An Improper Situation (Sanborn-Malloy Historical Romance Series, Book One)

by Baily, Sydney Jane

  It took all her wits not to panic despite her growing fear. She knew her wits might be all that could save her, as the odds that Reed would find her in time seemed slim.

  Jason had shredded the entire top of her dress, as well as her chemisette, and was tugging at her corset. His eyes, riveted by the upward curve of her breasts, never met hers as he started to pull up her skirts with one hand while unfastening his trousers with the other.

  “It will give me great pleasure to know that your body was not wasted before you died. Though it will only be for a few minutes, I will show you what earthly delights you are leaving behind. I hate to think of any beautiful young woman dying a virgin.”

  He was grinding his pelvis into her hips, which were pressed painfully against the edge of the desk. She could feel the hardness at his crotch and a wave of revulsion nearly made her faint.

  Yet as Jason’s words filtered through her despair, it seemed to Charlotte as though a bell rang in her head. His mouth was now on the swell of her breast, and his hand had clawed its way up under her gown and was touching the lace at the bottom of her pantalets when she said, “But I am not a virgin.”

  Every part of him, each assault, by mouth, by hand, and by pelvis, halted, frozen by her words. Then he relaxed. “You are lying.” And he struck her again, this time, catching her lip on her teeth and immediately, she tasted blood.

  “I will be the only man you’ll ever know, dear Charlotte. But don’t worry, I have taken care of virgins before. Every one of them exceedingly grateful that I—”

  “I’m not lying,” she insisted, though it hurt to speak. She grasped that here was a man so insecure, he could only be sexually intimate with a woman who had never been with anyone else to whom he could be compared—and found wanting.

  A textbook example was the term she’d read in one of the psychiatric case studies at the library. Textbook, indeed. Here in the real world, it was terrifying, but she had to press on.

  “I’ve already had this pleasure with a man whose prowess you could never match. When he took my virginity, it was the most wondrous day of my life. His manhood was huge; his skill at lovemaking was . . . was beyond magnificent.”

  She couldn’t believe she was saying these things, but the effect was almost immediate. He withdrew his probing hand from under her skirts. He stood up and looked down at her as if she were filth.

  “And who is this man?”

  “The same man who will rescue me,” she told him, struggling again to twist away from him while he was considering her words.

  Jason looked puzzled. “Greene?”

  “No.” As she said the word, the door came bursting inward with such force that wood splintered in all directions. Jason grabbed for the pistol on the desk, and Charlotte kicked at him as she dropped to the floor, instinctively curling into a ball to protect herself.

  She heard her name called out; it was Reed’s voice. Then footsteps and a shot rang out. Then silence. After a moment, Charlotte looked over her shoulder to see Reed clutching the now limp body of Jason Farnsworth. He dropped him instantly and ran to her, dropping to his knees beside her.

  “Charlotte,” was all he said as he turned her to get access to the rope that bound her. “It’s going to be all right.”

  “I didn’t know how long it would take you to get here,” she said quietly, mindless of the fact that her whole body was trembling. “I was running out of ways to stall for time.” She was unable to continue and tell him how she wanted to adjust her clothing. Instead, she waited almost dispassionately as Reed untied her.

  When her hands were free, she tried to pull her tattered chemise and dress closed with shaking hands. Reed stripped off his coat, enveloping her in it and helping Charlotte put her arms through the sleeves before pulling it closed.

  Crying, now, she was feeling almost hysterical with relief. And then he was holding her to him, crushing her against his chest and she wanted nothing more than the familiar, beloved smell of him against her tear-stained face.

  “Charlie,” she heard her brother’s voice, hesitant, as if he wasn’t sure what to make of this stranger comforting his sister. Reed squeezed her tightly then released her, and she turned to see her brother escorted by a policeman. She stepped into her brother’s embrace.

  “Teddy,” was all she could say as a fresh stream of tears started.

