“Who is it we are meeting in the Black Dog, my lady?” he asked, opening the door.
“Lord Stafford. I have recently learned he was in the same hall as my brother, and suffered, too. He’s also searching for the man responsible for Charles’s death.”
Ezra’s jaw tightened. “It’s my hope that every soul who mistreated those boys will answer for it,” he said.
“I believe some already have,” Alice replied. “At Lord Stafford’s hands… and those of his two friends.”
Ezra’s mouth twitched. “I like him already,” he muttered, closing the door firmly.
Through the small glass pane, Alice watched him climb up beside Bernard, the stable hand he trusted. They would keep close watch during the journey—Ezra always did. Whenever she insisted on venturing out at such ungodly hours, he insisted just as stubbornly on being there to see her safely home again.
The carriage lurched forward as they started moving, and Alice leaned back against the seat, hands clasped in her lap, and let her thoughts drift.
She had made herself brave after her brother’s death. Pushed aside the things she feared, to do this for him, and for her. The deep ache of vengeance inside her begged to be appeased. Right or wrong, she feared it would consume her if it was not.
She looked out the window as the carriage rocked gently as it left the wide avenues of Mayfair behind. Through windows, Alice caught the gleam of lamplight on polished brass knockers, the soft glow of drawing rooms where even at such an hour some still lingered over syllabub and gossip. She saw a vendor selling roasted chestnuts, the scent wafting into the carriage briefly.
If the wrong person were to see Alice in the Black Dog, her reputation would be ruined, which didn’t worry her overly, but what did worry her was her aunt, who loved being part of society. She had no wish to bring shame down on her, and so must be careful.
The streetlights grew fewer, and the shadows stretched long across the cobbles as Ezra directed the carriage toward Wapping. Fine houses gave way to narrow brick lanes. The buildings had shuttered windows, the plaster cracked. The air thickened with the scent of coal smoke and the tang of refuse tossed into the gutter.
Alice had been out at night a few times before this. She’d come to realize that London at night was two cities. The glittering one of ballrooms and musicales, and the othersmelling of desperation and survival. And with every turn of the wheel of the carriage, she was leaving the first behind.
Alice drew her cloak tighter. Under her skirts were a pistol and a knife should she need them.
As the carriage slowed, she inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying to temper her breathing and calm her galloping pulse. She might appear cool and in control, but she was an excellent actress. In fact, the majority of the time she was terrified doing anything dangerous. However, if she acted like she wasn’t, she could pull off anything.
When the door opened, Ezra’s large form stood there. He wore his permanent scowl. Alice placed her hand in his and climbed out.
“We are close. While we go in, Bernard will walk the horses, as I fear for him and them here, in such a place.”
“Thank you, Ezra. I realize you would rather be home with—”
“Your brother asked me to watch over you, so I will see this through. But, when it is done, I’ll be pleased. I fear for you, my lady. It would be a lie to say otherwise. You may never find this man, even as I wish for him to be punished for what he has done.”
She patted his arm, as this conversation had been carried out many times, and he was never happy with what she said, so she chose to say nothing.
“Be alert now, my lady.”
They began walking along the street with the cloak of dark settling around them. Alice stayed pressed to Ezra’s large side, as the signs of fear began to slither into her body. The crawl of sweat slipped down her spine despite the chill of the night, and the prickling at the back of her neck indicated that someone was close.
I can do this for Charles.
She’d been a child who had feared much, and Charles had been her savior then, but now it was her turn. She could be brave for him.
“’Tis ahead to the left,” Ezra said. “You’ll not leave my side, Lady Alice. I’ll have your word on that.”
“I have a feeling you’ve asked this of her many times.”
The deep words made Alice give a muffled shriek, and then he came out of the shadows, wearing a long black overcoat, which made him look bigger.
“And you’d be?” Ezra said, stepping in front of Alice.
She pushed at his back, but he didn’t move, so she stepped to the right.
“I’m Lord Stafford,” he said calmly.
“I’ll warn you now, my lord, that if you’re a threat to Lady Alice in any way, you’ll be going through me to get to her.”
