Page 27 of Blackmailed (The Browns of Butcher’s Hill #2)

V irginia’s feet were aching. Even in very comfortable boots, dancing for two hours had taken its toll, although she could not remember a time when she’d had this much fun.

She danced with Phillip several times and with every other man who asked her, including Phillip’s friend Timothy Sweitzinger.

An iron monger, dressed in a dark suit over his large frame, his hair combed back, swung her around in the polka until she was dizzy and laughing, his massive hand dwarfing hers.

Now she sipped a tart glass of punch to quench her thirst while Phillip drank an ice-cold beer.

There were sausages on thick dark bread and whole pickles for sale at one booth and cookies and cakes at another.

She could not remember when she’d enjoyed herself as much.

Colleen was across the way, surrounded by several young men, including the local minister and the apothecary.

Sarah told her that Herman Janitz, the apothecary, had a thriving business and was in the process of setting up a second store in another neighborhood.

Virginia wondered about the time when a man would capture Colleen’s heart.

Of course she would be glad for her, but she’d also be sad for herself.

She didn’t think she took advantage of her employees, but Colleen was more than her companion and maid, and it would feel very much like she was losing her best friend.

She was talking to Sarah and Dr. Prosperi, who seemed to be in competition with Timothy for Sarah’s attention. Virginia could not determine which man, if either, held any special place in Phillip’s sister’s heart. Phillip had gone to get her another lemonade.

Virginia turned with a smile when someone touched her elbow, but she soon lost it. “Horatio. What brings you here?”

“Just thought I’d join in the fun,” he said in his oily way and then glanced at Timothy, who had whispered something to Sarah. “Who’s your friend?”

“ Officer Sweitzinger,” she said, “this is Horatio Clement.”

Sweitzinger stared at Clement. “I won’t be shaking your hand.”

“Likewise,” he said and turned to Virginia. “Won’t you join me for a dance?”

She did not want to dance with him and could see Phillip winding his way through the crowd, his eyes on Clement and fury on his face. She also did not want an argument or a fight to end the evening. This wonderful evening. She would dance and hopefully get him to leave.

“Of course,” she said and laid her hand on Horatio’s arm and headed to the dance floor.

They did not speak for several seconds of a reel, Virginia’s heart beating so hard she could feel its pounding in her throat.

“You’re a wonderful dancer, Virginia,” he said.

“Thank you.”

“What you aren’t is a good actress.”

She continued to stare ahead. “Whatever do you mean?”

“That dreadful Brown person has convinced you I am some monster. That couldn’t be further from the truth,” he said and swung her around. “I am a humble servant to the boys and girls in the orphanage and a collector of fine art, carrying on a family interest.”

“Really?” Virginia nodded to several men standing near the door. “Then why do you have those men with you? Everyone is staring at them. They are obviously not here to partake in the festivities. Are you worried for your safety? Have you done something to warrant that worry?”

Clement growled—there was no other way to describe the sound—as he leaned toward her ear.

“Be very careful, Virginia. You would not want to be the unfortunate victim of a tumble into the bay or see your dear companion in a brothel servicing as many sailors as her mistress requires of her. The women who do that sort of thing, well, they don’t live long, with the disease and the violence those men bring to the women they purchase. ”

Virginia could feel the blood draining from her face. Her legs did not feel as if they could hold her one more second, and she felt light-headed. “I’m done dancing,” she said, trying to pull out of his arms. But he held her hand in place.

“Allow me to return you to your loved ones.”

Somehow Clement managed to make the words “loved ones” sound like a threat.

It chilled her. The men from the doorway were inching closer to Phillip and Timothy.

The iron monger had joined the two men, Colleen and Sarah behind him.

It was as though Virginia was carrying out a scene in a play, even if she had no idea how it would end.

Her palms were sweating, her mouth dry, and Clement’s terrible words swirled in her head.

Virginia pulled her hand away and hurried toward Phillip as soon as she could without causing more talk, as the room had suddenly become silent, all eyes turned their way. Phillip caught her and pushed her behind him, his eyes never leaving Clement.

