Chapter Thirty
R ichard Macgregor sat at his desk inside his tiny office, reading the missive that had just been delivered. He grinned and wanted to shout with happiness. Things couldn’t have gone any better if he’d planned them himself. Then again, mayhap he had planned it without really knowing.
Of course he had. Chuckling, he glanced at the letter in his hand.
Mr. Macgregor. I have thought over the brief conversation we had outside my uncle’s home yesterday, and I have come to a decision. I will take over where my uncle left off only on one condition. You must take care of Louisa Hamilton. Six years ago my uncle promised he would not harm my friend but take her far away so her family would never see her again. Now I find she is back and her family is becoming suspicious. I still do not want my schoolmate harmed, but please take her far away from London as quickly as possible. Once this has been resolved, I will find children to work for you as my uncle had. Meet me outside the front steps of the hospital tonight at seven so we can discuss this agreement. Regards, Miss Eliza Watson.
Smiling, Richard pulled away from the desk and gazed out of the window. The evening shadows played in the dark corners of the unlit streets as people scurried inside buildings or to their carriages. Fortune shined upon him for the first time in weeks. Things were coming together nicely. Soon Louisa would be in his grasp once again and doing his bidding as always. He would keep the two women away from each other, because he did not plan on sending Louisa away as Miss Watson had requested. His brilliant pupil was much too valuable for that. But now he knew how to blackmail both women to get his way.
Shuffling footsteps grew louder coming from the other room. Richard turned as David ran in, huffing from exhaustion. Moisture dampened his dirty brow and made hair stick to his skin.
“What are ye doin’ here? Yer supposed to be at the Kenbridge estate watching Louisa.”
“I have come from there because I discovered something.”
“What have ye discovered?” Richard barked.
“’Tis not good news, I fear.”
Richard grumbled and stepped closer. “Tell me.”
“I kept an eye on the estate just as you’d asked, and I crept closer to the stables to hear anything noteworthy.” The scraggly boy shook his head. “’Tis not good, I tell ye.”
“Out with it before I whip ye.”
“Louisa… she has left the manor.” David took in a ragged breath, still wheezing. “From what I’ve gathered, the duke let her go.”
“ Let her go? ” Richard shouted as he grabbed the scrawny boy’s shoulders. “What do ye mean? The duke was in love with her. Why did he let her go?”
“I don’t know, sir. That’s just what I heard.”
“Then ye heard wrong.”
David shook his head. “No, I didn’t, because I also heard the duke talking to one of his friends.”
“What did they say?”
“The duke said he didn’t want to see Louisa’s face ever again—or he’d summon the police and have her arrested. Apparently, he caught her stealin’ his mother’s jewels. He was pretty upset, I tell ye.”
Richard grinned. His plan was working better than he thought. “Splendid.”
“I also heard…” David said softer with a touch of confusion in his throat.
“What?”
“I heard something about Mr. Featherspoon. I heard he’d kidnapped us from our families and told them we were dead.” He took a hesitant step forward, blinking back tears as his lips quivered as if he would cry at any moment. “Is this true? Is my family really alive?”
“Of course it’s not true.”
“But I heard the duke tell his friend about two boys he’d helped. Norman was one of them.”
“I have no way of knowin’ if Featherspoon lied to ye or not. But it doesn’t matter because now ye work for me,” Richard snapped and pushed David toward the door. “Now get out there and find Louisa. If ye see the others, tell them this is urgent. I need her found and brought to me tonight or ye’ll all go without food for a week.”
“Yes, sir.” David sniffed and ran out the door into the street.
Richard shrugged on his coat, then plopped a hat on his head as he walked outside. He had a meeting with a pretty lady he wasn’t about to miss. Now with Louisa missing, it would be easier for him to convince Eliza her friend was taken care of.
He whistled and walked with a bounce in his step. Louisa would not stay away for long, he was certain. He didn’t know what exactly happened between her and the duke, but the girl was in love with Kenbridge, and because she wanted him and his children safe, she would bring Richard the jewels she’d taken.
