The Masked Heart (Sweet Deception Regency #2) (27 page)

"You've done an admirable job, Jamie. Tell me about Val and then we'll see about getting you washed up and fed. It's almost four and I can imagine with all your activities, you may have worked up quite an appetite."

"I'm bloody starving, Lord Farrington!" the boy howled, delighted when his audience broke into laughter.

The tension in the room had eased once they realized that the boys were not lost in London but hot in pursuit of Stoddard. Although Val and Blaine were still to be accounted for, at least the situation was not as hopeless as it had been earlier.

"Just a little bit longer, Jamie," Drew said as he noticed the droopy-lidded eyes of the boy. "What was Val's plan?"

"It was pretty difficult talking much for fear of being overheard. We were whispering and such but I think I got the drift. I gave him the pocketknife that my father gave me and a bit of the ready. I was flush today because Momma slipped me some coin for our trip to the docks. Val made me keep some in case of emergency but he's plump in the pocket, I can tell you. He was going to stay with the carriage until he was sure they had gotten to their hidey-hole and then he would hightail it back here."

"Excellent plan, lad."

Drew was more and more impressed with the boys' enterprise. The Bow Street Runners could not have produced any better detectives. He was silent for a moment as he considered his own plans. Once decided, he began issuing orders.

"Tate, take the boy up to Val's room for a wash. I'm sure you can find something for Jamie to wear until his own things arrive. Frau Puffentraub, you will arrange for a tray and the preparation of a room for the night." He turned to the boy, taking in the wide grin of delight. "I will send off a note to your father, asking permission for you to remain with us until tomorrow. You have played an important part in this drama so it is only fair that you remain for the denouement."

"Good show, sir. I'd rather like that," Jamie said.

Suddenly his expression changed and the eyes staring up held a haunted quality. Drew was painfully aware that for all his bravery Jamie was little more than a child.

"Lady Yates will be all right, won't she?" The boy swallowed several times before he could continue. "She a grand old girl. Didn't take a bit of lip from the fancy Dan and when those two bullies come up on her, she snapped at them and they shuffled their feet like babes with their nanny. You will get her back all right, won't you, sir?"

"You have my promise," Drew said.

The boy's eyes flicked over his face, then nodded in satisfaction. Drew was incredibly moved by the word picture Jamie had drawn of his courageous Blaine confronting the two thugs. He clenched the muscles in his jaw as he turned to Sarge.

"Alert the stables to ready my rig and tell them to keep a sharp eye out for Val. It would be best if you waited out front. He'll be in a hurry so he might not take time to go round to the stables. Also, on your way out, send Timmons to me." Drew ground to a halt. He took in the motionless figures, then barked, "Jump to it."

Like well-drilled troops, they leaped into action. Sarge jerked open the doors for the bustling Frau Puffentraub as Tate swept down on the startled Jamie. Drew grinned as he strode across to his aunt's dainty desk. Uncaring of the chaos he was creating, he rummaged through the contents until he found some stationary. The cough behind his left shoulder alerted him to Timmons' presence and he spun around to address the unflappable butler. He noticed with amusement that, always the soul of tact, the man had closed the doors when he entered.

"Unless you're deaf and blind, Timmons, I suspect you have a fair idea of what's afoot," he said.

"Yes, Lord Farrington. Thankfully the boys were not lost only strayed. Master Val will soon be back in the fold, I gather, although Lady Yates is still unaccounted for." There was no break in the bland expression of his face as he reported these events.

"Must have been quite a scene before I got here."

"Miss Fleur was in spasms, milord." An ever-so-slight smile, crinkled the corners of the butler's eyes. "I have kept the servants below stairs and cautioned them. Your aunt's staff is trained to discretion."

Inventing quickly, Drew explained that Lady Yates had been trying to abort the kidnapping of Fleur by an overeager suitor when she herself had been taken. He reminded himself to talk to Robbie and Fleur when he returned. They would all have to tell the same story to avoid any possible scandal that might arise from the day's event. After thanking him for his support, Drew dismissed the butler and dashed off a note to Jamie's father. He chuckled as he wrote, contemplating the retelling of the story for his old schoolmate's delectation. Like father, like son, he thought as he blotted and sealed the note, then left the room to give it to Timmons.

