Page 32 of The Honorable Rogue (The Notorious Nightingales #5)

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“ T hey cannot have just vanished,” Gray said. He was pacing back and forth across the room, anger and fear coming off him in waves. “They have to be somewhere. Someone had to have seen them.”

“Whoever took them slipped in and out while we were at the games,” Leo said, “knowing the house would only have a few people in it.”

Violet was standing by the window looking out at Crabbett Close, where they’d had so much fun today. Charles and Ellen were missing, and she would not contemplate losing another she loved. She knew now without a doubt that her feelings for Charles Thomas were as deep as they were wide.

“I won’t lose him,” she whispered.

A large hand settled on her shoulder, and she knew without looking it belonged to Ambrose.

“We will get them back, Pixie.” She felt his lips in her hair.

The door opened then, and Mungo stomped in. “I found this lad. He was lurking in the lane behind the house. He saw two men with guns force two people into a carriage.”

The boy looked terrified as he stared wide-eyed up at the huge Scotsman. In need of a bath and clean clothes, he had his cap clutched in his left hand.

“Tell us exactly what you heard,” Alex said, dropping down before the boy.

“The men, they came out in a line with the woman in front,” the boy said. “Then they were put in the carriage, and that’s when I moved closer to look in. Something didn’t feel right. I stood under the door when it was closed ’cause I’m small. They told them to sit on the floor, and I peeked and saw they were binding their hands. Then one of them pushed the woman to the floor.”

Bram gripped Gray’s shoulder, offering support as he growled.

“The man with her, he headbutted one of the men hard, and they wrestled him down, then kicked him in the ribs.”

Violet pressed a fist into her mouth at the thought of Charles hurt. Ambrose and Tilly now flanked her, both offering her their strength.

“The carriage rolled away then,” the boy said.

“Mungo, take him to the kitchens. I’m sure Miss Bud will have something for him there,” Ivy Nightingale said.

“There has to be something in those papers,” Ram said, regaining his feet. He then moved to the table.

Violet joined him and picked up the list she and Tilly had made earlier. She was sure that someone had taken an interest in her because of what they believed she knew and her connection with Charles.

“Where are you, Charles?” Flora said the words, sounding desperate. She stood in the circle of Ram’s arms.

“I need my wife back,” Gray gritted out.

“We will get them back,” Mungo said, moving to the man’s side. “You have my word on that.” He put his hand on Gray’s shoulder and squeezed.

Matilda, Anna, and Fred had taken Lottie and Alice upstairs to play, and for now, that seemed to be working, but the little girl loved her mother and would soon start asking for her, just like her father was.

“By God, Father is here now,” Alex said, clutching his head. “It’s like some kind of gathering in here.”

“Father?” Leo moved to stand before his brother. “What the bloody hell does he want? The man was useless in life. I can’t believe he’d be any better in death.”

“He’s showing me a….” Alex’s words fell away as he focused.

“A?” Gray demanded.

“A book.”

“Mrs. Bradbury,” Violet said suddenly. “I had nothing to do with her last season, but this one she’s been turning up everywhere. She asked me if I knew how to speak and read Russian. She has a friend there, and her son was usually the one to decipher the letters from them, but he was away with his regiment.”

“She was part of the knitting group too,” Cyn said.

“Could she be the mistress, and this son who can read Russian, Pavlov’s son?” Violet asked, kicking herself for not thinking of the woman before.

“What book is that idiot brother of mine showing you, Alex?” Bram asked.

“That one that Ellen liked with the flowers and fairies on it,” Alex said, squinting as if he was actually seeing it.

“S.M. Brownly’s Fables from the Forest,” Ivy said.

“By God, Brownly,” Leo said. “He’s been showing up everywhere and making friends with Charles. He fenced with him three days ago and turned up here this morning to ask him to go hunting next week.”

“Did someone tell him about the games?”

“I keep seeing a lion. It’s broken.” Alex made a slashing sound across his neck .

“Hurt?” Ambrose asked.

“No, I think it’s a stone lion, like you’d see in a museum, but it’s broken,” Alex added.

“I need to find that necklace,” Leo whispered. “Let’s go.”

“To where?” Bram asked.

“To the Pavlov estate,” Cyn said. “This is a bill for a stonemason to repair a lion.” She waved a piece of paper at them.

They were soon all mounted. Tilly, Cyn, and Harriet stayed with the children.

It was a solemn ride through the dark London streets with barely any words spoken as they all focused on what needed to be done. Violet had refused when they’d told her she should stay, stating that she was the only one who could read Russian, and she may be needed. Ambrose had said that if his sister went, then so did he.

The estate would take them an hour to reach, but all Violet could think was, what if they were wrong? What if Charles and Ellen were being held somewhere else?

“We will find them,” Ambrose said, moving closer. “Now tell me the truth, Pixie. Do you care for Charles Thomas?”

She looked at the man who had helped raise her. The brother who had been the one to take her home after Tobias died. He’d held her in front of him on his horse and let her weep and then stayed with her when she slept.

“I think so. Yes.”

His smile was small. “When I told you that you should let Tobias go and love again, I’d hoped for someone less complicated than what Charles brings, Sister.”

“But it is a wonderful family,” she said.

“They are good people, I’ll give you that, if a little odd.”

“We need to find them, Rosie.”

“We will, and then Thomas and I will be having a talk.”

“We have not made our feelings for each other known yet, Brother. ”

She felt his eyes on the side of her face. “How can he not love you?”

Violet touched his hand, and he clasped it tight before releasing it.

It was dark by the time they slowed at an entrance with two large arched gates. Mungo dismounted and opened them, and soon they were riding down a tree-lined drive.

Bramstone raised a hand, and they all halted and dismounted.

“We will tether the horses here and continue on foot,” he said.

The end of the driveway led to an impressive fountain with what looked to be Neptune rising from it. They moved quietly around it to the house.

“It’s an imposing building,” Alex whispered.

“Do you see the lions?” Ambrose said from beside Violet.

She found them. Big beasts standing sentry beside the steps up to the front door.

“We will take the path to the rear, as that is where I have an urge to go,” Leo said.

“I feel Charles,” Flora whispered suddenly. “He’s nearby and angry,” she added. “I feel Ellen too. They are both well.”

“Thank God,” Gray whispered.

“Quiet now,” Bram said.

Mungo walked at the rear, as intimidating a presence as the lions now behind them, and Violet prayed silently that they would return this way soon with Ellen and Charles in their ranks.