by Vikki Vaught
During the ride to London, they rode hard, only stopping to change horses and grab a quick meal. Every time he remembered how close he’d come to losing his boys, his stomach twisted in knots, and fear for his wife ate at his soul.
They made it to town in two days and went to Sanderford House straight away. Melody rushed forward and hugged him once he entered the foyer. “Thank goodness you’ve arrived. Henry’s already begun the search for Helen. He has Weston and Hayden helping. They’re combing all the brothels.”
“Do you know when he will return?” He was anxious to join in the search. “I need to know what areas he’s looked so I don’t duplicate his efforts.”
“I know you want to find her, but you look exhausted,” she countered. “If you become ill you’ll not be able to help search for her. I’ve prepared the same rooms you used before. Please go on up and rest. I promise I’ll awaken you once my husband returns.”
“I shall only sleep until Sanderford arrives.” Matthew climbed the stairs, the weight of his booted feet making it hard to traverse them. When he entered his chamber, he dragged his travel-weary body to the bed and fell into it without removing his clothing, then slipped into an exhausted slumber.
Panic seized him when groggily glanced at the clock upon wakening.
Devil’s teeth!
Why had they let him sleep so long?
Ten hours.
He rushed from the bed and rang for a footman then ordered a bath. Shaving with haste, he nicked his chin in two places, before he rushed downstairs. Desperate for news.
When he arrived in the breakfast room, Melody told him Henry was still out searching, but he’d sent word he would return within the hour. Matthew filled a plate. While he did not feel like eating—Melody was right—he needed nourishment so he did not become ill. His brother-in-law was already seated at the table eating.
After Peter took a sip of his coffee, he set it on the table. “You look better. Were you able to sleep? I was so exhausted I slept like the dead.”
“Yes, and I feel ready to get out there and find my wife. I wish Sanderford would return so I can find out what he’s been doing.” As he was finishing his breakfast, the duke arrived. He looked like hell, obviously, he had not slept for quite some time. Matthew jumped out of his seat, sending it crashing to the floor. “Do you have any leads? Where have you been concentrating your search?”
Henry shook his head, looking utterly done in. “I’ve searched every brothel in London. There’s no sign of her anywhere. I don’t know where else to look.”
“Oh, God.” His heart slammed against the wall of his chest. “Where could she be?”
“This thug couldn’t give you a name?” the duke drawled. “I’m at a loss on what direction we should take. So far no one knows she’s missing except for Weston and Hayden. They’ve been helping me search. We need to hire a Bow Street Runner. They’re trained to handle this type of situation.”
“An excellent suggestion. Whatever it costs, I’ll pay,” he proclaimed. “I have to get Helen back. In Devonshire, the word is out regarding her abduction. Fortunately, no one knows she’s been taken to a brothel. While I’m not concerned over a scandal, Helen would be devastated if she were no longer accepted by the ton.”
Henry rubbed at a day’s growth of beard. “Do you have any idea who could be behind this? Any enemies who want to get to you through my sister?”
Matthew began pacing the room. “I’ve racked my brain trying to figure that out. From the description that bastard gave, he has brown hair and is portly, although no other identifying features. He did say the man spoke like a gentleman.”
“Well, I’ll send word ’round to Bow Street,” the duke wearily replied. “We’ll tell him what you do know. Hopefully getting them on the case will help.”
A Bow Street Runner arrived an hour later, and Matthew told him everything he knew. Kathryn produced a miniature she’d painted of Helen. He told them he would get right on it, assuring them he would find her as soon as possible.
After two days of continuous searching, there was still no sign of his wife. She’d now been missing eight days, and still no clues. Obviously, she had not been taken for ransom, since they had received no demands. He could not imagine who could be behind this.
Who would hate Helen this much?
Wait a minute.
His stomach churned.
Oh, God…no.
