“Yes, although to be perfectly fair, it’s a bit more complicated than that.”
“Does it by any chance have something to do with the statement you made right after your father’s hanging, about finding the man who ought to have died in his stead? As I recall, you went missing immediately after.” When she didn’t respond, he said, “I’d like to know more. Perhaps I can even help.”
“Really?” She gave him a dubious look. “You’re a peer of the realm and I’m supposedly a traitor’s daughter. Do you honestly think a collaboration between us would work?” She shook her head when she saw the hesitance in his expression and swung away from him once more. “I don’t need your help, Lord Fielding. I’m perfectly fine on my own.”
“I’m not leaving you after what just happened,” he said when he caught up and fell into step beside her. “Do you at least have somewhere safe you can go?”
“Yes.” She would find Guthrie and ask him for help, not with running away, but with facing the villain responsible for her father’s death and for the attacks on her own life. The man deserved to be found and brought to justice. Her father deserved to have his name cleared.
Four years ago she’d relented because she’d been scared, but she was older now and more furious than ever before.
Nothing was going to stop her from finding out who was behind this.
“Good. Then I will escort you there.”
“You really don’t have to.”
“I absolutely insist.”
Ida clenched her jaw and tightened her grip on her satchel. He clearly wasn’t going to leave her side, and the truth was she wasn’t keen on walking alone after what had just happened. So they continued to wind their way through the intricate maze that was St. Giles. The air was thick with the pungent stink of refuse, and with dusk starting to fall, the streets here would soon be filled with criminals.
“Come on,” she said, cutting across to Crown Street where they were less likely to be accosted. Quickening her pace, she led Fielding north toward Soho Square.
“I should have known you’d come here,” Fielding said when they reached Windham House.
Ignoring him, Ida climbed the steps and knocked. The heavy iron knocker fell hard against the front door. First once, then twice, until Guthrie’s butler finally answered.
With one raised eyebrow and a pinched expression, the butler regarded them with reserved interest. “Yes?”
“Is Guth…er…the duke at home?” Ida asked.
“No. He is not.”
Ida’s stomach clenched, but she refused to give up just yet. “What about the duchess?” Ida had met Regina a few times before and considered her a friend.
“I’m afraid she’s also away.”
“Away?” A horrible sense of foreboding settled over Ida’s shoulders.
The butler raised his chin a notch. “The duke and duchess have travelled to Scotland. They’re not due back for another three weeks.”
“Dear God.”
As if sensing her distress for the first time, the butler’s expression relaxed a little. “If you have urgent business, you may leave a note, and I shall make sure it is posted to them.”
Ida considered the offer. By her estimation it would take one week, possibly more for her message to reach them and at least another for them to respond, at which point they would almost be back in London anyway. Not to mention she really didn’t want to disturb their holiday with her concerns. “Thank you,” she said, “but there’s no need.”
“Perhaps you would care to leave your name?”
“No. I should go.” As it was she’d already stood about on the front step for too long. “I will call again once the duke and duchess return.”
“As you wish,” the butler murmured. And then the door closed, leaving Ida alone with Fielding without the slightest clue what to do next.
He grabbed her upper arm and drew her swiftly around the side of the building.
“I propose we go somewhere more conducive to conversation,” he said as he glanced around. “There’s a decent tavern about a mile’s walk from here.”
“I’d rather not.” Even if Fielding had known her father, he was still a stranger to her. The last thing she wanted to do was depend on him in some way or become his burden.
