Chapter Twenty
“And how do I look?” Thomas asked his valet, stretching his arms.
It was the day of Vivian’s charity soiree, and Thomas was getting ready to go to the venue. She had decided it would be best to do it outside their home; after all, she wanted to invite not just thetonbut wealthy merchants and all sorts of people.
Thomas had barely seen her; she had been so busy with the preparations, and he had been hunting down the last descendant of the witch.
“Handsome as always, my Lord.” His valet bowed.
Thomas laughed. “You have to say that, old chap, but I have no reason to doubt you.”
“You are in a good mood.” His valet brushed the shoulders of Thomas’s coat.
“I am excited. The Marchioness has been working so hard on this event, and I cannot wait to see the fruit of all her efforts.” Thomas glanced at his pocket watch. “And if I leave now, I will even manage to get there early. Very early in fact.”
Thomas strode out of the room and down the hallway. He wondered what dress Vivian would wear. She had refused to tell him anything but the color.
“I want it to be a surprise.” She had said to him, her eyes blazing.
Thomas grinned and adjusted his cravat, a navy to match her dress. As he approached the front door, his butler rushed to meet him. “My lord, a moment, if you please.”
Thomas did not slow; instead, he kept walking. “You can tell me on the way to the carriage; I want to get to Endsley Palace.”
“It is most urgent, my lord, and of a rather sensitive nature.” His butler gave him a meaningful look.
Thomas shook his head. “Whatever it is, it can wait. I do not want to let my wife down.”
“I do not think you will want to delay.” The man looked around and then leaned forward. “They have found her. They have found Miss Jaqueline Watts.”
It took Thomas a moment to realize what he was saying, but when he did, he stopped dead in his tracks.Today of all days—I cannot tell if this is a good omen or a curse.
“The witch’s descendant.”
“Yes.” His butler nodded.
He rounded on the man, his eyes wide. “Are you sure? Are you absolutely certain? We have had false leads before, and I will not risk everything for some wild-goose chase.”
I am so close.Hope and panic filled him in equal measure. They had found her, finally found her, and he could be rid of this blasted curse.
His life could begin.
“Yes, my lord, beyond all shadow of a doubt.” His butler swallowed. “It is her. I have checked and triple-checked. But you should make all haste; she is not well, my lord.”
“What do you mean?” Thomas’s heart thundered in his chest as ice filled his veins.
“They are uncertain whether she will survive the night.” His butler recoiled as Thomas swore.
If she dies, everything will be ruined.He glanced at his pocket watch. He still had a couple of hours to get to Endsley Palace. That should be plenty of time.Please let her live close.
“Where is she?” Thomas asked, his voice sounding far away even to his own ears.
“She lives in East London, my lord, not a half hour’s carriage ride from here.” His butler handed him a slip of paper with the woman’s address written on it.
Thomas furiously calculated journey times in his head. “I should be able to make it in time. With any luck, this will not take long. I have to convince her to undo the curse, and then we can all go our separate ways.”
“Do you wish for me to send her ladyship a message?” the butler asked.
Thomas hesitated and then shook his head. “No. If this does turn out to be a dead end, I do not want to spoil her night with news of it.”
