A Rational Proposal (Furze House Irregulars Book 1)(50)
“Despicable,” said Charles, looking grim. “How did you get away?”
Susan shrugged. “There was a fire. Smoke everywhere and all the girls shrieking. I gathered up the babe, grabbed Hannah from her room and we ran out the back way. Got picked up and took to Bow Street where I told ’em everything I’ve told you. That’s when they said they’d never heard of no Mr Weston, nor yet Mr North, which was the name he gave when he was courting Hannah’s young lady. They was right interested in what I had to say about Mother McCarthy, mind.”
“Mr North?” said Verity, looking with wild surmise at Charles.
He looked back at her, sharing the triumph. “Got him,” he said softly.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
After leaving the two women with the assurance that something would most certainly be done about Mr Weston, and that they would also find the pair of them a suitable situation as soon as they could, Charles and Verity emerged into a city where the very air seemed a deal more wholesome than that inside the Bridewell.
Verity took a deep breath, savouring the freshness. “Are all prisons like that one?”
Charles gave a short, mirthless laugh. “Most are far worse. At least in the Bridewell women can take their babies with them and the poor have access to medicines. It was good of you to give Susan money for better food.”
“How could I not? I suppose Molly overheard their story when they were in Bow Street. She seems to spend a deal of time there from what she said. She may even have known Captain Eastwick’s aliases, though I cannot believe Kitty does. And Molly did mention Sim’s fancies to me.”
Charles slanted a look down at her. “You should not know anything about such things.”
“If you will not let me help you, it is likely to be the only way I am to find out,” Verity retorted. “But Charles, I thought Mr Weston would be Lieutenant Neville when Susan mentioned him promising to take her to Vauxhall and Ranelagh. I was so surprised it was Captain Eastwick. He seems to like compass names, doesn’t he?”
“Lieutenant Neville?” said Charles with a frown. “Why?”
“He offered to take me there - almost with that same phrase. It was one of the things that annoyed me so much at the Stanhopes’ party.”
“Why did you not tell me?”
“When did I have a chance? You were too busy stealing my heart when we danced and then being noble and staying away from me for days and days.” She could not help colouring as she said this, but he was being so very stubborn that she had to get a response out of him somehow.
“Verity, you are impossible.”
“It is true, nevertheless. Did you not like dancing with me?”
“Very much. I like dancing with you, I like walking with you. I like the feeling of your weight on my arm, but it would be in every way improper for me to take matters further.”
“How so? Uncle James would consider marriage to a sensible, hard-working gentleman eminently rational behaviour. It would solve all our problems in one stroke.”
“Proposing to an impecunious attorney is not rational, however. And if you could refrain from using the word stroke, I would be grateful. May we consider the problem of Captain Eastwick instead?”
“Charles, are you blushing?” asked Verity, charmed.
“Behave,” he said, but his lips twitched and he had to look away from her.
Verity desisted, well pleased with the result of her provocation. “What can we do about Captain Eastwick? Can we lay information ourselves? Charles, has he been boasting to his gambling circle, do you think? Might Lieutenant Neville have overheard him in one of the clubs where he plays cards? The coincidence of that wording is quite extraordinary.”
Charles sighed. “It is possible, he certainly visits a great many establishments during the day according to Scrivener. The drawback to laying information now about his treatment of those young women is that he will deny it and be bound over to appear another day. Then he will disappear and your sister will be looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life.”
Verity nodded soberly. “I see. Is there nothing can we do? We cannot simply leave it, Charles.”
“I have no intention of leaving it. We need to confront him, I think, with plenty of witnesses. While he is distracted, we could get your sister and her little girl away from London. I have a friend who can help us there, a gentleman who on the surface has no connection with either me or you. When do you see Kitty again?”
“They are to visit Mama today.”
“How very fortunate. Then I shall deliver you home now, and perhaps stay for a dutiful nuncheon with my parents.”
“They will be astonished.”
“Unlike my clerk, who has quite given up seeing me in chambers at all. He was complaining yesterday that between me and Mr Tweedie, we might barely make up one full person’s work.”
“Oh dear, I own I was surprised Mr Tweedie spent so long at Kensington with us. He was determined that Mama should not be making an unwise decision.”
“He was more likely trying to avoid his own domestic upsets. His landlady has imported her niece, who has lost her own position. She is a very modern young woman apparently, and comes complete with a husband and young family. It is all being quite a trial and not what he is used to in the least.”