Come to think of it, he’d brainwashed all of his children quite well. Of course, he only did what came natural to him. He’d been orphaned at a young age and learned the art of picking pockets and lying his way through life. The older he grew, the more he learned about how to manipulate people. Now he was very good at it. The best, in fact.
The wind became stronger the closer he came to the hospital. A spring storm was definitely brewing, and there weren’t as many large buildings around this area to block the wind. He bundled his coat around his neck a little tighter and hurried. He always tried to walk in the shadows, especially at night, to keep hidden. If spotted by a policeman, they’d recognize Richard right away. Being this close to Town made it harder to earn a living because the police knew Macgregor well. Yet this was the perfect time to be around London because of the season and all of Society’s functions happening around them. Once the season was over, Macgregor would pack up his miscreants and leave for a little while.
Across the street, two policemen trolled the area. Macgregor lowered his hat on his forehead and cast his gaze to the ground, hurrying his footsteps even more. The other two men laughed, and their voices echoed through the street. Thankfully, they hadn’t looked Richard’s way. And with any luck, they would keep on walking and not even notice Richard.
But although they didn’t glance at him, Richard still felt like someone watched him. Closely. Slowing, he searched the nearly empty street to find the source of the eerie feeling running amok through him. Too many shadows. Too many noises from the wind beating on the windows and walls.
He turned a corner, only one block away from the hospital. It was nearly seven. Miss Watson would probably be waiting for him by now.
From a nearby alleyway, a cat screeched. Richard jumped, and then chuckled at being so skittish tonight. Even if the police were after him—and several enemies wanted Richard dead—he would never get caught. His children feared him too much to go against him. And the police… Well, Richard could slip from them easy enough just as he’d done for several years.
Quick footsteps pounded behind him. He reached for the knife he always kept in his coat pocket for protection. Gone. Grumbling, he walked faster, his mind twirling as he tried to remember where he’d put the weapon. He never took his out of his pocket unless it was to use it on someone. But he hadn’t had to threaten anyone with it for weeks.
Now was not the time to panic. Neither was it the time for someone to threaten him since he could not protect himself.
He just needed to turn the corner up a little ways and he’d be within shouting distance of the hospital. Up ahead, there were more streetlamps lighting the way as well.
Macgregor.
His name whispered with the wind as it blew against his face. Ridiculous. The wind wouldn’t say his name… But someone had.
He stopped, swung quickly around, hoping to catch whoever followed him. The street remained empty.
Macgregor.
There it was again. He jerked toward the sound coming from a different direction. Something wasn’t right, and he didn’t like the spooky feeling crawling up his spine.
Nearby, hurried footsteps crunched on the road, coming closer by the second. He couldn’t be frightened. He was never frightened. People were afraid of him, not the other way around.
“Who goes there?” he shouted then heard his question echoed. “This is ludicrous.” He grumbled and turned back toward his destination.
As he passed an alleyway, a woman cloaked in brown and black rags, rushed out and grasped his arm. “Please, govna, I beg ye for some money. I’m starvin’ and need to feed me fam’ly.”
Gagging, he pushed her away. Her stench of raw onions and fresh urine was more than he could stand. “Leave me alone, ye old crow.”
She reached for him again, and he stumbled over his feet to get away, bumping into someone else. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced his back, cutting through his clothes and slicing his skin. Fiery agony blazed through his body as his shirt dampened quickly from his blood. He jerked around to see who had stabbed him, but all he could see in the shadows was a hand holding his missing knife coated with his own blood.
The pain became unbearable, and he collapsed to his knees. Coldness seeped through him like liquid pouring through his veins. Each breath he took became more difficult until he couldn’t breathe at all. Quickly, his vision turned black.
*
Trevor sat at the breakfast table, staring at his plate of untouched food. For three days he hadn’t had any ambition to do anything, let alone eat. Since finding Louisa stealing from his mother, he had locked himself in his home, refused visitors, stayed in his chambers more than he should, and turned away the offer of playing with his children.
