Chapter Twelve
Wayne’s head throbbed, and the pain blaring through him made him weak. He prayed his wound wasn’t still bleeding. Losing too much blood could kill him.
But at this moment, he couldn’t worry about his head.
Slowly, one by one, the men who worked for Lord Penrose were becoming tired.
Harold didn’t notice that the boys were sitting down on the job, but Wayne was just relieved that nothing horrid had happened yet.
Since Regina left the room with Jane, all Harold had wanted to do was pace the floor and scowl.
The earl stopped in front of Wayne’s chair again, giving him the evil eye as he scrubbed his clean-shaven face.
“What do the Bow Street Runners know of my business?” Harold snapped.
“Nothing,” Wayne lied. “We don’t arrest people until we find proof of their illegal actions.” He didn’t want to let the earl know that because the Runners saw Harold on the waterfront several times a week for no reason, that had moved him up on the suspect list.
“I don’t believe you.”
The earl scratched his chin and shifted from one foot to the other. Wayne knew this was a sign of restlessness, which was another effect that the poison had before it finally took over the body and mind.
“Believe what you want.” Wayne shrugged. “Because you are going to doubt everything I say, just as I won’t believe you.”
“Well, no matter. We must get rid of you. I cannot have witnesses alive.”
Wayne wasn’t sure how much poison Regina had given the earl, but it didn’t appear to be working as quickly as it was on the other men.
Then again, perhaps the earl’s body was more accustomed to taking opium.
If that were the case, Harold would be more alert.
Wayne’s life would be worthless if that happened.
“Lawrence,” Harold called for one of his men, snapping his fingers and pointing toward Wayne. “You and Boswell carry Mr. Worthington back out to my carriage. We need to take him to the waterfront and dump him in the water.”
Harold paused for a few moments, not taking his eyes off Wayne.
But when the two men didn’t jump to the earl’s command, Harold huffed and turned to look at the others.
The earl’s attention moved from one man to the other he before released a loud gasp.
He swung back toward Wayne. The man’s face was fiery red.
“How did they…” Harold shook his head. “My men are intoxicated with my drug.”
“Indeed, they are, my lord.” Wayne hated to use the man’s title only because the man’s illegal actions took away the privilege.
It only took seconds before Harold’s eyes widened, and he pointed toward the door. “Regina did this.”
Wayne’s chest swelled with pride. He didn’t know how Regina had found out, but he was grateful for her assistance, nonetheless. “It was Regina, yes.”
“How did she know?”
Wayne shrugged again. “I wish I knew. Then again, she is an intelligent woman. She probably figured out that Jane was the one who poisoned her the night of the Montagues’ ball.
Knowing how clever that woman is, she probably followed you or Jane to the warehouse.
After all, when she has questions, she will stop at nothing until they are answered. ”
Smiling, he recalled how wonderful it had been when she wouldn’t leave him alone until he had told her about the poison.
Harold blew out a gust of air from his mouth. “That is most unfortunate. I have loved Regina as a daughter for many years. But now, she must die beside you.”
Anger boiled inside Wayne quickly. He wouldn’t give the earl the chance. Of course, at the moment, he wasn’t certain how to stop the titled lord, especially since his head still swam from his injury.
The man’s gaze narrowed on Wayne again, and he stepped closer. “You think to be in love with the girl.”
Wayne nodded. “I can’t think of anything else. She makes me smile and laugh. I want to be with her constantly.” He almost added that it was Harold who’d made it possible for Wayne to fall in love with Regina, but he didn’t want to give the man any credit for that.
“Well, sadly, you and Regina will not be together unless it’s in Heaven.”
It irritated Wayne to think that all of Harold’s men had nearly passed out, and yet the earl didn’t show signs of feeling dizzy at all.
Regardless, the odds of Wayne taking control over this situation were better now.
Although his head injury took away some of his strength, he would find other ways to fight the man.
Wayne would not allow the earl to lay one finger on Regina!
With a loud growl, Wayne made his move. Keeping his head low, he barreled into the earl, knocking them both to the floor. Air whooshed out of Harold’s mouth, and he started coughing as though he couldn’t catch his breath.
Wayne sat up enough to bunch up his hand and hit Harold square in the face. The man screamed and covered his nose. The dizziness continued to fill Wayne’s head, but he kept using the earl as a punching bag.
