Never Run From Love (Kellington Book Four) (18 page)

Vanessa and Arthur looked at each other.  They knew
only too well the dangers that could befall a woman on her own, caught up in
the violence and poverty of London’s stews.

“We should like to speak to Inspector Joseph
Stapleton,” said Arthur.  “I’ll send word to meet us for dinner, if possible. 
If anyone knows what is happening to these poor women, it is he.”

*                    *                    *

It had been a most unpleasant few days for Hal, the
spectacular interlude with Melanie notwithstanding.  He still couldn’t believe
she’d not only shown him the door but practically stated her preference for
another man.  She was besotted with her Quaker.  The brash American was
probably even now asking for her hand and they would soon be on a voyage home,
where there would be little to do except make love in their snug berth for days
on end.  Then they could create more Quakers and live happily ever after in
Philadelphia, saving the world and populating the American frontier with London
prostitutes.

He realized he was being churlish.  But it was
outside of enough to be thusly dismissed.  Especially after what they’d done on
the settee. 

He still couldn’t believe she’d admitted to
pleasuring herself.  If it had come from the lips of a seasoned courtesan, he
couldn’t have been more aroused.  As it was, he’d spent much of his recent free
time bringing himself to climax.  Not since he’d been a randy young lad had he
felt such a need for self-pleasure.  And to think she had done something
similar in her own bed.  Her fingers would have touched the same curls he had
explored earlier.  The cream from her cunny would be glistening on her…

Good God!  If he didn’t stop thinking of such
things, he’d find himself at her uncle’s house begging for the chance to offer
marriage to the American chit.  But he did have a much better claim to her than
that Parker fellow, given what they’d done on the settee.  Of course, he
couldn’t very well bring that up to her uncle.  But it just wasn’t fair that
she could be so warm and inviting and trusting of him, then turn him away in
favor of the yokel from Pennsylvania.

He needed to get his mind off her.  Off the whole
situation.  But he had even less desire than usual to go to any
ton
entertainments.  If he went to his clubs, he risked running into Charles
Francis.  His friend would insist they go to either Dill’s, where they might
run into Mrs. Seton’s group of reformers or to Madame Thurmond’s.  And the
problem with Madame Thurmond’s was now, thanks to Miss Sutton’s good deeds, he
was having a hard time thinking of the girls there as whores, rather than
unfortunate women who may want to be rescued.

With few other options, he went downstairs for dinner,
only to find Joseph Stapleton had joined them.

Stapleton was of an age with Lynwood and Riverton. 
He’d become acquainted with the family earlier in the year when Ned had come
under suspicion of murdering Jane’s grandfather.  As one of Bow Streets finest
inspectors, he’d been instrumental in solving that crime, as well as an
investigation at Riverton’s estate a few weeks after that.  Despite the
significant difference in stations, Stapleton had become close friends with
Liam, Riverton and the rest of the Kellington family.

Since Arthur and Vanessa hadn’t yet had time to find
their own home, they were also at dinner, along with Liam.  Hal arrived in the
dining room just as the others were sitting down to the table.

“Might I inquire after Lady Riverton’s health?”
asked Stapleton as he took his seat. 

“Unfortunately, the babe is making her rather
unwell,” said Vanessa, as she unconsciously touched Arthur’s nearby hand.  “We
stopped to deliver ginger from the apothecary on the way home.  Jane said that
tea made from ground ginger would make her feel better.  I must say it is
lovely having a surgeon in the family.”

“I can personally attest to her skills,” said
Stapleton, who’d been the victim of a knife attack during his investigation of
Ned.

“As can I,” said Arthur.  “They sent their
greetings, Stapleton, and their regrets about being unable to be here tonight. 
Lizzie especially didn’t want to miss hearing about the missing prostitutes.”

“What prostitutes?” asked Hal.  Now his family was
talking about brothels.  Why did everything remind him of Melanie?

“Some prostitutes have gone missing,” said Arthur. 
“But don’t worry, Hal, I’m sure there are plenty left for you.”