Everywhere he looked, he saw Louisa. In the brief time she’d spent in his household, she had turned everything around. Even his servants had smiled more. That was before she left, of course. Before… he bade her to leave and never return.
The sorrow in his heart was, at times, more than he could bear. Gwen’s death had never crushed him as much. Now he wondered how he could go on. He’d given his whole heart to Louisa, and for the first time in a long while, he believed in love and trust, only to have her show him that love and trust didn’t belong in his life.
He’d lain awake at night, trying hard not to remember her smile and the way she stared dreamily into his eyes. Desperately, he tried not to think of kissing her and the way she’d melted into his arms. He tried not to recall the way his children loved to be around her and the way she made them laugh. The way she’d made him laugh.
He wouldn’t allow his emotions to get the best of him. He refused to cry, although a few times when he’d drift off to sleep only to awaken to find his pillow damp.
“Your Grace”—Hobbs walked in with a package in his hands—“this just came for you.”
Trevor’s frown deepened. “Who brought it?”
“It was from a courier, my lord.”
Hobbs set the package on the table then laid the newspaper beside it. “And here is your daily paper. Is there anything else you need now?”
“Not right now, thank you.”
The butler nodded and quit the room. Trevor stared at the small package, having no idea who would have given him this—or why. He really didn’t feel like opening it, but curiosity nudged him enough to move his plate aside and slide the package in front of him. Quickly, he tore off the paper just to get it over and done with.
Lying inside was his mother’s satchel with the necklaces Louisa had taken three nights ago.
His throat choked with emotion and his eyes became misty. Shaking his head slowly, he told himself he would not let this affect him. Using his finger, he moved the necklaces around, noticing a paper underneath. He pulled out the paper and opened it up. Beautiful handwriting slightly slanted lined the page. The date on the letter was yesterday.
My Dearest, Since you would not let me explain the other night, I have decided to write you a missive—if only for my own state of mind. I pray you read what I have to say. What I wanted to tell you the other night was that although I had originally started to take the jewels, I had changed my mind and was putting them back when you caught me. Before this had happened—the day I had left to see if I could force my memory to return—I did remember what happened. I remembered everything about my life and especially the day I ran in front of your vehicle. I had found my family that day, but before I could tell them, Macgregor stopped me and threatened to harm them, and especially you and the twins, if I didn’t steal your mother’s jewels. Believe me when I say, I did not want to, but I also know Macgregor would have hurt you, so I had no choice. When you walked in on me, I had changed my mind and was coming to tell you the truth to see if you could help me find a way to stop him. Not to worry, though. I will find a way to stop him. Maybe then I will be able to forgive myself for all the terrible things I have done while in Macgregor’s employ. And mayhap one day you will soon come to forgive me, which is the thing I want the most. Please do not let my family know I’m alive. One day I will feel confident enough to tell them the truth, but until then, I cannot forgive myself for everything I have done in the past. Give the twins a kiss from me and tell them I love and miss them. Yours Always, Elizabeth Louisa Hamilton.
Tears blurred his vision and he quickly blinked them away. What was wrong with him? Could he really believe what she wrote? Had she indeed tried to save his life by stealing his mother’s jewels for Macgregor?
Deep in his heart, he believed her. Yet the things he’d heard about her from those other children who had worked for Macgregor made Trevor doubt she was so sweet and innocent.
Groaning, he buried his face in his hands, resting his elbows on the table. His head throbbed with indecision. So maybe she had been a thief, but while she was with him, she brought love, laughter and happiness back into his home. His children loved her. He had loved her.
Curse him, he loved her even now.
Expelling a deep breath, he straightened in his chair. His gaze fell to the opened newspaper. In bold letters the article announced, Notorious Thief, Richard Macgregor, Found Dead—Stabbed in Alleyway.