There was someone who hated Helen…vehemently…Cecilia. Surely she could not be involved. She would need help. His throat closed, making it impossible to swallow. Sanderford would kill him.
Rushing into his brother-in-law’s study, Matthew took a deep breath and blurted out, “I’ve thought of someone who has a grudge against me. Although I can’t believe she’s involved, she does feel she has a reason to hate my wife.” God, he did not want to tell the duke, but he had to, if there was a chance it could help find is wife. “I…” He swallowed, “I had a mistress when I first married Helen.”
The duke stood up so fast his chair fell backward. “You what? You’re telling me you had a mistress when you married my sister?”
He’d known Sanderford would react this way, and he did not blame him. If it were his sister, he’d be furious too. “I broke it off as soon as I arrived at Collingswood. Unfortunately, my mistress didn’t take it well. Afterward, Cecilia treated Helen badly every time we saw her socially. Helen confronted me right before Christmas, and I told her the whole sordid story. I’ve been paying for my stupidity ever since. She’s the only one I can think of who could be behind this.”
Henry looked at him. His blue eyes had turned to ice. “We need to tell the runner so he can investigate this possible lead. But I’m telling you right now, Collingswood. If one hair on her head is hurt, you are a dead man.”
“Believe me,” he replied, “if she’s been hurt in any way at all, I’ll give you the pistol and cock it for you.”
Oh, God, please let her be all right.
They sent a message to the runner, and he came over straightaway. Matthew had to tell the whole ignominious story over again, and the look of disdain in Sanderford’s eyes tore at his innards.
The Bow Street Runner tapped his double chin. “In all probability, this woman is behind this. She probably believes if your wife is no longer around you’ll come back to her. I meant to ask you earlier, has anything suspicious happened to your wife prior to this?”
Oh, God, no.
This explains those accidents.
“Helen fell off her horse last fall…the girth had been cut.” He looked at her brother. “Remember, you came and even tried to help figure out what had happened?”
He glared at him. “The riding accident was an attempt on my sister’s life? Has anything else happened?”
Matthew hung his head. “Helen was in a carriage accident shortly before Christmas and the wheel came off. When we checked the vehicle…it looked like someone had tampered with the wheel.”
Sanderford grabbed him by the throat and threw him against the wall, then pounded his fists into his face. The Bow Street Runner tried to pull him off, but the duke was in such a rage it was impossible. He did nothing to defend himself, because he deserved every punch Sanderford threw. Melody rushed into the room.
He heard her pleading, “Stop hitting him. Why are you doing this?”
He let him go, and Matthew slid to the floor. Sanderford looked at him with such venom he knew her brother would hate him forever. “I’ll tell you why,” he snarled. “This bastard is the reason Helen was taken. He had a mistress when he married my sister, and evidently the woman has decided it’s Helen’s fault this idiot didn’t marry her instead.”
Tears glistened in Melody’s eyes as she looked at him. “I knew you were having some problems, but Helen never gave me any details. She wrote you were working them out. Oh, Matthew, how could you? Helen didn’t deserve such shabby treatment. She’d already been hurt once, and then to be hurt again, and by her husband no less
.”
“This is all my fault.” He slumped against the wall, wishing a hole would open up and swallow him whole. “Oh, God…I’ll die if anything has happened to her.”
She turned pale. “We need to find her immediately. It’s only been three weeks since she had the twins. She could be injured if she is in a brothel and is forced to have…have…” her voice trailed off as her cheeks turned red, “uh…umm…relations with a man. Not to mention the emotional damage it would cause.”
Melody was right.
And any harm that came to her would be his doing.
Oh, God, I’m an idiot.
Not breaking it off with Cecilia before he came to London was one mistake he’d live with for the rest of his life. If anything happened to Helen, he did not think he could go on. When he saw the disappointment in Melody’s eyes, it almost brought him to his knees. Even if they did find Helen, she would surely never want to see him again. She would certainly hate him for putting her through this living hell.
Everyone turned their back on him.