"Have cook prepare a basket of food, suitable for myself and Val. Send something out to Sarge so that he's ready to leave when the boy arrives."

"I've told them to prepare your aunt's coach. The new grays are dependable and built for speed," Timmons declared authoritatively "If I might offer a suggestion, Lord Farrington, it might be a good plan to send Lady Tate's abigail. Lady Yates is not a young person and may be considerably overset by her experiences. It is always good to have another woman along in such circumstances."

Drew hardened his heart to the shaft of pain at the parade of ugly pictures that rose in his mind at Timmons' words. He turned, biting off his words as he headed for the door. "Have Tate ready to leave when I return."

After a quick word to Sarge, Drew leaped into his curricle and returned to his townhouse. He changed into buckskins and then went to his library and removed two pistols from the gun cabinet which he quickly loaded. After throwing down a rejuvenating glass of brandy, he returned to Portman Square.

The wait was agonizing. His mind was filled with the danger to Blaine and the helplessness of his own inaction. Although it seemed like centuries, it was only an hour before his patience was rewarded.

At the sounds in the foyer, Drew hurried into the hall to find Val, dirty but jubilant. The boy's face was gaunt and the expression in his eyes spoke volumes of his harrowing day. Unlike Jamie, who thought of Lady Yates as an old lady, it was obvious Val had considered the real dangers that were facing Blaine. Drew's eyes were reassuring as he squeezed the boy's hand.

"Well done, Val," he said, his voice deep with pride.

"I know where she is, sir, but I think we should hurry."

"Steady on, old thing." Drew felt the shaking of the boy's body as he pulled him against his side. "Your troops are ready to march. Just give me a direction and then you can tell me the rest on the way."

At the touch of humor, the fear eased in the boy's eyes. "The west road out of London. Just beyond Twickenham."

Without a word, Timmons opened the door and Drew strode outside, followed by Val with Tate bringing up the rear. In a twinkling they were on their way, the grays moving steadily through the early evening traffic.

"I would guess the inside of my aunt's carriage is significantly more comfortable than the boot," Drew said as he noticed the stiff movements of the boy.

"Rather!" Val said. For the first time since his arrival, a natural grin creased his features. "I shall think twice before I travel that way again."

Drew nodded to Tate to open the basket of food. He was amused that the first thing she presented the boy was a wet cloth to make his ablutions. He relaxed, eating sparingly as he waited for the first pangs of Val's hunger to be satisfied. The efficient Timmons had included a bottle of wine, and he savored the sharp bite on his tongue as the carriage sped through the twilight.

"It's a cottage, sir," Val said, talking behind a partially gnawed chicken leg. "Just outside of Twickenham. I just waited long enough to make sure they were set for the night."

There was a bleakness in the voice that was painful to hear. "It won't take us long now," Drew assured him. "One road out of town?"

"Two. The one we want is near an alehouse. I put a mark on the sign post so I would be sure of the right one."

"Very sound plan. Jamie told us he had lent you his knife."

"It came in dreadfully handy, sir. I used it to mark a trail from the cottage because I didn't know if I would be able to find the place in the dark." The boy wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand until Tate coughed sharply and then he reached for his napkin. "I'm glad that Jamie got back all right. I was feeling pretty awful that I had got him into such a bramblepatch. He was good to go along even though he didn't know what it was all about. I had promised Bl-my aunt that I wouldn't tell anyone what was going on."

"If it would ease your mind any, Val. I am fully aware that Lady Yates is your sister Blaine."

Wide eyes flew to Drew's face. "Oh."

"Quite," was the crisp reply.

"I suppose it was Fleur that cried rope," he said in disgust. "Girls have no sense."

"A sentiment in which I can wholeheartedly concur." Drew's voice was dry as he eyed the discomfited child. To smooth over the embarrassment of the moment, he returned to business. "What was the place like?"

"I only took the briefest of looks. I was anxious to return for help. It's a small cottage with a thatched roof. Several rooms below but I spotted a window above so I think there's an attic room. Set in a copse of trees and no other houses visible. If I hadn't been so worried, I wouldn't have half-minded the place. Lots of flowers about, even this early in the year."

