Chapter Thirteen
Jamie had arrived at the Black Dog early, after making one more stop on the way to chase a lead on Jackson. Like the others, it had come to nothing.
Every instinct in him rebelled at the sight of Lady Alice in a place like this.
It was dirty, loud, and crawling with danger.
But experience told him that ordering her to leave would be a waste of breath.
Even on short acquaintance, he already knew she was the sort of woman who did exactly as she pleased.
One of his sisters was the same. He’d spent a lot of time with Briar growing up, following her around and then extracting her from the trouble she sometimes fell in.
Jamie felt a small measure of relief that her large, surly footman was at least keeping her company, but if anything went wrong and they got into a fight with a handful of men, then what would happen to her? The thought made him go cold.
One look in her eyes when they’d met outside and Jamie had known she was not as calm as she wanted him to believe. But she held herself still, unlike one of his sisters who waved her hands about when agitated.
He slid into the seat opposite the man Lady Alice had said was awaiting her. She took the space next to him, and Ezra stood, arms folded, and glared from beside her, effectively blocking her from leaving until he was ready for her to do so. Good man.
“You sent word you wished to speak to me, Huckle?”
Jamie, who had been looking around them, snapped his gaze back to the man across from them.
“Huckle?” He was almost unrecognizable from the boy who had once collected their laundry daily at Blackwood Hall.
He was losing his hair and had lines on his face that had not been there when last they’d seen each other.
But it was his height that shocked Jamie the most. He’d been small as a child, but now he was tall, with broad shoulders.
“Aye, ’tis I, Lord Stafford.” Huckle bobbed his head.
Jamie looked at Lady Alice and then back to the man who had taken beatings right alongside him, and no doubt they had continued after Jamie, Anthony, and Toby’s had ceased.
They’d shielded him as best they could, and yet had been unable to save him completely.
He’d then been moved to different lodgings and they’d not seen much of him after that.
“I—you’re well?” Jamie didn’t know what else to say in that moment, because he was suddenly ridiculously pleased to see the man before him. Like him and his friends, Huckle had survived, it seemed. But, he was sure, also like him, Huckle had memories that haunted him too.
“I am, thank you, Lord Stafford, but I’d be better if you found that”—he shot Lady Alice a look—“nasty individual, and rid the world of him.”
“Agreed,” Lady Alice said. “What news do you have for us, Huckle?”
“You work for Lady Alice?” Jamie asked, ignoring her.
Huckle nodded. “I have been searching for him on her behalf, my lord. In between working with my father, and I think I may have something.”
“What business does your father have, Huckle?”
“He is a corn chandler, my lord.”
Jamie wasn’t entirely certain why a sense of ease settled over him upon learning that Huckle now worked with his father, weighing and measuring dry goods for households.
Yet it did. He had thought of the boy often—one among many who had suffered—and wondered what had become of him. Now, at last, he knew.
“Excellent. Where is the business located?”
Lady Alice waited patiently while Huckle gave him the address. Jamie would from now on ensure his and his friends’ households got their supplies from there.
“Now, tell us what information you found, Huckle?” Jamie asked.
She didn’t flick her fingers or move in her seat, because he would have felt her, as their legs were brushing in the cramped seat. Lady Alice had her hands settled in her lap and watched Huckle as Jamie did.
He smelled her scent above the stale ale and myriad of other unpleasant odors. Soft, and floral.
“I’ve been hearing some things coming out of somewhere.” Huckle’s eyes dropped to his hands that were clenched before him on the table.
“If you have something to say, please say it, Huckle. My sensibilities are not delicate. If they were, I would not be even now sitting here in this tavern,” Lady Alice said.
“You’ll pardon me for saying so, Lady Alice, but some things a lady should just not hear,” Huckle said.
“Are you convinced he is still in London, Huckle?” Jamie asked before she could speak again and deny those words.
“I am. And I heard about a place—” his eyes shot to Alice again before he continued, “—it’s a place of vices…ah, you can get any needs met there.”