  “Thank God, you’re safe,” Thaddeus said, holding her close. But then he pulled away and looked at her face. “That bastard struck you. I’d like to—”

  “Too late for that,” Reed said, flatly, gesturing to the corpse, now covered by a dingy canvas sail with two policemen standing by to remove it. She could hear other men’s voices outside the room, including the man who’d tied her up, along with the familiar one of John Trelaine.

  “I think we’d better take your sister home,” Reed said, seemingly unable to stop himself from touching her, as he stroked her hair for another moment, before letting his hand drop.

  “Home?” Thaddeus Sanborn questioned, looking down at Charlotte.

  “Aunt Alicia’s,” she explained. “Oh, dear Lord,” she added. “The children!” She couldn’t wait to hold them.

  “Children!” Thaddeus exclaimed.

  Charlotte nodded. “There is so much to tell you, Teddy, and so much I want to hear.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  It seemed as if there would be no end to the revelations that night. After a brief interrogation at the police station, Reed, Charlotte, and Thaddeus, along with John Trelaine, sat in Alicia’s parlor, drinking coffee and later brandy. Everyone had a part to play in telling the day’s events, including Alicia, who had been looking out her bedroom window and had seen Jason Farnsworth take Charlotte away.

  “Though it didn’t look to me as if she was forced into the carriage,” Alicia added. “I didn’t know what to make of it.”

  Charlotte explained her stupidity in that matter, drawing frowns from both her brother and Reed. She was glad when John took over, drawing the unwelcome attention off her.

  “Before we knew anything of Charlotte’s abduction, Reed spoke with a trusted friend on the police force, who agreed to remove the man known as Jeremy Dawson from the Lunatic Hospital and place him in the holding cell at City Hall, for the time being. Naturally, I decided to accompany the officer.”

  He paused to take a biscuit from the tray beside him, clearly warming to the task of explaining his part in the proceedings.

  “You can imagine my surprise when the hospital room was empty and the superintendent acted as if there never was a Jeremy Dawson. It was obvious that Mason was hiding something, so the officer took Mason in for questioning,” John explained. “And as I understand it, he confessed and pointed the finger at Sergeant Sheffield.”

  “That’s right,” offered Thaddeus. “It was Sheffield who came to the cell and said I was being moved. I was still unsure if I’d seen Charlie or not, but I didn’t want to take the chance of moving somewhere she couldn’t find me. Unfortunately, I had little choice. My head has been used as a nail by too many hammers lately.”

  Charlotte moved over to her brother and rubbed the back of his head. Reed’s eyes never left her. He had been watching her like a hawk watches its prey ever since he’d rescued her, as if he feared losing sight of her again. It had been difficult to get him to leave her alone to change clothes when they’d first arrived at Chestnut Street.

  “Jason didn’t let much slip about his reasons for all this,” Charlotte chimed in, as she took a seat next to Thaddeus, “but he did say that I was standing in the way of his making money, though I haven’t figured out what killing a man, framing Teddy, and kidnapping me has to do with profit.”

  “Farnsworth was a black marketeer, a common smuggler,” Reed began. “John caught up with me after his wasted trip to the hospital. I’d have to say it was mostly instinct that first made me suspicious of Farnsworth—”

  “Instinct made you suspicious?” Charlotte asked sweetly.

/>   Reed paused, his mouth slightly open, ready to continue. She tilted her head to one side and cocked an eyebrow.

  “Instinct,” he insisted, though they both knew that jealousy had caused Reed to dislike Jason from the first moment he saw her dancing with him and to suspect him of just about anything.

  “I discovered quite by chance that the shay that nearly ran us down the other day belonged to Farnsworth’s foreman. After we knew which crime Thaddeus was supposed to have committed, I considered the docks and where Arthur Harvey’s body was found; it occurred to me that the Farnsworths owned some of the warehouses on Rowes Wharf.”

  “But why frame my brother?” Charlotte asked.

  “I’m getting to that,” Reed said, sounding slightly exasperated though he fixed her with a crooked grin and warm glance that didn’t go unnoticed by Aunt Alicia or Thaddeus.

  Charlotte, for her part, lowered her eyes demurely, unable to help the warm tingle that raced through her like lightning in a stormcloud.

