Chapter 12

“That would be impossible, duchess.”

Caleb couldn’t believe Lady Eleanor thought he’d even consider permitting her to go with them. He wouldn’t risk her safety by allowing her anywhere near where they intended to apprehend Blackboot.

He looped her arm through his and walked with her through the meadow where the children were playing. His hand lingered atop hers, rubbing lazy circles along her delicate fingers.

“Captain,” one of the boys yelled as they neared them. “Would you throw the ball?”

“Toss it here,” Caleb said, then caught it when it was lobbed to him. “Back up. Way back.”

The boys ran back.

“Farther,” Caleb yelled.

The boys squealed in delight and backed up farther.

Caleb threw the ball, and eight or nine boys ran to catch it.

A mighty cheer went up when one of the boys dove to snatch up the ball just before it hit the ground. “Great catch, Colin!” Caleb yelled, and then he patted the boy on the back when he brought the ball to him so he could throw it again.

Caleb threw the ball a half dozen more times, then turned around when a little girl named Lizzy ran up to Eleanor.

“I know a secret, Lady Eleanor,” she said.

“You do?” Eleanor asked, feigning surprise.

“Yes, but you can’t tell Mr. Captain. You promise?”

Eleanor nodded as she lifted her gaze and winked at Caleb. Then Eleanor leaned down to let Lizzy whisper in her ear. When Lizzy finished, Eleanor clasped her hands to her cheeks and pretended to be surprised. “Are you sure you don’t want me to tell the captain? I think he really needs to know.”

“Oh no,” Lizzy said jumping up and down. “I want it to be a surprise.”

“Oh, it will be,” Eleanor said.

Little Lizzy bobbed a polite curtsy to Eleanor and Caleb, then ran back to her friends.

“What is it you think I need to know?” he asked, taking her arm and leading her away from the children.

“That you’re getting married.”

Caleb stopped. “And who is my lucky bride?”

“Why Lizzy, of course.”

Caleb started to laugh, and Eleanor punched him in the arm. “Don’t you dare. Lizzy might be watching. She’ll be crushed if she thinks you’re laughing at her.”

Caleb stifled his laugh and continued to the edge of the meadow, then down a path where they couldn’t be seen. When they were out of sight, she stopped and turned toward him.

“I’m afraid, Caleb.”

Caleb wrapped his arm around Eleanor’s shoulders and brought her to him. “I know you are,” he said.

“Blackboot is evil. He won’t think twice about killing Sophie.”

“I won’t let that happen.”

“I know you’ll do everything in your power, but—”

Caleb placed his finger over her lips, then leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Trust me.”

Eleanor lifted her head, and her gaze focused on his. “I do. I trust you. It’s Blackboot I don’t trust.”

“I doubt even his own men trust him. Not completely, anyway.”

Eleanor looped her arm through his, and together they walked back to the manor house. “What time will you leave?”

“I’m to meet Inspector Jeffers just after four. Sophie’s made arrangements to meet one of Blackboot’s men at an abandoned warehouse to give Blackboot a message. She claims Blackboot won’t pass up an opportunity to get his hands on her and will come himself. When he comes for her, Inspector Jeffers will arrest him.”

“I don’t know,” Eleanor said, the worry in her voice plain to hear.

“I’ll return as soon as it’s over. And I’ll bring Sophie with me if she’ll come. Some of Blackboot’s men might want to take their revenge on her when they realize their chief is going to hang.”

“Of course. She can stay here as long as she likes. It’s the least I can do for helping to get rid of that devil.”

They walked in silence until they’d entered the manor house. Caleb took Eleanor to the salon where he found her most often. “Try not to worry, duchess,” he said. He kissed her on the forehead, although what he really wanted was to kiss her on the lips. “I’ll return as soon as I can.”

He gathered her in his arms and held her for a few moments, then released her and walked toward the door.

“Caleb?”

He turned to face her.

“Promise you’ll come back to me.”

Caleb smiled. His heart swelled as the realization that he loved her crystallized in his mind. He’d been falling for some days. He knew that now. Perhaps it was the day he’d arrived and walked in on her as she stood up to Blackboot’s man. Perhaps it was the first night he’d accompanied her to London. Perhaps it was the night she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing over the babe who died before its young life had started.

All uncertainty had fled, and he knew he loved her. And always would.

He looked at her, and his smile broadened.

“I promise.”

. . .

“Any sign of her yet?”

The bleak twilight haze was stifling, trapping the harsh smells of the murky alley where Caleb and Inspector Jeffers hid.

Jeffers whispered his answer from his post opposite Caleb. “Not yet.”

Caleb looked down the street in the direction from which Sophie intended to arrive but didn’t see her. It would be soon. She’d made arrangements to meet with Blackboot’s man before it turned dark. It would only have aroused suspicion if she’d suggested a meeting in the dark of night. Besides, she wanted to make certain the authorities could see well enough to capture him when he came after her.

And she wanted to be sure Blackboot knew it was her.

Sophie’s plan was a good one. She intended to tell Blackboot that she was tired of running from him, that she’d discovered a plan the authorities had for trapping him, and that in exchange for telling him what she knew, he must agree to free her from his harassment.

Caleb turned toward the sound of a sassy female voice and saw Sophie. She walked to the warehouse and stopped outside the open door.

“Are ya there?” she said, not too loud, yet loud enough to be heard.

A brutish grunt came from inside the warehouse.

Caleb reached for his pistol. The warehouse door groaned on rusted hinges as a towering figure stepped out and into the light.

He was a large man dressed all in black, with just a bit of white shirt showing above his dark brocade vest. He wore a black hat and high black leather boots.

It was Blackfoot. And he looked exactly as Caleb expected him to.

What he didn’t expect was the figure trapped in Blackboot’s arms.

Eleanor.