Silk and Shadows (59 page)

Jenny nodded with reluctant agreement. "I'll go with you."

Sara considered the offer, for certainly Jenny knew more about such places than her mistress. But Mrs. Kent might recognize the girl and try to prevent her

from leaving the house. The risk was too great to take. "Stay here and explain to Mikahl what happened if he returns before I do," Sara said. "If something more needs to be done, he will know what." It was odd, Sara realized, to trust her husband to help her in spite of their estrangement. But trust him she did.

Though Jenny still looked unhappy, she agreed to stay. Kuram also had grave doubts about taking his master's wife to such a spot, but soon capitulated to Sara's urgency. Ten minutes later, Sara was heading for dockland in a small closed carriage, with Kuram and a driver outside on the box.

As the wheels rattled through the darkening streets of the city, she prayed that she would be in time to save Eliza from the horrors that Mikahl and Jenny had suffered.

Killing Peregrine was the key. Once the bastard was out of the way, Weldon could bluster his way out of any accusations that might be leveled against him. He would claim that the foreigner had forged evidence out of jealousy against a man who had been his wife's former suitor. Weldon still had enough influence to make sure that an investigation wouldn't go far.

But Peregrine would not be an easy man to kill, especially now that he was on his guard. For all his dangerous skills, Kane had already failed at the job, and Weldon was unsure where to turn next. A fire perhaps? Or find another marksman? A pity that Jimmons and the other brothel guards were no more than bullies, good at controlling unruly patrons, but no use for tasks requiring thought. Perhaps Jimmons would know another man like Kane. The trick was to make sure that the chosen tool didn't turn around and blackmail the man who had hired him.

It would be best if Weldon did the deed himself, but while he was a good shot, he had no military training or experience at calculated assassination. Not that he shrank from killing; more than once his unwilling partners had proved too weak and died under his hands. But this was different.

Weldon sighed with frustration, tired of how his thoughts were running in circles. It was evening, and he was no closer to a solution than he had been that morning. As he poured a glass of port, a startling thought hit him. Mrs. Kent had said that the captive girl was not Jenny Miller; could Lady Sara herself have been abducted? While his former betrothed didn't really resemble Jenny, she was small and blond. She also dressed simply and looked youthful for her years.

While Weldon had not planned to seize Lady Sara, he certainly wouldn't release her if fate had dropped her into his hands. He began calculating. If Sara was at Mrs. Kent's, Eliza could be sent away the next day to his hunting box in Scotland. Peregrine would never find her there. Eliza's absence would give Weldon the freedom to use Sara against her husband.

Deciding that it would be easiest to go see the captive himself, Weldon immediately called for his carriage. The trip would not be wasted even if the captive wasn't Sara, for he would use one of the girls before he returned home.

Peregrine followed Slade up the steps of his house, feeling pleased with the day's work. They had just visited a magistrate called Hanlon, a man of flinty integrity who loathed the exploitation of children. Hanlon had found the evidence against Charles Weldon very convincing and was preparing to issue a warrant when Peregrine and Slade left. Now, if there was just an encouraging note from Sara waiting…

Instead of a note from Sara, the two men were met by an anxious Jenny Miller.

"Thank heavens you've come back!" The girl threw her arms around Slade without stopping her rapid speech. "Eliza Weldon disappeared, and we think she may have been taken to Mrs. Kent's house; and because you weren't here, Lady Sara went to Mrs. Kent's herself to get her out."

It took a moment to absorb the breathless speech. Then Peregrine swore to himself in Kafiri, and ushered Jenny and Slade into the drawing room for a more detailed explanation. A few questions established what had happened. It was a relief to learn that Kuram was with Sara, but going to Mrs. Kent's was still a damned fool thing for her to do. Peregrine snapped, "How long ago did she leave?"

Jenny glanced at the clock. "About half an hour."

Frowning, Peregrine said, "I'm going after her. I'll ride to get there more quickly."

Slade frowned. "Are you sure you'll be safe? Since you visited Mrs. Kent's once, you'll be recognized. If Weldon has alerted all his employees to watch out for you, it may be harder to get out of the place than to get in."

Peregrine thought a moment. "Probably not, but I might as well be cautious. Two of the guards are here; they can follow in the large carriage. If Sara and I aren't out of the house quickly, they can come in and get us." He glanced at Jenny. "I don't like asking this of you, but will you ride in the carriage and show them the way to Mrs. Kent's?"

"Of course," Jenny replied. "I'd go crazy waiting here, wondering what's happening."

Slade started to protest, men stopped. "Very well, but I'm going with you, Jenny."

She gave her lover a fleeting, grateful glance, then looked back at Peregrine. "Everything is happening at once, isn't it?"

Peregrine nodded. "We just returned from a magistrate. A warrant is being sworn for Weldon's arrest, and Mrs. Kent's house will probably be closed down within the next couple of days."

"Please, sir." Jenny put her hand on his arm. "That's the law acting, but no one is going to care that much about the girls in the house, and what will happen to them. Can we take them away? One or two are probably girls I knew, and they're going to be scared to death if the police come in a raid. They can testify against Mrs. Kent later, but until then, they're better off with someone like me who knows what they've been through."

