Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
When the carriage stopped, Bramstone Nightingale stepped out first and then held out a hand for Eliza.
Shock had her staring at it for seconds before a nudge in the back had her taking it and stepping down.
The other occupants followed until they were all outside, facing the gray stone building set slightly back from the road.
People milled about, and some dodged around their small group. A few sent them curious looks.
Eliza ignored the wind whipping down the road and catching the hems of coats and headwear. Inside that building was the Scotsman who had rescued her. She had to do this to repay him for his bravery.
“Well now, this looks suspicious. What trouble have you lot gotten into this time? I swear you’re as bad as our family.”
The man who had spoken had the greenest eyes of anyone she’d ever seen before.
“Mungo has been arrested,” Lord Seddon said. “We are going to retrieve him.”
“Has he, by God,” the man said. He then turned and looked at the watchhouse. “I see him. He’s well, his aura a lovely shade of mint green.”
Eliza looked at the building and saw no sign of the large Scotsman. What was the man talking about? His eyes appeared clear, but then, she’d been fooled before. Mint green? Very odd.
“I am Captain Sinclair,” he then said, smiling at Eliza. “I’m introducing myself, as these Nightingales are sadly lacking in manners, it seems.”
Eliza remembered hearing that name before.
It had been as she was about to enter one of the drawing rooms in the Ellington townhouse.
The baron and Mr. Parson had been discussing people called the Sinclairs and Ravens.
He’d said they were a disgrace to society and only tolerated because they had two powerful peers in their ranks. Was this man one of those Sinclairs?
“Our new governess, Miss Downing,” Lord Seddon said, shocking Eliza by introducing her. She was usually relegated to the background, where she was to be seen and not heard.
“Now the formalities are out of the way, tell us, what is afoot?” Captain Sinclair asked.
“Miss Downing was leaving Ellington’s house, as her employment had finished—”
“I can’t imagine it was easy working close to that vile man,” Captain Sinclair said, “and from what I gather, that son of his is the same.”
“The son was the problem. He followed her outside, because apparently Miss Downing had the good sense to run in the opposite direction whenever he came near before that day,” Bramstone Nightingale said.
“Mungo heard her scream for help as the cad had grabbed her. He punched Parson and then foolishly told him his name, and now he—and his father, is my guess—have laid charges,” Bramstone added in summation.
“Not that Mungo told us any of this, of course.”
“And you lot are going in there to retrieve the Scottish Grump?” the captain asked.
“Exactly,” Lord Seddon said.
“Well, not that I don’t respect all of you equally, but in this, I think you need another nobleman in your corner, and as I’ve just taken tea and eaten the best scones with jam and cream in London, I’m ready and able to aid you,” Captain Sinclair said.
“It’s the least I can do, considering you’ve hosted my family at several weddings,” he added.
“When is the next one, by the way? We love Crabbett Close and the locals, and you Nightingales aren’t too bad either. ”
“Where did you go for the scones—”
“Alex!” Lord Seddon snapped.
“Right, sorry. There will be no more weddings for a while, as Theodore has only just entered society.”
“A staff member, perhaps?” Captain Sinclair said, looking at Eliza. “Mint green is indeed a lovely color.”
“You are looking a little shocked, Miss Downing, but I assure you all will go well. My uncle and aunt are wonderful people, as are the heathens you are tasked with molding into acceptable debutantes,” Lord Seddon said. “The Sinclair family are harmless too,” he added with a gentle smile.
She nodded, which she’d been doing a lot of since meeting these people.
“Well then,” Bramstone Nightingale said, holding the door open for her. “Let’s get our Scotsman back.”
The watchhouse’s interior was as drab as she’d expected.
Plain walls the color of old porridge, a single narrow window that let in more chill than light, and a lingering scent of damp.
Looking around, she thought the place could do with brightening up but doubted any man who spent his days in here cared about its appearance.
The man behind the desk rose as they approached and studied them, wide-eyed. She didn’t blame him for that reaction, as Eliza herself thought the people surrounding her looked formidable.
“I want to speak to the person in charge at once, please,” Bramstone Nightingale said. “We are here regarding Mr. Mungo Fraser, who is being charged for assault.”
“Well now, the charges against him are serious—”
“If you don’t do as I say at once, I will be bringing my brother-in-law the Duke of Raven along to see you toe the line, Constable,” Captain Sinclair said.
“And the other lords you have in your family. Don’t forget them, Wolf,” Alexander Nightingale said.
That threat seemed to galvanize the man, and he left without another word.
Eliza didn’t know Mungo Fraser well, only what he’d done for her. But surely he was a good man if all these people were here to help free him. She’d never been in such exalted company and, to be honest, had never wished to.
Eliza had heard many stories about nobleman, and when she’d worked in their houses, she’d seen for herself what some of them were capable of doing. She couldn’t say all were bad, but many believed themselves a great deal better than those who served them.
