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After much thought, Daniel took a lesson from whoever had been watching his townhouse the previous day and decided to do the same. He eased between two rows of tall hedges across the street but one house down from the brothel, doing his best not to tear his clothing. Pierre wouldn’t be pleased if he did.
He knew very little about Joseph Finch other than he owned three brothels. The only way to gain additional information was to observe him. He wanted to learn his schedule along with any other details he could.
His hope was that between Pierre and himself, they’d know Finch’s routine movements within a few days. Daniel was watching the place for half a day, beginning this morning, and Pierre would watch late afternoon into the evening. Daniel wanted to know exactly who Finch was in order to form the perfect plan to bring a halt to the man’s criminal activities.
However, he preferred not to be caught. Pierre had advised the other servants to keep an eye out for anyone watching the house. Thus far, no one had been seen, though only a little over a day had passed.
What did that mean?
The stranger’s presence seemed more like an announcement—or a warning—that Finch somehow suspected Daniel was behind Mary’s disappearance and the stolen money. If Daniel’s guess proved true, he couldn’t afford to wait to see what, if anything, Finch might do to retaliate. Daniel needed to take the initiative. Yet doing so required more information than he presently had about Finch.
When all this had started, he never would’ve guessed he’d be reduced to watching the place from which Beatrice had escaped. He had thought to contact a Runner and wait for results.
Not that Daniel minded getting his hands dirty. Quite the opposite. The challenge of attempting to outsmart an adversary both physically and intellectually was stimulating, as was working toward a greater purpose. His former image of himself as a rogue had faded, replaced by something better—dare he say more heroic?—all thanks to Beatrice.
However, he couldn’t forget for a moment the danger of his goal. Pierre had lectured him just this morning about taking care and avoiding trouble.
Daniel smothered a sigh. His continued need to somehow prove himself had yet to subside. While he’d gained Mary’s freedom, he’d accomplished little else. He hoped his warnings to the boarding house landlord and the clerk at the registry office had been enough to make them think twice before continuing their terrible scheme. But he didn’t know whether it had worked.
If Finch made finding women financially lucrative enough, both men might continue to work with him. After all, they didn’t directly play a role. They need only look the other way once they’d completed their small part. That, no doubt, assuaged their conscience. Money changed the scale for many when it came time to decide the strength of one’s morals.
Not knowing if he’d stopped the scheme gave Daniel another reason to watch the brothel. If he witnessed someone being bundled inside, he’d have an answer to that as well as a better understanding of Finch’s movements.
Daniel’s position provided an excellent view while hiding his presence. Unfortunately, it was far from comfortable. The notion of spending hours watching the area was daunting. But if he wanted more information on Finch, he had to start somewhere.
He’d been in place for well over an hour when an unmarked black carriage rolled into view and parked before the brothel. Finch stepped out, much to Daniel’s surprise, and barked an order at his driver to wait then knocked on the door of the house.
Perfect, Daniel thought with no small measure of excitement. He waited for Finch to go inside, then eased out of his hiding spot, careful to avoid being spotted by Finch’s driver. He strode up the street to where his rented carriage waited nearly a block away. He’d learned his lesson the last time he’d visited and had no intention of being forced to escape on foot if the need arose.
“There’s a carriage waiting outside the house I mentioned,” Daniel told his driver. “We may have to wait for a time, but I want you to follow it from a distance. I don’t want them to see us.”
“Very well, sir.” The driver tipped his hat, seeming to think nothing of Daniel’s unusual request.
Daniel hopped inside the carriage then watched through the window as they drew closer. After waiting only a few minutes, Finch exited the building. The timing was perfect. His own driver stayed back, just as Daniel had requested, but followed Finch’s carriage close enough so as not to lose him.
They wound through the narrow streets until Daniel wasn’t quite certain of their location, being unfamiliar with the area. At last, the carriage halted and the driver tapped on the roof then lifted the small door that allowed him to speak with Daniel. “The man is alighting.”
Daniel shifted his position to better see out the window and watched as Finch entered what looked to be a modest residence.
The driver opened the door once more. “The carriage has pulled away, sir. What would you like me to do?”
Was this a second brothel? Daniel studied it, his instincts suggesting it wasn’t. It appeared to be smaller than the one Daniel had been in. Too small for an establishment of that sort, if he had to guess. Could this be Finch’s residence? If so, it was a helpful clue. “Make note of the address, would you? We’ll wait a few minutes to see if anyone emerges.”
What was happening inside? Did he have a wife? Children? What drove him to run that sort of business? Though curious, it didn’t truly matter as it didn’t change Daniel’s plan. While Daniel might not like the idea of prostitution, there was little he could do to end it. Especially when the authorities tended to look the other way.