“Might I remind you, Arthur,” said Lynwood quietly
from his place at the head of the table, “that there is a lady present?  There
really is no need to speak of Henry’s exploits.  Especially since our brother
has sworn to reform his activities.  Isn’t that right, Hal?”

Hal could not remember doing any such thing.  But
since he had no desire to contradict his eldest brother, who was currently at
his most duke-like and had been in an uncharacteristically bad mood for weeks,
he simply nodded.  “So, what is this business about missing prostitutes?”

Arthur and Vanessa repeated what they’d been told by
Mr. Reed.

“There is no doubt these women have gone missing,
but as of yet no bodies have turned up,” added Stapleton.

“Have they been kidnapped?” asked Vanessa.

“If they have, it’s doubtful they are being
ransomed.  Their families would be unable to pay for their return and it would
be cheaper for their ‘employers’ to simply find new girls with which to replace
them.  Unfortunately, there is no shortage of desperate women with no means to
support themselves.”

“Don’t tell Lizzie that,” said Arthur, “or she’ll be
publishing treatises about the horrors of prostitution and protesting in front
of brothels.”

“Why shouldn’t reformers make people aware of the
dangers facing prostitutes?” asked Hal without thinking.  Melanie Sutton was certainly
an irritating, fickle young woman.  But one had to admire her dedication to a
cause and the sacrifices she was making.  Unless that person was Richard Parker. 
“Even now there are reformers who place themselves at great personal risk just
so they can offer a better life to unfortunate women.”

It was only then that he noticed the complete
silence and that all eyes were upon him.  Even their unflappable butler Heskiss
was staring at him.

“What?” Hal asked the gawkers.  “Lizzie isn’t the
only member of this family to have a conscience.”

“True,” said Lynwood.  “But yours hasn’t been
sighted with quite as much regularity as our sister’s over the past few
months.  Would you mind telling us who these reformers are that concern you so
much?”

Damn Lynwood’s eyes
,
thought Hal.  The man was much too observant for his own good.  Of course, his
seven-year-old niece Vi could have picked up on his slip.  For one thing, the
girl was exceedingly bright.  And, for the other, ever since meeting the
reforming Miss Sutton, Hal had been off his game.  He gave his best lazy look
to Lynwood and said, “I ran into a group of reformers outside Dill’s a while
ago.  They were making a fuss about the hell.  I came to their aid because one
of the chits caught my eye.”

“She wouldn’t happen to be Miss Melanie Sutton, the
Earl of Heffner’s ward, would she?” asked Arthur.

Damn and blast.
 
“What concern is it of yours, Arthur?” drawled Hal, when what he really wanted
to know was how he found out about it.  He didn’t think any of his brothers had
been to White’s lately, where they could’ve learned about the wager.  Ned was
in the country, Arthur was too besotted with his wife, and Lynwood was in too
foul of a mood to be in company.

“Vanessa and I do work in the Home Office,” said
Arthur, with a touch of arrogance.  “I wouldn’t be very good at my job if I
didn’t stop by the gentlemen’s clubs to hear gossip and the news of the day. 
Imagine my reaction when I learned a brother of mine had placed a most improper
wager about an innocent young lady.”

“What has happened?” asked Lynwood in a quiet voice
that was also his most dangerous.

“Perhaps,” said Stapleton, “it is time for me to
take my leave.”

“And I should allow you gentlemen time for your port,”
said Vanessa.

“If the two of you don’t mind,” said Lynwood, “I
would prefer that you stayed.  You could mean the difference between a few
bruises and a good thrashing.”

“You haven’t hit any of us in more than a decade,”
said Hal.  “I cannot imagine you are in any shape to start brawling with me
now.”

“Good God, Hal,” said Arthur.  “Have some care for
your well-being.  Baiting Lynwood when he’s in the devil of a mood isn’t going
to help your case.”

“I am not in the devil of a mood,” said Lynwood, as
he pounded his fist on the table and rose, throwing back his chair.  “And, Hal,
I shall be more than happy to demonstrate my brawling abilities.  It’s been too
long since I’ve faced a worthy opponent at Gentleman Jim’s.”

“That’s because you were asked to leave until you
could get your temper under control,” said Arthur.  “I must say that is most
unusual of you, Liam.”

