He smelled her scent above the stale ale and myriad of other unpleasant odors. Soft, and floral.
“I’ve been hearing some things coming out of somewhere.” Huckle’s eyes dropped to his hands that were clenched before him on the table.
“If you have something to say, please say it, Huckle. My sensibilities are not delicate. If they were, I would not be even now sitting here in this tavern,” Lady Alice said.
“You’ll pardon me for saying so, Lady Alice, but some things a lady should just not hear,” Huckle said.
“Are you convinced he is still in London, Huckle?” Jamie asked before she could speak again and deny those words.
“I am. And I heard about a place—” his eyes shot to Alice again before he continued, “—it’s a place of vices…ah, you can get any needs met there.”
And suddenly Jamie knew exactly what the man spoke of. He knew of these places where men could go to act out whatever fantasy they wished. He met Huckle’s eyes, and a look of understanding passed between them.
“What are you not telling me?” Lady Alice demanded. “You are sharing a look.”
“I will explain later. Now, continue your story, Huckle.”
Thankfully, she did as Jamie asked, but he sensed her frustration at being left in the dark and knew she would be questioning him about the matter soon. Lady Alice was not one to let things slide.
“I’ve managed to make contacts myself around London. Often I do my father’s deliveries, and when I do, I talk to people. Two of the places are near this location. Servants gossip, and I heard that there have now been three instances of women being attacked by a man while they… when he was with them.”
“But surely Jackson is not the only man who would behave in such a way around women?” Lady Alice said.
Jamie wasn’t sure why those words sent a chill down his spine, but they did. Had someone mistreated her? The thought of anyone touching this woman, or any woman for that matter, made him angry. Yet, he knew it happened, just as it had happened to the Blackwood boys when they were young and helpless.
If Huckle was right, and these women were harmed in one of these dens of depravity, then it must be bad indeed, as Jamie knew what went on in those places, and they were not for the faint of heart.
“My reasons for believing it is Jackson are that when I spoke with one of the staff at the den, the description fit him. They did not mention his name, but I’m convinced.”
Lady Alice drummed her fingers on the table before speaking. “But surely you have not seen him in many years?”
Huckle met Jamie’s gaze. “The women he hurt said his laugh was strange,” he added quietly. “That was how they knew it was him.”
Jamie felt every muscle tighten. The memory struck hard. He remembered that laugh.
“They described it,” Huckle went on, “as something like a foghorn—loud, harsh, and in short, awful bursts.”
Jackson had moved on from the charity school pupils to a brothel, it seemed. And just like that, Jamie was back at Blackwood Hall in his mind. The sound of Kenneth Jackson’s laughter as he inflicted punishment on the boy on his knees before him. He hadn’t realized he’d made a sound until he felt fingers on the hand he had clenched on his thigh. The smaller ones wrapped around the top of his fist and squeezed. It had the effect of jerking Jamie from his nightmare.
“There were other factors, but to me that was the most telling.”
“What other factors, Huckle?” Lady Alice asked, her hand still resting on top of Jamie’s.
He moved his thumb, placing it on top of hers, and holding it there. He needed that, to be anchored to someone, anyone would have done, but it was her, and he wasn’t letting go.
If I’m touching her, I won’t go back there.
“He has a slight lisp, and his hair is thinning,” Huckle added.
“I’m shocked he still has any.” Jamie forced the words out of his mouth. Made himself speak.
That man will not hurt me again.Cannot hurt me, he reminded himself. I’m the strong one, and he’s weak.
The words made the side of Huckle’s mouth curve up slightly in a smile.
“I’d hoped he got a wasting disease and died a slow and painful death. Alas, that has not happened,” Jamie added.
“We’ll finish him.”
