Page 87 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
Josephine, my little one, I will save you.
Then the crunch of carriage wheels was heard and her heartbeat sped up. Her back lifted from the rugged wall and she breathed deeply and calmed herself. This had to be done with care and precision.
The vehicle stopped and a hooded figure came out, and then a small body was lifted out. Caroline’s heart nearly stopped when she saw that it was Josephine, her hands bound and a tie around her mouth.
“You are alone,” came a sly voice, “It seems that youcanfollow instructions, after all.”
She knew that voice, it haunted her some nights. It was her uncle and the tug of the hood showed it. Caroline felt as if she was thrown back in time, sixteen years ago. The hateful look in her uncle’s eye was the same and so was the sadistic sneer on his face.
“Release the girl,” Caroline said, as calmly as she could.
Albion laughed, “Oh, what a simpleton you are. How is she going to get home, Caroline? A little girl in this part of town, alone, is a cry for all manner of evil to descend upon her. No, you are coming with me while we take her back home and them, by all agreements, you are mine.”
A cold breeze ruffled her hair, “Why are you doing this, uncle? You could have let this bad blood lie. I was no trouble for you, and you were none to me. Your crime has been cold for years, why rake it up now?”
He laughed, “You think I was the only one in this collusion, Caroline? I had help. The Duke’s own father-in-law was the mastermind behind this plot. In fact, it was he who found me, with the delicious news that my lovely niece was alive. Have you been plotting to take the Duke from his wife, Caroline? Tsk, tsk, little girl, I thought you had more morals than that.”
Lord Crampton! It was he behind this all along! I should have known! Where are the constables?
“But you have none,” Caroline said easily. “How could you, Uncle, how could you so easily kill my father?”
“Because he had everything and I had nothing,” Albion snapped. “It was time to even the score. Now, get into the carriage, Caroline, this dilly-dallying is not worth my time.”
She was getting frantic as there was no sign of the constables and as Albion approached her, she fell back to her last resort. “No.”
The Baron’s face transformed into rage. He then grabbed Josephine, who was standing beside him, slid a knife out of his waistcoat pocket and pressed it to her neck. Caroline felt a rush of blood blasting to her head so hard that she nearly fainted, and cried out in alarm. The child’s eyes had gone so wide in fright that Caroline almost rushed over to her.
“Do you think I have anything to lose here, Caroline?” Albion snapped. “If anything, you are the one who is going to go back to your precious Duke with the report that you failed to carry his child back alive. Now get into the carriage.”
* * *
From the shadows Peregrine watched the scene unfold. Everything was going according to plan. Albion had correctly anticipated that Caroline would be the one who was going to come to rescue the little girl.
He sat in his unmarked carriage, watching the play unfold according to the script when the direction took a left turn. Albion had a knife to his granddaughter’s throat! Peregrine felt cold run through him as the moonlight glinted off the steel.
What is that maniac doing? Not Josephine, you fool! We agreed that she should not be harmed!
“Lord Crampton?” a deep voice said from his far window.
Peregrine’s head snapped to the side and he saw the top hat of a constable there. Instantly, he had started to panic but controlled it. “Yes, constable?”
“What are you doing here, My Lord?” the man asked.
“I am here on business, my good man,” Peregrine smiled easily, “Surely you know that an apothecarybrews medical potions at night? I am here for a draught for my stomach, you see.”
“Stop your machinations, Peregrine,” Moses’ icy voice said tersely, “No one aside from me and a few trusted others were told to come here. Not even Lavinia knows. By you being here, we know that you are a part of this collusion with Miss Robins’ uncle. Constables, apprehend him.”
“Moses,” Peregrine’s tone was appalled, “I have not the faintest id—my God! No!”
The Earl’s eyes were trained on the Baron with a knife to his granddaughter’s throat.This was not a part of the plan! Is Albion mad?
“Moses,” Peregrine’s voice was faint, “I admit it, I was a part of this but there was no plan to harm my granddaughter. He has gone mad, Moses. Have mercy on me.”
“Another word and I will kill you where you sit,” Moses snarled, “My mercy is for you to face your crimes in front of another magistrate who will be much more impartial while I would sentence you to death.” The Duke snarled while pulling a firearm from his waistband, “Officers, guard him and Peregrine, if anything happens to my child, I will have your head.”
“Take me,” Peregrine offered, “Take me with you. I will even the odds.”
The Duke’s face was stone but then nodded and yanked the door of the carriage open. “Get out, now!”