Matthew hung his head, and quietly left the room.
CHAPTER 25
April 1821
Helen awoke to find herself bound and gagged. The space was dark and smelled disgusting. Broken furniture filled the room, and the windows were so grimy they barely let in any light. It looked like a storage cellar. Her eyes darted around. Thank goodness her abductor was not there. She squirmed to a sitting position. Hot tears pricked her lids.
Where in God’s name has he put me?
What does he plan to do to me?
Her body shook, sweat broke out on her forehead as she recalled the last few days. They had traveled throughout the night and rested during the day. She remembered that much. Her abductor had given her food, but she could not eat for worry over her children. Louis assured her they were safe, and they would not be harmed as long as she cooperated.
Oh, Lord, please keep my children safe, and help Matthew find me.
She wondered how he had reacted when he learned she’d been abducted. He must be frantic with all of them gone. He would not even know she’d been separated from their sons. She prayed he would find her soon. She had a bad feeling regarding her captor’s evil intent.
It would be a miracle if she came out of this situation alive and well. The clothes Louis had given her felt scratchy and rough against her skin. The stench coming from her alone, not to mention her surroundings, almost had her gagging. As she leaned her head against the wall, she wished she’d told Matthew she loved him. If she died, he would never know. The tears escaped and rolled down her cheeks. Although she fought it, she could not remain awake any longer, and she drifted off to sleep.
Helen was jerked up from the pallet, immediately awakening her. Louis sneered, “I’ve found a place for you where no one will ever find you. You’ll be spending the rest of your life on your back pleasuring one man after another.”
Her heart hammered, her pulse raced.
Who could hate me this much?
Oh, God, I would rather die than have another man touch me.
Bile clogged her throat. She shook and her head swam. Louis grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder, then carried her out of the dank cellar. When he arrived at a carriage, he opened the door and dropped her on the floor as he climbed in and directed the driver to take them somewhere she’d never heard of before. They had traveled for almost an hour when the carriage came to a halt. The door opened.
“So, what do we have here?” a raspy voice declared.
Louis laughed. “Your newest star in your gallery. Your customers will find her delightful, once you get her cleaned up. She’s a real lady, and the men will all want her. She should bring in plenty of funds to your coffers.”
The biggest man she’d ever seen—he must be almost seven feet tall—dragged her from the carriage. The beast threw her over his shoulder. She wanted to beat her hands against the vile man’s beefy back, but that was not possible because her hands were still tied. She bounced helplessly as he carried her inside to a dark corridor and up a flight of stairs, before flinging open a door.
The room was decorated in garish red; a huge bed stood in the middle. The brute threw her on it so hard she bounced. He stared at her with a lecherous gleam in his eyes. Trying to avoid his stare, she looked upward and saw a mirror on the ceiling. Why anyone would want a mirror above a bed?
A corpulent woman dressed in purple velvet followed them into the bedchamber. Helen assumed she must be in charge, because she barked an order, telling the man to leave, and he did so immediately.
The woman sashayed around the bed, looking her over. “Ah, my dear. You and I are going to become very well acquainted. Here are my house rules.” She held up a beringed hand. “You will do whatever I say. You will do it with a smile on your face, because that’s what my customers expect.”
Chills ran up and down her spine.
The woman’s cold voice cut through her.
She continued speaking. “I suspect you’ll be beautiful once you’re clean. Oh, by the way, don’t think of escaping. That great brute of a man is standing right outside this door. If you’ll notice, there are bars on the windows. You can try to fight this. In the end, you’ll give up…they always do.”
Helen’s eyes searched for the window and saw the bars. Her mind wanted to shut down, but she refused to let this woman see her fear. She had to believe Matthew would find her.
The door opened. “Ah, the servants have arrived with the tub. I will remove your gag and untie you, but if you know what’s good for you, you will not make a sound, nor will you try to run. Do I make myself clear? Oh, and you’ll address me as Madame.”
