The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(63)

Lady Merton pulled her husband away and after a hushed discussion said, “We’ll follow them. Merton suggests we stay at the Star and Garter.”

She crossed the street into the house, and Merton started issuing orders to his coachman.

“My lord.” The footman named Hal cringed. “Jemmy jumped on the back of the coach.”

“This is getting to be a habit of his,” Con mumbled. And not a good one for a lad who was only six.

Less than five minutes later, he and Charlotte were on their way toward the Richmond Road.

Charlotte held on to the side as Constantine threaded the phaeton through the morning traffic. The moment he had recognized the villain, his expression had hardened into stone.

“Thank you for agreeing I could come.”

“If anyone has a right to be there, you do.” He glanced at her for a brief moment. “This time we’ll catch her and turn her over to the magistrate.”

“I hope we get there in time.” She could imagine how frightened the young woman was. “Why would she pick a female who was just visiting? How would she even have found out about her?”

Con was quiet for a few minutes as he negotiated the carriage between a milk wagon and a large coach. “It’s possible that she is procuring for individuals. She doesn’t seem to have a brothel to take them to. Otherwise she’d use that instead of country inns.”

She took a large breath. Surely, he could not mean what she thought. “You mean she supplies . . .”

“In a word, yes. Someone has a desire, and she finds the person to fulfill it. In this case, that customer may have wanted Miss Cloverly.” He dodged a vegetable cart. “The question I have now is why did she abduct you?”

Charlotte shook her head. “We always thought it was for revenge.”

He looked at her again. “Then why not Lady Merton? Her husband was involved. Or your sister Louisa, or Lady Worthington?”

That was a good question. Grace and Dotty had been there when Matt and Merton had ruined the woman’s brothel. Why her indeed? “I wish I knew.”

“Well, when we find her, we’ll ask.” The traffic was finally thinning. “Did you bring your basket?”

“Yes, your groom put it under the seat.”

“Does it include the kitten this time?”

She could not tell from his tone if he would be upset about her cat coming or not. She pulled a face and nodded. Collette had refused to be left behind. Even Dotty was unable to detach her from Charlotte’s pelisse without ruining the fabric. “I’m afraid so. She was adamant that she stay with me. She must have sensed my-my . . . that I was upset.”

“It’s not a problem. I shall simply have to remember not to stick my hand in the basket without giving her warning first.” Constantine’s tone was dry, but the corner of his mouth twitched.

She bit back a smile as they turned onto the Richmond Road. The tension in the air was palpable, but it was around them, not between them. She supposed it was because they were a team, acting in concert with each other. And he had trusted her enough to bring her with him. She had been prepared to argue with him and anyone else who tried to stop her from going, but he had made it easy for her brother to agree.

“Look, straight ahead of us past the landau.” She pointed, although there was really no need. “That’s Jemmy on the back of the coach.”

“So it is.” A slow smile formed on his lips. The ones that felt so good when they were kissing her. “We’ll just stay back here.”

Jemmy waved, letting them know he saw them too. “I’m really going to have to have a discussion with him about jumping on carriages,” she said more to herself than Constantine. “At least he should have some money with him this time.”

“Why do you say that?” Constantine glanced at her again.

“You gave him largess. The amount was significantly more than what he had to pay for the stage coach and hackney.”

“He is an enterprising young lad.” His tone was thoughtful and she wished she knew what he was thinking.

“Yes, he is. He was going to offer you the amount left over, but I told him you would want him to keep it.”

“That turned out to be a good decision.” Constantine took the ribbons in one hand and briefly covered her fingers with his. “We’ll make sure both he and Miss Cloverly are safe.”

The more Charlotte considered it, the more she wanted Jemmy to come with her when she married, if it wouldn’t harm his chances for finding his family, that is. Still, now was not the time for that discussion. First they must rescue poor Miss Cloverly.

As they traveled through Richmond, the landau in front of them turned off at the Star and Garter.

“I believe that is the inn Dotty and Merton are planning to stop at.”

Constantine slowed down and surveyed the inn for a moment. “It’s certainly grand enough for two marquises. I assume that decision was made when you went to fetch your basket. What did you and she talk about?”

“Dotty will arrange for Miss Cloverly to stay with our maids. She also plans to get a change of clothing from the Wharton housekeeper, and one of their footmen will depart immediately after we return with Miss Cloverly to notify the housekeeper that her niece is safe.” Charlotte grinned to herself. “When I left, she had my maid packing a small trunk for me.” She glanced at Con. “Dotty is very practical.”