A knock on the door cut short the conversation. Alaric tensed.
Kent checked his watch. “Right on time.”
The investigator opened the door and ushered in a fellow dressed in the loose jacket and trousers of a man who worked on the water. The newcomer’s most distinguishable feature was the curly auburn hair beneath his cap. His freckled face split into a grin. He and Kent exchanged bows—and then slapped each other on the back like old friends.
“As I live and breathe, six years and you don’t look any different, sir. Except your clothes—quite dapper now, ain’t you?” The stranger winked. “Told you a wife would do you good, didn’t I?”
“Indeed you did, old friend,” Kent said with a faint smile. “But time to reminisce later. As I mentioned in my message, I’m afraid I’m here on urgent business.”
“I’m at your service, sir.”
“I’m deeply grateful to hear it.” Kent turned to Alaric. “Your grace, this is John Oldman, a former colleague of mine at the Thames River Police. He moved to Portsmouth six years ago.”
“Call me Johnno. Everyone does,” the man said cheerfully.
“I beg your pardon,” Alaric said, “but how is it that you’re to help us?”
“Kent says you need a way to hide in plain sight on the water. I can provide that.”
“How?”
“Johnno and his brother-in-law operate one of the largest barge services here in Portsmouth,” Kent explained. “A third of the barges that travel between ship and shore are theirs. With Johnno’s help, we’ll surround the quay where you’re to meet Mercer.” The investigator’s eyes burned with a fierce light. “Unbeknownst to that blackguard, we’ll block his escape route. We’ll capture him—and get Emma and the dowager back.”
***
Finally, Lady Patrice stirred.
Emma had begun to lose hope, her desperation mounting as pale light seeped through the shutters of the window. She could hear the activity above, the shouts and heavy bootsteps as the villains readied themselves for Alaric’s arrival.
For the ambush.
She had to free herself and Lady Patrice before Alaric arrived. Before he fell into Mercer’s deadly clutches.
“Lady Patrice,” she said as loud as she dared, “please, open your eyes.”
The dowager’s lashes fluttered against her pale cheeks. Slowly, her head turned toward Emma. “Miss Kent? Where—where are we?” she said in a trembling, befuddled voice. “What has happened?”
Emma wanted to weep with relief. Instead, she said in calm tones, “We’ve been kidnapped, your grace. Mercer is holding us hostage—and he means to kill Strathaven when he brings the ransom money. We must stop the villain, and I need your help.”
“Kill Strathaven?” Lady Patrice pushed herself to sitting and though she weaved a little, she said firmly, “We cannot allow that to happen. Tell me what you want me to do.”
***
“Remember we’ll be watching from the barges,” Will said. “One wrong move from Mercer and we’ll move in, cut off his escape.”
“Aye,” Alaric said.
The two of them were standing on the quay Mercer had designated for the exchange. Besides him and Will and the trunks of ransom, the dock was abandoned, positioned within a small isolated cove. Near the entrance of the cove, he saw two of Johnno’s vessels patrolling the waters. They appeared like the other ubiquitous barges, and he prayed that Mercer would be fooled.
“It’s a quarter to nine. You’d best go before the bastard shows up,” Alaric said.
Will didn’t move. Gruffly, he said, “Don’t get yourself killed, alright? I’d hate to lose my only brother.”
Alaric’s chest tightened. “If anything happens to me, you’re the last of the Strathaven line. Take care of the title.”
Will’s eyes widened. “Don’t talk like that.”
“Promise me.”
