Seeing Danger (Sinclair and Raven #2)(47)

She couldn't afford to ignore the message if a child was in danger, yet what if it were dangerous for her, or a trap of some sort? She would have Bee and Wilson with her, so she should be quite safe Lilly reasoned.

She hurried to her carriage with Bee on her heels.

“Jane Street, Wilson,” Lilly said before she climbed inside.

“Is it a child, miss?”

“Yes, Bee. It says we are to go to Jane Street, as there is a child in trouble, and it was signed by Toby.”

“Toby can't write though, miss.”

“I know, but why would anyone else send me a note if there were not a very real danger?” Lilly said. “No, I must take a look. I will think of little else otherwise.”

The day was a gray one, but as yet no rain had fallen. When the carriage halted, Lilly stepped down into Jane Street.

“We will not be long, Barnabos,” Lilly told the driver as Wilson joined her and Bee on the street.

“'Tis not the best street in London, Miss Braithwaite,” Wilson said as they began walking down it.

“No indeed,” Lilly agreed. Looking around, she saw rickety old buildings that she was sure housed small children who wanted shelter for the night. London was full of such places. “I don't believe I've been here before, Wilson.”

“It's not a place I'm overly familiar with, Miss Braithwaite. Perhaps you should wait in the carriage with Bee, and I'll find the child.”

As the last word left her footman's mouth, Lilly felt icy fear grip her body. “We need to leave here; something is not right.”

They came from the buildings. Five men; Lilly and her servants had no chance of escape. She struggled as a man grabbed her, and watched in horror as Bee was thrown to the ground and Wilson knocked over the head with a piece of wood, his body crumpling at her feet. Desperate, she fought, but they were too strong. She was lifted, her hands and feet bound, and then a sack was lowered over her head and she was suddenly in her worst nightmare. Alone in the dark.



Dev had walked around the ballroom several times and had still not found Lilly. Bracing himself against a wall, he resorted to his other vision to find her. Color was suddenly all around him, but he forced himself to focus, breathing in and out slowly. He could do this, subject himself to this, for her. Where the hell was she?

He'd been uneasy all day, as if he were coming down with something, or something monumental were about to happen to him or his family. But as the minutes ticked away, Dev had a feeling it was to do with Lilly.

She was nowhere in sight and after an hour of checking rooms, the feelings began to intensify. She hadn't arrived at all, because he had asked the servant who announced the guests, and yet he knew she’d been planning to attend, because she had told Essex of her intentions.

“That scowl is scaring the ladies. What has your hackles up this evening, brother?”

Changing his vision, he looked at Cam.

“Have you seen Lilly?”

“No.”

“Something's not right.”

“Why do you say that?” Cam straightened from his habitual slouch, eyes intent as he looked at Dev. The Sinclairs understood each other, and their heightened senses fired if one of them sensed danger.

“I don't know, something just feels off,” Dev said, shrugging as if he could shake the unease from his body. “I have looked everywhere and in both visions, and still I cannot see her.

“You used your other sight here, with all this color? Are you all right? Why the hell did you not find me first?”

“I am fine, don't fuss. I have the same feeling I had when Eden was kidnapped, Cam.”

“And you are sure it relates to Lilly?”

“I am.”

“Is there any chance she simply chose not to attend this evening?”

“Yes, there is that chance. Yet it's my belief she has met with foul play, but I have no idea why I believe that.”

Cam didn't question him further. Dev's tone told him that his concern was very real, and if the Sinclairs knew one thing about each other, it was to respect their intuition.

“Her brother is here, in the card room.”

“I'll go,” Dev said, knowing how much Cam hated going into such a place now. It had once beckoned to him, and he still felt the lure upon occasion, so he stayed away.

“And I shall check once more to see if she actually arrived here tonight, and then left.”

Dev nodded and then headed for the card room. His clothes felt uncomfortable, as if lined by hair, and his throat tight.

Lilly, where the hell are you?

Nicholas Braithwaite was sitting at a table with four men when Dev walked in. He looked up and smiled as Dev approached. The smile was insolent and instantly set his teeth on edge.

“Lord Sinclair, have you come to play, seeing as your brother cannot be trusted to?”

As far as taunts went it was said more in the tone of jest, yet all present knew the intent behind Braithwaite's words was to insult. Nicholas had never forgiven Dev for removing Cam from his influence before the man had broken his brother completely.

“I would like to speak with you alone, Braithwaite. I shall need only a few minutes of your time.”

“I say, Sinclair, we are in the middle of a hand here, can't it wait?” one of the men said.