Chapter 26

 

 

 

Two days later, Eleanora and Christian traveled to a location given to them by her uncle. He would also be giving them an update on the case. The address turned out to be an abandoned warehouse in the East End.

Christian rubbed his arm as the carriage navigated the busy London streets. He would have a scar, but it would remind him how he and Eleanora met and fell in love.

“Is it paining you, love?” Eleanora asked, concern in her voice.

“Not while you’re near,” he whispered as he pulled her closer.

“We are going to do this, aren’t we?” she said.

“All the way. But let us get one issue out of the way. Children. I want us to be upfront with each other—always. What is your feeling on this?”

Eleanora sighed. “I suppose one, or possibly two—at some point. But not right away, if it is achievable. As I said, I want to keep my business and keep a hand in.”

“If we make an heir, fine. If we have a girl, and you want to stop there, I am fine with that as well. Whatever you want, my love.”

“Thank you. That’s if we can even have children at all.”

“There is that. If not, then, my darling, we find our happiness elsewhere.”

“That won’t be difficult.” As she kissed his cheek, the carriage stopped in front of a ramshackle warehouse by the docks. Eleanora’s uncle stood outside the double doors, waiting for them.

“Is Kerrigan with him? Do you have past involvement with him? I meant to ask.” Christian questioned.

“No, not at all. The sergeant is recently, and, from what my uncle says, happily married.”

Kerrigan was too tall and too good looking for his own good, so Christian was relieved to hear it.

Before they could disembark, the carriage door flew open, and Reece Galway stepped in, though it was not an easy fit considering his height. He closed the door.

“A bit of privacy, as we have the CID inside the building. Ford Whitney has not said much at all. However, we brought in that twitchy footman, Phillips, and he spilled all sorts. He named the third man seen at the pub; Jeffery Mason. I’ll get to him in a moment. Phillips states there may be one or two more, but he isn’t certain. Said this warehouse was a meeting place, along with The Ten Bells.”

“Has he said why these scurrilous men formed such a group?” Christian asked.

“To cause mischief more than anything. Phillips has a sister, one of the rakes dallied with her and broke her heart. She never told Phillips the name, but he had it narrowed down to either Huxley or Brookton. Phillips was stealing from Brookton. We found a stash of goods and money in a rented room. He claimed he was doling out portions to his sister for her upkeep.”

Christian rubbed his temple. It is as Robert Southey said in a poem: “Curses are like young chickens; they always come home to roost.”

Come home to roost, indeed. 

He will obtain the name of the sister later and make a settlement. All the rakes would contribute; Christian would see to that.

“We’ve made a discovery in the warehouse. I believe it is—or was—Emily McCarthy,” Reece said. “The ice had melted days ago. You may wish to forego coming inside as there is an unpleasant odor, to say the least.”

Eleanora took Christian’s hand. “That poor young woman. Was she murdered?”

Reece shrugged. “Hard to know. Doctor Buchanan is at the station house doing a further examination on the body as we speak. There is no violent evidence of murder. She could have succumbed to her malady. It will be hard to prove. This is my district, so I will be handling the investigation on this end.”

“We would like to see Emily McCarthy properly buried, not in a pauper’s grave,” Christian stated.

“Thank you, Your Grace. Now, I will need the name of the young lady that worked with Emily, the one who was concerned for her safety. We do need an identification.”

“First, please call me Christian. We are to be family, Reece.”

“Of course. Christian.” Reece gave him a friendly smile.

“Fiona Mapleton, Ten Half Moon Street,” Eleanora interjected.

“Thank you. Concerning Mason, he’s another sniveling toad. He arranged the carriage incident. He won’t speak of Whitney directly or of Whitney’s role in all this; he is in obvious fear of the man. However, we’ll get him to talk. A few nights in prison loosen many tongues.”

“And how have the rakes injured Mason?” Christian asked though he loathed knowing.

“I’m afraid it is Brookton, once again, but indirectly. Mason’s younger sister, he discovered recently, was sired by Brookton’s father, the duke. When he approached Chellenham, he was sent packing. He had hoped to humiliate his son, the marquess, to gain his revenge, and perhaps do a little blackmail besides.”

“My God,” Christian muttered. What had Damon said about half-siblings spread about London? Well, here was a half-sister for him. “Can it be proved?”

“Mason claims so, but that would be for the duke or the marquess to explore. This case is in its early days; there is much to investigate. But this brings your case to a close, Eleanora.”

“Yes. It does, Uncle. On to the next one.”

“Whitney is a disturbed individual and the son of a baronet; even if we prove murder in the case of Emily or his father, or even Addington, I doubt he will dangle from the noose. Shut away for life, either in prison or asylum, will no doubt be the outcome. Well, back to work.” Reece’s look softened. “Congratulations again to you both. I know you will be exceedingly happy.”

The men shook hands, and Reece Galway departed.

Christian reached in his pocket and pulled out a roll of pound notes. “Payment for a job well done, Miss Galway.” He passed her the money. “Fifty pounds as agreed.”

“You already paid me fifty pounds,” Eleanora demurred.

“Consider this a bonus and an investment in the future of your agency. I am so proud of you, El. You are a top-rate investigator.”

Eleanora took the notes and tucked them in the pocket of her cape. “Thank you, Your Grace. You are not bad, yourself.”

Christian laughed, then sobered. “Considering Archie.”

“Oh, heavens, what?”

“Nothing serious.” Christian told her of the boy’s street life and playing the role of a life-long street child to stay alive and earn coin. “He is heartily sorry that he deceived you and your family, but he wishes to take you up on your offer of joining your agency. In due time.”

Eleanora was silent.

“Well, he had me completely fooled,” she finally said with awe. “Which proves he is perfect for the job. What a cunning lad.”

“He is that. I will be turning the outbuilding behind my townhouse into a guesthouse for Archie. He’s agreed to my sponsorship, and I will be engaging a tutor to catch him up on his studies before continuing his education at a school. I thought, perhaps, Charterhouse. We will see where he goes from there. How he applies himself. He’s clever and intelligent.”

“I’m so glad you are giving him this opportunity. Thank you.”

Christian gave her a dazzling smile. “I have a surprise for you. Our next stop is the Daimler Motor Company assembly plant. As I promised, a tour of the facilities.”

Eleanora jumped in his lap and kissed him, stirring his passion in no time at all.

“If you wish to pin me to the cushions and have your way with me, I won’t object,” Christian growled in-between kisses.

“I am so tempted.”

“How impetuous are you feeling today?” he asked.

Eleanora stopped kissing and stared at him. “Why?”

“We can go to the Registrar’s Office today, take out a license, be married as soon as possible. Or we can be married by year’s end, in any fashion you wish.”

Eleanora stroked his cheek affectionately. “I always thought, if I ever married at all, I would like a Christmas wedding. A small one, mind, in your parlor, with close friends and family. A huge decorated tree and all the trimmings. Mince pies and mulled wine to be served to the guests.”

“Consider it done,” Christian whispered huskily. “Loving you has opened up the world for me, where anything is possible. I am your devoted servant—in all ways.”

“Oh, Chris,” she said, her voice soft with emotion. “You are the center of my world. I will never neglect you, how could I? You fill my waking thoughts and my nighttime dreams. You are mine; I am yours.”

“I love you to distraction, with the entirety of my being. I am yours, body, heart, and soul. Let’s continue this adventure—together.”

“Together—always.”

Loneliness? Boredom?

Banished forever.

With Eleanora, life would never be dull.

Christian couldn’t wait.