Page 38 of An Unbending Lady for the Desperate Earl
“I want to help. I want to… be part of your future endeavors, Victoria.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “You have opened my eyes to the injustices in this world. I wish to repay you for that, in any way that I can.”
The carriage came to a halt outside a grim, ramshackle building that perched close to the grimy, browned waters of the Thames. Dirt-streaked dock workers ambled about, laughing and joking with their fellow men. It did not seem, to Christian, like the sort of place that a lady ought to be, but then Victoria was no ordinary lady. He doubted she so much as blinked an eye at this sort of dilapidation.
“First, we must recover these missing women,” Victoria said softly. “After that… you and I shall talk.”
Of what? Of you and I? Of the orphanage? Of parting ways?She said nothing more, leaving him to wonder.
A few minutes later, Christian found himself sitting in a cramped office, opposite the Admiral, who peered at him over an astonishing mountain range of paperwork. Victoria stood by the window, having disappeared for a short time upstairs, only to return in entirely different attire.
“Do you keep garments here, Victoria?” Christian couldn’t help but ask.
Victoria glanced over her shoulder at him. “I reside her, Christian.”
He almost choked on his own gizzard. “Youresidehere? I thought you resided in Southwark, with your mother?”
“It is easier for me to be close to my base of operations, and I rather enjoy the independence.” Victoria turned back, putting an end to the conversation.
Sheliveshere?!Every time he thought she could not surprise him any further, he discovered something like this, and found himself back at the starting line with regards to the story of her life.
“I’ve tried to get her to return to her mother’s house, indefinitely, but if you know anything of our Victoria by now, you know she’s as stubborn as a donkey.” Benedict chuckled wearily, moving aside a stack of papers so he could see Christian better.
“What would you do with those rooms if I didn’t reside in them, Ben? Fill them with endless amounts of paperwork, in the hopes it will disappear of its own accord?” Victoria retorted, with a smirk.
Benedict laughed heartily. “Ah, you’ve figured me out.”
“I take it you have heard about the capture of Lady Jane?” Victoria switched back to business so swiftly that Christian wondered if the lighthearted chatter had ever happened.
Benedict nodded. “I have.”
“Christian and I already investigated the household,” Victoria went on. “There was nothing there of note. Or, I should say, nothing there that we do not already know. Although, at least we can remove some suspects from our list.”
“You have a list?” Benedict sounded surprised.
“Christian made one,” Victoria replied.
Benedict frowned. “And Lord Galbury doesn’t mind you speaking so informally toward him?”
“I insisted upon it,” Christian cut in. “It only seemed fair, as I had to call her Victoria.”
“Will wonders never cease?” Benedict muttered. “Anyway, if you did not discover anything new, then what do you suggest we do, going forward? I’m at a loss, as are the rest of Bow Street and the private investigators of London. Believe me, I have borne the brunt of their gripes. But they are running scared, too. No one can understand how this is happening, without a single soul hearing or seeingsomething. It is as though a ghost is coming into these houses and stealing away daughters. They leave barely any trace.”
Victoria sighed. “You ought to try telling me something I do not know.”
“Already, I have heard of families retreating to their country homes.” Benedict ignored Victoria’s comment.
“Surely, that is a prudent thing?” Victoria began to pace. “If these daughters are no longer in London, then perhaps the kidnappings will stop. Then, at least, we will not have to worry about more occurring whilst we seek to recover the ladies who are already lost to us.”
“Or they may continue regardless, spreading the field of crime beyond our jurisdiction. It is difficult enough, trying to keep pace with this case within London itself. If kidnappings begin to occur further away, we’ll be run ragged.” Benedict yawned and stretched out his arms.
“Are we keeping you awake, Ben?” Victoria remarked, though not without some affection. It was obvious to Christian how deeply Victoria cared for the Admiral, who had become something of a surrogate father to her, after her real father’s passing.
Benedict chuckled. “This entire case is keeping me awake, lass. I fear I won’t sleep again until these wretches are caught.”
“Then, it is time for greater action,” Victoria said, halting in her pacing. “We must do something drastic, or we will continue to follow these ludicrous breadcrumbs, and still come up with naught to show for it.”
“Drastic?” Christian interjected, that word sending a sudden shiver through him.
Victoria nodded. “Bear with me.” She took a deep breath. “Christian and I have already sown some seeds that may prove useful to us. At the ball last night, I was introduced as his cousin, Lady Laura. The only people who know that to be a falsehood are the three of us, the Duchess of Sopworth, and Miss Longacre. Both of whom have been sworn to secrecy.”
