Esme eyed the door and momentarily considered attempting to run while he was distracted, but with her ankles strapped together, she doubted she would get far.
“Without my brother’s aid, I had to move here and start over. But I did it.” He pointed at her. “First I acquired and sold one antiquity, and then another, and the fees I earned impressed even me. In less than a year I was able to move out of this hovel, but I never sold it. No, I wanted a reminder of where I’d come from.” He smiled broadly at her. “Impressive, isn’t it?”
She nodded fervently.
He stood above her and pulled her to her feet. “You are most agreeable, Miss Worthington. I like that in a woman.” He pulled her into the next room and tossed her down on a dirty feather mattress. “You need to get your rest. I have plans for you later.”
Fielding was trying, in vein, not to panic. The Raven was simply toying with him, sending him on a chase just to remind Fielding who had the upper hand. He’d searched his mind, trying to think of anywhere the man would take Esme. At the moment he’d stopped at Thatcher’s house, a two-story brick townhome near Piccadilly Square.
Fielding tore through the front door. “Thatcher!” But there was no answer. He checked every room on both floors, but he found no sign of Esme. Fielding picked up a lamp and slammed it into a wall, the glass shattering and oil spilling all over the floor.
He swore loudly, then raked his fingers through his hair. Think. Where could he have taken her?
Waters’s place was out of the question as the man never stayed in one place for very long. He was content to rent rooms here and there and spend his money on women and ale.
Then an idea hit him. It would fit in with the Raven’s desire to taunt him. Fielding jumped back onto the rig and slapped the reins. The chilled night wind bit at his face and made him wish he’d thought to bring his greatcoat, but his own comfort didn’t matter right now. He’d promised Thea he’d bring Esme back safely, and he’d be damned if he wouldn’t make good on that vow.
Fifteen minutes later he pulled the horses to a stop in front of his own townhome. Not a single light shone through any of the windows; still, they could be in there. The Raven would likely move here to Fielding’s house for his own amusement, see how long it took Fielding to locate them. But as he searched through the darkened rooms, he found no sign of life.
His every nerve was on alert, waiting for any indication that Esme was nearby. He knew he’d smell her lilac-scented hair or hear the melodic tone of her voice. If she was here, wouldn’t he be able to feel her, sense her somehow?
Fielding swore loudly, his voice echoing through the empty halls of his home. “Esme,” he whispered. He fell to his knees. For several moments he stayed in that position. And then, as if the answer had been whispered in his ear, he knew immediately where the Raven had taken her.
He only prayed he wasn’t too late.
Fielding slowed the carriage to a halt two blocks from the house. The element of surprise might give him an edge he desperately needed. He hopped down and snuck quietly through the darkness toward the small wooden structure at the edge of the pier. In the distance waves from the Thames lapped softly against the shoreline.
Boats creaked, rocking against the piers in a rhythmic beat. The moon hung heavy and low in the sky, lighting his path but also reminding him of the ticking clock he and Esme were facing. The eclipse was only one day away. They were running out of time.
Fielding made it to the small house and pressed himself against the outer wall. Inside he could see the flickering of an oil lamp. They were here. He felt sure of it.
He pulled the pistol from the back of his pants as he crept to the entrance. One, two, three, then he slammed his shoulder against the door. It crashed to the floor, and he held his arms steady as he let his gun lead the way inside.
“I told Miss Worthington you would come for her.” The Raven’s slick voice came from the dimly lit room.
“Where the hell is she?” Fielding grounded out.
“She didn’t believe me, though,” he continued. “Claimed you had no tender feelings for her.”
Guilt stabbed at Fielding’s gut. She’d been abducted yet again, brought to this tiny home where she probably thought she was going to die, and she didn’t know how Fielding felt about her. In his mad desire for her, he had used her body but offered no solace to her heart.
The Raven stepped out of the shadows, and Fielding was faced with the image of his lineage for the first time since discovering the truth. For years Fielding had noted physical similarities between himself and the Raven— their height, for one. Though Fielding had always thought he got his eyes from the man he’d believed to be his father, the rest of his facial features were quite similar to those of the man standing before him.
“She’s safe,” the Raven said. Fielding noted a bloodied rag encased in his uncle’s hand.
“What the hell is that?” he asked, pointing.
An unnatural laugh came from the Raven’s throat. “What’s left of your old friend Thatcher.”
He’d killed him. Just as he’d killed Mr. Nichols. Had he done the same to Esme? Nausea crashed through Fielding. “I want to see Esme,” he said. This was his father, Fielding reminded himself. It was on his tongue to tell the Raven, to let him know that Fielding knew. But that would give him too much pleasure. Had the man not destroyed his family simply by holding that secret over their heads? No, there was no reason for him to know that Fielding knew the truth.
“In due time. Tell me, did you reconsider my offer? Have you come back to work? Because as you can see”—he held out the offensive mass, and Fielding finally realized it was a severed hand—“I’m down to one employee.” Again he laughed.
Fear ate at his stomach, but he refused to let the Raven see it. “There is nothing in this world that would make me work for you again,” Fielding said.
“Pity.” He leaned against the doorjamb of a connecting room. “Still, you must know I’m not going to hand her over for nothing. You must know me better than that, boy.”
“I have what you want. It’s yours, once I have Esme safe with me.”
