Chapter Fifteen
“They must be at the magistrate’s office giving statements.” Gideon hoped this was enough of a response to Berry’s question to calm her. “I’m certain my men and Lord Berwick will turn up soon. These things take time.”
But he was worried and grew more so as the minutes ticked by and he heard nothing.
Berry was right. Why hadn’t his men returned?
He dared not leave her side to find out.
Horace had gone out to scout the streets, but came back to report there was no sign of Lord Berwick, his carriage, the assailants, or Joss, Pudge, and Henry anywhere nearby.
As the night wore on, Gideon knew he could no longer delay reporting the incident to Lady Berwick or Berry’s staff. He sent one of his lads off to the Berwick residence with a hastily written note to assure her that they were doing everything in their power to get her husband safely returned home.
He sent another lad to report the same to Melton, and then instructed him to summon Bonham, too. With all the upheaval going on, Gideon needed his best friend to take on his share of the work at the club, at least for the next few hours while he joined in the search for Lord Berwick.
The Musket Club was their headquarters and where everyone reported to him and Bonham, but it was also their practice to personally go to each of their other clubs in the morning to make certain all was in order.
He and Bonham had established an efficient routine.
While Gideon tabulated the previous night’s take and expenses, Bonham would inventory the stock at each gaming hell, taking account of all supplies, such as the liquor, food, linens, silverware, glasses, decks of cards, chips, and the like.
This also kept those in their employ honest. In truth, most already were. But every once in a while someone succumbed to temptation and attempted to steal. Bonham was very good at sensing when something was off.
Gideon now needed him to take over the entirety of the work while he joined in the search for Berry’s beloved trustee. Hopefully, it would not require more than a morning before they fell back into their usual routine.
Berry drifted off to sleep while he waited for the doctor and Bonham to arrive. He did not know why his friend had been so keen to guard Gideon’s new home. Gideon had intended on being the one to sleep there every night, but Bonham had wanted to do it, even insisted on it.
Perhaps he needed to experience the feel of living on his own before taking a similar leap and purchasing a home for himself.
All they had ever known was the orphanage, where they’d slept twenty boys to a large room.
Their quarters at the club were only a small improvement.
They each had their own bedchamber and office.
But their suites contained no kitchen or library or parlor, just a place to sleep and a place to work above the gaming hall.
Gideon’s new residence would now be left vulnerable with Bonham on his way here and no one to guard it, but Gideon did not care. Anything stolen could be replaced. Anything damaged could be repaired.
He glanced at Berry, who was now curled up and softly crying in his bed. He dreaded leaving her for even a moment, but knew she wanted everything possible done to find Lord Berwick and get him safely back home.
Gideon noticed Berry was beginning to shiver. “Blast,” he muttered, wrapping her securely in a blanket before taking her in his arms and adding the heat of his body to keep her warm. She needed the heat, but he also needed to hold her because he was so worried about her. “Berry?”
She would not open her eyes or stop shivering.
He heard a quick rap on the door, and then Horace scurried in with Dr. Farthingale close behind. Gideon let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness.”
“What happened?” Dr. Farthingale asked, obviously surprised to find Berry in Gideon’s arms.
Gideon gently set her back upon the pillows and rose while quickly recounting what Berry had told him.
“Hawthorne? That man is bad news,” the doctor muttered, setting down his medical bag and removing a few instruments. He glanced at Berry’s arm and knees, frowned because she was still shivering, and then concentrated on her head injury. “Has she been throwing up?”
Gideon nodded. “Four times so far.”
The doctor made a noncommittal grunt in response. Gideon looked on as he roused Berry and tested her vision. “How many fingers am I holding up, Lady Berry?”
Horace was standing beside Gideon and muttered, “Thank goodness,” when Berry responded correctly. She responded well to the other vision tests, seeming able to follow the movements of the doctor’s finger with her left eye and her right.
Dr. Farthingale then proceeded to test her hearing, which also seemed good, except Berry said she still felt a ringing in her ears.
“It will pass in a few days,” he assured her.
“I have some exercises that will work if it doesn’t.
But there’ll be no exercising for you just yet. I do not want you moving about at all.”