And suddenly Jamie knew exactly what the man spoke of. He knew of these places where men could go to act out whatever fantasy they wished. He met Huckle’s eyes, and a look of understanding passed between them.
“What are you not telling me?” Lady Alice demanded. “You are sharing a look.”
“I will explain later. Now, continue your story, Huckle.”
Thankfully, she did as Jamie asked, but he sensed her frustration at being left in the dark and knew she would be questioning him about the matter soon. Lady Alice was not one to let things slide.
“I’ve managed to make contacts myself around London.
Often I do my father’s deliveries, and when I do, I talk to people.
Two of the places are near this location.
Servants gossip, and I heard that there have now been three instances of women being attacked by a man while they… when he was with them.”
“But surely Jackson is not the only man who would behave in such a way around women?” Lady Alice said.
Jamie wasn’t sure why those words sent a chill down his spine, but they did.
Had someone mistreated her? The thought of anyone touching this woman, or any woman for that matter, made him angry.
Yet, he knew it happened, just as it had happened to the Blackwood boys when they were young and helpless.
If Huckle was right, and these women were harmed in one of these dens of depravity, then it must be bad indeed, as Jamie knew what went on in those places, and they were not for the faint of heart.
“My reasons for believing it is Jackson are that when I spoke with one of the staff at the den, the description fit him. They did not mention his name, but I’m convinced.”
Lady Alice drummed her fingers on the table before speaking. “But surely you have not seen him in many years?”
Huckle met Jamie’s gaze. “The women he hurt said his laugh was strange,” he added quietly. “That was how they knew it was him.”
Jamie felt every muscle tighten. The memory struck hard. He remembered that laugh.
“They described it,” Huckle went on, “as something like a foghorn—loud, harsh, and in short, awful bursts.”
Jackson had moved on from the charity school pupils to a brothel, it seemed.
And just like that, Jamie was back at Blackwood Hall in his mind.
The sound of Kenneth Jackson’s laughter as he inflicted punishment on the boy on his knees before him.
He hadn’t realized he’d made a sound until he felt fingers on the hand he had clenched on his thigh.
The smaller ones wrapped around the top of his fist and squeezed.
It had the effect of jerking Jamie from his nightmare.
“There were other factors, but to me that was the most telling.”
“What other factors, Huckle?” Lady Alice asked, her hand still resting on top of Jamie’s.
He moved his thumb, placing it on top of hers, and holding it there. He needed that, to be anchored to someone, anyone would have done, but it was her, and he wasn’t letting go.
If I’m touching her, I won’t go back there.
“He has a slight lisp, and his hair is thinning,” Huckle added.
“I’m shocked he still has any.” Jamie forced the words out of his mouth. Made himself speak.
That man will not hurt me again. Cannot hurt me, he reminded himself. I’m the strong one, and he’s weak.
The words made the side of Huckle’s mouth curve up slightly in a smile.
“I’d hoped he got a wasting disease and died a slow and painful death. Alas, that has not happened,” Jamie added.
“We’ll finish him.”
“Aye, Huckle, we will.” Jamie raised his tankard. “When was the last report of him in this location you speak of?”
“I’m unsure, but it can’t have been long ago, because I was there just last week.”
Jamie nodded, and then questioned Huckle until he was sure he had everything he knew. Lady Alice had removed her hand minutes ago, and Jamie had to say he missed the contact, which surprised him.
Yes, he’d kissed the woman, but they’d both explained that away with him feeling an excess of excitement after his fight. Now, he wasn’t so sure, and would go so far as saying that he believed Lady Alice was going to become a problem for him.
“It’s good to see you again, my lord.”
“You also, Huckle.” Jamie handed him some money.
“I can pay—”
“And now I have,” he cut Lady Alice off. “Good evening, Huckle, and I’m pleased to have met you again.”
He watched him leave, slipping through the patrons toward the door.
“You first, Ezra,” Jamie said. “We shall follow.”
