Page 17 of Devoted to the Spanish Duke
Toby cleared his throat and glanced at Stephen. The handler of dirty deeds had taken the young orphan under his wing and was teaching him the tools of the trade.
“Go on, Toby. Remember what I have taught you. Even the smallest detail can be vital,” said Stephen.
“Well, I was watching one of the upstairs windows early yesterday and I swore it opened just a crack after the old woman sat down on the steps to smoke. She was well away from it, so she didn’t notice.”
Lisandro sat forward, listening intently. Toby had a good eye for detail, and even in the short time that he had known the boy, Lisandro had come to trust his instincts. “Go on.”
“Something fell out the window. I’m not sure what it was, but the dog raced over and quickly gobbled it up. Then he went back to his spot by the stables and lay down. I didn’t see him move again for the rest of the day.”
There was a sparkle in Toby’s eyes, one which Lisandro recognized only too well—the joy that came from discovering a vital piece of information, something that could change everything.
“I had the spyglass ready this morning when the woman came out. Within a minute of her lighting her smoke, the same upstairs window opened. This time, I saw a small hand and what looked like a piece of pie. It was dropped just like yesterday, and again, the dog ate it.”
“Did the dog sleep the day away?” asked Lisandro.
Toby nodded.
Gus let out a low whistle. Lisandro and Stephen exchanged a hopeful grin.
Someone hidden within the house was waiting until the housekeeper went outside to have her morning smoke and was then tossing food out the window. Food which, from the reaction of the dog, had clearly been drugged.
A small hand. A woman’s, perhaps.
The memory of Diego de Elizondo as he stood in the grounds of Castle Tolosa and begged him to save Maria came clearly to Lisandro’s mind. The heart-breaking look of desperation and fear on Diego’s face would haunt him for all his days.
He sent a silent prayer across the many miles of sea to his homeland, hoping that Diego may somehow get his message.
I think we have found Maria.
The thought of Diego also brought back the rest of their conversation; and the reward Lisandro had asked to receive if he brought Maria safely home. To be allowed to spend time with her. For the Elizondo family to accept and acknowledge Spanish society’s expectation that Lisandro would make Maria his wife.
And what if she doesn’t take kindly to that idea?
Rescuing Maria from the clutches of a bloodthirsty band of kidnappers might well be the least of Lisandro’s problems.
Chapter Ten
“This could all end rather badly,” said Stephen.
Sir Stephen always said the same thing right at the start of any dangerous encounter. It was his peculiar way of saying ‘take care and don’t get killed’ without actually having to give voice to his fears.
Lisandro checked his pistol for the fifth time, determined that he would not be the one on the wrong end of a gun. Glancing at his hands after he’d placed the weapon into its holster, he was relieved that they were steady and without any tremor. Cool heads were required for what lay in front of them tonight. Their lives, and the life of Maria de Elizondo Garza, depended on it.
The coach drew into the dark laneway at the rear of number nine Queen Anne Street and stopped. They waited in silence, ready for the signal.
When a loud rap came on the side of the coach, both men startled. Lisandro’s pistol was immediately aimed toward the door.
It swung open and Augustus Jones appeared into the pale light. He looked to Stephen and then Lisandro. “Our men are in position across the road from the front of the house. As agreed, I will knock on the door while Harry and his men rush in from behind me.”
He glanced at Lisandro’s pistol and screwed up his face. “It goes without saying that I would rather not get shot by either of you two gentlemen this evening. So please take extra care if you decide to start firing.”
Their plans didn’t include having to shoot their way out of the house; the diversion at the front door would hopefully be enough for him and Stephen to be able to steal in and grab Maria. The sight of Stephen’s powerful double-barreled flintlock did give him pause, but he knew the Englishman well enough to trust his instincts when it came to wielding weapons.
Lisandro pulled his pocket watch from his waistcoat and checked the time. It was almost eleven. Right on the hour, they would raid the house.
“Good luck. We shall rendezvous as soon as possible,” said Stephen.
Gus closed the door and disappeared into the night.
