Chapter 20 #2
“No. But we’re thinking one of his top men might be using this place for recruitment purposes when there’s a fight.” Some rustling sounds filled the ensuing silence before the Runner added, “Any chance you or one of your employees might have seen or overheard something of that nature?”
“The crowds are loud here in the evenin’s, and we’re kept busy fulfillin’ orders. There’s no time for us to hang about wonderin’ over who’s chattin’ to who or what they’re sayin’.”
“I’d like to ask your employees about that myself, if you don’t mind.”
“By all means. Be my guest.”
James listened to the sound of fading footsteps, his mind now whirling with the need to help Lady Edwina avoid detection and his desire to know if the Runner learned anything useful about O’Leary.
Two opposing wants that could not co-exist.
James frowned on that thought. Kendrick had a standing agreement with Croft. Surely he’d share whatever he found. By contrast, Lady Edwina depended on James. He could not in good conscience betray the trust she’d placed in him.
And with one of Kendrick’s Runners now here, the chance of Croft himself showing up had increased.
The sooner James and Lady Edwina left, the better.
He retrieved his pocket watch and glanced at the time. Just after eleven. If they hurried, they could be gone by noon. Off to the nearest coaching inn and out of the City.
Anxious for them to be on their way, he tidied up the writing supplies and left them on the counter for the innkeeper to find.
By the time he arrived at the door to the rented room, another ten minutes had passed.
Nearly forty-five minutes in all. Surely enough time for Lady Edwina to have finished her bath.
He knocked on the door, and the maid – Tabetha – responded.
“Is she ready?” he asked.
“Almost.” Tabetha opened the door wider, clearly intending for him to enter. “I was just helping her close the back of her gown.”
James spotted Lady Edwina. She stood angled away from him, her wet hair falling loosely around her shoulders. The top part of her gown gaped open, revealing the delicate bone structure that constituted her upper spine.
He hesitated briefly, fists already clenching and gut tightening. If he were the least bit considerate, he’d turn on his heel and come back later.
Except, a husband would have no reason to do so. In fact, it would likely be thought strange if he did and might alert the inn to the fact that he had no business sharing a room with Lady Edwina at all.
Questions would follow. The word would spread.
He entered the room while doing his best to avert his gaze from the woman he’d rescued.
Instead, he busied himself with setting the bucket aside and placing the fresh tea he’d brought on the table.
Once this was done, he retrieved a comb from his jacket pocket and pulled it through his hair a few times.
He straightened his clothes and retied his cravat, deliberately busying himself with unnecessary tasks until Tabetha announced her departure.
“I’ll send someone up to remove the tub,” she said, then looked directly at James. “Unless you wish to use it first.”
His decision was swift. Even though he’d enjoy the chance to wash properly, he’d manage with the wash basin. This would not only help protect his wounds while they healed, but would also avoid the outrageous idea of Lady Edwina being left alone with a naked man.
However, since he wished to avoid an imminent cleanup and the disruption this would entail, he told Tabetha, “Thank you. I’ll let you know when I’m done.”
A clipped nod was her only response before she swept from the room.
The door swung shut, and then James was there, turning the key until the lock clicked into place.
He leaned his forehead against the smooth wood and closed his eyes, ever conscious of Lady Edwina, who sat in a chair by the fireplace.
A deep inhale preceded a slow exhale, and then he turned to face her. She still looked horribly pale — sickly – as though the next bite of food she took would make a swift reappearance. If it did, the bucket was close at hand.
“We need to leave as soon as possible,” he told her.
She shrank back a little, a wary look in her eyes. “Why?”
“Because I broke an oath last night when I pledged myself to you. Mr. Croft won’t look kindly on that. He’ll be coming.”
Uncertainty mingled with hints of concern and yet… “I find it strange that he would think to look for me here.”
Of course, she would. In her mind, this was likely the last place she’d have thought of ending up.
“A Bow Street Runner is here on a separate issue, but it’s an issue that’s of interest to Croft.
If the Runner discovers something noteworthy and Croft finds out, there’s a good chance he’ll stop by himself.
Besides which, he has eyes everywhere. It’s only a matter of time. ”
“You’re…certain of this?” The tremors were starting to grip her again.
A nod informed her he had no doubt. He shifted his gaze to the table, where her breakfast remained, untouched. “I realize you’ve no desire to eat, but you should try. It will make it easier on your stomach the next time you vomit.”
Hunching slightly, she averted her gaze and looked to the fire, her hands clasped tightly together, like she could stop the shivers by sheer force of will. “Reasoning dictates that”—she drew a quivering breath as though fighting the next wave of nausea— “I shan’t do so unless I eat.”
“Trust me when I tell you, your body will try to eliminate the toxins, whether your stomach is full or not.” He crossed to the table and collected the now-cold tea to start. “It will only be more painful if it’s empty. Drink.”
Eyes squeezed shut, she leaned away from the cup he held toward her. The slightest shake of her head conveyed how wretched she felt.
James sympathized. He knew what it meant to be in her position. He also knew there was no quick way through it. This would take days.
“Please, reconsider,” he told her. “Once we leave, it might be a while before we acquire more sustenance.”
“That’s fine,” she muttered, her weak voice matching her overall appearance to perfection. “I’ve no wish to eat ever again.”
He huffed a breath and returned the tea to the table, then paused to consider the untouched plate of food and the napkin sitting beside it. A pity for all of this to go to waste, and yet, pressing her would be pointless.
Still…
When hunger struck later, as he expected it would, he’d like to be ready. So he made the necessary preparations before collecting the cloak Mrs. Greene had provided last night. “Come, my lady. It’s time for us to depart.”