“Are you spying on all of us?” bellowed Lynwood. 
“Because I’ll be happy to fight you, too, when I’ve dispatched our scapegrace
younger brother.”

“It’s been well over a month since I last hit a
duke,” said Arthur, rising.  “I am long overdue for another.”

“Enough!” said Vanessa, loudly enough to be heard. 
She was also standing on her chair, the only way she could rise above the
towering males around her.  “Arthur, dearest, I do question the value to the
Home Office of Lynwood’s recent spate of temper in a boxing salon.  Although, I
must say, Liam, that I am concerned about you.  You have been rather out of
sorts and I wonder about the origin.  Hal, you have pushed your family away
these many weeks now, all the while spending more time with Mr. Francis, whose
reputation is none too savory.  And before you turn your scowl on me, we only
mention this because we are so very concerned about you.  A life of dissipation
and debauchery never ends well.  You harm everyone around you and especially
yourself.  None of us wants to see that.  Now, gentlemen, please take your
seats – including you, Inspector, since I may ask you to arrest one or all of
them by night’s end.  Heskiss, do be so kind as to serve the gentlemen generous
glasses of port.  And I shall break centuries’ worth of toff tradition by
remaining at the table, in order to at least double the quotient of common
sense.”

There was no doubt that all the Kellington men had
been duly vanquished.  Stapleton did not bother to conceal his grin.

Arthur reached up to hand his wife down, but Lynwood
beat him to it.  “Arthur, it bears repeating that you married exceptionally
well.  And, Heskiss, do be so good as to make it generous glasses of whiskey
instead.”

When they were seated once again, Lynwood turned to
his youngest brother.  “Hal, what is this wager?”

As much he didn’t want to talk about it, Hal knew
there was no putting if off any longer.  And truth be told, he could use his
brothers’ advice.  He didn’t want any harm to come to Melanie through him.  Perhaps
they had a solution.  “It was a stupid wager I made with Charles Francis.  He
bet I could not kiss Miss Sutton, whom we encountered with Mrs. Seton’s group
of reformers outside of Dill’s.”

“And she is also the ward of the Earl of Heffner?”
asked Lynwood.

Hal didn’t want to answer, not just because he
didn’t want to bear his brother’s wrath, but because he deserved Lynwood’s
anger.  “Yes.  And before you thrash me, I can only say I deserve the
punishment.  Miss Sutton is an innocent in this matter.  It was a stupid,
thoughtless wager and I thoroughly regret it.  I am already set to concede that
I was unable to kiss Miss Sutton.”

“So you tried,” surmised Vanessa.

Why did his sister-in-law have to be quite so quick-witted? 
“Yes,” said Hal with a sigh.  “I tried.”

“That’s most unlike you,” said Arthur.  “To try to
kiss an innocent.  There are consequences for such things.”

“As I said, I failed.  And upon further acquaintance
with Miss Sutton, I can assure you I have no desire to be leg-shackled to the
chit.”  Because she was truly the most frustrating, intriguing, delicious and
irresistible woman he’d ever met.

“So you pursued a further acquaintance with her?”
asked Vanessa.

It was no wonder the Home Office had hired Vanessa
as an agent, mused Hal.  “Yes, but for her own protection.  Unbeknownst to the
Earl, Miss Sutton has been engaged in a foolhardy operation to recruit
prostitutes to start new lives in America, where an entirely unpleasant man,
who looks nothing like a vicar, named Richard Parker helps them on the path to
reformed lives and the American frontier.  I think he should move west and see
how well that works for him.”

“It sounds like you’ve met this Parker,” said
Stapleton.

Hal grunted his assent.  “He says he’s here to
escort the next group of women back.  But I think he has designs on Miss
Sutton.  Are you thinking of arresting him?  Because I’ve heard worse ideas.”

“Hal,” said Lynwood, “you would be well advised to
avoid the topic of bad ideas, lest we be here all night discussing yours.  You
do realize, don’t you, that if any harm comes to Miss Sutton’s reputation – and
I am hard pressed to think how it won’t – you will be honor-bound to marry her,
regardless of your desires.”