“Are you sure Hattie won’t be joining us this evening?” asked Caroline.

“No, she has some other personal matters to attend to tonight,” replied Will.

After the events of the previous night, Will was in no mood to go into the finer details of Hattie’s absence from the party. He would call on her at Edgar’s house in the morning and discuss the plan he had agreed to with Reverend Brown. If she agreed to his terms, he would ask Edgar for his sister’s hand in marriage.

He prayed she would agree. He was fast running out of options.

Stubborn Woman.

In the aftermath of his fight with Hattie, Will had forgotten entirely about his promise to accompany two of his younger siblings to a small gathering at a family friend Harry Menzies’ house; only remembering when Caroline sent word earlier that afternoon.

Having spent so many years away from home, he owed it to them to step into the role of big brother now that he was permanently back in London. He could never give them back the time he had been absent during their younger years.

“Do you like my new gown, mama says it makes me look quite regal?”

Will looked at Caroline, but his mind was elsewhere. His every waking thought of the day thus far had been about Hattie. She wanted him, he had always known that much. Now he knew she loved him.

But was love enough for her to take her place by his side; of that he was not so sure.

“Well?”

“You look delightful sis. I’m sure all the gentlemen whose favor you wish to hold tonight will notice. Dull of mind older brothers being an unfortunate exception,” said Francis.

Will stirred from his musings at the clear rebuke from Francis.

“I’m sorry Caro. Yes, your gown is beautiful, as are you. Forgive me for my woolgathering I have a lot on my mind this evening.”

He focused on his youngest sister. Caroline was a true beauty. One of the diamonds of the ton. Behind her astonishingly deep green eyes was a sharp mind. Heaven help the man who sought to marry her just for her looks.

They headed out to the mews at the rear of the Saunders town house in Dover Street. Charles Saunders preferred the French mode of coming and going discreetly from home, rather than the grand show the English made of departing from the front of their houses.

Will waited until Caroline and Francis were on board.

“Could you give me a minute?” he said.

He walked away from the carriage. From his pocket he withdrew a small cheroot and a nearby footman lit it for him.

Leaning against the side of the carriage, he tried to clear his head. He had sent word earlier in the day to call on Hattie, but had received a short note stating that she was working at the church and would not be back until early evening.

The beginning of what he thought was a headache had been forming in his brain for the past hour or so. His hearing was also off cue. A long low whistle was ringing in his ear.

One of the kitchen maids appeared from the kitchens, with a large wooden bowl in her hands. She headed over to the rear of the garden and out through a side gate.

Adelaide Saunders had grown up in Scotland with fresh eggs delivered every day from the Strathmore estate chickens. She flatly refused to have eggs bought from the markets of London, and so the family kept a dozen chickens in a small garden at the rear of their house.

The chickens came racing over to the gate as soon as the maid opened it. The flap of wings and excited squawks stirred the night air as the chickens jostled for position to gain access to the supper leftovers. Will watched as the chickens made short work of the carrot and potato peelings.

Will drew back on his cheroot. There were always hungry mouths to feed. The chickens in his parent’s garden likely ate better than most of Hattie’s friends in St. Giles.

He threw the barely smoked cheroot down and crushed it with his boot. After the gathering tonight, he would call at Edgar Wright’s house and speak with Hattie.

Will climbed aboard the carriage.

* * *

“So, who is at this soiree tonight?” asked Will.

The carriage was headed toward Bedford Square where Harry Menzies’ family owned a fine new mansion.

Caroline huffed. “Mr. Menzies has invited a few of his business connections, how terribly boring. Harry has his hunting pals, so I expect we won’t see Francis all evening. I was hoping cousin Lucy and her new husband Avery were going to attend, but they have cried off. So that leaves a few stray folks such as you and I to mingle together for the duration. Such a pity Hattie could not come tonight. After last night, I am keen to talk to her about the work she does with the poor. She seems so noble about it.”

The low whistle in Will’s ear began to rapidly escalate to a loud ring. He found it hard to hear anything else. A sense of utter dread filled him as he realized that his senses were screaming for his attention.

“Would you mind, if we turned the carriage around and it took me back home? I don’t think I am going to be very good company this evening,” he said. He knocked on the roof of the carriage, and the coachman slowed the horses.

An increasingly uneasy Will, was about to suggest that he get out and find his own way home, when Caroline suddenly screamed. A riding crop was smashed violently against the side window nearest to her.

“What the devil!” exclaimed Francis.

“Halt! Halt I say!” a voice cried out in the street.

Will leapt to the other side of the carriage and pulled down the window. He put his head out, only to be met with the terrible sight of a frantic Edgar Wright riding at full tilt alongside the carriage.

“Pull the bloody carriage over! Stop!” Edgar bellowed.

Francis and Will both banged furiously on the front wall of the carriage, signaling the driver to stop.

As soon as the carriage came to a halt, Will jumped out.

“Wait here Francis and keep Caroline safe,” he said.

Edgar reined in his horse. At that point Will got a glimpse of a figure tucked up behind Edger on the back of the horse. A figure whose face was a mask of fear.

“Joshua?”