Page 18 of Crimes, Conspiracies, and Courtship (Paddy’s Peelers Mystery #1)

CHAPTER 17

“I can’t find him,” said Nora in a rush, standing on her tiptoes to peer over the crowd again.

“What?” He tried to keep the irritation from his voice.

“He went to relieve himself, and he hasn’t returned. Darby is still here, but only two of the women.”

He followed her line of sight and saw Lady Roberta and Lady Matilda. Relief swept through him, but only for a moment. “I’ll talk to the ladies and find out where Miss Pendleton is.”

Walters drew in a deep breath and made himself walk at a leisurely pace when he wanted to shove the people out of his way.

“Your handsome pirate has returned, Lady Matilda.”

Mattie’s smile faded when he shook his head.

“What has happened?”

“Where is your friend?” His voice remained low but urgent. He had to find the duke.

“She went to use the?—”

“We were just asking ourselves the same thing,” Lady Roberta interrupted. “She’s been gone too long.”

Lady Matilda gasped. “Lady Roberta, remember the highwayman who came past us earlier, and he bumped into her?”

“It didn’t seem like an accident,” added the older woman, a glint of anger in her eyes.

“Something about him was familiar. His eyes, those cold black eyes. It was the duke!” A slender hand covered her mouth. “Oh, Harry,” she cried. “Please find her. I will find my brother and send him to help.”

Walters nodded. “Tell him I will meet him on the ground floor.”

By the time he’d made a sweep of the top level and reached the ground level, he found Darby striding toward the stairs. “We need to check this floor and below.”

“I’ll head below,” Darby said. “I know this house. I’ll take the servants’ stairs. Meet me when you’ve finished.”

The earl disappeared down the corridor just as Nora entered the entryway. “What can I do? I saw you talking to the ladies.”

“They aren’t here. Check with the footmen and make sure they haven’t left. Then fetch Lady Matilda and the other woman. I’m joining Darby in the cellar.” He patted his side for reassurance, the pistols stored in his belt giving him comfort.

Walters finished searching the ground level, then took the servants’ stairs. He moved down the dark hallway, hearing voices on the left, then shouts. Rushing to the open door, he found Darby on top of the duke, pummeling his face and head. The earl was in a rage and had lost all sense until Lord Chester, who stood in the shadows, announced, “Darby! If you kill him, we can’t hang him.”

This seemed to restore the earl’s reasoning. He still straddled Colvin, but his arms hung by his sides, his breath coming in heavy pants. “I’d prefer to do it myself,” he argued, wiping the sweat from his face with his coat sleeve.

The duke turned his head to the side and spit. Vile laughter faded into a bout of wheezing. “Look at the note. It’s signed with a C for Colvin.” He spit again and drew in a harsh breath. “She met me willingly. And even if she didn’t, I would never hang for rape. I am the sixth Duke of Colvin, and my father served the King well.”

The disgusting man was trying to ruin the reputation of a lovely, innocent woman. Walters fists bunched, wanting to feel his own knuckles crunch into the man’s arrogant face.

“I thought it was C for Casanova.” Miss Pendleton’s voice was no more than a croak. “He trapped me in here, i-in the dark.”

“Tell that to a jury of my peers.” Colvin tried to push Nicholas off, let out a low moan, and fell back against the flagstone. “No matter what you accuse me of, I’ll cry off with privilege of peerage.”

Walters stepped back as the constable and one of his men approached the room and entered. He saw the smirk on Lord Chester’s face as he stepped from the shadows and nodded toward the duke.

Darby moved to help Miss Pendleton up and swept her into his arms. The duke yelled at the men pulling him from the floor. “Do not touch me, you blasted imbeciles. I am a Peer of the Realm! I am above this, I say!”

The men ignored his tirade and jerked him to his feet, stopping before Lord Chester. “I’m afraid your privileges do not extend to treason, my lord. I’m sure your father who, as you pointed out, was a loyal subject of the King, would agree. I suggest, if you wish to retain any dignity, you should come with us quietly.”

“Who the bloody hell are you?” he asked, spitting more blood as the first tinge of fear coated his words. “I demand to speak to someone with authority.”

