Page 37 of An Enchantress for an Earl

Chapter Fourteen

Violet watched through the barely open blind as Villeham got down from the hackney, spoke to the driver, and sent it on its way, then turned and entered a building. Now, she had to decide what to do.

Fear filled her at the thought of moving from the safety of the carriage, but, at the same time, her conscience urged her to hurry – for she could not, most certainly, gather any evidence whilst sitting in her carriage! She pulled her cloak tightly about her, then eased the door open.

“John, stay here. I will be back as soon as I can.”

“Milady…”

“I must do this. If I am not back within the hour, then please go for help.”

The coachman looked rather startled at this pronouncement, but nodded, obviously uncertain.

Violet stepped down onto the dirty cobbles.

There was no sound but the soft snuffle of the horses as she walked down the street to the door which Villeham had gone through. The building was narrow, with a tiny passageway down one side of it, between it and the warehouse which loomed above it on that side. The other side, it had a common wall with another warehouse.

To the street, it showed just the door, and one very grimy window, covered by curtains drawn tight. There was no understorey, no servants entrance, just that one door. Violet stood there and listened, her ear close to it. There was no sound, except a faint echo from deep in the building, of another door closing.

She would have to go in, and pray that she might find places to hide herself inside, might manage, yet again, to overhear Villeham incriminate himself. There was no option.

She swallowed her fear, and reached out a careful hand to ease the door open.

>>>

From further down the street, Arryn watched in confusion and some horror as Lady Violet approached and entered the near derelict looking building. Why would she do that? Who had been in the cab which she had obviously been following? Had they also gone into that building?

There was nothing rational about this situation, nothing orderly or sensible, and his mind rebelled against the circumstances. Yet… she might be in danger… he could not allow such a thing, not when he might possibly protect her. He left his carriage, and walked calmly past hers, ignoring her coachman.

He could see, as he approached, that the door was shut, and the one window well blocked by curtains. He could not, really, simply walk in, or knock on that door and demand to see her – he had no right to do such a thing. But he had to know what was happening, to know whether she was safe or not.

Which left the only option as that narrow passageway – perhaps there were windows along there, or a back courtyard from which he might determine more of what was occurring. He turned into the passage, moving as quietly as he could, and glad that the sun had not yet set – for even with the faint trace of daylight which reached into the space, it was dim, and hard to see his footing.

But, as he had hoped, there were windows – they were as dirty as the front one, but these were not completely covered by curtains. The first revealed a narrow room – little more than a storage space – which was empty of all but dust, and what looked like bales or… rolls?... of paper. He continued, ignoring that puzzle for now.

The next window had curtains, but they were not completely closed. As Arryn peered through the gap, shock filled him. His instincts had been right. At the very moment that he looked in, Lord Villeham, who stood in the room, wrenched the door open, and Lady Violet came tumbling in. Villeham caught her as she stumbled, spinning her around to pin her with her back against him and her arms trapped by her sides.

It was very, very obvious that this was assault, not a lovers’ embrace, and relief coursed through Arryn at the removal of a fear he had not even admitted to himself before. But that feeling was short lived, overtaken by his horror at the sight of Lady Violet struggling to get free – and failing.

He had to get to her, to save her.

He turned from the window, hurrying towards the back of the building, hoping for another entry there.

>>>

When Trent and Setford stepped down into the narrow street, five men emerged from various spots, and came to them.

“He’s in that building, milord. I’ve another two men in the back lane. But milord – the Lady went in there too, and now another man – looks like a Lord – went down that side passage towards the back of the place. What do you want us to do?”

“We’ll go in – and I want a few of you with me, but leave others to guard all exits. If anyone attempts to leave, detain them. If the Lady or the Lord you just saw come out, ask them politely to wait for me, in the carriages.”

They turned, and walked past Lord Merryfield and Lady Violet’s carriages, until they stood before the house. Setford sent a man back to speak to the coachmen and explain the situation, all the while regarding the building before him.

“What do you expect to find?”

Trent eyed the place curiously, worried for Violet, and wondering just where Merryfield had got to.

“Hopefully, paper, a small printing press, and the forger’s plates. And the forger himself. I wouldn’t be surprised to discover that whoever it is has not done this willingly – why would a man print mass money for a Lord, when he might keep it all for himself, unless under duress?”