With a muttered oath, he jumped to his feet and hurried outside, just in time to see his sister turn into the arms of…was that a bloody vicar...giving noisy sobs. Witherspoon frowned. The poor bugger looked about to collapse with Lizzy’s weight leaning on him, especially as she was about a foot taller. He glanced down at the comatose figure in the road, where…was that another bleeding vicar…appeared to be slapping the unconscious man’s face in between shouting, ‘Down Freddy,’ to a dog currently trying to give the cove a Brutus haircut with his teeth. After a second, Witherspoon recognised the prone figure as Charlie, and his heart sank to his boots. This was all he bloody well needed.
Grimacing, he strode over before more gawpers had time to gather. Bloody hell, it was like Paddington Fair Day.
‘Lizzy!’ he shouted with every evidence of delight, ‘what brings you to our fair city?’
‘Don’t you Lizzy me, John Witherspoon. ‘ow long’s ‘e been ‘ere?’ She pointed to her still unmoving husband.
Witherspoon slowed to a halt, weighing his options. More people were gathering by the second. Everyone loved a good domestic. ‘Get ‘im inside,’ he ordered the two natty lads trailing behind him. ‘And don’t empty his bloody pockets, or I swear I’ll string you up meself.’ Then, he turned to the two clergymen who were now standing side by side like a couple of bloody crows. The dog was being held on a tight lead by a tall youth who looked to be the one who’d brought Charlie down. ‘These friends o’ yours, Lizzy?’
There was a slight pause. Then his sister sniffed and said, ‘They took pity on me is all. Saw me wondering ‘round the place and worried I might end up in the ‘ands of a mutton-monger, or worse.’
Chastity was standing to one side, slightly behind Jimmy as she watched the proceedings. She didn’t know why Lizzy had lied about knowing them but was nonetheless glad she had. Her father naturally got into the swing of things before the rest of them. He pointed to the figure who was propped up via his single arm and being dragged none too gently across the filthy cobbles.
‘This poor lady was set upon by this…this…ruffian who callously…’ He ground to a halt, suddenly remembering that the ruffian in question was actually Lizzy’s missing husband and she’d been the one doing the setting upon. He glanced wildly around for Chastity and was relieved to spy her standing behind Jimmy, her reticule now firmly in her grasp.
‘The bloody idiot tried to snaffle ‘er purse,’ Lizzy finished the story, her voice now weary and sad. ‘Ow long’s ‘e bin ‘ere, John?’
‘I thought you knew he was here, I swear,’ her brother defended. ‘When he turned up he said you was finding it difficult to make ends meet with him having only one arm and all. I’ve been giving him money. He said he was sending it to you.’
Lizzy shook her head. I ain’t seen a penny since ‘e walked out.’ She laughed mirthlessly. ‘That’s why I’m ‘ere. All the bastard left me was a bleeding gold tooth. I was lookin’ to sell it.’
With a cool glance at the Reverend, John Witherspoon stepped forward and took Lizzy’s hand. ‘Thank you for your timely assistance, gentlemen,’ he said brusquely, ‘but I’ll take care of my sister from here.’
Unexpectedly, Percy stepped forward. ‘Are you happy for us to leave you…’ he paused, then stammered, ‘Miss?’
Lizzy turned her head as her brother put his arm around her shoulders and began propelling her towards the large warehouse her husband had just been dragged into. ‘I’m fine. Thank you for yer kind assistance. P’rhaps we’ll bump into each other again one day.’
Chastity impulsively stepped forward to intervene, but Jimmy swiftly blocked her passage. She offered him a brief glare but obediently halted. Seconds later, the door to the warehouse closed, and Lizzy was gone.
‘We can’t just leave her there,’ Percy protested.
‘Well, you’ve changed your tune a bit, the Reverend responded irritably. ‘Only last night I thought you were about to have an apoplexy at the mere thought of the deuced woman.’
‘That was when I thought she’d murdered her husband.’
‘One gold tooth and you decide she’s put him to bed with a deuced spade? Seriously Percy, I’m not sure what the Almighty will have to say about it when you finally come face to face. Didn’t you think to ask her? I mean, she might be on the large side, but that doesn’t mean she’s capable of seeing her husband off. Not to mention extracting the deuced molar.’
They were seated in a mercifully much sweeter smelling hackney carriage on their way back to the Duke’s town house. Chastity was quiet, listening to the conversation as much of it was entirely new to her. She’d had no idea there was any personal history between Percy and Lizzy. She’d thought the curate simply shy at the thought of meeting a strange woman. But now she came to think of it, hiding behind a bookcase did seem a bit extreme.
For Jimmy, the conversation could have been in French for all he understood it. He stared in bewildered silence at the two clergymen as they finally approached the corner of Grosvenor Square.
‘I know it’s not in my nature to give up,’ Reverend Shackleford announced heavily as the carriage slowed down. ‘But I think we’ve done as much as we can. I am no happier leaving Lizzy with her blackguard of a brother than you are, Percy, but the decision was hers to make.’ He shook his head before adding, ‘In truth, I don’t believe she will be there for long, but we need to speak with Nicholas and Malcolm as soon as possible.’ Sighing, Augustus Shackleford rose to his feet before climbing laboriously down from the carriage.
‘What about the Earl?’ Chastity asked, hurriedly climbing down after him. ‘Surely he will be the one to decide which course of action to take.’
‘Let’s go and find out shall we?’
∞∞∞
‘Are you certain he didn’t recognise any of you?’ Christian Stanhope’s question was terse.
‘Why would he?’ As far as old Witherspoon was concerned, we were simply strangers who happened to be passing.’ The Reverend shook his head. I’ve never seen him before, have you Percy?’ The curate gave a subdued shake of his head.
‘It’s hard to believe that this Fletcher woman is connected to Witherspoon. That’s some damn coincidence.’
‘Not really,’ Nicholas shrugged. ‘A lot of my former ship’s company have sought me out over the years. They know I’ll never see them starve. In truth, I’d forgotten about Fletcher’s connection to Witherspoon. The man still had his arm when he left the service. I assume he met Lizzie through her brother and decided to settle in Blackmore.’ The Duke grinned, clearly delighted their quarry had been found so soon.
‘What do ye wish te do about the blackguard?’ Malcolm asked. ‘Ye canna just leave him running free, and at the moment, he’s no idea we know where he’s hiding.’