“That would be me, Lord Chester Hatford. I am a representative of the Home Office and the Crown. We have been watching you, Your Grace. It seems you have interesting friends who ask you for money.” Lord Chester placed himself in front of the battered duke. “Unfortunately, it’s those investments which seem to have caused the Crown some anxiety.”

“ You’ve been watch—There has been some mistake.” Walters watched the duke’s face pale as he realized Darby had not been the real threat. “Y-you have no proof of wrongdoing.”

“Ah, but we have, or I would never presume to put you, the Duke of Colvin, under arrest. I’m afraid your rendezvous with the Cato Street radicals have been documented, along with your funding of the Spencean Philanthropists.” He shook his finger at the duke. “Your Grace, consorting with factions who wish to overthrow our government is high treason. Shameful, really.”

“I demand?—”

“I am sorry, but you are not in a position to demand. Your only hope will be to share names. Names of those plotting to assassinate our cabinet, names of the conspirators who believe it is permissible to overthrow our government. We’ll be sure to provide you pen and paper in the Tower, so you can write down everything. Perhaps then, the Regent will reduce the hanging and quartering to a beheading.” Hatford gave a mirthless chuckle. “I’ve been told it’s much quicker and more humane. And I understand from your friend Lord Darby that you are quite the humanitarian.”

Walters heard more voices and turned to find Nora, Lady Roberta, and Lady Matilda descending the stairs.

Darby was carrying out Miss Pendleton. “Walters, make sure they get home safely, will you?”

“Of course. The physician will be sent to your home.”

Lady Roberta pushed past Walters to follow her niece and bumped into Hatford. “Let me see my niece… Chester! Merciful heavens, is that you?”

“Bertie?” Hatford asked. “My Bertie from Calcutta?” He beamed. “The young lady is fine. Come along with me.”

The two began chatting as if they’d run into each other at Gunter’s. Lord Chester led the way to a waiting coach at the back of the house, and Walters stopped Lady Matilda from following. “Lord Darby requested I see you home.”

Her azure eyes flicked from his face, to her brother’s retreating back, and returned to him.

“She will be fine.” He lifted his hand to rub her arm, give her some comfort, when she threw herself against his chest, clinging to him. The sobs began, and he held her, rocking her back and forth, stroking her hair. “ Shh , it’s over.”

Nora stood on the stairs. “I’ll have Mr. Lynch bring the carriage round.”

“Send him this way. I don’t want Lady Matilda to be seen like this.”

In the carriage, he sat next to Mattie, tossing propriety to the dogs. He held her close until she blew her nose and dried her tears with her handkerchief.

“Thank you.”

“I was only doing my job.”

Lady Matilda shook her head. “You’re a good man, Harry.”

She stared at Nora, sitting on the opposite bench. “And thank you, Miss…”

“O’Brien. Nora O’Brien. I’m Harry’s sister.” She reached out her hand and the two women shook. “Meeting you makes some things going on with my brother much clearer.”

“The actress.”

Walters glared at his sister, who smirked back. “And you are correct. My brother is the very best of men.”

When they stopped in front of the Berkeley Square house, Walters helped her out. She stretched on her toes and placed a kiss on his mouth, tears still shining in her eyes. “I love you, Harry Walters. Don’t ever think otherwise. And I would give up anything to be with you.”

Then she picked up her skirts and ran up the portico and into the house.

When he climbed back into the coach, he avoided Nora’s eyes.

“When were you going to tell us that you’ve fallen in love?” she asked, her voice soft, not even a trace of humor.

“Our affection cannot grow, so it is a moot point.” He crossed his arms, wishing he could stop at the Dog’s Bone for a drink to celebrate the duke’s arrest. And forget Mattie. But he could see the grin on Leo’s face when he ordered an ale. No, he’d already made a fool himself in front of Lady Matilda. He couldn’t endure more teasing.

“She loves you.”

“It’s not enough,” he said irritably. “We’re too different.”

“You’re in a different class not a different world. Love is always enough if it’s sincere and strong enough.”

“You’re na?ve, Sister.”

If there was a way, Harry would have found it. How many nights had he racked his brain to find one?