Page 80 of The Most Eligible Lord in London
“Of course I am.” The man’s belligerence took Frits aback. “You had no right to take my prop—the boy. His mother wants him returned immediately. She is extremely worried about him.”
That was a lie based partially in truth. The problem was that he didn’t know how much truth was involved. He could easily believe that Peter’s mother was frantic with worry. On the other hand, he didn’t think Lettsome cared about her feelings at all.
Lettsome continued to stand, as did Frits. He couldn’t get the blackguard out of his house fast enough. “Did your employee not tell you that he was about to whip the lad?”
That knowledge did not appear to affect Lettsome. It was as if he didn’t care. “It was merely a threat because he was misbehaving.”
“It did not look like a threat to me.” The man was just as much a scoundrel as his henchman. “I stopped him as he was about to turn a threat into a reality.”
“Nevertheless, his mother wants his return. I shall take him now.” Lettsome started toward the door, and Frits blocked his way.
Now he knew why Lady Wivenly had decided Peter should remain with her. If he had been here and heard the scoundrel, the mention of his mother would have made Peter want to go with Lettsome. “He is sleeping. If you give me your direction, I shall be happy to bring him to you.”
Lettsome glanced at the door, clearly considering searching for the child himself. Then he seemed to reconsider, and bowed. “I am at Fifteen Fenchurch Street in the City.”
Frits stepped to the door. “My butler will show you out.”
As he left the room, Creswell entered. “My lord?”
“Please show Mr. Lettsome out.” They might all require baths after having the slave owner in the house.
“Certainly, my lord.”
Frits took one of the footmen aside. “Tell Creswell to make sure all the doors and windows are secured and a few footmen are posted to guard the most likely places a person might try to break in.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Once Lettsome left, Frits went back to his study and wrote a short note to Adeline’s brother with the address. He was sanding it when he decided to go himself. One never knew if he could be of help.
When he arrived at North Audley Street, he was pleased to see Adeline was still there. He bowed to her and her sister-in-law. “The address is in the City. Now what do we do?”
“We don’t do anything.” Wivenly grinned and held up a hand when Frits started to protest. “I know you want to be part of this, but you’ve been seen and would be recognized. Adeline said the woman was a lady’s maid for the daughter. I’ll send a few of my servants, and they’ll be able to find out when and how best to convince her to go with them.”
“You must understand how valuable slaves are to the owners in the West Indies,” Lady Wivenly said. “The English are not allowed to purchase more, so they try to work with the Danish to smuggle them in. They are frequently caught.”
Frits and Adeline exchanged glances. It was clear that neither of them had thought past saving the child from certain harm. The blackguards had his name and direction, but at least they didn’t have hers. “In other words, he’ll do almost anything to get the boy back.”
“Exactement. They are convinced they will be bankrupted without slaves.” A line formed between her eyes. “Not only that, but by taking the child, you have threatened their lives. If it were to be known they were keeping slaves in England, he could be prosecuted and lose his status.”
This was much more complicated than Frits had thought. Thank God Lettsome didn’t know Adeline’s name. “He’ll expect the lad to be returned by tomorrow.”
“My servants will go this afternoon,” Wivenly assured Frits. “Just like Polite Society, wealthy merchants have their own Season for their daughters and sons.”
“We have a ball this evening,” Adeline added.
Frits would be happy to stay here until they found the mother. He wondered if Adeline would remain.
“Which we shall attend,” Lady Wivenly said, killing his budding idea to spend time with Adeline and not the rest of Polite Society as well. “It is possible that someone will watch to see if you go out.” Her ladyship’s chin firmed, as if she expected an objection.
So much for that. “Would they have followed me here?”
Wivenly shook his head. “I doubt it. If you had been followed, someone on my staff would have alerted us. They are very aware of the dangers.”
What he wanted would be tantamount to a proposal; still Frits glanced at Adeline. “May I have three dances this evening?”
Her beautiful smile made it hard to breathe, and he knew she held his heart in her hands. “You may, my lord.”
How much longer would it be before he could propose and have all her sets? “Shall I take you home, or is it better that your brother sees to it?”