But the fact that Finch forced young women into the business was a different thing altogether. That was both illegal and immoral. The reasons behind the business were irrelevant.
“Drive around the block,” he requested the driver. “We’ll watch from a distance.”
The driver did as he requested, finding a place to wait down the street. But after half an hour passed with no further sign of Finch, he decided to end his observation. He’d already discovered more than he’d hoped. With luck, Pierre would learn more this evening.
The image of Beatrice came to mind, though she was never far from his thoughts. He wanted to put an end to the man who had hurt her so irrevocably, to make her proud, to be deserving of her admiration and affection. He sincerely hoped his efforts were moving him closer toward those goals.
~*~
“IT WAS WONDERFUL TO see Mary looking so happy,” Beatrice said as she and Caroline returned to Aberland House the following afternoon after a visit to the dressmaker’s shop.
“Wasn’t it though?” Caroline smiled. “Madame Beaufort seems pleased with her work.”
“The pride in Mary’s expression when the dressmaker touted her accomplishments was wonderful.” Beatrice was incredibly proud of Mary for overcoming all she’d endured to not only reach for a new life but to make it happen.
Caroline briefly touched Beatrice’s hand, her green eyes sparkling, as they moved to the stairs. “Thanks to you.”
“Thanks to Daniel.” Beatrice smiled, her heart light. “He’s the one who truly made her new life possible.” Along with Beatrice’s own. That wasn’t something she’d ever forget.
The trip to the dressmaker’s had been a reminder of just how lucky she was. Never would she have guessed when she’d boarded the coach for London that she would be betrothed to a wonderful, handsome man, be friends with a countess, or soon be attending her first London ball. What had happened between those two events was a memory best forgotten. Surely she’d be able to eventually, especially if Finch was arrested.
“You are going to look amazing the night of the ball,” Caroline said.
“Margaret’s skills amaze me.” The gown she’d designed was beautiful, so lovely that Beatrice never thought to wear such a creation. The fitting for it had gone well, and the garment would be done just in time. Excitement filled her at the prospect of donning it, and she wondered what Daniel would think when he saw her.
“Isn’t she, though? Her creative eye is something I envy. I’m just pleased she’s my sister so I can benefit from her abilities.” Caroline chuckled.
“I’m surprised she doesn’t attend more parties,” Beatrice said as she followed Caroline into the drawing room.
“I wish she would. She insists she wants to help Mother as much as possible with Father, but I don’t want her to do so at the expense of living her own life.”
“You and Annabelle spend a considerable amount of time with him as well.”
“True, but Annabelle’s busy with her writing and planning her wedding, and I no longer live there. Which leaves Margaret to do more. I worry whether Margaret will ever leave home. At least, not as long as Father is there to care for.”
“The situation must be difficult for everyone.” From the way Caroline described it, Sir Reginald was only a shadow of his former self. She couldn’t imagine seeing her own father each day while knowing so much of him was gone. And worrying the next time she called, he might not remember her. Was it better to lose a loved one all at once, or in bits and pieces over time?
“It has been, though I feel as if we’re making the best of it. I just don’t want Margaret to sacrifice her future and neither does Mother.”
Caroline settled into a chair by one of the windows where she kept a small desk. She pressed a hand on her stomach as if to gently cradle the baby, something she did more and more frequently.
“That is one more reason why I appreciate you coming to stay with us,” she continued. “Assisting with your wardrobe has been an excellent distraction for Margaret, along with helping Mary.”
Caroline looked through the letters that had arrived in the post while Beatrice sat in a nearby chair and picked up her embroidery.
“A letter arrived for you, Beatrice. Is it someone from home?” she asked as she passed it to her.
Beatrice nodded with a smile. “Sarah Ramsey, an acquaintance of mine. She’s two years younger and thought my coming to London was the most exciting adventure she could imagine. I was careful what I included in my letter to her, but I wanted her to know I am alive and well.” She opened the letter and read the contents, surprised at the news Sarah shared.
“What is it?” Caroline asked.
“She’s coming to London to look for a position.” Beatrice bit her lip as a shiver of unease passed over her, though she couldn’t say why. It wasn’t as if Sarah would experience what she had. Not with Beatrice to aid her.
“Then your idea of creating an introduction agency is even more important. Perhaps she can be the second person you help. When will she arrive?”
“She doesn’t say precisely, though it sounds as if she’ll be here soon.” Beatrice frowned as she re-read the letter. “I’ll reply today, requesting she give me the specifics.”
“Wouldn’t she be surprised if you met her at the coach stop? Has she ever been to the city?”
“No, but she’s certain a more thrilling life awaits her in London than anything she could find in the village.”
“Isn’t it funny how we always believe the life someone else has is more exciting than our own? I was guilty of that when I was younger.”
