They nodded.
Ambrose turned to his sisters. Violet and Cissa were wide-eyed. Tavi had already stood and was moving toward the door.
“Then I will go to The Iris now and find her. Good day,” he said and followed his sisters from the house. He would not alert the Wilsons as to what he’d learned about Howard. Doing so would merely frighten them and serve no purpose.
He had to find Tilly before Howard did because Ambrose knew he wanted to harm her. Knew it deep inside, just as he now understood that the man was involved in what was happening in that room below their clubs.
“I’m worried Howard has found her,” Violet said, her voice tight with fear.
“Agreed,” Cissa added.
“I can’t believe he is involved in such horrid things and perhaps had a hand in those women going missing,” Tavi said.
“I’m killing that bastard if he’s touched a hair on Tilly’s head.”
“Agreed,” Cissa said again.
When the carriage stopped, they jumped out and ran to The Iris. Ruby answered the door quickly after he knocked.
“Is Miss Wilson here?” he demanded.
“She has not returned.” She stepped back to let them all inside. “She went out with that man, Mr. Howard, and I watched from the window. She told me she would not be long and then would take tea with the knitting club. I saw them go down the steps at the side of the building, the ones that go to the lower level. I haven’t seen them come up again, and it’s been”—her voice cracked slightly—“it’s been a long time, my lord.”
“Stay here, all of you,” he said before stepping back outside.
Ambrose hurried to the stairs and then crept down silently. He saw two men were now standing guard outside the door that led into the rooms below, both held shotguns. Retreating, he went back to The Iris Club, where his sisters, Ruby, and now the stern-faced Margaret stood.
Barnaby rushed forward to greet him.
“Why is there a man in this fine establishment? I thought they were banned.”
These words were spoken by Ellen Nightingale. With her was Mavis Johns, and Tabitha, who winked at him.
“We have reason to believe Tilly is in the room below, being held against her will,” Violet said quickly. “We have to make haste to get her back.”
“She has been taken again? Good Lord, you people should really keep a better eye on that woman,” Ellen said.
“I plan to,” Ambrose gritted out.
“What room?” Mavis demanded.
Violet quickly explained what she knew.
“Right, then. What is to be done?” Mavis said when she was finished.
He looked around the faces before him. All women.
“If you’re thinking that because we do not wear trousers and stride about the place, demanding things, we are notcapable of helping you, then let me disabuse you of that notion,” Ellen said.
“Amen,” his sisters agreed.
“Are any of you armed?” Ambrose could not afford to wait because he had no idea what they were doing to Tilly down there. He had to get her back now, and to do that, he would have to rely on these women.
“I am,” Mavis and Tabitha both said.
“I can defend myself, as you know,” Ellen added.
“As can we,” Cissa said.
