea,” Alex replied, “but I suspect they will find us, rather than the other way around.”
“That does not instill me with confidence.”
“Trust me, I am as anxious as you to see this errand completed.”
Melinda looked at Alexander. “Sir, I can’t imagine anyone being as anxious as I.”
For the first time that day, Alex smiled.
“Fair enough,” he said.
Tucking his arm under Melinda’s, Alexander led the way to the long bar. He settled her on an empty stool before looking around the crowded room. He didn’t see anyone paying them any undue attention, but it was hard to tell in this environment. Melinda was a very pretty girl, and every man in the establishment had definitely noticed her arrival.
“’Scuse me, sir,” a voice said from behind them.
Alex and Melinda turned to see a young barmaid standing there. The girl looked to be about the same age and coloring as Emily’s friend Eleanor, and Alexander wondered if they had been sent on a fool’s errand.
“Eleanor?” he asked softly.
“Oh no, sir,” she replied. “I am Livvy, but ‘tis a common error. If you are looking for Eleanor, please follow me.”
Livvy’s eyes darted around nervously, and Alexander had no doubt she was being forced to play the part of middleman. She motioned for them to follow her, and after Alex helped Melinda down, they did as they were bade.
“Is our friend all right?” Alexander asked.
“She was the last time I saw ‘er,” Livvy answered, her eyes full of fear, “but that Lola is mean as a snake and ‘er husband tisn’t much better.”
Lola must be the woman they were meant to meet, but this was the first Alex had heard of a husband. He hoped the man would be on the diminutive side. If there was any brawling to be had, he would just as soon have the advantage.
After a number of turns down seemingly identical hallways, Alex and Melinda were shown into a back room full of cleaning supplies, linens, and the like. Waiting for them in the small area were a man and a woman. Neither one looked very pleasant.
“Thank you, Livvy. You may return to your duties.”
The maid bobbed thankfully and scurried away.
Once they were alone, the woman looked at Melinda.
“My lady,” she sneered. “So nice of you to join us. I hope you brought more with you than just this scrawny man.”
Alexander bristled with umbrage. He was a perfectly respectable six feet tall and broad of shoulder. He had been quite the sportsman in school and he still filled out his clothing very nicely, in his opinion. Scrawny, indeed.
However, compared to the man before him, even Alex could admit he failed in comparison. Lola’s husband, he presumed, was dressed as a Bow Street Runner. Th
is alone would have been shocking, but he was also well over average height—at least four inches taller than Alexander—and massive. He appeared to have muscles in places Alex didn’t even know you could have muscles.
Well, fisticuffs were out.
Melinda cleared her throat. “I have brought the sum requested.”
She pulled the bag of bits from her reticule. She shook it, and to Alex’s relief it did sound as if it were full of coins.
Lola made a grab for it, but Alexander snatched it away before she could get a hold of it.
“We have a few conditions first.”
The large man growled menacingly as he took a step forward.
“Now, now, ‘ank,” Lola said, holding out her arm. “I am fascinated to ‘ear what these two ‘ave to say.”
Knowing that he needed to stall the couple as long as possible so that Emily and Roddy had a chance to rescue Eleanor, Alex racked his brain for logical “conditions.” To his surprise, Melinda beat him to the first one.
“What guarantee do we have that you won’t extort money from us again?”
Lola scoffed. “None, and you won’t be getting one. Better tell your little friend to watch ‘er back.”
“What is to keep us from going to the authorities?” Alex asked, consciously stopping himself from balling up his fists.
Laughing, Lola gestured to Hank. “My ‘usband is the authorities. You will find no foothold there.”
Alex thought she was being a little too confident in her spouse. Surely there were Runners who were honest and upstanding. He would just have to find them, because clearly Lola and Hank needed to be stopped.
“You are a vile woman,” Melinda said.
“I would watch your tongue, girl,” Lola hissed, raising her arm.
Alexander took a step closer to his partner. Apparently, her nerves had given way to anger. Understandable, but also foolish and naive under the circumstances. It was a mistake neither Emily nor any of the other ladies would have made.
“You will address Lady Emily with the respect her position demands,” Alex growled.
Lola laughed. “’Er position, as you call it, is precarious. And is likely to get more so should the good lady continue to insult me.”
“You will not harm her,” Alexander replied. “In fact, I think it’s time we concluded our business.”
“Just ‘and over my fee and ‘ank will go get Eleanor.”
“I must insist we see our friend first.”
He hoped Emily and Roddy were done doing whatever they were doing, because he didn’t think extending this conversation would do anyone any good at this point. Melinda looked fair ready to scratch Lola’s eyes out.
The young girl certainly had spunk.
Shrugging, Lola looked at her husband and cocked her head toward the door. Hank grunted and lumbered to the door. He had just reached it when the oddest sound came from somewhere toward the front of the building. The commotion, whatever it was, was quickly followed by shrieks, and the whole building started to shake. To Alex, it sounded as if a thousand waves were beating down on the pub, and the flood walls were not able to stand up to the pressure.
But, of course, that was impossible. They were in the middle of London, for God’s sake.
…
The most horrible sound Emily had ever heard sounded just as Roddy found Eleanor. It was followed by a tremor that brought to mind an aftershock of a bombing. Then the screaming started, and Emily felt sure they were under some sort of attack. She pulled the door to the room shut in an effort to shield them from whatever was going on. The wall behind them started cracking and dust and debris began falling from the ceiling, as they ran to Eleanor and frantically tried to untie her. She was gagged, her face was streaked with tears, and her red-rimmed eyeslooked up at them full of fear. When she recognized Emily she began to cry again. Relief fairly shone from the girl’s eyes.
