“I know you would have tried, Jimmy,” Monty said. “I would ask you to take Henry and Oscar—”
“To Dimity,” Gabe interrupted him. “She will care for them and keep them safe there until we return with Iris. It is for the best.”
He was humbled at the offer and knew Dimity would take care of the boy until they returned.
“I will come for you as soon as I have your mother, Henry.” He turned to the boy. “Go with Jimmy, Norman, and Oscar. They will take you to Lady Raine, who will care for you.”
“Henry, you rode the velocipede with Lady Raine—Dimity,” Forrest said. “She is a lovely lady.”
The boy nodded. Monty grabbed his shoulders, making him look at him. “I will be back with her, Henry. Trust me. Trust us to bring your mother back.” He then pulled the boy close and hugged him hard. “Go now.” He nudged him at Norman and Jimmy, who were receiving instruction from Gabe on what to say to Dimity.
Monty watched the hackney roll away seconds later.
“Where do we start?” Michael asked, grim-faced.
“Picton, Heather, Clipper, and Buford,” Nathan said. “We start with them. All are in London.”
They reached the Heather residence first.
“You cannot go in, Monty, in case you are recognized,” Zach said.
“I don’t care about that,” he snapped.
“Very well, but do not speak and keep your hood up. Stand behind us, and for God’s sake, do nothing to draw anyone’s attention,” Gabe added.
Mary stayed outside with her hood up with Zach and Forrest when they reached the Heather residence. The man of the house was not home. They knew this because they entered without permission even though a butler and footman had tried to stop them. When his wife was roused at the noise, she was more than happy to say her husband had gone to visit Lord Picton in the country and wanted to know if any of them would like to stay and entertain her. They were in no doubt what form that entertainment would be and made a hasty exit.
Clipper was visiting Picton as well. Buford, however, was at home when they reached his town house. By now, Monty was desperate for anything that would lead them to Iris. He felt like time was running out. That if he didn’t reach her soon, he’d never find her again.
Losing his parents had nearly destroyed him, but losing Iris would finish the job.
“I am Lord Raine, and I demand you rouse Mr. Buford at once as the matter is of grave and national importance,” Gabe said in his haughtiest voice. “I am here as a servant of our king.”
They had clearly roused the Buford butler from his bed, but unlike Norman, he was fully dressed and immaculate in all but his hair, which stood off his head.
“Mr. Buford is unwell and has not left his bed in many days,” the butler said in his snootiest voice.
“Did you not hear what I said?” Gabe demanded. Monty was sure he’d used that voice on his brothers many times. “You are obstructing an investigation on behalf of your king.”
The butler swallowed. Monty had had enough. He pushed the man back a step and entered the house.
“Rouse Mr. Buford at once or I will,” he growled. “You have ten minutes and not a minute more.”
The butler ran for the stairs. Monty walked around the entrance seeing nothing but Iris, the woman he loved, hurting and in danger. If someone touched her, he would spend his life hunting them down.
“Keep your head, Monty,” Nathan said.
The butler appeared. “He will see you now but cannot leave his bed.”
“Lead the way. We have no problem speaking to your master from his bed,” Gabe said.
They ran up the stairs behind him and were soon entering a large room. A pale-looking Buford occupied the bed. Monty knew the man of course, but they had rarely spoken, because no one talked to Plunge or took him seriously.And that is changing.
“What is the meaning of this, Raine?” Buford asked and then coughed several times.
He was pale and sweating in his nightshirt.
“Scranton said it was of utmost importance.”