Trevor gasped and picked up the newspaper to read more. He scanned the article quickly, then read through it once more to try to make sense of what happened. Macgregor was dead. Murdered. But the paper didn’t sound like the police were diligently looking for his killer. Why would they when Macgregor had been a wanted criminal for years?
Then a name jumped out at him. Miss Eliza Watson. Trevor quickly read on. She’d been in front of the hospital that night with her maid and saw a man stabbed down the street, and running away was a woman.
A woman? Why would a woman want to kill Macgregor? Trevor chuckled, knowing he had wanted to strangle the man a time or two. Even Louisa had motive…
Louisa.
Trevor jumped up, knocking his chair over. Had she killed Macgregor? Although Trevor didn’t blame her, would the police see it the way Trevor had?
She needed help. His heart could hear her crying through the letter. Indeed, she was alone and helpless, and she did need his help. Louisa also needed her family’s help. She’d asked him in her letter not to tell her parents, but Trevor felt he had to. They needed to know, didn’t they?
“Hobbs, have my horse brought around,” Trevor barked as he hurried out of the dining room, marching toward the front door. “Never mind, I shall do it myself.”
He opened the door, ready to rush out, but stopped quickly. A gentleman and a younger boy stood at Trevor’s doorstep.
“Oh, forgive me for almost running you over,” he quickly apologized. “I am in a hurry and—”
“Lord Kenbridge?” a small voice asked.
Trevor lowered his gaze back to the boy. He didn’t recognize the lad at first, but then the eyes and smile looked familiar.
“It’s me, Norman Boyd.” He pointed to the man standing beside him. “And this is my father, Baron Grisham.”
Trevor blinked several times. The boy looked entirely different all cleaned up, like a gentleman’s son.
Trevor smiled. “What a pleasant surprise.”
“Forgive us for coming unannounced,” the baron began, “but Norman said he needed to speak with you.”
“Forgive me, I’m in a hurry,” Trevor told them, but then motioned for them to come inside, “but I do have a few minutes to visit since my horse has not yet been saddled.”
“This will only take a moment, Your Grace,” Norman said. His expression suddenly changed as a frown claimed his face. “I want to apologize, my lord. That day you caught me, I was told to lie to you.”
Trevor shook his head. “Lie to me? By whom?”
“Macgregor. He told me to watch you and try to pick your pocket, but he wanted me to get caught, and when I did, I was to lie to you.” Norman took a deep breath after his hurried speech.
Folding his arms across his chest, Trevor nodded. “Pray, please tell me what you lied about.”
“About Louisa. Those things I told you were a lie.” He shrugged. “Well, most of it, anyway. Louisa was Macgregor’s best pupil, and she did teach us how to steal, but…” He licked his lips then swallowed hard. “She never did kidnap any children and she never did kill anyone. That was the lie.”
Relief poured through Trevor from the boy’s admission. Although it upset him to think the lad lied to him, which created doubt in his mind about Louisa, Trevor did understand why Norman did it. Macgregor had all of the children frightened to death.
“Do you forgive me, Your Grace?” Norman asked with a sincere voice.
“Of course, I do.” Trevor ruffled the boy’s hair and smiled. “Thank you for letting me know. This has worried me since you told me.” He looked up at the baron. “And thank you for bringing him.”
“You are very welcome, Your Grace.”
The man turned with his son and started out the door, but Trevor quickly stopped them. “One more thing, if you don’t mind.”
Baron Grisham arched his eyebrows. “What is it?”
“If we had never discovered that Norman had been kidnapped, would you have wanted to find your child even though he may have been in a band of thieves for several years and was considered a criminal?”
Tears filled the older man’s eyes. “I wanted my son back. It didn’t matter to me what he’d done. I just wanted him back with the family who loved him.”
This was the answer Trevor wanted to hear. “I thank you, Baron Grisham. Have a pleasant day.”
If Trevor’s daughter had been kidnapped, he would move heaven and earth to try to find her, just as he knew Louisa’s father would.
And that was exactly what Trevor planned to do. Whether it took moving the heaven and earth, he would find her.