He then tested Berry’s memory and ability to concentrate. She was a little foggy but managed to come up with the answers to his questions, some of which required memorization and retention skills.
The doctor seemed pleased and assured Gideon that she had done very well.
“Even if it took her a little while longer than usual to respond?”
“Yes, even so.”
“What do we need to do to care for her?” Gideon asked.
“Very little anyone can do. Just keep her warm and comfortable. Watch her to make certain her symptoms do not worsen. Summon me immediately if they do. She needs to rest. That is the best medicine for her. Do not allow her out of bed. No walking around until I check on her again. She hasn’t gotten her balance back yet, and might not for several days.
No lifting heavy objects—no lifting even light objects for her right now.
No reading, because even that will strain her eyes and impede her brain’s recovery. ”
Gideon was surprised. “Even reading?”
“Yes, complete rest is the most important thing her brain and body need to recover.”
“Then should I keep her here?”
Dr. Farthingale winced. “I understand your concern. Remaining here is not ideal, but I dare not have her moved just yet. The effort of getting dressed and taking a carriage ride might cause her more damage, and she’s quite fragile right now.
I think it will be at least two days before you can safely take her home. ”
“All right. My staff and I will do our best to keep her whereabouts quiet. Will you stay a little while longer, doctor?” Gideon then explained about Lord Berwick.
“I’m worried he was also hurt. But I have no idea where he is or where my men have gone.
Hawthorne may have hijacked his carriage and could be holding him hostage.
My men are likely chasing after them. But who knows?
I’d bring reinforcements if I knew where to start looking. ”
“You mentioned hiring that Bow Street investigator, Homer Barrow. I think this is an urgent enough matter to summon him immediately. He makes it his business to know everything that is going on in London.”
Gideon nodded. He had contemplated calling upon Barrow, especially as the hour passed and he had still heard nothing from Pudge, Joss, or Henry.
But as diligent as Homer Barrow was, would he be in his office in the wee hours of the morning?
And the man was due to call upon Gideon at eight o’clock this morning to start guarding Berry anyway.
It was only a matter of a few hours. But every minute counted now that Hawthorne had attacked Berry and Lord Berwick.
Bonham arrived as he was discussing the situation with Dr. Farthingale. Gideon quickly filled his friend in on all that had happened.
“Blessed saints! I’ll kill that vile Hawthorne with my bare hands.”
Gideon nodded. “You may have whatever remains of him after I am through.”
Since the doctor agreed to stay on and watch Berry for a few more hours, Gideon left Bonham in charge of the club and wasted no time in seeking out Barrow.
It was still the middle of the night, but he thought it was possible someone might be in the Bow Street office, since much of their investigative work entailed night surveillance.
Besides, he had no idea where Barrow resided. If the office was closed, Gideon would have no choice but to wait until morning to meet with him.
He had Brent bring him over in his carriage.
If there was searching to be done, they might as well tear around London in his conveyance.
Both he and Brent were handy with weapons, and he hoped the villains and scoundrels they encountered in the more dangerous areas would recognize his carriage and not cause trouble as he rode through their territory.
Gideon breathed a sigh of relief upon noticing a light burning in Barrow’s window. As it turned out, Barrow himself was there with the two men he had mentioned would be put to the task of guarding Berry.
All of them turned in surprise as Gideon walked in. Barrow rose to greet him. “What has happened to bring you here at this hour, Mr. Knight?”
Gideon quickly told them what had occurred. “And now my men have vanished and I don’t know how to track them.”
“Well, it’s Hawthorne we need to find, and that’s where we’ll come upon the others. Any idea in which direction he might have fled?”
“No, not a clue.”
“Well, let’s see.” Barrow started thinking aloud.
“Hawthorne is a leech, and has no place of his own. He relied on his family, but they’ve now thrown him out and would certainly never condone his actions tonight.
He dares not go to them, for they’ll turn him straight over to the magistrate and wish him good riddance. ”
“He travels with a group of unsavory friends,” Gideon mentioned. “Although Lady Berry could not make out their faces, she recognized Hawthorne’s voice and was certain there were three other men with him. Possibly the three wastrels he is known to keep company with.”