Page 30 of Blackmailed (The Browns of Butcher’s Hill #2)

“ M ay I see the note?” Phillip asked Colleen, trying desperately to control his panic. “Do you know when she left?”

“I don’t. She was gone when I went to her room around nine this morning. The maids made up her bed and such shortly before that.”

“It’s noon now. She knows how dangerous Clement is.” He paced in the spacious parlor, his heart pounding and his temper fraying.

Just then they heard her voice. “Yes, Mr. Smith. I’m fine. Is Miss Hughes about?”

Phillip ran from the room and down the marble hallway to her. He grabbed her arms, held her close, and forced himself not to scream or shake her. “Where in God’s almighty name have you been, Virginia?” he whispered.

“I have much to tell you, but I must change clothes first.”

He leaned back and sniffed. “You smell like a latrine.”

“I do,” she said and turned to Colleen. “I’m sorry to have been vague, but I really didn’t want to put you in an awkward position. Is Mrs. French nearby, Mr. Smith?”

“I’m here, miss. What can I help you with?”

Phillip realized then that there was a woman with two clinging children behind Virginia. He glanced down at her. “Who are your friends?”

She smiled. “This is Mrs. Shugars and her children, Mark and Beth. Mrs. French? Can you see that the Shugars have a meal and a chance to clean up?”

“Yes, miss. Of course. Right this way, Mrs. Shugars,” Mrs. French said as she led the family down the servants’ stairs.

“Who are they?”

Virginia smiled up at him, although there was something in her eyes he could not identify. She was usually so open in her looks, but right now she looked as if she needed to escape, which she did, Colleen in tow.

Phillip waited impatiently in the parlor for Virginia to reappear.

There were things he needed to say to her before tonight’s adventure to see Mrs. Littleman.

He didn’t relish the idea of being hurt or tortured, but he knew he would do anything in his power to keep her safe.

He needed to tell her that—and maybe more than that, even if the idea of baring his heart made him as unsettled as facing Irene Littleman.

He turned when she came into the room alone.

She shut the doors and faced him, leaning back against the wood, staring at him in the strangest way.

“What? What is it? Where were you today? I thought we agreed that you should stay where you could be guarded. Clement could be watching Shellington.”

She walked toward him, not stopping until she was flush against him, her head on his shoulder, her arms around his waist. He put his arms around her and kissed her hair. “What is it?” he asked.

“There’s no need for you to go to see Mrs. Littleman tonight,” she said against his chest.

“Yes, there is. I have to keep you safe, and the only way to do that is to get Clement out of the picture. I don’t know if I can convince her to help us, but I’m going to try.”

“She’ll do it,” Virginia whispered.

“We can hope. There’s something I want to talk to you about,” he said, his stomach turning over as thought about declaring himself to her.

“No need to hope, Phillip,” she said and stepped out of his embrace. “I spoke to Mrs. Littleman at length this morning, and she is willing to help if the Pinkertons do not bother her for a year. And there’s a matter of gloves as well, and she’ll only speak to me about the details.”

Phillip shook his head. “What are you talking about? Who spoke to her? Gloves?”

“I spoke to her. I left the house before sunrise and took a carriage to the Water Tavern. I knocked on the door and asked to see her. We talked for over half an hour. She’s agreed to your plan, albeit reluctantly.”

He was staring at her, doing his best to process her words, as ridiculous as they were. “Is this some kind of joke? It’s not very funny, Virginia. I was terrified today. So was Colleen and the rest of the staff. Don’t toy with me. Where were you today?”

“I went to the Water Tavern and spoke to Irene Littleman.”

Phillip backed away from her, fear and anger rising up in his chest. “You went to the Water Tavern.”

“Yes,” she said and seated herself at the edge of a sofa. “Mrs. Littleman is not a pleasant person, but we came to an agreement.”

“You came to an agreement with Irene Littleman? You went to see her?”

“Yes.”

“Why in God’s name would you do that? Do you have any idea what kind of criminal she is? What she could have done to a woman like you? An innocent woman? My God, Virginia! What in the hell were you thinking?”

She said nothing in response, was not even looking his direction.

He was certain, knowing himself for these twenty-nine years, that he was very close to losing his temper, which had been a source of embarrassment and regret when he was a younger man.

He desperately did not want to lose his temper with her, with Virginia.

Most certainly the love of his life, although he could not think about that at this moment as the combination of love, and fear for that love, would push him ever closer to the brink of irrationality.

He took a deep breath and walked out of the room, out of Shellington, and into the fresh, salty air.

Timothy was dismounting his horse. “Did you find her?”

Phillip nodded and shoved a thumb over his shoulder, indicating his friend should see for himself. He walked down the tree-lined street to find a way to think logically on what she’d said, if he would ever be able to.

“Miss Wiest?” Timothy Sweitzinger said from the open door of the parlor. Smith was just coming into the room, guiding a young servant with a coffee tray and plate of sandwiches.

“Mr. Brown is returning? He does like the roast beef sandwiches,” Smith said.

“I’m not sure, Mr. Smith. We’ll be sure to save him a few,” Virginia said.

Smith and the maid left, and Sweitzinger looked at her searchingly. “Saw Phillip walking down the street. He was very worried about you this morning when I spoke to him. But you are here and seem well. I was to meet him here to discuss this evening’s plans, but he has gone. Has something happened?”

“It’s no longer necessary for you to speak to Irene Littleman. I went this morning to the Water Tavern and spoke to her. She is willing to do as you and Phillip planned and expects a year free from the Pinkertons.”