Emily removed the soiled rag from her friend’s mouth.
“Oh, Emily,” Eleanor wept. “I have never been so glad to see anyone in my whole life.”
“Shush now, dear. We will have you out of here in a thrice.”
“What if they catch us?”
“We have help in that regard. Don’t you fret.”
“Help?” Eleanor whimpered, as Roddy untied the last of the ropes.
Emily pulled her friend to her feet. “Yes, we brought a couple of people with us to distract your captors above.”
“Oh dear…”
The panic in Eleanor’s voice caused Emily to pause. “Why do you say that in such a manner?”
Eleanor began wringing her hands nervously. “The woman who accused me is a frightful harridan. If she finds out about the subterfuge, it will not end well for any of us. Her husband is a Bow Street Runner, and he is very corrupt. He will not hesitate to throw us all in the gaol.”
“He wouldn’t dare,” Emily retorted, pulling herself up to the full five feet of her height. “I am the daughter of a duke, and that would not stand.”
“I don’t know if they would care, milady,” Roddy said. “And by the time anyone found out the truth, it would very likely be too late. Eleanor is in the rights. This woman and ‘er ‘usband are terrors. They ‘ave much of the city frightened of ‘em.”
“This is my fault,” Eleanor said, wiping more tears from her eyes. “I knew very well that Lola liked to lurk around the pub and eavesdrop. She must have overheard us talking the other day, and when I called you ‘my lady’ she must have put two and two together. Many a person’s life has been ruined by flapping loose lips around here. Can you imagine being hounded for every cent you make just because you accidentally let it slip that you nicked a scrap to eat somewhere or you planted rats in a fine home so you could position yourself as a ratter for a few extra pence? Once Lola finds out anything, she sends her husband to lean on them and take what little they have or arrest them.”
“Do you mean to tell me they are using the husband’s position to extort people? People who have nothing to give in the first place?”
Roddy shrugged. “Lola and ‘ank don’t care. They use anything to their benefit.”
“Hence this whole scheme,” Emily scoffed. “Well, not today. Lola and Hank shall not prevail this time. Come dears.”
Just then the wall of the room collapsed.
…
Alex was about to leave the room to investigate whatever had made such a horrible noise when the overwhelming stench of beer hit him. Seconds later tons of the actual amber liquid came pouring into the small room. Had Alexander not reached out for Melinda at that exact moment, she would have been swept off her feet entirely.
Behind him, Lola was tossed backward by the unexpected wave of ale. Her screech was cut off by the impact with the wall, and she was knocked unconscious. Hank sloshed over to his wife. He hefted the plump woman over his shoulder as if she weighed nothing and, without a second glance at Alex and Melinda, he waded out of the room.
Alexander wasted no time in following the huge man. Holding onto Melinda tightly, he pushed their way through the onslaught of beer. From where on earth had all this alcohol come? And when would it stop?
“What is happening?” Melinda cried above the roar of the din. Between the rushing waves, screams of terror, and distant crashes, it was hard to even hear one’s own thoughts much less each other.
“I have no idea,” Alexander shouted, “but I need to find Emily.”
“I think we should just get out of here.”
Alex knew that what Melinda said made excellent sense, but something told him Emily needed him. Needed him now.
“I can’t leave. I can’t tell you how I know this, but if we don’t get to Emily and the others right now, they are going to die.”
Chapter Eighteen
The most important thing to hold onto in life is the one you love.
~The Duke of Lancaster
“From beer?” Melinda said incredulously, finding the idea of her friend’s lives being in
danger by a pub drink apparently hard to believe.
Not even bothering to answer, Alexander took her hand and began dragging her farther into the bowels of the building. He wasn’t exactly sure where the stairs to the basement were, but he would find them by hook or by crook.
“Death by beer,” Melinda replied just loud enough to be heard, as she gamely followed. “That has to be a new one for the church annals.”
Alex didn’t reply. He was too focused on getting to Emily. Every second the panic in his gut worsened. Luckily, gravity was on his side. The beer he and Melinda had been sloshing through was beginning to subside, but there was still plenty of the liquid left to see it draining rapidly under a door ahead.
The stairs to the basement.
He quickened his step as much as he was able. He yanked hard on the door once he had reached it, but the drag of the ale being sucked under it made it next to impossible to move alone.
“Let me help,” Melinda said, leaping into action.
Between the two of them they were able to pry the door open. Hundreds of gallons of beer were pouring down the steps like a torrential waterfall. About halfway down, Alexander was appalled to see the alcohol had filled up to about four feet of the basement already, and it was still rising.
By his calculations, within ten minutes, the entire lower floor would be completely flooded.
“Emily!” Alex yelled. “Emily, where are you?”
He didn’t wait for an answer. He waded the rest of the way down the stairs into the waist-high beer.
“Be careful,” Alex cautioned Melinda as she followed him into the morass. “Can you swim?”
“Yes,” she replied, “but it’s only just above my waist.”
“For now, but it’s still rising. Perhaps you should stay here on the steps.”
“No, you may need my help again. Don’t worry about me,” she said, looking down the hall. “Are you sure Emily is even still down here?”
It was an excellent question. There really was no way for him to know for certain, but the same sensation he got whenever Emily was nearby was growing with his every step.
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