Page 39 of An Unbending Lady for the Desperate Earl
Victoria had ensured that the Duchess didn’t even tell her husband of her true nature, convincing her that it was the best way to help her missing daughter. The Duchess had been hesitant at first but, by the time they departed, even Christian was sure that the Duchess wouldn’t breathe a word. And, from what Victoria had said about Miss Longacre, her discretion could be relied upon, as well.
“I don’t see how this helps us?” Benedict said bluntly.
“That is because I have yet to finish,” Victoria shot back. “This may make your head explode, Ben, so I suggest you hold onto your seat. Here is my suggestion—I will continue to pose as Lady Laura and make myself present at every single soiree and party that is taking place from now until… well, the plan works. In addition, we will use the Duchess, Miss Longacre, and Christian’s connections to bolster my esteem. I must be the name on every tongue in the ton, so that the kidnappers cannot ignore me. By doing this, I will makemyselfa target, in order to get to the bottom of this. Even if I am captured, I will be able to do more from within than from without.”
Christian blinked in disbelief, whilst Benedict said nothing, staring in abject horror at his surrogate daughter. Evidently, they shared the same initial thoughts on this radical, absurd plan.
She has taken leave of her senses. She has gone quite mad. How can she even suggest such a thing?The thoughts rattled around in Christian’s mind, but he could not muster the consciousness to actually speak them aloud. His mouth had frozen in shock, unable to form words.
“Ah, so you are both entirely in agreement that this is a superb idea, then?” Victoria glanced at the two men in visibly anxious anticipation.
“You’re not serious?” Benedict spoke first.
Victoria tilted her chin up. “I assure you; I am deadly serious.”
“That is tantamount to suicide, Victoria.” Benedict shook his head. “That is not going to happen. You can give me all the reasons and assurances you like; I won’t agree to you doing this. I’m not going to put you in harm’s way for the sake of this case.”
“Aren’t I always in harm’s way, Ben? Is that not the very nature of this employment—to put oneself in whatever situation is necessary, in order to save the lives of those who are in danger?” Victoria replied. “I am at no greater risk from doing this than I would be, say, chasing a band of robbers through Whitechapel with nothing but a pistol to protect me. And it would certainly be safer than striding into the terrace of a known brute who beats his wife half to death, which I have done more times than I care to count.”
“No,” Benedict said simply.
“No?” Victoria arched a haughty eyebrow. “You have been as a father to me, Ben, but you arenotmy father. If I choose to do this, you cannot stop me. But youcanhelp me. And, I assure you, this will all work much more smoothly if you do give me your assistance.”
Christian stood abruptly. “The Admiral is right. This is too dangerous, Victoria. I know you dine upon danger for your luncheon, but this is too risky by far. These kidnappers are stealthy, and they are clever. They have outsmarted everyone, thus far, and they would not hesitate to punish you, in any manner of despicable way, if they were to uncover who you really were after you had been captured. Which, I might add, I whole heartedly don’t like the idea of one bit. You are not being used as bait.”
Do not make me lose you, too. I will not be able to bear it.For, though he still couldn’t admit it to himself, he knew that if Victoria were to be taken, then the kidnappers really would have stolen away the woman he loved. Or could love, if she would permit him to break down the walls surrounding her heart, and he found the courage to overcome the obstacles of the societal barriers that had been placed on him since birth.
“I hate to sound churlish, but I was not seeking your permission.” Victoria wrung her hands nervously. “I am asking for your support. Both of you. Because, and I hate to say this more, I cannot do it without you.”
“No,” Benedict repeated.
Victoria stared at him with pleading eyes. “Allow me to put it simply, so that I may change your minds. The reality is, we don’t have another choice. The longer we wait, the more opportunity we give to the kidnappers, to take more ladies. Might we find evidence to lead us to them, one of these days? Maybe. But maybe is not good enough for me, when women’s safety is at stake. Women who don’t know how to take care of themselves, the way I do. Women who don’t know how to fight as I do. That is why I have to be the one to fight for them, and this is our only chance now, unless we want more kidnaps on our collective conscience?”
“And what of your safety?” Christian replied. “You may be able to fight, and you may be fearless, but your safety matters, too.”
She shook her head solemnly. “My life and my safety are not as important as the lives and safety of those ladies. On a costing basis alone, they are, pound for pound, of more value than me.”
“There is more to a person’s value than their wealth,” Christian protested.And you have become dearer to me than anyone.He felt irrationally cross that she could put herself beneath the captured ladies, after all of her rants regarding the fickle foundations of high society. And that she could devalue herself so matter-of-factly which, by proxy, marred the value that he saw in Victoria.
“In whose eyes?” Victoria retorted.
“In… many people’s eyes.” He stumbled over his response.
“Listen to me,” she sighed softly. “If the elite start leaving London out of fear, everyone suffers. The temporary staff who are hired to serve, the dock workers who bring in shipments of silks and satins to please the fine ladies, the dairy farmers and errand boys who see their yield increase with demand. It is an empire, Christian. Your world, and what it brings to the poorer folk of this city, is a veritable empire. These kidnappers are making it crumble. A warrior is required to cease their destruction. I am she.”
“But—” he made to argue, but she cut him off.
“I am not asking you to be happy about it, but this is our only means of rescuing these ladies, before there are no daughters left in London.” Victoria folded her arms across her chest in defiance. “Moreover, we do not yet knowwhythese kidnappers have taken these ladies, but I am almost certain that they will make their reasoning known soon enough. And I would like to nip this in the bud before demands and blackmails and cut-off body parts start arriving in the mail.”
Christian’s stomach lurched. “You have lingered too long in the underworld, Victoria. Why would you say such a thing?”
“Because I have seen it happen before,” Victoria replied. “I’ve had to pinch my nose and pluck out a rotten finger, accompanied by a blackmail note, explaining that a Member of Parliament’s son would be delivered, piece by piece, until said honorable gentleman stood down from his position in the House of Commons.”
“What? I didn’t know of this.” Christian wrinkled up his nose, as though he could somehow smell the decaying flesh.
“No, you wouldn’t have. I was urged to keep it secret.” Victoria stood firm. “In the end, the cretin was apprehended by Benedict and me, and the boy was rescued with seven of his ten fingers intact. Another radical plan that involved me pretending to be an errand boy. That could have gone badly, but it did not, and everyone got to return home. Aside from the villain who did it, of course.”
“I had forgotten that one,” Benedict said gruffly.