“Thank you, Miss Wiest, for the lovely dance, and don’t forget my message,” Clement said while staring at Phillip.

Phillip stepped forward two steps, and so did Clement’s men. “Get out now, while you and your boys can still walk.”

Clement smiled. Then he didn’t. “Watch your back, Brown. And watch out for the well-being of the lovely ladies in your care.”

It was near impossible for Phillip to rein in his temper.

He could feel Timothy’s tremors beside him and heard Gus Dunderson’s knuckles crack.

He knew a threat when he heard it, and Virginia’s face was as white as the sheets on his bed.

Clement had said something to her to scare her, and it made him furious and frustrated that he didn’t have proof that Clement had killed Colfax that would stand up in a trial.

All eyes watched Clement and his men back away to the door. The chatter in the room increased as they left and the fiddlers began to play again, the folks on the dance floor continuing on with their reel. He turned when the barn doors closed again to a shaking Virginia.

“What did he say to you?”

She shook her head.

He pulled her close with his arm around her back, and she came willingly against his chest. She was still trembling. “Would you like to go home?”

She nodded and looked up at him. Timothy went out the doors to make sure Clement and his gang had gone.

Gus had hold of Colleen on one arm and Sarah on his other.

They made their way to the door, where Timothy waited.

Phillip did his best to smile and nod to everyone looking at him and his little army, but he would have much rather pulled a board from the barn wall and found Horatio Clement.

Turnbull had waited near the barn to return the women to Shellington while the dance lasted. Phillip rode inside the carriage with the three women while Timothy rode on the seat with Turnbull. Virginia sat straight in her seat, although she did not let go of his hand.

“He said he was going to throw me in the bay and threatened Colleen too,” she whispered.

“He’s not going to hurt you. Is your father in town?”

“Yes. He should be home.”

“Good. We’ll make do tonight, and then I’m sure your father will see to any guards that are necessary.”

Turnbull had them at Shellington quickly moving through the quiet streets at a fast clip.

Smith had the front doors open before Turnbull had fully stopped the carriage.

Phillip helped the women down as Turnbull called for Crimlock and his guns.

Smith took in the mood of the men and hurried the three women inside. Timothy and Phillip followed.

Mr. Weist came down the hallway, smiling. “A wonderful time at the dance, Virginia? You’ve brought friends . . . What is the matter?”

“Mr. Wiest. Can I speak to you privately?” Phillip said.

“No,” Virginia said. “I want to be included in whatever plans you make.”

“It would be best if I spoke to him alone,” he said.

Virginia stepped close to him and whispered in his ear. “I’d rather stay close to you.”

He looked down at her face; she’d recovered, but there was still an underlying terror in her voice. Phillip realized that he’d prefer to not let her out of his sight either. He nodded and looked at Wiest.

“Can we sit down somewhere, Mr. Wiest? All of us?”

“We need the butler or the house steward as well,” Timothy said.

Wiest signaled Smith to join them and led them to a large parlor, where Phillip made the introductions. Smith busied himself handing glasses of brandy to the men after a maid brought a tray with wine for the women.

“There was a man murdered behind the shop my sister works at. Colfax was his name, and she asked me to find out who was responsible as the owner of the shop was threatened. While I was looking into his death, I briefly saw items that Colfax had stolen and that were the reason he was murdered. There was a partial name and address on one of the wrappings. Miss Wiest did not know any of this until I escorted her to a benefit at the home of Horatio Clement. We saw the items I identified as stolen by Colfax in Clement’s home, and I told her that the partial name and address of the wrapping matched Clement’s residence. ”

“Horatio? From the Benevolent Society for Orphans?” Mr. Wiest asked, wide-eyed.

Virginia nodded. “Yes.”

“Did something happen that evening to make Horatio suspicious that you knew something?” Wiest asked.

“No. Not that night. But the next day, I found the young man who worked for Colfax’s uncle and had helped the younger Colfax with some thieving to ask him some additional questions.

I’d just parted from him when I heard him scream.

