2

Ten Years Later

London, October 1814

A PIECE of the ceiling’s plaster fell, plonked on the floor, and Isabel McGuire half-expected the rotting building to collapse. She tapped her nails on the top of the desk to keep her temper in check and glared at the bacon-fed Home Office official. Ain’t you a disgusting sod.

The official’s nose flared in disgust. “How dare you question my authority.”

“I ain’t questioning your authority, sir, just your morals.”

All conversation in the room halted from the queue waiting in line at the door.

The official leaned his elbows on the desk and placed his clasped hands under his chin. He sneered at her and spoke, his tone pitying. “I’ve told you how we do business here.”

“Your associate was just about to give me the information.”

“He had to leave. Now you have to deal with me.” He licked his lips and leered at her as if readying to devour a meal. “I’ve told you the problem can easily be resolved.” He leaned over the desk and moved his face near hers. The heat escaping his mouth hit the cold air, creating steam, and putrid breath spurted from his lips as he whispered just loud enough for her to hear. “Listen to me again. I’ll overlook you not able to pay the full fee. If you humour me, I promise to give you the information. I only require you to… well, I’ve just told you how I desire to be pleasured, and that’s the best I can do.”

You ugly beast. “Oh, that ain’t right, and you know it ain’t. I ain’t meeting you anywhere.”

His face turned redder than the deepest coloured beetroot, and he waved his hands about. “Move on, move on. I have others to see.”

Isabel leaned toward him. “I ain’t leaving until you give me back me money or I find out how I can be reunited with me mother and brother who were transported to Botany Bay.”

“Out!” He slammed his fist on the desk. “One more word from you and I’ll have you arrested for defaming my good character in front of all these fine people.” He shuffled the papers on the desk, picked up his quill, and lowered his head, pretending to study the documents. “Are you a simpleton?” he asked, his voice little more than a breath. “I’ll warn you only once more. Either be mute and leave or I’ll ensure Newgate prison becomes your new home for trying to bribe me.” His eyes narrowed and held a glint of warning. “I’ll have nothing to do with a whore. I’ve taken no money from you.”

Isabel thought she’d choke from holding in curses. She pointed her trembling finger at the crowd waiting in line. Some jiggled from foot to foot to keep warm on the broken floor boards. Others stood stiff and warmed hands in their pockets. They all know you’re talking nothing but bull. “All these people are me witness. They’ve seen what you’ve done, saw you take me money, and unless they’re all deaf, they heard you too.”

The official stood and smoothed his coat over his rounded stomach, hitched his collar to his ears, then raised his hands and waved the crowd toward him. “Come forward those who wish to defend this deceitful whore. Come forward if you dare. I believe I have many of your applications to be reunited with family members in front of me.”

Isabel faced the sudden quiet. Averted eyes stared at booted or bare feet, at the ceiling, or toward the frosted windows. A heat despite the draught in the room caused her skin to tingle. She struggled to stop her voice from wavering, shut her eyes, and counted to three before she dared look at him again for fear she’d slam her fists on his chest. “You ain’t getting away with this. You surely ain’t. I’ll find the information with or without your help.”

He sat behind the desk, leaned back in the chair, and placed his hands behind his head. “You know where to meet me.”

She fought the madness stirring in her mind and wondered if she had the strength to pick up the desk and throw it at him, but a hungry cramp cut across her stomach. “I’ll— I’ll report you to the police at Bow Street.”

He raised his brow and laughed. “Do you think they’ll believe a word you say, whore?”

There ain’t no way you’re going to be able to bring him to his bearings, make him see reason. “Well, ain’t you guts and garbage, you disgusting sod, your soul will be lost forever.” She pushed through the crowd, whose faces and voices blurred together, and ran from the building.