“When this is over, what are your plans?” She returned to her chair, and William took a seat across from her, a frown now replacing the smile. “I have considered it, many times, especially once I was released from prison. Everyone from the ton knows about what I did. Or of what I was accused.”
“Once they learn that you had no part in it, surely they will take you back.”
He snorted. “No, they will not. I must be honest with you. I am not certain this plan of mine will work. In fact, I’m certain it will fail.”
“I do not believe that,” Caroline replied firmly. “Why would you say such a thing?”
“Evan can say what he pleases, but this man to whom he is speaking? He will do nothing. Everyone of the ton lines their pockets with money paid for by blood.”
Caroline was confused. “What is your plan if this does not work? Surely you have an alternative plan?”
“I will threaten the Duke,” William replied. “I will tell him I have the ledger, that I have hidden it and that if any harm comes to anyone I love, he will be exposed.”
Caroline could only stare at the man. Where was the unfaltering person she had come to know over the past weeks?
“Then,” William continued, “I will leave London and pursue my life elsewhere, alone, for if any are with me, they are in danger.”
Caroline sat back in her chair, her mind going over what the man had just said. She did not want to believe he would fail, nor that she would never see him again. “There must be a way. You cannot simply leave everyone behind.”
“Do you think I would not rather stay?” he asked. “Over the last few days, I have come to realize that this is the only outcome that makes sense. He threatened my family, and now I will threaten his.”
Everything within her wanted nothing more than to stand and tell William how wrong he was and that men of position would surely put an end to the heinous acts going on under their noses. However, she had seen firsthand the lies and treachery of those with money and power. They worked together as thieves and the chances of them doing what was right without guidance was highly unlikely.
The door opened, startling Caroline, and Evan hurried into the room.
“Cooper will meet with us,” he said with a proud smile. “We must meet him in an hour in St. James Park.”
Caroline rose and put the dress she had received from the maid in her medical bag. Evan’s carriage waited outside the door for them, and as the driver set the step on the ground, she placed a hand on William’s arm.
“Do not give up hope,” she whispered. “This man will fall. There is a reason our paths have crossed again, and I do not believe it was to see us fail.”
William smiled, though it was not as confident as before. “You may be right,” he said. “Let us hope you are.”
Without another word, they got into the carriage, the path before them full of the unknown.
***
St. Williams Park was nearly empty, which did not surprise Caroline. With the sun beating down, most people would be in their homes—those who were not off to their country homes, where they spent their time when the London season was not in session. She had to admit that the open air of the countryside was much more pleasant than the stifling heat of the city, but she would not do as much there as she could do here.
The two main paths, one for carriages and one for walking, were relatively empty, and their carriage moved at a slow, but steady, pace until it came to a stop near a collection of trees.
“You believe this man will come and meet us?” William asked.
“I do,” Evan replied. “He is an honorable man. He will be here.”
Caroline wanted to reach over and take William’s hand to reassure him, but she did not do so in front of his brother. Their relationship might have been mended, but that did not give her cause to be openly affectionate, even if her intentions were not romantic. Instead, she peeked through the curtains and watched a couple walking down the path. The woman wore a beautiful dress of yellow, matching yellow ribbons on her hat fluttering in the light breeze. The man beside her held his head high, and behind them was an older woman, either a chaperon or the woman’s mother acting as a chaperon.
Caroline could not help but smile. What would it be like to be courted? She closed her eyes and imagined she and William strolling through this very park, she in one of her new dresses and he in a fine suit. They would walk, as they often did, and perhaps even have a picnic. Or they could go to the River Thames and feed the ducks. Regardless of what they did, they would be together. Contrary to what the man believed, they would succeed in bringing down the Duke of Chesselberry and thus lead the life they were meant to have.
The sound of an approaching carriage made her open her eyes. A white carriage pulled alongside them.
“Here he is,” Evan said. “I knew he would come.” His voice held a sense of relief.
William snorted. “There is hope after all.” He did not seem as convinced.
Despite her earlier concerns, Caroline reached over and squeezed William’s hand. He gave her a small smile in return.
A quick rap on the door made her jump, and when Evan opened the door, a man with a kind face and silver hair entered.
“Cooper,” Evan said as he took the man’s hand and shook it, “I want to thank you for taking time to see us. I know your schedule is quite busy, and your time is appreciated.”
“You’re fortunate to ask for me today,” the man replied as he took the empty place beside Evan. “I have plan to leave for Cambridge in a fortnight, so I will be quite busy making preparations.”
“Allow me to introduce my brother, William.”
Lord Cooper’s eyes widened. “Are you the man who killed that woman?” He turned an angry glare at Evan. “Why would you put me in this position? Do you not know my reputation would be ruined if I was found in his company?” He moved toward the door, but William reached out and took hold of the man’s arm.
“Please,” William said, “I need only two minutes of your time. If anyone sees you speaking with me, you may accuse me of whatever you like. Say I held you for ransom or threatened your life. All I ask is for you to listen.” He released the man’s arm, and Caroline worried the man would leave.
