When all this had started, he never would’ve guessed he’d be reduced to watching the place from which Beatrice had escaped. He had thought to contact a Runner and wait for results.
Not that Daniel minded getting his hands dirty. Quite the opposite. The challenge of attempting to outsmart an adversary both physically and intellectually was stimulating, as was working toward a greater purpose. His former image of himself as a rogue had faded, replaced by something better—dare he say more heroic?—all thanks to Beatrice.
However, he couldn’t forget for a moment the danger of his goal. Pierre had lectured him just this morning about taking care and avoiding trouble.
Daniel smothered a sigh. His continued need to somehow prove himself had yet to subside. While he’d gained Mary’s freedom, he’d accomplished little else. He hoped his warnings to the boarding house landlord and the clerk at the registry office had been enough to make them think twice before continuing their terrible scheme. But he didn’t know whether it had worked.
If Finch made finding women financially lucrative enough, both men might continue to work with him. After all, they didn’t directly play a role. They need only look the other way once they’d completed their small part. That, no doubt, assuaged their conscience. Money changed the scale for many when it came time to decide the strength of one’s morals.
Not knowing if he’d stopped the scheme gave Daniel another reason to watch the brothel. If he witnessed someone being bundled inside, he’d have an answer to that as well as a better understanding of Finch’s movements.
Daniel’s position provided an excellent view while hiding his presence. Unfortunately, it was far from comfortable. The notion of spending hours watching the area was daunting. But if he wanted more information on Finch, he had to start somewhere.
He’d been in place for well over an hour when an unmarked black carriage rolled into view and parked before the brothel. Finch stepped out, much to Daniel’s surprise, and barked an order at his driver to wait then knocked on the door of the house.
Perfect, Daniel thought with no small measure of excitement. He waited for Finch to go inside, then eased out of his hiding spot, careful to avoid being spotted by Finch’s driver. He strode up the street to where his rented carriage waited nearly a block away. He’d learned his lesson the last time he’d visited and had no intention of being forced to escape on foot if the need arose.
“There’s a carriage waiting outside the house I mentioned,” Daniel told his driver. “We may have to wait for a time, but I want you to follow it from a distance. I don’t want them to see us.”
“Very well, sir.” The driver tipped his hat, seeming to think nothing of Daniel’s unusual request.
Daniel hopped inside the carriage then watched through the window as they drew closer. After waiting only a few minutes, Finch exited the building. The timing was perfect. His own driver stayed back, just as Daniel had requested, but followed Finch’s carriage close enough so as not to lose him.
They wound through the narrow streets until Daniel wasn’t quite certain of their location, being unfamiliar with the area. At last, the carriage halted and the driver tapped on the roof then lifted the small door that allowed him to speak with Daniel. “The man is alighting.”
Daniel shifted his position to better see out the window and watched as Finch entered what looked to be a modest residence.
The driver opened the door once more. “The carriage has pulled away, sir. What would you like me to do?”
Was this a second brothel? Daniel studied it, his instincts suggesting it wasn’t. It appeared to be smaller than the one Daniel had been in. Too small for an establishment of that sort, if he had to guess. Could this be Finch’s residence? If so, it was a helpful clue. “Make note of the address, would you? We’ll wait a few minutes to see if anyone emerges.”
What was happening inside? Did he have a wife? Children? What drove him to run that sort of business? Though curious, it didn’t truly matter as it didn’t change Daniel’s plan. While Daniel might not like the idea of prostitution, there was little he could do to end it. Especially when the authorities tended to look the other way.
But the fact that Finch forced young women into the business was a different thing altogether. That was both illegal and immoral. The reasons behind the business were irrelevant.
“Drive around the block,” he requested the driver. “We’ll watch from a distance.”
The driver did as he requested, finding a place to wait down the street. But after half an hour passed with no further sign of Finch, he decided to end his observation. He’d already discovered more than he’d hoped. With luck, Pierre would learn more this evening.
The image of Beatrice came to mind, though she was never far from his thoughts. He wanted to put an end to the man who had hurt her so irrevocably, to make her proud, to be deserving of her admiration and affection. He sincerely hoped his efforts were moving him closer toward those goals.
“IT WAS WONDERFUL TO see Mary looking so happy,” Beatrice said as she and Caroline returned to Aberland House the following afternoon after a visit to the dressmaker’s shop.
“Wasn’t it though?” Caroline smiled. “Madame Beaufort seems pleased with her work.”
“The pride in Mary’s expression when the dressmaker touted her accomplishments was wonderful.” Beatrice was incredibly proud of Mary for overcoming all she’d endured to not only reach for a new life but to make it happen.
Caroline briefly touched Beatrice’s hand, her green eyes sparkling, as they moved to the stairs. “Thanks to you.”
“Thanks to
