His smile widened.
‘They worked together beautifully, scouting vulnerable girls from workhouses and nearby estates for me.’
He reached to touch her face again, and Charlotte flinched instinctively.
‘But once you began suspecting her... well. She had to be dealt with. A pity, really. Old Dent was extremely useful.’
‘Why did you enter Tom’s room that night?’
He gave a low, amused laugh.
‘Governesses are rather a weakness of mine, I confess. Miss Locke amused me for a time, but eventually I grew tired of her. I wanted you. Shame your maid was sleeping there that evening, otherwise I would already have collected you.’
A cold shiver swept through Charlotte. So he had intended to abduct her all along. He spoke of girls as though they were curiosities to be acquired and discarded at whim.
‘You are vile,’ Charlotte hissed. ‘How can you do this to innocent girls?’
His expression barely altered.
‘I did not create this enterprise,’ he replied lightly. ‘It existed long before me, darling. I merely inherited it... improved it... expanded it into something far grander.’
He sounded proud.
Charlotte forced herself to remain calm.
‘Your empire is collapsing,’ she said steadily. ‘Lord Stanley and the Bow Street Runners are already close to destroying your organisation.’
The Captain merely shrugged.
‘Enough of us remain to rebuild.’
Before she could speak again, he yanked the blindfold firmly back over her eyes.
Then he left the cage.
Charlotte heard the lock click shut behind him.
A sob rose in her throat, but beneath the terror, something harder slowly took hold.
She would escape before nightfall.
She had to.
Or Lord Stanley would die.
Charlotte remained motionless until Falcon’s footsteps faded completely.
Then she pushed the blindfold back down and looked around.
‘Lucy,’ she whispered, ‘tell me about the guards. How often do they come down here?’
‘Only when they bring food,’ she replied quietly. ‘Usually once a day. They were here not long before you woke, so I reckon we have several hours yet.’
‘Excellent.’
Lucy stared at her.
‘I am sorry, miss, but what exactly is excellent about any of this? We are doomed.’
