To Love a Thief (15 page)

“Oh, I’m not all that bad.” He sauntered forward and leered at her. “Mayhap I’ll show ye later on.”

Gertrude gasped. “You can’t talk to her like that!”

Nicky Blue directed a malevolent stare at Gertrude. “I can do whatever I wish. Mayhap I’ll change my mind about ye bein’ fine.”

Jocelyn stepped in front of Gertrude. “Leave her alone.”

Two men stomped into the sitting room and came toward them. Jocelyn put her arms back in a protective stance in an effort to block them from Gertrude.

Nicky Blue reached forward and pulled Jocelyn out of the way by her upper arm. “Time to go.”

The other men grabbed Gertrude.

Jocelyn struggled against Nicky’s grip, sending her elbows and feet flying in every direction trying to hit him. “Don’t hurt her!”

Gertrude turned a ghastly shade of white as they hauled her from the room. Tears burned Jocelyn’s eyes as she watched, helpless.

Nicky wrapped her in a tight hug, pinning her arms to her sides, and dragged her forward.

She tried to dig her feet into the floor. “Where are you taking me? Why are you even here?”

“Just doin’ my job, love.” He turned her around, and his stale breath fanned her face. “And I do love my job.”

Jocelyn’s grip on reality snapped. She spat in his face and slammed her foot down on his. Then she shoved at his chest. Shocked, he released her and fell back. She spun on her heel, intending to get to the scullery to help Gertrude and the others. But his hand snaked around her waist. She kicked back at him and screamed, hoping a neighbor might hear the disturbance.

He grunted as she connected with some part of him, but he didn’t let her go this time. His grip tightened on her waist, bruising her. Then he wound his other hand in the hair pinned atop her head and pulled her backward. Her scalp and eyes burned as he forced her head back so she had to look up at him.

“Stop. Now. Or I’ll make ye sorry ye didn’t.” The leer was back, and this time he added the perversion of licking his lower lip and staring at her breasts. His meaning was quite clear. Still, she couldn’t give up. She swung her arms to hit him, and he pulled her hair even harder. Tears squeezed from the corners of her eyes and trailed back along her temples.

“Ye’re a right bitch, aren’t ye? If ye don’t stop, I’ll make sure yer precious old lady doesn’t see the mornin’ light.”

That did it. Jocelyn went limp. It was one thing to threaten her, but another matter entirely to cause harm to Gertrude. “You’re a monster,” she breathed.

“Ready?” The query came from the foyer.

“Just about.” He turned her so that her chest was against his, and he pushed her head up. For a moment she was petrified he was going to kiss her. Nausea crept up her throat, but she swallowed against the sensation. Tossing up her accounts all over him would only mean trouble for Gertrude.

“Now,” he said menacingly, his eyes boring into hers, “come along quietly or we’ll march right down to the scullery and make a mess. Nod if ye understand.”

She nodded, hope dying in her breast. Who would even know something had happened? When they didn’t appear at the Pellinghams’ tonight, Daniel would certainly come calling, but by then it may be too late. Wait, the Bow Street Runner outside! How had the men gotten past him? Her stomach knotted. Had they done something unthinkable to him?

They moved through the foyer. Though she went along with them for Gertrude’s sake, he kept a tight grip on her elbow. She was certain he could snap it in two if he chose.

Outside, she quickly scanned for the Runner who typically walked up and down Hertford Street. On occasion, he turned up Park Lane and came back. She didn’t see him anywhere.

“Lookin’ for yer Runner?” Nicky asked right next to her ear. “He’s busy with an accident on Park Lane. Too bad for ye.” He cackled as he had earlier, the sound eliciting a shudder through Jocelyn’s frame.

And then she was thrust into a hackney coach. Thick curtains blocked the windows, but a small lantern hanging inside illuminated the space.

Nicky and one of the other men climbed inside with her, while the others clambered up top.  The coach moved forward in the direction of Park Lane.

“Where are we going?” she asked with a serenity she didn’t feel. She had to stay calm if she had any hope of making it through the night.

