Page 121 of The Girl Out of Time
“Humble in the number of guests, not courses.”
Laughing, they walked after the others, about to cross the threshold of the dining room, when a cold burst of air hit Emmeline from behind. Rafferty opened the front door. Had they forgotten a guest?
The butler uttered half a word to argue but jumped aside as three men barged into the foyer, wearing all black save for their identical, bright red waistcoats. They looked unusually tall and threatening in their top hats. Theo turned as well, as did the guests, hearing the commotion.
The leader of the three men—to which Emmeline ascribed the position purely because he stood a step ahead of the other two—scanned the foyer, his eyes stopping on Theo.
“Mr. Leon Royer, I presume?”
“Yes,” Theo replied carefully.
Emmeline grabbed his sleeve, unsure why her heart had suddenly sunk to her stomach.
“You’re coming with us,” the man said. “You’re under arrest.”
Chapter 30
The two policemen surrounded Theo, pushing Emmeline away as they clasped his shoulders.
“Excuse me?” she said to the constable. “What arrest?”
“On the charges of theft, espionage, and treason against the King and country,” he responded.
Sebastian wormed his way through the guests, arriving at Emmeline’s side with Louisa on his heels. “This is absurd. I am Lord Haverston, and you will not be entering my home—”
“Sir.” One of the policemen gestured at the leader, pulling Starry Night out of Theo’s pocket.
“That’s my father’s necklace,” Louisa said.
“It’s been reported stolen,” the constable said.
Emmeline flashed a panicked look at Theo. “This is a mistake,” she said to the constable. “It can all be explained!”
“Exactly,” Louisa said. “The necklace has been gone for months. I’m sure there’s a reason—”
“We’ll let the criminal explain himself.” The constable nodded to his two compatriots. “Take him away.”
“No!” Emmeline grabbed Theo’s sleeve, but he was pulled from her. “It’s Wescott, isn’t it?” She stared the constable down. “He told you to do this. It’s vengeance. Theo hasn’t done anything! Let him go!”
“Emmeline.” Theo tore himself out of the policemen’s grasp and strode to her. “It’ll be fine, I promise. They can’t prove—” He was led away again. Rafferty managed to bring Theo’s overcoat and swing it over his shoulders, shooting the policemen a disapproving look, and then Theo was gone, and the door closed after them.
Emmeline turned to Sebastian and Louisa. “We have to help him. This is all Wescott’s fault. Nobody else would have a reason to try to hurt Theo.”
“Not to accuse him of anything,” Louisa said, “but why did he have Papa’s necklace?”
“Wescott told him to take it. It’s a long story, but it’s all about Wescott’s history with your father and his hate of him, and—well, he got Theo involved in his revenge, and Theo felt obliged to follow his orders because of the debt …” She raised her hand to her forehead as she paced the lobby.
Sebastian barked some hushed instructions, and Rafferty led away the guests at a quick pace. “What do you wish us to do?” he asked Emmeline.
“I must go talk to Wescott.” She had no idea what she would say to him, and she doubted he could easily be reasoned with, but he was at the heart of it. Only he knew about Theo stealing the necklace, about his origins, and perhaps even serving in the French army—which is what those treason accusations had to be about.
Sebastian nodded. “I’ll get a carriage ready. I’ll follow them to Bow Street, see what the magistrate has to say. They’ll have to clarify these accusations.”
“Thank you.” She continued to pace frantically, with Louisa uselessly trying to console her, until her ride was ready and the driver sped away.
The few lit windows of Wescott’s residence, fighting against the dark street, offered a deceiving promise of serenity and security. Emmeline felt none as she raced up the steps and banged on the door, then burst into the foyer as soon as the butler opened it. “Where is he?”
“Miss,” the butler started.