Sara had wanted him to care about the suffering of people he didn't know, and perhaps he owed these anonymous girls something for not having acted against Mrs. Kent earlier. "Very well," Peregrine said, "do what you can for them. Benjamin, order the carriage and a horse for me. I'll find the guards and tell them what we're planning."

A few minutes later, a pistol thrust under his cloak, he was riding through London as fast as he dared. If there was going to be trouble, he must first make sure that Sara was out of harm's way.

Weldon's hope that Lady Sara was captured died as soon as he talked to Mrs. Kent. "No, sir," the ma-dame said emphatically. "She's just a child. Couldn't possibly be a woman in her twenties."

"Pity," Weldon said with regret. "Is she pretty?"

"Very. Long blond hair like an angel." Mrs. Kent gave an approving nod. "She could be another Jenny Miller, a girl who can play the virgin over and over. Valuable."

"We'll keep her then." Weldon glanced upward. "What room is she in? Someone has to be the first, so I think I'll take that pleasure for myself."

The madame frowned. "I've already promised her to someone else for later tonight. I've a particularly good customer who likes blondes, the younger the better."

Weldon shrugged indifferently. "He can have her second. Unless you've got another virgin in the house?"

"Not tonight. Just three of the regular girls, plus the new one. A man is bringing in two of his daughters tomorrow, just for one night." A peevish note entered her voice. "It's a lot harder running a virgin house than a regular brothel."

"Which is why you earn so much,'' Weldon pointed out unsympathetically. "What room is the new girl in?"

"The end of the hall, on the right."

"What's her name?"

"She wouldn't tell me. Won't do anything but cry for her father," Mrs. Kent said with contempt. "But I made her ready for her first customer." She went to her desk and pulled out a key. "Here's the key to the room."

Weldon went into the hall and climbed the stairs. Outside the new girl's room, he paused, his heart and breath quickening in anticipation. There was such ecstasy in being the first, in knowing that no one else had ever penetrated that innocent body. Amidst the frustration of his struggle with Peregrine, he needed this to restore his power and confidence. His organ began swelling to hard potency at the thought.

After turning the key in the lock, he quietly opened the door. In the room's dim light, at first he saw only a slender body and blond hair tumbling over the pillow. As usual, the girl wore a flimsy, childish white nightgown, and her wrists were tied to the bedposts.

He licked his lips as waves of desire pulsed through him, melting his fears and frustrations. Yes, he needed this. Softfooted, he crossed the room, anticipating the sweet taste of the child.

The girl had whimpered with fear when the door opened. Then she turned her head toward the entrance, a swath of lamplight falling across her childish features.

Weldon stopped dead in his tracks. Then nausea began boiling through him, along with paralyzing grief.

The child's blue eyes widened, first with shock, then with joy. "Papa!" Eliza whispered, her voice raw from weeping. "Papa, I knew you would come."

It had taken Kuram time to find Mrs. Kent's house, for in this part of London the streets were not well marked. Sara burned with impatience, and when Kuram opened the door and said, "Here, lady," she jumped out immediately.

It was full dark now, and she pulled her hood up so that it shadowed her face. Kuram directed the driver down the block to an alley where the carriage would be inconspicuous.

Then Sara went up the steps, Kuran close behind her. There was an interminable wait after she knocked.

Finally a small window slid open in the door. "Who are you and what do you want?" a hoarse voice asked.

Perhaps some special password was required, but Sara didn't know what it might be, so she said, "I am here on a matter of business—profitable business for Mrs. Kent."

The window slid shut, and there was such a long wait that she feared they would not be admitted. But eventually the door swung grudgingly open, and she stepped inside, Kuran behind her.

Standing in a drab hall were a burly ruffian and a large, unpleasant-looking woman who matched Jenny's description of Mrs. Kent. Eyes wary, the madame snapped, "What's your business—do you have a daughter to sell?"

Disguising her revulsion, Sara replied, "I have reason to believe that earlier today a young girl was brought here by mistake. I will pay well for her release, no questions asked."

Mrs. Kent frowned. "How did you know to come here?"

"No matter." Sara waved one hand negligently, trying to look more confident than she felt. The house reeked of evil. Even if Eliza wasn't here, Sara would willingly use her money to buy the freedom of any other captive children.

The madame pursed her lips, then shot a quick, hard glance to her guard. "Come into my office where we can talk."

Sara nodded and began following the woman. She had gone only a few steps when the noise of a fight exploded behind her. Whirling, Sara discovered that the burly guard must have received a hidden signal from Mrs. Kent, for he had attacked Kuram. The two men rolled across the floor of the hall, kicking and swearing. The Pathan fought like a fury, but his opponent outweighed him and had the advantage of surprise.

Seeing the odds against Kuram, Sara scanned the hall, looking for some weapon to use on the guard. As her gaze fell on a wooden chair, Mrs. Kent seized Sara's arms in a powerful grip.