A Wedding In Springtime(104)

“What happened?” Grant peered into the gloom, trying to get his bearings. He was cold and damp. The light from outside was mostly blocked by boards over a high window, but in the dim light, he discovered he was sitting on a pile of rags and damp refuse. Forgetting his company, he exclaimed something almost as ugly as his surroundings.

“Are you all right?” asked Genie.

“Sorry. Forgot. Yes, I’m well. Head hurts, but it’s been hurting all day so no matter. What happened?”

“Blakely is actually a French spy who is working for Napoleon.”

“Knew there was a reason I disliked the man,” muttered Grant.

“He wants some letter with a red seal that Marchford has. I thought if I gave him the seal he would be satisfied, but he discovered the paper was blank.”

“But why did you need to bring him anything?”

“Blakely is the one who holds George’s debt.”

Grant held his head with both hands, trying to make his world stop spinning. “Who’s George?”

“My brother. Don’t you remember? I told you about him when we, uh… talked last night.”

“Remember nothing. Horribly drunk.”

“Oh. Blakely tricked my brother into betting deep and George now owes him twelve thousand pounds. Is it still considered a debt of honor if you find the man you owe is a traitor?”

“Yes, but you have license to kill him.”

“I am ashamed to say the man has inspired me to contemplate violence,” confessed Genie.

“If I see him again, I’ll do more than contemplate.” Grant felt for Genie but ran into something hard and metal. Forcing his eyes to focus, he realized he was locked in a small cage. “Genie, you need to get out of here.”

“I can’t.”

“Are you tied to the chair?” Grant could hardly see her in the dark.

“I was, but I was able to cut free with your penknife, but the cellar is locked and I cannot get out.”

Grant struggled to stand and found he could not reach his full height in the cage, which was about five-feet square. “Who keeps cages in his cellar?”

“I think he keeps children in them,” replied Genie. “He forces them to work for him.”

“What a lovely chap. Too bad there aren’t more rats. Could have been a perfect setting for seduction in one of your books.”

Genie sighed. “I always wanted to have an adventure, but I fear now all I want is to go home.”

“Very sensible. Where’s Blakely?”

“You’ll not like it. Blakely sent an urchin to give Marchford a message to meet him in Hyde Park with the letter tonight. They plan to exchange us for the letter.”

Grant slammed the cage door trying to break free. There must be a way out. He was concerned for Marchford and for his own skin, but the thought of what unscrupulous people might do to Genie unleashed within him cold panic. “Genie, you must find a way out.”

“I’ve tried. There is none.”

“Try again!” he shouted in an uncharacteristic show of anger. He needed to get her to safety. He needed to know she would be well more than he needed his next breath. “I’m sorry, but I cannot live in this world without you.”

The cellar was silent for a moment. “Truly?” asked Genie in a small voice.

“Truly.”

“I did not expect to see you again. I thought you had taken me into dislike.”

“Dislike? No, how could I?” Grant pushed against the solid bars as if it were possible to squeeze though. “I called on your house early this morning, but you had gone.”

“Did you?” Genie reached out a cold hand through the bars of the cage and Grant took it and held tight. “You… you wished to speak with me?”

“Of course. This morning when I saw you, all I wanted was to put you back where you belonged. I was afraid at what I had done.”

“You didn’t do anything. I came to you to accept your offer and gain your support to pay my brother’s debt.”

“Had I been anything other than dreadfully cup-shot, I would have marched you home and still paid your brother’s debts.”

“Really?” It had never occurred to Genie that Grant would give away such a large amount without asking anything in return.

“Give you anything.” Drunk or sober, Grant meant every word.