  “I believe you were acquainted with Farnsworth previously,” Reed continued, looking at Thaddeus.

  “Yes, we met over a year ago, when we were both traveling—”

  “Well, at least that was the truth,” Charlotte interrupted once more. “He told me that one day when we were sightseeing . . .,” she trailed off at the look on Reed’s face.

  “Sightseeing?” Thaddeus exclaimed. Charlotte shrugged sheepishly, feeling ashamed by her ill-judged choice of companionship.

  “Go on,” she told her brother. Thaddeus shook his head before taking a deep breath and another sip of brandy.

  “Jason said to look him up if I was ever in Boston, which I did a few months ago. He offered me a job, running his counting house, but after a week or so, I realized I didn’t care for the way he did business, and I told him so. It’s not enough that he has a trust fund from his parents. He wants to own Boston by selling illegal goods and putting in his pocket anyone who can be bought.”

  “But why didn’t you come see me, dear boy?” Alicia spoke up, looking hurt.

  Thaddeus was abashed. “To tell you the truth, Aunt Alicia, not ever having any contact with Mother’s side of the family, as you know, I just assumed you were closed to us. I was fairly young when she died, but she’d indicated that we shouldn’t expect ever to be welcomed by her family. It never occurred to me to come knocking on your door.”

  It was Alicia’s turn to look sheepish. “We should have kept in contact with my sister,” she offered. “But I want you to know now that you’re always welcome.” She sniffed.

  After that, Charlotte wished someone would break the morose feeling in the room, but her brother’s next words didn’t help.

  “I confronted Jason about his dirty dealings and the next thing I knew, I was waking up in the police holding cell charged with attempted murder. You know the rest. I ended up at the Lunatic Hospital for evaluation. I can’t believe that no one checked Sheffield’s investigation.”

  “They had no reason to suspect he was being paid off,” Reed told him. “He doesn’t get too close to anything dirty.”

  “Well, he will now,” John added. “Sheffield was at the police station when I returned from the hospital with Mason. It was more than convenient, in fact. He went from one side of the prison bars to the other.”

  Reed leaned over and topped off Thaddeus’s brandy glass. “I don’t think Farnsworth would have kept you long in the position of overseer even if you hadn’t told him how you felt. Anyone handling his affairs learns too much and becomes a threat. No doubt, Arthur Harvey had long been aware of Farnsworth’s dirty dealings and had even started to use the information to make his own fortune on the black market. Word reached Farnsworth and he had the man killed.”

  Charlotte shuddered at the brutality. “And as soon as Jason knew I was in town, he looked me up. To think I spent so much time in his company?”

  “You what?” Thaddeus exclaimed, looking horrified.

  “Partly my fault, I’m afraid,” Alicia said, rushing to Charlotte’s defense. “The Farnsworths are an upstanding family, or so I always thought.”

  “Of course,” Charlotte jumped in, “I never would have accepted his invitation if Aunt Alicia hadn’t vouched for him. Besides, he was persistent. I had no idea why he was so determined to spend time with me.” She glanced over at Reed, hoping he didn’t think her an utter twit.

  “Even if you hadn’t acquiesced to his invitations willingly, Farnsworth would have caught up with you,” Reed agreed, “as soon as he understood what a threat you were, sticking your pretty neck into both the police department and the Lunatic Hospital.”

  “Which, by the way, was where Farnsworth stored many of the illicit goods for dispersal—with George Mason’s approval and complicity, of course,” John chimed in. “What better place? It is private, has cells that no one ever looks into, no one thinks twice about the comings and goings of wagons, and it is close to the train depot.”

  Reed looked pointedly at Charlotte. “While Farnsworth was showing you around Boston, Charlotte, he could at least keep his eye on you. But he was probably planning how to kidnap you, even before you saw your brother. It was sheer luck that you happened upon him.”

  “And he was about to make certain that Teddy and I drew our last breaths before being dumped at sea,” she added, thinking of those frightening minutes in Jason’s counting room.