However, Lord Cooper let out a heavy sigh and returned to his seat. “Say what you must.”
“I will keep it simple,” William said. “I do not know if you are aware, but the Duke of Chesselberry has been engaging in the buying and selling of women for prostitution. Many, if not all, are taken against their will.” He turned and nodded to Caroline, who produced the book from her bag and handed it to William. “This is the Duke’s personal ledger. Inside are the names of the women he has bought and sold and the men, some who are highly regarded, who are involved.”
Lord Cooper gaped at William. “I do not believe it!” he sputtered. “Evan, I’m surprised you would risk your reputation listening to such tales!”
“My brother does not lie. You are an honorable man; that is why I asked to meet with you today.”
Lord Cooper sighed. William attempted to give him the ledger, but the man looked at it as if it were an asp ready to strike. “I do not wish to see it.”
“Whether you view it or not is irrelevant. The names inside will still be there regardless. These are women, women who are now placed throughout the city with the sole task of pleasing men who are willing to pay for their services, all against their will.”
The Baron crossed his arms and leaned back in the seat. “And what does this have to do with me? I know my name will not be listed in that book.”
Caroline saw the anger that flared in William’s eyes, and she worried he would explode. “Do you not see?” he shouted before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, he seemed calmer. “Do you have a daughter?”
Lord Cooper nodded. “I have two.”
William leaned forward, the ledger still extended. “If they went missing, would you no
t want them found? Freed if they were held captive? Please, I beg of you. These women, they are someone’s daughters.”
To Caroline’s astonishment, Lord Cooper took the ledger and opened it. His eye darted over each page until he closed the book, and his eyes. “I know many of these men,” he whispered. He opened his eyes and looked at William. “Even if these names are true, there are, shall we say, obstacles that prevent me from doing anything.”
William took back the ledger. “Then we are done,” he said. “For there is nothing more I can tell you.”
Evan shifted toward Lord Cooper. “We have gained an audience with the Duke two nights from now at his residence. If you do not help us, we will expose him ourselves. We simply assumed you would be interested in being a part of something big.”
“I believe you,” Lord Cooper said. “And though I do not know you,” he referred to William and then looked at Caroline, “nor you, I will tell you this. The Duke is not one to be trifled with. His power and reach go straight into the heart of London. To bring about his ire would bring about unfathomable consequences.” As he said the last, his eyes fell on William.
“You know I’m innocent?” William asked in clear shock.
“Yes. I suspected as much. I’m sorry, but I cannot help you.” Then he opened the door and closed it behind him.
Caroline’s heart sank. The hope they had once possessed had disappeared.
“What will we do now?” she asked.
“We will proceed as planned,” William replied. “Help or no, I will confront the Duke and take on the consequences regardless.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
The dress Caroline received from the maid fit her well, and it brought back memories of long ago. However, those were different times, and tonight, Caroline would help William in confronting the Duke. Over the last two day since their covert meeting with Lord Cooper, William had been quiet, speaking few words. Though he had filled out since the day she met him on the street, his disgruntled demeanor had returned, and she found she missed the man she had come to know on their journey to Cornwall.
Sighing, she smoothed out the coarse dress and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She had released her hair from its pins and applied a thin streak of dirt to her cheek. That coupled with her glasses made her appear a much different person, which caused her to let out a nervous laugh.
On the outside she saw the woman she once was; however, the woman inside was a far cry from who she had been all those years ago. She was nervous about the meeting tonight, but she could not help but feel a thrill, as well. To be a part of bringing down a man of such repulsion sent a shiver down her spine, not only for herself but for the other women who had been treated like cattle. Soon, if what William said was true, those women would be freed.
The price for the freedom of the women would be William being forced to leave London, to be on the run for the remainder of his life, and that thought terrified her and broke her heart. A few times she had wanted to tell him how she felt about him, but either through interruption or timing, she had not been able to do so.
A soft rap on the door made her turn, and William opened the door. He wore his old suit and a cap pulled low in order to hide his identity.
“We are ready,” he said. When she nodded, he walked over to her. “You look much like the woman who visited me in prison. I’ve become accustomed to seeing you in fine dresses.”
“I cannot believe that was only a month ago. It seems as if years have passed.”
He gave a nod. “Before we leave, I must share something with you.” He took her hand in his. “Since that day you came back into my life, you have given me hope. Hope to do what is right and the belief that I can do it.”
“You will succeed,” she said firmly. “I have no doubt.”
“That is my greatest desire.” A sadness crossed his face. “After tonight, I will never see you again, and I must admit that it pains me.”
“As it does me,” Caroline whispered as her eyes filled with tears.
“There is no woman like you, and never shall there be again.”
It was time to tell him, she realized. She may never have another chance. “There is something I must share with you.”