The lantern cast sinister shadows over his long face. “Someplace special that I like.”

God, was he abducting her simply to have his way with her? Her stomach turned, and nausea threatened once more. “Why are you taking me? I don’t understand.” She
hoped
she didn’t understand, but was afraid she did.

He shrugged. “Ye’ll have to ask yer Lord Carlyle.”

Daniel was behind this? A hollow ache in her chest replaced her nausea. She couldn’t believe it, not after everything they’d been through. He’d been nothing but forthright and honest, sharing with her his most private thoughts, his deepest regrets, and his fondest desires. He wouldn’t do this.

Aldridge’s warning came back to her:
I’d also advise you not to mention what I told you to anyone, especially Carlyle. Those who have suggested his behavior is less than lawful have sometimes disappeared
.

Though her heart told her it couldn’t be true, her mind said she’d already disappeared.

Chapter Twelve

THE RIDE to Hertford Street seemed to take a fortnight. By the time Daniel finally arrived, he’d almost convinced himself he was being foolish.

Almost.

He took the steps two at a time and rapped sharply on the door. When no answer was forthcoming, his apprehension vaulted into full panic. He threw open the door and surveyed the empty foyer. He peered into the sitting room, but naught was amiss.

Withdrawing his blade from the sheath in his boot, he crept along the corridor to the back of the house and the stairway leading down to the scullery. He hoped to God that Moss would pop out at any moment, but he feared he would find he and the others bound together as he’d done before. He only prayed it wasn’t worse.

Light from the kitchen and scullery below illuminated the stairs. He descended cautiously but quickly, as dread gathered in his veins.

As expected, the servants were tied in a circle, their backs to each other, their mouths gagged. He counted four people. Three servants plus who? The orange turban told him it was Mrs. Harwood. He looked at the top of their heads, seeking Jocelyn’s golden brown locks.

She wasn’t there.

Rage and fear flooded him, but he forced himself to drop down and first remove the rags from the women’s mouths. Then he removed Moss’s gag and set about untying him so he could help free the women.

“Oh, thank goodness you arrived, my lord,” Moss twisted to give Daniel better access.

Daniel didn’t have patience for the knots, so he used his knife to simply cut them all loose. “Where is Jocelyn?” he asked of all and sundry.

Mrs. Harwood sniffed. “They took her, my lord!” She erupted with a large sob, followed by another.

Nan went to comfort the older woman.

Furious energy raced through Daniel, making it extremely difficult to stand still. He wanted to move, run, wreak havoc. “Do you know where? Or who they were?”

Mrs. Harwood shook her head. “The leader was very tall with light, dirty hair.” She wrinkled her nose and swiped a handkerchief across it. “And the bluest eyes, but they were terrifying, my lord.” She shuddered.

Nicky Blue
.

It had to be. The description was too accurate and he’d been here before. “Moss, was this the same man who invaded the house the other day?”

“Yes, my lord.” He looked abashed. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, Moss.”

“I can’t stay here any longer,” Mrs. Moss cried, burying her face in her husband’s lapel.

“Of course not,” Daniel said, somehow finding the composure to address the woman’s well-founded fear. “Moss, use my coach and take everyone to my house in Brook Street. Pack some things as none of you will be returning tonight—or at all, if you so choose. I’ll find another situation for all of you. Indeed, I may be in need of a butler very soon myself.”

Moss nodded as he patted his wife’s back. “Thank you, my lord. Your kindness is a blessing.”

“Have you any idea at all where they might have taken her?” Daniel asked, his need to find Jocelyn and punish Nicky Blue overtaking every other consideration.

The butler shook his head sadly. “No, my lord. I’m very sorry.”

Daniel’s thoughts had already shifted to how he would find them. He had to find Jagger. He turned to go, but then stopped as a thought struck him. He spun back around. “What the devil happened with Bow Street? Isn’t someone on patrol?”