They did not have to wait long for the man to return with another, who had a thick moustache and broad shoulders. The top of his head came to Bramstone Nightingale’s chin, which meant he was a great deal smaller than all the men present.
“I am Sergeant Haversham. How may I help you today?”
“Sergeant Haversham, I am Mr. Bramstone Nightingale, and I want my friend Mr. Fraser released at once.”
“I’m afraid there has been a serious allegation leveled against Mr. Fraser that we cannot ignore, Mr. Nightingale.” His expression was calm as he spoke and a little smug.
“They are lies perpetrated, I know, by Baron Ellington and his son, Mr. Parson, who has hated my family for many years.”
The man tensed at Bramstone Nightingale’s words.
“If Mr. Fraser is not released, then things will become very difficult for you, Sergeant Haversham. Especially when the truth comes out.”
“We do not take kindly to threats, Mr. Nightingale,” the sergeant said, rather bravely to Eliza’s mind, considering who stood before him.
“Allow me to intervene, Uncle. I am Viscount Seddon, and am disgusted by the treatment of a man respected by my family. A friend who was taken from his home like a criminal. If”—he put emphasis on that word—“he is not released at once, then be prepared for hell to rain down upon you, sir.”
“And I am Captain Sinclair, Sergeant Haversham, and I fought to ensure this country did not fall, and I did not do so to see injustices such as this one carried out. You will release our friend at once, or every nobleman of our acquaintance will be in this watchhouse by day’s end.”
Sergeant Haversham was now looking nervous.
“My brother-in-law is a detective at Scotland Yard. You may have heard of him. His name is Grayson Fletcher, and he will want to know what proof you have of this assault, Sergeant,” Mr. Alexander Nightingale said.
“Well—as to that—”
“Excuse me,” Eliza said, and the Nightingale brothers parted to let her into their line.
“Who are you?” the sergeant demanded.
“You’ll want to adjust that tone when speaking to a lady, Sergeant,” Bramstone Nightingale said.
“My name is Miss Eliza Downing, and I was employed by Mr. Parson to work as a governess for his two daughters. He was abusive toward me and the staff constantly while I was in his employment, so much so that I hid whenever he was near. When I left on my last day of work, Mr. Parson was awaiting me outside.” She looked at Lord Seddon, and he gave her a gentle smile of encouragement.
“You are safe,” he leaned in to whisper in her ear. “He won’t touch you again.”
The words had her exhaling slowly before continuing.
“He grabbed me and threw me to the ground.”
Where Sergeant Haversham’s face was flushed with color before, it was now pale.
“I had no doubt of his intentions toward me, and he would have succeeded were it not for Mr. Fraser.”
“I think we need to pay Parson a visit,” Mr. Alexander Nightingale said.
“Agreed,” the other men said.
Eliza felt their support wrap around her. She didn’t know these men, but they believed her and were willing to stand by her while she said what she must. It was humbling. Yes, they were here for Mr. Mungo Fraser, but still, it felt good to be believed. To feel as if her word meant something.
“Now, I want Mr. Fraser released at once,” Bramstone Nightingale said, “or we will put our words into action, Sergeant. Clearly someone had a word in another’s ear, which is why Mungo has been arrested, but for now, his release will appease us.
If you make us wait, it may not, and we will be digging deeper into this injustice. ”
Sergeant Haversham fled.
“‘Allow me to intervene. I am Viscount Seddon.’” The tone was mocking, and came from Alexander Nightingale.
“Even without a title, I’ll always be better than you, Alex.”
“That will do,” Bramstone Nightingale said with what Eliza thought was practiced ease.
“It’s like I’m standing in the parlor of one of our houses,” Captain Sinclair said. “That’s exactly how we speak to each other. Do you think Ellington has the magistrate in his pocket, or is the pocket his son’s?” he then asked.
“My money’s on Ellington. Sniveling weasel has friends in high places who are equally corrupt,” Bramstone Nightingale said. “His son is following in his footsteps, but I’ve not heard a great deal about him.”
“There are three men, including Haversham, in a room,” Captain Sinclair said, looking at a wall. “One has the same colors as Ellington. I always know the colors of my enemies’, as well as those of my friends. He’s a nasty shade of sludge brown.”
No one questioned this odd statement, but Bramstone Nightingale stepped into the doorway through which Sergeant Haversham had fled.
He then cupped his hands around his mouth and roared, “I know you’re there, Ellington, and my advice to you is run, because when I’m done with you, there will be nothing left. I’ll destroy you!”
“I’m always really impressed when he’s mean because he’s so soft with all of us usually,” Mr. Alexander Nightingale said as if conversing over the dinner table.
“Ellington’s leaving. Running,” Captain Sinclair said.
Eliza wondered what she’d strayed into, but she would think about that later. Right now, she needed to ensure that the man who had saved her was freed.