Timothy dropped down in a chair. “Please repeat that.”

Virginia raised her brows and said it all again. “The only additional thing she wanted was a pair of gloves to match the bonnet I brought her.”

“You took her a bonnet?”

“I did. A peace offering, if you will. At first, I thought it was the wrong thing to do, and she accused me of trying to buy her off with a hat. But then her man, Thomas, came in with coffee and sweet rolls and said the hat was fetching, and that seemed to change her mind.”

Timothy began to laugh and stopped. “No wonder Phillip is in a state. You just can’t go off and visit a dangerous criminal. It’s a miracle you made it out alive.”

“That’s exactly what Phillip intended to do except she already hated him. Despised him, and you, for getting those Pinkerton men away from her. She had no reason to hate me. I went in the morning before all the bad actors were out of bed, and Mr. McDuffy waited for me in his carriage.”

“And you think that is reason enough to make yourself known to a violent criminal?”

She shrugged. “It is done, is it not? I was not going to allow Phillip to be killed or tortured. I couldn’t allow it.”

“So you were willing to sacrifice yourself?”

Virginia turned and faced him. “That seems dramatic, don’t you think, Timothy? I’ll admit that I was scared, but we have an agreement with her. That is what we should be talking about.”

Sweitzinger did laugh then and shook his head.

“This is outside of Phillip’s understanding.

He’ll never be able to accept your willingness to put yourself in dangerous situations.

He can’t. It is too far removed from everything he believes, which is that a man protects and provides for a woman.

You already don’t need to be provided for, which irks him, but if you don’t need his protection, he’ll wonder what good he is to you. I’d wonder the same if it were me.”

“How medieval.” She stood and pulled the rope to ring for Mr. Smith, who opened the door moments later.

“Yes, miss? What can I do for you?”

“How is Mrs. Shugars settling in, Mr. Smith?”

“She and her children have eaten. She seems unsure of what you mean to do with her, and I think she’s worried that she won’t have fare for a streetcar and it would be a long walk for her youngest, the girl, in order for Mrs. Shugars to return to her work tomorrow.”

“I don’t think she believed me when I said she was no longer sleeping in a doorway with two children. I’ll have to go speak to her. Can you ask Mrs. French about some clothing for her and her children until she can get to Dolly Irving’s shop?”

“Certainly. I’m sure we can find something suitable for all of them. Can you tell me what your plans for her are?”

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Smith. The house was in a bit of an uproar when I arrived home, and I forgot to say anything.

Mrs. Shugars is a cook for a man and his mother and has a room there, but he does not allow her children to stay with her.

Up until now, she’s rented a room so she and the children could be together overnight, but the boy needed medicine, and she could not make the rent this month.

So they sleep in doorways, huddled together.

That is how I found them, near the docks this morning.

I couldn’t leave them. Can Mrs. Barkley use the help in the kitchen until we can find a suitable place for her? ”

“Absolutely. We have space in the staff quarters for them until then, or perhaps Mrs. Barkley will want to keep her permanently. We’ll see to getting them settled right away.”

Smith left the room, and Virginia turned back to Timothy. She raised her chin. “Do not begin to lecture me about strays, Mr. Sweitzinger.”

He smiled. “Never. I admire your willingness to help others. It will be Phillip who will?—”

“Phillip will do what?” the very man said from the doorway. Virginia looked at him, at the love of her life, and although he may not understand, she did not believe she could move on without him at her side.

Timothy stood. “I’m going to give the two of you a few minutes and go meet your new houseguests and make sure they’re not here to rob you blind.”

Phillip walked into the room and closed the door behind him. He sat down across from her and leaned his elbows on his knees, his head bowed. “Have you told your father where you went this morning?”

“No. I have not. I imagine he will be as furious as you are. But I’ve told him before, and I will tell him again. I have significant wealth of my own and will be happy to find myself apartments and hire my own staff if he hopes to preclude my activities. I’m not a child.”

He looked up at her then, and the look on his face nearly broke her heart. It was as if he’d lost everything.

“I understand that. But I can’t do it. I can’t love you and be terrified for you every time you get an idea in your head. I can’t.”

“You love me,” she whispered.

His eyes were on her, but not with joy or triumph that must come from true love, but with sadness and pain.

The door opened, and Timothy walked in. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’ve got to get to the station, and I want to hear about the plans Littleman agreed to.”

Phillip sat back in his seat and nodded. Virginia did not know if she could carry on at that moment. How could she when she’d hurt the man she loved?

Mrs. Irene Littleman tied the ribbons of the dark red bonnet and pulled on her matching gloves.

She left the Water Tavern with several large men surrounding her.

They walked two blocks to another building, where there were several guards standing at a padlocked door.

She pulled a chain from around her neck, used the key on the chain to open the padlock and tucked it back under her jacket.

People on the street were gathered watching, a few speculating on why Mrs. Littleman had left her lair.

Two men went ahead of her through the open door and three followed her inside, the door closing behind them with a thud.

The crowd had mostly dispersed, back to picking pockets or drinking away the few pennies they laid claim to—or both.

Many wondered what items had brought Littleman to the building known for its use by her and several others on the bay, where meetings were held, auctions conducted, and goods, often stolen, changed hands and the following gold, transferred.

Two men made their way down the street from the other direction, hats pulled low and collars up, followed by two other men, their jackets pulled back over pistol holsters.

The first two men were admitted after a short knock.

Something big was in the air, one man said to another as they stood across the street.

“I think you’re right, Jeb,” the other man said.