He and I did some damage to Clement’s men, and I think that is what prompted his visit tonight to the dance at Minehew’s. ”

“He searched you out?” Mr. Wiest asked. “At the dance?”

“Yes. And he threatened Virginia—Miss Wiest, I mean. I think you should consider additional security here until the police can make an arrest.”

“He threatened Virginia?” Wiest stood. “He threatened her?”

“Yes, Father. He asked me to dance, and I thought to keep peace if he was there to confront Mr. Brown as I did not know anything about his confrontation yesterday with Horatio’s men.”

“You’re going to put me in an early grave, dear,” Wiest said and pulled Virginia up from her chair and into his arms. He kissed her hair and held her close.

“Mr. Smith? Please organize patrols around the property with the men on staff. No one is to be alone. They must work in pairs.” He turned to Phillip. “You’re welcome to stay here; in fact, I’d prefer it. Mr. Sweitzinger and your sister are welcome too.”

“I think I should go to your house, Phillip. Your uncle is alone there with the other two women,” Timothy said.

“Agreed,” he said. “I’ll stay here. Sarah are you all right going home?”

“You’re welcome to stay here, Sarah,” Virginia said.

“I’d rather check on Uncle. Jenny will be terrified.” She glanced at Timothy. “As long as you’re going to stay there, I’d rather go home.”

Mr. Turnbull appeared in the doorway. “Crimlock and I are armed. We’ll take you to Wolfe Street.”

Phillip kissed Sarah’s cheek and pulled Timothy aside. “Don’t let her out of your sight. Make her sleep downstairs in the parlor. You and Uncle can split the watch.”

“Don’t worry about her or the rest of them.” Timothy left with Sarah by his side and Turnbull following.

“I want to sleep down here,” Virginia said. “Colleen?”

“I’d rather be here with you, if you don’t mind.”

“That’s easier for me to guard the two of you. Why don’t you gather some pillows and blankets for yourselves?”

“I’m going to sleep on the couch in my office across the hall. With my gun,” Wiest said and kissed Virginia again.

After everyone had left the room, Virginia walked into Phillip’s arms. He held her close.

“Don’t leave me,” she said.

“Can you tell me what he said?”

She leaned up to his ear and whispered. His jaw stiffened, and his hands clenched as she repeated what Clement had said.

“I’ve been frightened before, but there was something so terribly evil in the things he said.

And that he would hurt Colleen made it worse.

I’ve put her in danger. To hear how he talked about a woman in that situation.

He’d seen women like that and maybe even put one in a brothel.

It made me sick.” She covered her mouth.

Phillip would be happy to kill the man and take the consequences, but then he wouldn’t be holding Virginia Wiest in his arms ever again. He would have to find a way to get rid of Clement and keep Virginia right where she was. But how?

Virginia woke as the sun poured in the windows. She was stretched out on one of the couches, Colleen on the other. Phillip was near the window, leaning against the wall. Watching.

“Did you see anything?”

Phillip turned. “You’re awake. You only fell asleep a few hours ago.”

She blushed as she remembered him sitting on the couch after Colleen had fallen asleep and holding her in his arms. It was the only way she could close her eyes and not see Horatio Clement in her mind’s eye. “I’m awake now. What will we do about Horatio?”

“ We will do nothing. Timothy and I will find a way to connect him to Colfax’s murder. I can’t think about anything else unless I know you’re safe. Stay here and let Smith and your father and Mr. Turnbull guard you and Colleen.”

“Then you must tell me if there’s anything I can do from here. Anything, Phillip. I don’t want to be afraid, and the only way I battle that is to be part of his downfall.”

“Or you could just let me take care of you,” Phillip said and pulled her into his arms. “Let me do what I’m meant to do.”

“And what is that?” she whispered.

Phillip glanced around the room and back to her.

He touched her chin with his finger and lifted her face to his.

He touched his lips to hers with a low breath.

Her eyes closed, and she leaned into him, her breasts pressed against his chest, her hips against his.

He touched his tongue to her lips in a soft caress.

This was the kind of kiss she’d dreamed of with Phillip Brown.

Where she was a woman and he a man who desired her.