He shook his head. “It is best if we do not speak of such things, for matters of the heart are best left there. It will only make my departure that much more difficult than it already is.”
A tear rolled down her cheek and he brushed it away. Her heart ached, for what he said was true. To say what they felt would only make their separation worse. Yet, she had one more thing she needed to do.
“I respect and will honor your request,” she said. “But not before I do this.” She lifted herself onto her toes and pressed her lips to his. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her to him, and he returned her kiss with an eagerness that surprised, and thrilled, her. At that moment, she had no doubt.
She was in love with William Lymington.
The same man who had scorned her and brought about a bitterness to her life, he also softened her heart and helped her to open it once more. It was the most wondrous feeling to realize all this, and when the kiss broke, she saw in his eyes that which Linda spoke.
Though neither spoke the word, it was conveyed in the smiles that followed. And, without another word, they left the room, ready to seek redemption for all.
***
Lord Alan Cooper had not slept well the past two nights, for the conversation he had with Lord Lymington and his brother consumed him. At first, he had tried to dismiss what William had said by filing them away in the back of his mind as lies. However, deep down, he knew the truth, and that tore him apart.
The Duke of Chesselberry was a man of dubious means. Those who upset the man either ended up in prison or, according to a rumor that Alan now imagined was true, they landed themselves in an early grave. He recalled the stories surrounding William Lymington, and he knew then as he did this very evening that the man was innocent. Who in his right mind would confront the Duke in such a way after what that man had endured? Such a confrontation would end in William, Evan and the lovely Caroline suffering, and their threat of exposing the man would go unheeded. Colborn had too much power, too much influence, enough to reach those who now sat in Alan’s parlor.
Alan scanned the room. Eight members of Parliament had called over for drinks and discussion of titles and lands. He wondered how they would react if he told them what was to transpire this night and what Colborn had been doing. Would they ignore it as he had? Would they ridicule him? Even worse, would they notify the Duke, and thus make Alan and his family targets of the man’s wrath?
“Cooper,” Lord Bartholomew Windgate said, “you are looking rather glum. Have some more of your brandy before we consume it all and leave you brandiless.”
This brought on a bout of guffaws from the others, and Alan joined them, though his was more forced.
The door opened and Donaldson, his butler, entered. “My Lord,” he said, “your wife requests your presence. She says it is urgent.”
Alan scrunched his brow. What could Augusta find so urgent she would feel the need to interrupt such a gathering?
“Gentlemen,” he announced as he rose from his seat, “I shall return momentarily. Do take care and leave me some of the drink.” The others belted out another bout of laughter at this, and Alan hurried to the door.
“Augusta?” he asked when he found his wife standing in the hallway, pale and wringing her hands. “What is it? Donaldson said it was urgent.”
“It is Rose,” his wife replied, clearly beside herself with worry. “She has not returned. She was to be home by six and it is nearly seven. It is not like her to be late.”
Fear coursed through Alan as the words William had said during their brief meeting came to mind. The man had asked how he would feel if his daughters had gone missing. And now, thinking the worst, he understood.
“Alan?” Augusta asked. “You have gone white! What do you believe h
as happened?”
“I believe…”
The sound of a carriage had Augusta rushing to the window. “She has returned!” she cried.
Alan released the breath he had not realized he held. The fear for his daughter left, but something new took its place. “Augusta?”
“What is it, dear?” his wife asked.
“Am I a good man?”
Augusta laughed. “Of course you are. Why would you ask such a question?”
“If Rose had gone missing and a man could have helped but refused, what would you think of him?”
“I do not understand,” she said, concern marring her otherwise beautiful features.
“Please,” he pleaded, “how would you feel?”
His wife placed a finger to his chin. “I would be angry with such a man for not doing what was right. To know my daughter was in need of help and for a man to refuse it?” She rubbed her arms as if cold. “I would hope such a thing would never happen.”
The door opened and Rose entered. Alan had never been so happy to see his younger daughter.
“I am sorry for my…”
Alan pulled his daughter into a tight embrace, and she grunted as he tightened his hold.
“Father?” Rose managed to say. “Susan forgot her purse and we had to return to retrieve it.”
“You are home safe,” Alan said as he held his daughter at arm’s length. “That is all that matters. Go on with your mother; I have a meeting to conduct.”
He gave his daughter a quick kiss on the cheek and hurried back to the drawing room. “Gentlemen,” he said loud enough to quiet the conversations, “the time for laughter has come to an end. I must ask you something very important.”
Windgate set his drink down. “Cooper? What’s this all about?”
“Everyone, especially those with daughters, I need you to listen carefully.”
***
The carriage moved through the empty London streets. It was past eight in the evening, and the only light came from the gas lamps and the occasional patch from drapes still drawn in windows. Many things were on William’s mind, but the foremost was his plan for confronting the Duke. As far as he was concerned, the man would fall. If not this night, then certainly in the near future.
Redeeming The Rake (Delicate Hearts Book 3) Page 17