“I don’t know, my lord,” Moss said. “I saw him earlier, but he must not have witnessed the criminals’ arrival.”

Goddamned amateurs
. He should’ve employed someone from Queen Street for the task. “I’ll tell my coachman to expect you,” he said. “I’m going to find Jocelyn.”

Mrs. Harwood blew her nose. “Please do, my lord. I can’t abide anything happening to that lovely girl.”

He pressed his lips together and gave a single nod. “We are in agreement, Mrs. Harwood.”

She looked up at him and raised her chin. “And I intend to dance at your wedding!”

Their wedding. Anguish and fear threatened to overcome the fury driving his thoughts, but he couldn’t give in to those emotions. In fact, he needed to set aside his anger so he could focus on fixing this problem. Jocelyn was counting on him, and no assignment had ever been more important. He forced a smile he didn’t at all feel. “I shall count on it.”

Night was falling as Daniel made his way to St. Giles in a hired hack. He’d located the errant Bow Street officer who’d been busy with a disturbance on Park Lane, which had surely been orchestrated by Nicky Blue as a distraction. Daniel had briefly considered asking the officer to join him, but some boys were still causing trouble further down the street.

The coach took him directly to the Crystal. He suspected Jagger kept a suite of rooms at the flash house as one of his many residences. He could only hope the criminal had returned after leaving Daniel’s town house earlier.

Once inside, Daniel immediately sought out the proprietor, a squat, particularly cynical fellow whom he found easily behind the bar.

“Gaunt,” he called.

The stocky man turned and scowled. “I saw ye in here the other night. I thought ye were done bein’ a constable.”

“Where’s Jagger?”

Gaunt made a show of looking about the common room. “Ye see him here?” Then his irritated gaze settled on Daniel. “Me neither.”

He started to turn, but Daniel reached across the bar and pulled the man’s shoulder. “Which room upstairs? And don’t lie. I’ll tear every corner of this place apart until I find him.”

“Ye would too, ye prick.” He jerked away from Daniel. “One floor up, back corner away from the main stairs. He’s got men.”

Daniel expected nothing less. Without a word he went to the staircase in the corner of the common room and rapidly ascended. At the landing, he strode down a narrow corridor to the end where two men loitered. One was sitting in a chair but sprang to his feet while the other, lounged against the wall, perked up a bit but didn’t alter his lazy stance.

Giving both men a harrowing glare, Daniel put his hand on the doorknob.

“Hold there,” the formerly seated man said, setting his hand on Daniel’s forearm.

Daniel wasn’t going to take time to reason with these men. He drew his blade from his boot and slid it against the flesh below the man’s ear. “Open the goddamned door.”

The man against the wall lunged for Daniel, but he kicked out and caught him in his gut. Air whooshed out of him in a great gust and he staggered back. Daniel pressed the knife more firmly against his captive’s neck. “I said
open the door
.”

He complied, turning and throwing the door open. Daniel pushed the man back into his chair and stepped into Jagger’s suite. “Don’t bother us.” Then he slammed the door closed.

Jagger—shirtless and carrying a small cloth as if he’d just been washing—came striding from another room, his eyes spitting fire. “What the bloody hell are you—” He halted upon seeing Daniel. “Doing here,” he finished, his features cooling into mild anger.

“Where is my fiancée, you rat bastard?”

Jagger whipped the cloth over his shoulder, letting it rest upon his bare flesh. He shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I told you what you needed to do to protect her.”

“A couple of hours ago! I haven’t had time to do a goddamned thing since then.”

“Which is why you should realize I had nothing to do with this. I’d guess Aldridge got to her, wouldn’t you?”

He couldn’t argue with the man’s logic. “Nicky Blue took her. I thought he worked for you.”

Jagger didn’t confirm that, but Daniel never expected him to, at least not without duress. “I didn’t realize he was that close with Aldridge.” He frowned deeply. “That’s troubling.”

Daniel didn’t give a damn about the problems within their criminal business. His only concern right now was Jocelyn. “Where would he take her?”