Lady Alice didn’t like it when anyone but her gave the orders. But, as he was now involved in this, she would have to get used to that. He placed a hand on her spine and moved her into place between him and Ezra. She shot him a look, but stayed silent.
“What are you about?” The words came from a woman approaching Lady Alice from the right.
“Step back, please. We’re leaving,” Jamie said evenly. When the woman didn’t move, his voice hardened. “Now.”
“There’s enough women here already. We don’t need another!
” she snarled, sending the sharp tang of gin fumes their way.
Her lips were painted an unnatural pink, and a large black beauty spot marred her cheek.
Once, she might have been called pretty, but her face now bore the weary marks of a hard life.
“I am no threat to you,” Lady Alice said quickly. “Move, please.”
The woman sneered and shoved her. Alice stumbled, colliding with Jamie’s chest. Her body was rigid with fear when he steadied her.
“Please don’t touch me!” Lady Alice’s anguished cry came out high-pitched and panicky as the woman drew back a fist.
At his employer’s scream, Ezra turned. The woman lurched into a man, who stumbled into another. Outrage bellowed through the room, and fists began to fly.
“Get her out!” Jamie roared. Too late. The Black Dog had descended into chaos.
A fist whistled past Jamie’s ear, and he turned to face the deliverer. A man was grinning at him drunkenly. Jamie punched him, and his eyes rolled back in his head and he toppled, like a felled tree, scattering those behind him.
Another shriek split the air, and Jamie’s gaze immediately sought Lady Alice.
The woman who had pushed her earlier was back, her hands locked around Lady Alice’s arms. Before Jamie could reach them, Lady Alice twisted sharply, breaking free, and this time it was she who sent the woman stumbling back with another forceful shove.
Ezra was alternately trying to care for his mistress and fight.
“Make for the door, Ezra!” Jamie bellowed. He then spun Lady Alice and dropped his shoulder. When he straightened, she was dangling over it.
“What are you doing?” she cried.
“Run!” Jamie roared.
Ezra did, pushing people out of the way with his large hands and lashing out with his feet. Jamie had one hand free, so he did the best he could. Reaching the door, they ran through and out into the smog and cold air.
“Put me down!”
He didn’t until they were a few feet from the Black Dog. Only then did he lower her gently to the ground.
“I’ll get the carriage,” Ezra said.
Jamie heard the steady thud of his feet as he ran away from them. Clearly Lady Alice’s footman felt Jamie could keep her in good health until he returned.
“How dare you!” She pushed Jamie hard in the chest. He didn’t move, instead deliberately intimidating her by leaning closer.
“You should not have pushed that woman, Lady Alice. You should have walked away.”
“And you should not have thrown me over your shoulder again!”
Her eyes were a little wild and angry, and Jamie had to say it added another level to her beauty. What did it say about him that looking at this woman, with her bonnet sitting crooked and her cheeks flushed, aroused him.
“I needed to get you out of there fast, because what is going on inside the Black Dog is not something a lady of gentle breeding, such as yourself, should be witness to. A stray fist could have flattened you or worse.”
“I can take care of myself, my lord, and have been doing so for many years. I need no man to ensure my safety.” The words were spat at him like they tasted foul. “Never manhandle me in such a way again.”
“And how,” Jamie said with deadly calm, “would you have done that in such a place if Ezra and I had not been there? You were bloody terrified. I heard that scream. It was panicked.”
“I would have found a way.” Her chin lifted. “And I was not panicked.”
“Are you always this ignorant to the dangers around you?”
Jamie raked his eyes over her face, taking in every delicate inch. The line of her small nose and the curve of her chin. He then reached up to right the angle of her bonnet. Her hands slapped at his.
“Don’t touch me,” she hissed.
He grabbed her wrists, holding them to his chest. “Who hurt you?”
Of all the words he could have asked, those were the ones that came out of his mouth?
“Wh-what?” She tried to back away but he held her close.
“Who hurt you, Lady Alice?” Jamie knew when someone was hiding pain, just like he knew the signs of someone who had been harmed by another. When you suffered, you recognized it in others.