“Very well, my lord.” His butler bowed. “If you need anything, let me know.”
“I will. You have done well.” Thomas clapped the man on the back. “If all goes as planned, I will return here a free man.”
“I shall pray for you, sir.” He swallowed.
Thomas nodded and sprinted out of the house. He handed the driver the slip of paper and barked. “As quickly as you can—this is a matter of life and death.”
“Of course, my lord.” The driver hopped into his seat, and the horses galloped forward into action.
The streets of London were crowded, and with every passing minute, Thomas felt his fear grow.
Please let her be alive.
He glanced at his pocket watch as the carriage swerved and stopped.There is still time.
“I will need to go another way, my lord. There is an accident ahead.”
“Then do it, man, and be quick about it,” Thomas growled. “We cannot afford to waste any time.”
He felt the carriage turn. Every movement felt impossibly slow to him—so slow that he could have sworn they were moving in reverse.
He glanced at the watch. “Still plenty of time. It will be all right. I will explain it all to Vivian as soon as I see her.”
He pictured it in his head. Imagined swinging her into his arms and spinning her about the room, letting all propriety be forgotten. He could practically hear her laughter, and it soothed the tension in his shoulders.
The carriage came to a stop, and the driver barely had time to announce their arrival before Thomas burst out onto the street.
The street was little more than a slum, a hodgepodge of houses cobbled together. It reeked of stale urine and other, more unpleasant things that Thomas did not want to think about.
Perhaps I should have worn different boots.He placed his feet carefully. He could feel hostile and suspicious eyes upon him. He knew why. This was not the sort of place one expected to find the aristocracy.
He stopped an old, hunched woman, gently grabbing her arm. “Excuse me, madam. I am looking for Miss Jaqueline Watts. Do you know where she lives?”
“There is no one of that name around here.” The woman’s eyes were wide and frightened. “We don’t want any trouble.”
“There will be trouble in spades if you are lying to me, do you understand?” Thomas made his voice low and firm; he had no time for charm or kindness. “You can see my clothes, so you know that I have both power and money.”
“I swear I don’t know any Jaqueline Watts.” The old woman shook, and Thomas released her.
He spotted another person and summoned him over. “Miss Jacqueline Watts?”
“Down that way, I think. Or maybe this way. Hole in the roof, or maybe it’s the door?” The man swayed slightly, and Thomas realized he was drunk.
Panic rose in his chest as he walked around the street, asking strangers whether they knew a Jacqueline Watts. He was sent first one way and then another, turning round and round, but getting no further.
His temper strayed closer and closer to the surface, and with each second that passed, his body shook more and more with the effort of keeping it under control.I am going to be late at this rate.
“I know where Jackie lives,” a voice said from behind him.
He turned to find himself looking at a grubby-looking street urchin with greasy hair that may have once been blonde, but was so matted with dirt and grime it was impossible to say. “Where?”
“What’s it worth to you?” The urchin crossed his arms across his chest.
Thomas fished out his coin purse and shook it. The boy’s eyes widened as Thomas took out a guinea and threw it to him. “There’s three more on top of that one if you do not lead me astray. Lie to me or try to trick me, and you will be sent to the magistrate.”
“This way, sir,” the boy said as he began to run through the crowded maze of slums. “Follow me. And mind your step.”
Thomas followed close on the boy’s heels. More than once, he had to jump out of the way of someone emptying a chamber pot. But he did not care. He was so close, he could practically taste his victory.
