Patience gave an inelegant snort. ‘He might be able to swim. I say if you get the chance, shoot the bastard.’ She paused, then frowned. ‘You can shoot with your left hand I take it?’
‘If you can’t, you can always string him up,’ Prudence suggested, her old spark returning.
Nate raised his eyebrows. Were all the sisters this bloodthirsty? He swiftly pulled the pistol from where it was tucked in his waistband, to demonstrate his effectiveness with his left hand, but all he said was, ‘Trust me, whatever happens, he’ll never come for her again.’ Then, using his knees to wheel Duchess around he cantered out onto the street, Ruby at the mare’s heels.
There were fewer carriages on the roads than there had been on the way to the opera and Nate slowed Duchess down to avoid her slipping on the hard cobbles. It was a long time since he’d been inside London Docks. The last time was on his return from Belgium, when those at Wapping were still very new.
To his surprise, very little had changed, and as he entered through the Eastern entrance, he slowed Duchess down to a walk. According to the information he’d been given, theWestern Starwas moored on one of the jetties in the small basin known as the Tobacco Dock that linked the Eastern and Western Docks. But exactly where, he had no idea. Likely he’d be able to get the information from the Dock Master, but given the sheer number of ships coming and going, it would be quicker to simply make his way straight along the wharf and look for himself.
Throughout the journey, Nate had ruthlessly forced his concern for Mercy aside, concentrating only on what he needed to do. But as he rode Duchess down the still busy wharf, he found it more and more difficult to stifle the fear that he’d be toolate. That somehow, Reinhardt would already have set sail and claimed her as his own.
He’d told Mercedes that he didn’t know how to love. But that wasn’t quite true. He’d known in his heart of hearts that he’d loved Mercy since the moment she walked into the stables. But now, finally, he allowed himself to surrender to the all-powerful feelings she provoked in him.
If he didn’t manage to save her, how the hell would he ever save himself?
***
‘Right then, when I asked about rooms, the landlady said she’s not taking any lodgers at the moment, so likely our American has the place to himself. Better still, when I asked her if she knew of any other establishments, she said she hadn’t got time to stand and jaw since she was on her way out and wouldn’t be back until later on this evening. So, it’s all good for us since it means the place’ll be empty apart from Reinhardt’s room. Percy are you clear about your part of the plan?’
The curate swallowed and took a deep breath. ‘I’m to go in through the front door and ask for the American…’ He paused and frowned, ‘How can I ask for him if there’s no one there to ask?’
The Reverend sighed. ‘Use what passes for your brain Percy. If there’s no one there apart from Reinhardt, how difficult will it be to find out which room he’s in? There can’t be that many bedchambers and we know his is on the back.’
The curate nodded uncertainly. ‘Once I get to the room, I tell Reinhardt that the priest he had the arrangement with is sick and has sent me in his stead.’
‘Well, you’ll need to sound a bit more convincing than that.’
‘What do I do if the real one turns up halfway through the ceremony?’
‘Leave him to me and Finn,’ Reverend Shackleford answered promptly.
Percy stared at the clergyman in horrified silence. ‘What will you do with him? You can’t involve Finn in anything so smoky.’
‘Dinnae fash yersel, Da,’ the boy said for the second time. ‘The God botherer’ll nae gie us any trouble.’
‘You won’t kill him?’ Percy asked the Reverend fearfully.
‘Of course I won’t deuced well kill him,’ Augustus Shackleford, retorted, shocked. ‘Tare an’ hounds, lad, what do you take me for? I’ll just give him a deuced headache he won’t forget. And you never know, mayhap it’ll help bring the scoundrel back to the light.’
‘So, what kind of disturbance do you have in mind, Sir?’ the curate asked, only slightly mollified.
‘Well, so far, I’ve in my head that Finn’ll make a racket. Reinhardt’s thugs will come down to investigate and I’ll give ‘em what for.’
Percy stared at his superior in silence, waiting for the rest of the details. The Reverend stared back.
After about a minute, the curate frowned. ‘That’s it?’
‘It’s all you need to know, Percy my boy.’ The Reverend tapped his nose and winked. His other hand was behind his back with the fingers crossed. This was seriously getting to be a habit. The truth was, he didn’t have anything more to tell the curatebecause he had no actual idea how he was going to give ‘emwhat for.
Percy felt a familiar sense of dread swamp him, even more so when he looked over at Finn and saw the very same eagerness in his adopted son’s face. He stifled a moan. Lizzy was going to string him up for this.
‘Now then, I think it’s best if you go and get yourself into position,’ Reverend Shackleford continued, desperate to forestall any more awkward questions. ‘As soon as we’re ready, we’ll give you a signal.’
‘What signal?’
‘Thunder an’ turf, Percy, you don’t need to know everything. Just watch for a deucedsignal.’
‘Where do you want me to wait?’
