“She was out when I came home and started work on it. And she hadn’t returned by the time I finished. So I decided I’d better come show it to ye.”
“You did exactly the right thing, lad.” Wrexford pocketed the note, along with his pistol. “Now, let us hurry back to your house and tell her what you’ve discovered.”
A new clench of fear had taken hold of him. One of the villains had seen Charlotte with Miss Merton. No matter that McClellan was a crack shot, he worried that she was now in grave danger. From now on, until all the miscreants were under arrest, he wasn’t going to let her out of his sight.
“Then we’re all going to head to Henning’s surgery,” he added, turning away from the light and urging the boy forward. “Griffin will be arriving there later this evening, and we can finally put the wheels of justice in motion.”
* * *
Her basket brimming with purchases, Charlotte turned the corner to her street. She had been away longer than expected, but a stop at the workshop entrance of her modiste’s fancy shop had resulted in the invitation to share tea with Madame Franzenelli. It had been a very pleasant diversion to talk aboutTuscany’s beauty and the latest fripperies of fashion instead of ghoulish murders and menacing dangers. Indeed, she had lost track of time. It was now past suppertime, and the boys would likely be starving.
A quick rummaging in her reticule located her key. She unlocked her front door—and froze at the sound of voices coming from the parlor.
Setting down her basket, Charlotte groped for the small pocket pistol concealed in her cloak pocket. Thank God she’d been wise enough not to venture out unarmed. She cocked the hammer, careful to make no noise, and started forward, feeling as if her pounding heart had leapt up and lodged in her throat.
A lamp was lit inside the room, its outer ring of light just edging out through the open doorway and into the corridor. Charlotte crept along the wall, and then, weapon held ready, she ventured a peek inside.
A sound—something between a gasp and a laugh—slipped free from her lips.
Hawk turned quickly, the heavy sword nearly twisting from his grip and whacking the captive seated in the wooden chair.
“I captured another intruder!” exclaimed the boy proudly.
“I knocked,” said McClellan, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “And on finding the door ajar, I took the liberty of entering, to make sure nothing was amiss.”
“My apologies,” said Charlotte, lowering the pistol. “Untie her, Hawk. At once, if you please.”
His face fell. “She ain’t the enemy?”
“Sheisn’t,” replied Charlotte.
“But I commend you on your vigilance, young man,” said McClellan as Hawk fell to unknotting the ropes binding her to the chair. “You were entirely right to be on your guard. Better to be safe than sorry.” A pause as she looked back to Charlotte. “Did His Lordship inform you I was coming?”
Charlotte had, in fact, let the fact slip her mind. “Yes, but—”
“But you’re not pleased.”
“It’s not that,” she answered. “It’s . . .”How to explain?
“It’s just that you prefer that other people don’t make such decisions for you,” suggested McClellan.
She gave a wry grimace. “That’s one way of putting it.”
McClellan chuckled. “I understand. But perhaps I may be of practical use while I’m here.” Flexing her freed wrists, the maid thanked Hawk politely and stood up. “I’m a credible cook. Allow me to fix supper while you take a moment to settle in from your errands.”
“I don’t expect you to toil at household tasks,” protested Charlotte.
The reply was brusquely dismissed. “Nonsense. I’m far happier when I’m not sitting in a corner twiddling my thumbs. And besides, my feeling is you have more pressing things to think about.”
Charlotte decided not to argue. The suggestion made sense. “Thank you. But first, allow me to show you to your quarters. I must warn you, though, you won’t have the same fancy comforts—”
McClellan cut her off. “I’m comfortable anywhere, Mrs. Sloane.”
Charlotte turned to Hawk—and suddenly realized that in the unexpected helter-pelter of her return she hadn’t registered Raven’s absence. “Where’s your brother?”
“I dunno. He was here one minute, and then when I looked again, he was gone.”
Raven was often running in and out, so there was no reason for alarm. “Well, if he doesn’t return soon, he will have to eat his stew cold.” She reached out and ruffled Hawk’s hair. “That was very brave of you to protect our castle.”