The hateful woman removed the gag, and untied her wrists and ankles. Pins and needles shot through her limbs. Although she was dying to shake them, she remained still. She did not want that man coming back into the room. The servants filled the tub.
The Madame drawled, “Remove those dirty rags and climb in.”
Helen refused to allow this woman the satisfaction of seeing her fear. “May I at least have some privacy?” Although it took everything in her, she kept it steady. “I’ve never disrobed before anyone other than my husband and my maid.”
“Well, you’d better get used to it, because you’ll be getting undressed in front of a lot of men, and very soon. So, get over your modesty, and get those filthy clothes off now, or I’ll have Bernard undress you. Now, hurry. I don’t have all night. My customers are starting to arrive, and I need to be below to greet them.”
Helen turned her back. Once she removed her clothing, she slipped into the tub and sank into the water. A heavily perfumed ball of soap floated on the surface. She quickly scrubbed and ducked under to wet her hair. Once her mass of tresses was clean, the woman had her stand, and a maid poured warm water over her to rinse off the soap.
The Madame handed her a towel. Once she had dried off, she tried to wrap the towel around her, but it was not big enough. The servant handed her a transparent nightgown. After she had it on, she sat on the side of the bed. Someone had brought in food and set it on the table next to her.
“You’d better eat,” the detestable woman snarled. “You’re going to need your strength…you have a long night before you. There will be quite a few men demanding a sample of your charms. Yes, with your beauty, the men will be wild to have you, and you’re going to make me a lot of money.”
Helen frantically searched her mind for a way to keep this from happening. “Am I to understand you expect me to have…uh…intimate relations with…umm, men tonight?” She controlled her voice and tried to sound confident. “I had twins a short time ago, and I’m not healed yet. Please give me a couple of weeks to recover from their birth. It was a hard delivery. You would not want to damage the merchandise.”
She harrumphed. “If you’re speaking the truth, you’re correct. I’ll need to examine you to determine if you’re telling the truth. Lie on the bed and spread those pretty pink
thighs. Remember Bernard is outside this door, and if you prefer I can always let him do the examination.”
“M-Madame,” Helen stammered, “if you will l-look at my breasts, you’ll see I’ve recently been nursing my babies. Would that not be enough to prove I’m telling the t-truth?”
“No, it isn’t,” she huffed. “You could have had the babe a year ago and recently stopped nursing. Do as I say. Lie down and spread your legs now, or Bernard will do the examination, and we’ll see how you like that.”
Helen did as she requested and closed her eyes tight to keep the tears at bay. The woman probed her with her thick fingers, and a stab of pain shot through her from the intrusion. Her face grew hot, and her body trembled, but she stiffened. She refused to allow this beastly Madame to see her fear.
“So…you speak the truth. You won’t be any good for at least two weeks. Until then, you’ll remain locked in, and food will be delivered daily. I’ll check you again in a fortnight. You have a reprieve, but remember…once you’re recovered, you’ll be taking men to your bed many times a night. I shall leave you now.” And without a backward glance, she strode from the room.
The maid left with her, and Helen was alone. At least she was no longer tied up, and she had two weeks to try to figure out how to escape her fate. She prayed Matthew was searching for her. At least she was in London. If she could get away, her brother would protect her.
Oh, please God, let my babies be safe.
Please get me out of this horrible situation.
She could not give up hope. If neither her husband or Henry found her, she would escape. She would eat the food provided so she could regain her strength. At last, she allowed sleep to take her away.
Helen had been at the brothel for three days, and the only person she’d seen was Bernard. He brought her food three times a day and made lurid comments about what would occur once her reprieve ended.
She deeply regretted she’d never told Matthew she loved him. She yearned to feel his arms around her, making her feel safe and protected. Every day, she spent hours on her knees praying for her sons. She asked God to help her stay strong so she could survive this ordeal until she could escape.
