2
Several days later, Charles spied the woman who haunted his dreams as he came out of the haberdashery after placing an order. He stepped forward and bowed. “Lady Grey and Miss Allendale. What a delight to meet you again.”
“The pleasure is ours. We are indebted to you for your dispatch of the thief the other day.”
He stood upright, and the twinkle in Henrietta’s eyes belied her serious tone. “’Twas an honor to come to the aid of two beautiful women. I trust the rest of your journey was made without any further trials?”
“Other than the dust and the constant bouncing?” The corners of Lady Grey’s lips rose a fraction. “My nephew owns the finest of coaches, but still, they can be quite stuffy.”
“I’ve often complained to my dear aunt here, that it is sad that a woman is not allowed to make that journey on horseback. I, for one, would enjoy that immensely,” Miss Allendale stated.
“Would you, now? Hours in a saddle can make one quite sore if the rider is not used to it.” Charles raised an eyebrow.
A delightful shade of pink colored Miss Allendale’s cheeks. “Perhaps for a novice rider, but I’ve been known to ride our grooms into the ground. The horses often outlast them.”
“You should encourage your brother to hire grooms with far more stamina,” he parried.
“We are headed to Gunter’s for ices. Would you care to join us?” Lady Grey asked, putting an end to the exchange.
“As much as I would enjoy such a prospect, I have an appointment to keep.”
“Well met, Mister Percy. Adieu.” Henrietta winked at him as he doffed his hat in farewell.
Returning it to his head, he watched them walk down the street.
Intriguing young woman, indeed.
~*~
Henrietta leaned into Lady Grey. “No mere mister visits that shop. What do you think? Is he an earl, or perhaps a viscount like Marcus? And why would he pretend to be something less?”
“You are full of flights of fancy. Perhaps you might ask Marcus about this man when he comes to town.”
“Perhaps, but that could be weeks from now. That fire at the Browns’ was quite inconvenient, as is my brother’s insistence that he participate in building a new place for the family.”
“Mrs. Brown is enceinte and due within a month. He’s only doing what is right.”
“I realize as much, and if I didn’t adore him, I’d be vexed at just how perfect he is.”
Lady Grey chuckled. “Perfect? You, of all people, understand just how imperfect he is.”
“True, as does Jared. But we love him anyway. His faults are few, to be sure. But I will ask him about Mr. Percy next I see him.”
“Good. Now may we set thoughts of this young man aside and enjoy an ice?”
“Yes, dearest Aunt. We may.” They entered Gunter’s and enjoyed the refreshment there.
And while Henrietta didn’t speak of it, her thoughts were full of the fine figure of a certain gentleman. Her heart was in no danger from her little imaginings and she found it an enjoyable pastime to speculate on the peculiar puzzle he presented.
~*~
Charles settled into a chair across from his companion, Sir Michael Tidley, at White’s. A glass of wine was poured for him. He sipped it and sighed.
“Oh, no. Say it isn’t so, Charles.” Michael groaned as he leaned forward with his brow furrowed.
“Say what?” Charles asked. He struggled to keep the image of a beautiful blonde from the forefront of his thoughts.
“You’re moonstruck over a woman, aren’t you? Dangerous stuff in our business.”
“I am merely intrigued. By a young lady I met on the road the other day as I apprehended another miscreant.”
“Did you leave him alive?”
“But of course.”
“Does this lovely lady who has piqued your interest have a name, perchance?”
“Miss Henrietta Allendale.”
Michael sat back and a smile spread across his face. “You’re quizzing me! Marcus’s sister? She’s trouble. I have first-hand experience. As a child, she played with Katrina who lived next door, but more often than not was raising some kind of breeze. She’s a crack shot, though, which is impressive, and her left hook is nothing to sneeze at. And from what I understand she has no desire to wed.”
Charles shook his head. “She has too much spirit for most of the men on the marriage mart.”
“And too much money. Many of the lads out there would gladly put up with her for that dowry.”
“Is she playing hard to catch, perhaps?” Charles asked.
Michael shook his head and clicked his tongue. “Don’t fool yourself. You’re probably just the man to put up with her. When she realizes it, you’ll be caught and not seeking escape.”
“She is a beautiful woman.”
“Wake up, my good man. This kind of thing is what’ll get you killed. Stay focused.”
“One problem.”
Michael moaned. “What?”
“Before I knew who she was I introduced myself to her as Mr. Percy.”
“She didn’t believe you, did she? Being found in a lie will be a serious obstacle if you really are enchanted with her.”
Charles frowned. “She already suspects I’m not who I say I am.”
“There’s a reason I avoid her company. Far too perceptive, by half.”
“Is she? Lord Hughes might find her useful.”
