Page 25 of Murder in Disguise (Mary and Bright #5)

“I can’t tell you because I don’t know!” Her eyes were again wild as she stared at him. “I’ll be the next one dead, besides.”

Well, she wasn’t wrong. “You are safe now. I’m going to take you home. Your father is worried sick.” Step by step, he approached her again. “Once you’re cared for, perhaps you’ll feel more like talking to me about your ordeal so that I can prevent this from happening to any more young women.”

For long moments, Miss Hopewell regarded him with terror in her expression as the rain came down.

Then she nodded and more or less collapsed, probably from reaction, thirst, and hunger.

With a speaking glance at Thomas, Gabriel picked her up into his arms and carried her around the side of the carriage.

Ignoring the curious looks from passersby in both vehicles and on foot, he placed the young lady onto one of the benches then sat across from her.

Once the driver put up the steps and shut the door, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“Again, you are safe, Miss Hopewell. It’s over.” Whatever it was. Not that she was conscious enough to know that he spoke to her. He unfolded a lap blanket from its place beneath his bench and gently arranged it about her person.

Twenty minutes later, as soon as the carriage turned onto the street where her parents lived, Miss Hopewell stirred. She sat up with a gasp and round eyes as she peered out of the window at the rainy world.

“Do you think Mama and Papa will be cross with me for what happened?”

He frowned. “I can’t see how they would. It wasn’t your fault you were kidnapped.”

“Perhaps I flirted with the wrong man.”

There was always that issue, but he couldn’t say if that was what necessitated the abduction. “Your parents love you. They’ll keep you safe.”

“So much dreadful noise is banging on my brain,” she said in a singsong voice. “The man in the apron wasn’t happy we were there. He told the other one to feed us.”

“What other one? Was it a man or a woman?”

The young woman shrugged. “I don’t know. Too dark. Sometimes the air smelled overly sweet like honeysuckle.”

“Are there other girls still there? Were they there when you escaped?”

“I don’t know.”

“How did you escape?”

The carriage rolled to a gentle halt in front of the viscount’s house.

“The man left the door in the attic open. I left and ran as fast as I could but was too weak to get home.” She shook her head and looked at him with eyes haunted by things he couldn’t imagine. “Watch Adelaide.”

“What about her?”

Miss Hopewell pleaded with him with her eyes. “She is a lovely girl. I think she’ll be taken next.”

He frowned. “Why?”

But the young lady was apparently finished talking.

When Thomas opened the door and then put down the steps, Gabriel pressed her. “Why, Miss Hopewell?”

She shrugged. “Not enough men.”

“What the devil does that mean?” When she didn’t answer, he stifled the urge to huff in frustration as he climbed out of the carriage then turned back to assist her out. “Who took you? What can you tell me about them so that I may more easily track them down?”

“I don’t know It was always dark. They dressed in black.”

“Breeches or skirts?”

“Breeches. Slight of form. Laughed weirdly.” Her expression lightened as the front door opened as she spied her father. “Mad as a hatter with the ticking.”

“Regina?” Lord Farmington shouted to someone inside the house. Seconds later, he bolted along the short walkway and through the wrought iron gate. “Dear God, Inspector, you brought my little girl back to me!”

“Papa!”

When they came into each other’s arms and the viscount wrapped his daughter in a protective embrace, Gabriel stood at the curb, respectful of their privacy. Then the viscountess came out and despite the rain, she joined her husband and daughter. They all embraced.

Lord Farmington peered in Gabriel’s direction. He excused himself while the ladies went into the house and out of the weather. “Thank you, Inspector. You have no idea how much I appreciate you finding my little girl.”

“Well, my lord, it was actually a matter of her finding me.” Quickly, he explained how he’d come by Miss Hopewell.

“Once I realized who she was, I brought her here straightaway.” He rubbed a gloved hand along the side of his face.

“I’d like to question her further. All she would give me right now was nearly like ravings of a madwoman. ”

“Can you blame her? She’s gone through something that has probably been traumatic.”

“Yes, but I need any information she might have.”

“What she needs is to be cared for; hell, she looks half starved.” His jaw worked and there was hardness in his eyes. “The papers won’t stop in their cannibalization of you until the case is solved. Go find the bastard who did this, Inspector.”

“I’m trying.”

“Try harder, Bright. We both know your record. It’s time to get ahead of the killer.” The viscount narrowed his gaze on Gabriel. “Meanwhile, give my daughter a chance to rest, clear her head, remember that she’s safe. I’ll send a note around to you when she’s ready to talk about what happened.”

It was better than nothing. He nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate that.” With nothing else to do, he took his leave of the viscount and returned to his carriage.

Leaning back against the squabs as the vehicle lurched into motion, he closed his eyes.

At least there wouldn’t be another death. Now to keep it that way.