The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(86)

Charlotte glanced at Lady Litchfield. “Does that answer your question?”

“It does.” She rose and looked at Charlotte. “I am sorry to have imposed upon you.”

She and Dotty shared a crestfallen glance. It was a deuced good thing none of them had said anything to Jemmy.

“Can I change into my regular clothes now?” he asked.

“Charlotte gave him a quick hug. “Yes, you may.”

The child ran out of the parlor, and Con wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry.”

“As am I. With two birthmarks, I thought surely we had found his family.” She blinked back tears, determined not to allow them to fall.

“Yes, indeed.” Dotty stood next to her, and Charlotte hugged her friend. “It is their loss.”

“He has a family. Us.” Con’s voice seemed gruffer even to him. It must be because he had come to care for the lad. “Forever or for as long as he needs us.”

He would do his best to find the boy’s family, but if he could not, he would raise the child with the ones he and Charlotte would have. Someone had to teach him not to jump on the back of carriages.





Chapter Twenty-Nine


An hour later, Merton finally arrived. “I saw Jemmy in the stables.”

“The lady who stopped you thought he was related to her.” Charlotte shook her head. “Apparently, she was mistaken.”

Yet Constantine had been wonderful. She was so happy to know he wanted Jemmy with them.

“Well then.” Merton cleared his throat. “I suggest we decide how we will handle the rest of this mess with that Betsy woman.”

“Are the blackguards that hired Miss Betsy gone?” Con asked.

“Indeed. They were stripped of anything that could identify them and shipped off to the London docks. Apparently, Addison knows several ship captains and gave the names to Worthington. We need not worry about them again.”

Dotty laid a hand on her husband’s arm. “Are you sure, Dominic? What if they escape and return?”

His wicked grin surprised Charlotte. “I made it exceedingly clear to them that if Kenilworth, Worthington, or I ever saw them again, they were dead men.”

“But if they disappear,” Charlotte said, “will not someone start looking for them?”

“I did allow them to write letters to their men of business saying they would be out of the country for a time. That should take care of any problems. I understand that neither of them are what one would call well thought of.”

“Ruffington is under the hatches,” Constantine added. “It wouldn’t surprise me if his creditors are after him.”

“What about Miss Betsy? What does the magistrate intend to do about notifying her family, if she had any?”

“At the moment, it appears we are the only ones, other than Mr. and Mrs. Crowe, who know where she receives her mail,” Merton said. “Once we have the information we’re looking for, we shall notify the magistrate. The only miscreant missing is the one who got away.”

The one who had abducted her twice, Charlotte thought. As to the others, it was really the only thing they could have done short of murdering the men outright. “I know it has already been a long day, but I propose we go to the White Swan in Twickenham after luncheon and ask for Mrs. Bottoms’s direction. I can pretend to be an old friend of hers.” She looked at Constantine for support. “At some point Sir John will remember that the Crowes were involved and ask for any information they have. I would rather use the information we have to find the other person Miss Betsy had kidnapped.”

“I agree with Charlotte. According to Miss Betsy, there is another victim. If the woman is at the Hare and Hound, Sir John won’t have jurisdiction, and we need to get her out of the way before the magistrate becomes involved,” Constantine said. “The sooner we finish this, the better. Aside from that”—he grinned—“I have a wedding to attend.”

“I agree,” Dotty said.

“As you wish. I appropriated the key to her house,” Merton said. “As well as the money that was exchanged today. We shall use anything of value we find to help her victims.”

“We need to find them before we can rescue them,” Constantine added in a grim tone.

Shortly after they dined, they drove the short distance to Twickenham.

The landlord of the White Swan believed Charlotte’s story of being friends with Mrs. Bottoms and not only gave Charlotte the direction of the woman’s house, but a letter for her as well.

Minutes later they found the small house. A red climbing rose draped gracefully over the front entrance that was covered by a porch with a peaked roof. The trim, painted white, was well maintained. On each side of the entrance was one window.

Merton knocked, as if expecting the house to be occupied. When no one answered, he used the key and opened the door. “Talk as if there is someone here. I do not wish to have to explain to her neighbors or the local watch, if there is one, why we are entering an empty house.”

After he closed the door Charlotte took in the neat front hall, flanked by doors. Another door covered with green baize stood in a corner across from the entrance and off to the side. A staircase leading to a second level was situated directly across from the front door. Next to the stairs was a narrow corridor. The house was deeper than it appeared from the outside.