Suddenly, someone grabbed Wayne’s arms and yanked him away from Harold. Wayne landed on his back, which made his head wound worse. He grumbled, wishing he had more strength as he tried pulling himself in an upright position again.
The room around him spun out of control. Wayne closed his eyes and prayed that he wouldn’t lose consciousness. A voice he recognized muddled through the fog in his brain, making him once again try to open his eyes and see.
Finally, the objects in the room were clear, as were the people. Randolph Donley, Wayne’s friend at the Bow Street Runners, knelt beside Harold, holding a handkerchief to the earl’s bloody nose.
“Arrest that man,” Wayne shouted. “I have found the proof of his illegal activities.”
Donley’s eyes widened as his gaze jumped between Harold and Wayne. The Runner shook his head and looked back at Harold.
“What is he talking about?” Donley asked the earl.
Harold grumbled, “The man knows about the warehouse and sweet nectar.”
It didn’t matter how much Wayne’s head spun in different directions—he knew betrayal when it hit him in the face and made his gut churn. “Donley? Are you involved some way with the earl?”
Donley shrugged. “He pays me well to watch the docks. I’m his eyes and ears. That is all.”
“That is all?” Wayne’s voice lifted as anger filled him.
“I would think that giving information to the man is enough to consider you an accomplice, which in my eyes, makes you as corrupt as the Meyers family.” He stood, even if it made him dizzier.
But something needed to be done about these criminals, and he was the only one with authority to make arrests.
“Donley, you are a fool if you think you’ll get away with this. ”
Slowly Donley stood and withdrew his pistol, pointing it at Wayne.
“It appears that I am the one with the weapon, not you.” He grinned.
“So, I will get away with this because Lord Penrose and I will take you to the docks, as he suggested.” He glanced at the rest of the men, all in a stupor.
“Since the others appear to have taken the sweet nectar being made, I’m sure the earl and I can handle a weakling like you, Worthington, now that you are injured. ”
If only Donley stood closer, Wayne would shove his fist into the man’s face as he’d done with the earl. Sadly, the man was correct. Wayne couldn’t fight two men in his condition.
He lifted his hands in surrender. “Then let me suggest you hurry and take me to the waterfront. I cannot stand the painful throbbing in my head, and I don’t want to feel it anymore.”
Donley and the earl exchanged surprised looks. Wayne was sure they expected him to fight, but he didn’t think there was any left in him. Then again, with Harold free to do his business, Regina was still in danger. If Wayne couldn’t protect her, who would?
Harold rose to his feet, still holding his bloody nose as he glared at Wayne. The earl didn’t appear as dignified now. If only the ton could see Harold and his selfish daughter now.
“My lord? Are you able to walk?” Donley asked.
“I’ll be in the carriage, you dolt. I’ll be fine.” Harold motioned with his hand. “Let’s go.”
Wayne walked slowly toward the parlor’s door, only because going too fast would cause him to be ill.
It was bad enough he felt as though he had drunk the sweet nectar, as Donley had called it.
He reached the door and placed his hand on the knob.
Silently, he groaned. He couldn’t allow these criminals to take him out of here. But what else could he do?
Expelling a deep breath, he opened the door. The corridor seemed to swim in front of him, and the glare from the sun’s brightness coming through the windows nearly blinded him. He stopped again, closing his eyes.
Donley pressed the tip of the pistol against Wayne’s back. “Get going. We do not have time to wait for your slowness.”
Wayne blinked and stepped into the corridor. His legs trembled as he turned toward the front door.
Immediately, he heard a loud thud and then the groan of Donley mere seconds before he crumpled to the ground.
Wayne spun around, not caring that the room swayed again, and although his vision was still unclear, he recognized Regina holding the empty wine bottle, standing over Donley’s unconscious form.
Before Wayne had time to react, she bent and picked up the pistol that had been in Donley’s hand. She stepped in front of Harold and pointed it toward him.
“Forgive me, my lord, but I cannot allow you to take the man I have fallen in love with down to the waterfront to kill him.”
Harold gasped and turned his attention to the inside of the parlor. Wayne suspected the man was searching for someone to help him. Thankfully, nobody could.
Being extremely careful, Wayne bent and withdrew the Derringer that Donley usually kept in his suit-coat pocket, aiming it at Harold.
He sighed and glanced briefly at Regina. “You’ve saved my life twice now.”