Somehow, Beatrice had difficulty believing that. Caroline appeared every inch a confident lady. She had shared the story of how a chance moment alone on a darkened terrace with Richard had ended with him being forced to propose, much to both their dismay. Caroline had been so worried over her family’s future due to her father’s declining mental health that she’d been hoping to marry well to save them.
At the time, Caroline had thought Aberland a rogue with little to his name other than his title. She’d believed marrying him wouldn’t help her family in any way. Luckily, things had turned out quite differently than she expected as she’d found love and more help for her family than she could’ve ever hoped for.
While Beatrice tended to look at Caroline and only see a beautiful woman, poised and happy, her friend had faced her own share of difficult times. Perhaps they had more in common than she’d realized.
“Do you think you’ll announce your betrothal at the ball?” Caroline looked up from the post with a smile.
Would they? A combination of worry and nervousness wound through her. Beatrice had convinced herself it was a good idea to wait. It gave her time to adjust to their betrothal. Time for them to learn more about one another. Everything had happened so quickly in the past few months that having a few weeks to gain her bearings and adjust to her new life was a blessing.
Wasn’t it?
“We haven’t discussed it.” Beatrice had no desire to raise the topic with Daniel. “There’s no rush, of course.”
“True. It might be fun to give him time to court you.”
“Court me?” Her stomach dipped at the thought.
“Woo you. Yes, of course.” Caroline appeared delighted at the prospect. “The two of you met under unusual circumstances. I’m sure you’d like to come to know each other better.”
“Yes, I suppose so.” Though there was much she didn’t know about him, she knew the important things—that he was honorable and kind. That he had a good heart. That he was someone of whom her father would’ve not only approved of but liked. That he could stir her with one look.
Would she like to know more? Of course. Learning his likes and dislikes, his moods, his past as well as his dreams for the future would make their married life even better. Perhaps he’d like to know the same of her.
But courting?
Her mouth was dry at the thought of what that might mean. It shifted their relationship from friendly to...something more. That was where the danger to her heart stood. Remaining on friendly terms didn’t seem so difficult. She could keep her feelings tightly reined in and hidden.
But wooing? Thank goodness he’d shown no inclination of doing that.
~*~
“THOSE ARE BEAUTIFUL flowers,” Beatrice said as Dawson, the butler, brought in a bouquet to the drawing room the following afternoon where she was assisting Caroline to draw up a list of meals for the coming week.
“For you, Miss Linfield,” the elderly servant advised with a smile as he set them on a nearby table and handed her the card.
“How exciting,” Caroline exclaimed. “From who?”
Beatrice’s heart tripped a beat as she read the message scrawled in a masculine hand.
Something to brighten your day as you do mine.
With my deepest regard,
Daniel
“Oh.” She could hardly catch her breath as she rose to admire the generous bouquet of purple dahlias, pink lilies, peach begonias, and white roses. “Daniel sent them.”
“How thoughtful that man is.” Caroline joined her as she leaned close to breathe in their sweet fragrance.
Beatrice found herself blinking back tears as she stared in awe at the blooms.
“What is it?” Caroline asked with a hand on Beatrice’s shoulder.
“I’ve never before received flowers. These are so gorgeous.” She felt stunned. Flummoxed. Admired. And she had no idea how to deal with any of those unfamiliar emotions.
“He is wooing you.” Caroline’s grin only made Beatrice feel more breathless.
“Wooing.” She repeated the word, still unable to comprehend it.
She’d barely settled her emotions, though she continued to stare at the flowers, when Dawson returned to the doorway.
“Mr. Walker to see you, Miss Linfield.”
Daniel strode into the room, and Beatrice bolted to her feet, flutters lifting her middle at a different pace than her legs.
“Good afternoon, ladies.” His formal bow had her curtsying all while Caroline chuckled quietly.
“And to you, Daniel.” Caroline seemed to understand that Beatrice needed a moment to find her voice. “What brings you by this fine day?”
“I hoped Beatrice might have time to take a ride with me.” He lifted his brow at Beatrice, his golden eyes holding on her.
“I should like that very much.” She gestured toward the flowers. “Thank you for the beautiful bouquet. It was so thoughtful of you.”
“My pleasure. You seemed to enjoy the Banfield garden so much that I thought you might like flowers of your own.”
“I do, indeed. I’ll get my things.” She shared a look with Caroline, appreciating her friendship all the more, for it seemed as if she knew exactly the twist of excitement and nerves that Beatrice felt.
She returned shortly, wearing a bonnet and gloves along with a shawl. “Should I ask Sally to accompany us?”
“I rented an open carriage so we could better enjoy the view.”
No need for a chaperone? Beatrice was thrilled at the prospect of time alone with Daniel. Perhaps courting wasn’t such a terrible idea after all.