“Perhaps he already has. I wouldn’t know, and it’s all the better I don’t.”
“Any news?”
“Jared wrote. He’s afraid. The war is getting worse, and he said he’s almost been caught more than once. Some of the French have been brutal in their torture.”
“Not surprising if they can behead people a la Madame Guillotine.”
“Keep him in your prayers.”
“Aren’t you praying for him?”
“I don’t have faith enough for that.”
“I pray you’ll change your mind one day.”
Michael sighed. “I appreciate your devotion to God, as well as Marcus’s, but leave well enough alone.”
“I’m concerned for your soul, Michael. There’s nothing for me to be gained by your accepting Christ than knowing you’ll be at peace and have His power with you as you go about your work.”
“God could want little to do with a man like me.”
“Your origins have nothing to do with being acceptable to God any more than they did with you being my friend. But God loves you more.”
“Love. A concept for fools and fairytales.”
“So cynical at such a young age.”
“Stop it and listen. There’s danger afoot in England.”
“Do tell.” Charles’s tone mocked his friend.
“Not the stuff we’ve seen, but more sinister than that. There is a plot to overtake the throne.”
Charles sat back. “A tale as old as time.”
“Yes, but very real in our present day.”
“I thought you’d already stopped one plot. That’s why King George knighted you.”
“Yes, but there’s some other force at work now.”
“Force?” Charles’s eyebrows rose.
“You believe in the spiritual world. Let’s say it’s evil personified.”
“Do we know who we’re looking for?”
“Not yet,” Michael said as he shook his head. “But young women are disappearing.”
Charles leaned forward. “For what? Virgin sacrifices to appease some kind of mythical god or demon? Are you serious?”
“Very.” Michael took a sip of wine. “But this isn’t an issue in only the lower orders, this is amongst the aristocracy.”
“Are the women ever retrieved?”
“Only one was found. She’d been raped and was branded with a rhombus on her shoulder.”
Charles frowned. “You mean like a diamond on a playing card? There has always been evil in the world. What makes this a more urgent threat, and how is it tied to the crown?”
“I’m not sure. But keep your eyes and ears open. Few women from the London area have disappeared in such a manner from what we can tell. The missing women are younger but beloved daughters of the haute ton. Usually from their country homes.”
“Why have the papers not covered this?”
“Because the families are ashamed. Fearful of censure and scandal.”
“So, the reason for so many tales of women traveling to visit relatives and the like?”
“As a way to cover up the disappearances? Yes.”
“How dreadful for those families.”
Silence hung between the men for several moments. Charles thought of the beautiful Henrietta. What if she were taken? The thought devastated him to think of her bright light being snuffed out in such a brutal manner.
“What are we to do to stop it?”
“Watch. Stay observant. Certain men have been arrested, but all from the peerage, therefore, no trial and it’s kept quiet. They won’t be hung for it like a common man would. There’s talk of secret rituals that have occurred. The suspicion is that there is more to this covert group.”
“They are organized?”
“We’re not sure how or who the ringleader is yet.”
Charles sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Our work is never done, is it?”
Michael smiled. “We shall never be obsolete.”
“As if you could ever be that.”
The young knight shrugged. “I’ve nothing better to do. No woman will marry a man born on the wrong side of the blanket, no matter how noble my mysterious father is. There is no one to care about me now that my mother has passed on. What else is there for me to do? I’ve money enough but no property or inherited title to recommend me. The ton tolerates me because I’m amusing, but I understand that none of them would ever countenance allowing their precious daughters to wed such as I.”
Charles grinned at his friend. “Don’t be so melancholy. Someday I pray the right woman will wrap you around her little finger, and I hope I live to watch it happen.”
“That would mean I would need to be alive as well. Not as high a chance of that in my occupation.”
“For all the world could presume, you are a gentleman of leisure. Highly dangerous occupation indeed.”
“But you know better.”
“True. I wish I could be more in the game as you are. Title and the associated responsibilities make that untenable.”
“One of your responsibilities is to beget an heir.”
“My cousin Bernard will gladly assume my role, and he already has two young boys to raise. The line is secure enough without me needing to step into the noose.”
“That God of yours might have different plans.” Michael slid a piece of paper across the table.
Charles palmed it.
“I’m off,” Michael said. “You’ll be attending Almack’s?”
“Most likely.”
“Perhaps I’ll see you there.” Michael put his hat on and sauntered out of the room.
Charles sipped his drink and glanced down at his hand. Directions for tomorrow. A visit to a park. Maybe he’d manage to mix business with pleasure. The thought brought a smile to his face. He stood and, with a jaunty step, left White’s to engage his carriage for the ride home.