The Marquis and I (The Worthingtons #4)(95)

“I doubt Sir Reginald could afford the journey to Scotland,” Dotty mused. “He does not have a feather to fly with.”

Well, that ought to clinch the matter.

Susan began to sob even harder. “W-what will become of m-m-me?”

Charlotte and Dotty shared a glance. Whatever the answer to the girl’s question, the result was likely to be much better than what Miss Betsy and Sir Reginald had planned for poor Susan. Thank God they had been able to rescue her. The question was how to find the man and see him punished before he could harm another girl.

*

Con rode next to Merton, discussing what they were going to do with the young lady. Neither of them were experts on the subject, but agreed that she could not be out yet.

“I’ll be interested to hear what Charlotte and Dotty say,” Con said.

“Augusta seems older, or at least more mature,” Merton replied, referring to Charlotte’s fifteen-year-old sister.

“And more sensible.” They fell silent for several minutes, before Con said, “I had wanted to remain at the Star and Garter tonight, but I am of the opinion that we should return to Town.”

“You’re probably correct. The question is what to do with the girl.”

“I have every confidence our ladies will have an address for her parents by the time we sit down to luncheon. I overheard some of the conversation Charlotte was having with her, and apparently, she has decided to play the compassionate lady. I was told specifically not to speak badly of Sir Reggie.”

“That won’t be hard for me,” Merton said. “I’d never heard of the man before you told me about him.”

“No, you wouldn’t have. He’s run with a fast crowd for years,” Con said. “Miss Susan must be an heiress.”

“Do you know her surname?”

“Merryville.” He had never heard of the family and hoped Merton had.

“There is a Merryville in the City who is involved in trade and shipping. I recently invested in a project where his name was mentioned.”

“If they are Cits, they wouldn’t have heard about Sir Reggie. That would be the reason her parents didn’t have her under lock and key. I wonder if extortion and not marriage is his game.”

“We may never discover what it is if the man can’t show his face in Town.”

Con thought that might be the best resolution to the problem. “With Miss Betsy gone, he won’t know where the girl is. He might even think that she was not abducted.”

“And she will believe he never came for her,” Merton mused.

“She will be heartbroken, but only for a short while, not for a lifetime.” Marriage to a bounder like Sir Reggie would be hell, if that was all he had planned for her.

Merton urged his horse faster. “The sooner we return her to her family, the better.”

Con agreed wholeheartedly.

When they arrived at the Star and Garter, Charlotte whispered to him that luncheon must be ordered without Miss Susan’s knowing it had not already been done. “It is the excuse Dotty used for our leaving as soon as we did. She had started having doubts about going with us. We have won the girl’s confidence, but if she catches us in the least little lie, we run the risk of losing it.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Con said as the Mertons led Miss Susan into the inn. “We have decided to return to Town today.”

“That is for the best. We will not have more time alone together, but we must get her home. I imagine her parents are beside themselves.”

“How old is she?”

“Fifteen. That cur told her they would marry in Scotland, but does she not have to be sixteen?”

Con nodded. “For a runaway marriage, yes.”

“And why meet her east of London and not somewhere on the Great North Road?”

“That may have been Miss Betsy’s doing. Unless she has a house north of Town as well.”

“I do not believe he intended to wed her at all.” Concern echoed in Charlotte’s voice. “I think they had something much more nefarious planned. I wish I knew what it was. Selling the girl into prostitution would not provide him the money he needs.”

No, but an auction would, and that was not something he was going to mention to her. “I do not think we need to worry about that now.”

“You are probably right. Although, I wish we could find that blackguard and punish him. There is also Burt. The miscreant that got away.” She rubbed her forehead. “We still have a great deal of work to do rescuing the other victims.”

“I agree, but we do not have to do it all ourselves.” Con was relieved she had changed the subject. “I have not yet introduced you to my excellent secretary. He will be happy to have a project that will challenge him.”

She tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “I’m feeling peckish.”

“We can’t have that,” he said in a dramatic tone.

“You think you are funny.” She scowled. “I assure you that I am not at all nice to be around when I’m hungry.”

“If that’s all I have to do to keep you happy, my life will be pure bliss.”

Charlotte lowered her lids. “Well, there might be one or two other things.”

May had taken charge of Susan Merryville, and when she joined them in the parlor her good humor had been restored. She talked the whole way through luncheon. By the time they had finished eating, and were getting ready to depart, Con knew everything he had wanted to know and much more. The chit had no discretion at all. No wonder she had been such an easy target for Sir Reggie.