  Reed took a swig of brandy as if fortifying himself against the day’s happenings. “I guess we had more luck than we knew. After I met up with John again, we came here to inform you that Thaddeus was no longer at the hospital, only to find that you were gone, too.”

  Charlotte looked sheepish at her own stupidity, but Reed continued without condemnation. “When we spoke to Mrs. Randall, she was almost certain it was Farnsworth she’d seen take you away, then it was clinched. We went straight to Farnsworth’s house. Empty, of course.”

  Reed looked over at John, who nodded. “That was a dicey moment. However, it wasn’t difficult to figure out that Farnsworth would never involve his family, who I’m sure know nothing of his dealings, so the next logical place to hide people—or bodies—was the warehouse.”

  “But how did you know which one?” Charlotte asked.

  “I didn’t really, but Farnsworth didn’t seem all that smart to me. He uses his money, not his brains. So, we just went to where Harvey’s body was picked up and you weren’t far away.”

  “And there were almost two more bodies,” John added. “I don’t mind admitting I wouldn’t have felt so brave if we hadn’t had the police with us, but Reed knocked out that one brute with a single sockdoggler before splintering that door. I was quite impressed.” Reed colored slightly.

  “And then there was the gunshot,” Charlotte recalled.

  “Gunshot?” Alicia repeated. “Oh my.” She, too, took a long draught from her snifter.

  “Farnsworth picked up a gun as I entered, but I was moving forward so quickly I couldn’t stop,” Reed admitted. “In an instant, we were locked together, and, to tell you the truth, when the gun went off, I wasn’t sure who’d been hit, then he crumpled.”

  “Reed,” Charlotte exclaimed, standing up. “You could have been killed!”

  Given the danger that everyone had been in, and her more than anyone, all the men burst out laughing.

  “We’ve all had enough for one day, have we not?” Reed said when the laughter had died down.

  “Hear, hear,” said John, getting up from his chair. “I’m going home to sleep.”

  He kissed Charlotte on the cheek, shook hands with Thaddeus, who professed his gratitude, and took his leave.

  Alicia stood up next. “I assure you, Thaddeus, you’ll find your room under my roof a most comfortable one.”

  After kissing both her niece and nephew on the cheek, she declared her intention to retire. Just as she reached the door, she turned to give Reed a warm glance.

  “Thank you, Mr. Malloy.”

  “My pl
easure, Madame.” He gave her a small bow of his head.

  “Is it truly over?” Charlotte asked, hugging her brother but looking at Reed.

  “There are a few legal matters to attend to regarding your brother that’s we’ll sort out with the court, but the police do not expect your brother to sit in a cell while we do it.”

  “How gracious of them,” Thaddeus said, his countenance unsmiling, though he returned Charlotte’s hug in kind.

  “It could have been worse,” Reed told him. “If the judge had not had some suspicions, you could have been sent straight to the gallows or to the state penitentiary, and your indomitably inquisitive sister here would never have happened upon you.”

  Thaddeus squeezed her shoulders again, and then, to her amazement, he switched topics entirely. “Now, why don’t you tell me what’s going on between the two of you?”

  Reed barely blinked at that, having already seen that her brother was an astute individual and knowing he’d caught their glances going back and forth across the room.

  It was Charlotte who looked indignant. “I hardly think that’s an appropriate topic of conversation.”

  “It is if Mr. Malloy has intentions toward you. It’s my job to make sure nothing untoward goes on. Why, I didn’t even know where you were living, apparently, for months.”

  Charlotte bristled, stepping out of his embrace. “All this time, Teddy, you knew exactly where I was, in Spring City.”

  “In Spring City?” he repeated, crossing his arms on his chest. “Safely having supper with Doctor and Sarah Cuthins?”

  “Well, I was,” she insisted. “You took far too long between visits.” She felt herself tear up and then inwardly chided herself for being overly emotional.

  “You’re right, Charlie,” Thaddeus admitted. “I was off having some grand adventures. But I was also hoping to make a decent amount of money and bring it home to you.” Then he looked at Reed. “I kept my eye on her from time to time; even had other people check up on her when I couldn’t get home.”