Drew could picture the quaint little cottage outside of Twickenham. It had all the sound of a rented lovenest. Close enough to London for convenience, yet secluded enough for privacy. Stoddard would pay dearly, he vowed.

"Aside from Lord Stoddard and the two ruffians, was there anyone else around?"

"None that I could see. His lordship flung out of the carriage and shoved open the door of the cottage as if he were really in a temper. Blaine waited for the uglies to come around and then, believe it or not, they helped her down like she was their own mother."

Drew snorted at the mental picture. He had seen Blaine at her haughtiest, playing the part of Lady Yates. Thank God, her disguise was still intact. "Now before we get to the village, suppose you tell me how you made your return in such timely fashion."

Val wiped his mouth carefully with his napkin, shooting a mischievous glance at the primly observant Tate. The little dresser nodded her head gravely but there was an answering smile in her eyes.

"Well, after I left the cottage, I marked the trees as I told you and just kept walking until I arrived in the village. I wasn't quite sure what to do then. I wanted to ask for help but I wasn't overly confident that a magistrate would be moved to action on my word alone. So after a bit, I decided the only thing to do was come back to town for help."

Drew could imagine the hopelessness that must have threatened to engulf the boy. He wondered what exactly Val had planned, since there was really only Fleur and Blaine's servants for the boy to apply to for help. Though the danger to Blaine would be uppermost in his mind, there also must have been a fierce need to protect his family from scandal. A heavy responsibility for a twelve year old.

"It was the correct decision, Val," Drew said. "We were at a stalemate until you arrived. Incidentally, Sarge said to tell you he was quite impressed with your steed."

"Bloody fat cow, is more like." Drew laughed at the boy's obvious disgust. "It was all I could find, sir. It's a sad state of affairs when adults slum-guzzle a child."

"A sorry state indeed," Drew agreed, trying desperately to keep his expression serious.

"I went to the livery first and spun them a tale about gypsies stealing me away. Jamie thought of that bouncer. Said country folk believe gypsies kidnap children to sell into slavery. Unfortunately, they weren't having any." It was apparent Val was downcast at the suspicious nature of the citizens of Twickenham. "After wandering around, I finally bought a horse. The price the farmer quoted was much too dear so I jawed him down a bit. Then the bloody sod took all of my coin and gave me this great, ugly bag of bones which goes by the unlikely name of Chastity."

Drew choked on his wine at the outraged tones. For several minutes laughter filled the carriage, with even the taciturn dresser joining in. The amusement did a great deal to ease the tension that had been building as they approached their destination.

While Tate put away the remains of the meal, Drew and Val talked. After Drew had given him the latest news, he ordered the exhausted boy to stretch out for a rest. He stared out at the darkened night, his eyes unfocused as he considered his plans. He was exhilarated by the thought of imminent action, although he was still filled with a sense of urgency.

He knew what lengths Blaine had gone to in order to protect her family. Knowing her as well as he did, he knew she would risk much to keep the secret of the notorious La Solitaire. Escaping Stoddard would offer no solution to her troubles. Only if she could strike a bargain with the man could she ensure his silence. For Val and Fleur she might be willing to risk all, even though the sacrifice would ultimately destroy her?

Chapter Fifteen

"Would you like some more tea, mum?" Romulus held the teapot aloft.

If Blaine hadn't been so apprehensive over the coming of night, she would have laughed at the picture of the enormous ruffian holding the delicately painted teapot. The two brutes, incongruously named Romulus and Remus, might have been Stoddard's hirelings but they had been offended by his treatment of a little old lady. Touched in some deep corner of their black hearts, they had become Blaine's champions. Unfortunately, they drew the line at setting her free.

"Perhaps later, Romulus. It was very good tea," she said, careful not to overdo the quaver in her voice as he returned to the kitchen.

Romulus and Remus were twins who had been born in the back of a tavern and would most probably end their days at the end of a rope. She could tell them apart by the scars on their faces, blunt reminders of the violent lives they led. Romulus, the younger by ten minutes, bore a long slash from the tip of one eyebrow to the edge of his jawline. He had told Blaine quite proudly that the blade of the knife had broken clean off when it hit the jawbone. Romulus was her favorite for he had a cheerful verbosity not exhibited by his more taciturn brother.