Banbury interrupted him. “Your horse is outside. I asked the stable hand to get him ready when I arrived.”
Ten minutes later, they arrived at the Romney house. Evan did not envy Lady Romney. She had lost her husband, thought her eldest son had died in a strange land, was trying to cope with the abduction of her young son, and in a moment, would find out her daughter was also missing.
He pounded on the door until Myers opened it. “My lord, Lady Romney is in her parlor. She is beside herself. Another gentleman and a lady, a Mrs. Dove-Lyon and Mr. Titan, arrived and are with her,” Myers said as succinctly as he could with the household staff running all around them.
“Myers, locate Jane and bring her to us.”
“Yes, my lord.” He nodded at Mrs. Graves, who turned and flew up the stairs to the servants’ quarters.
Both men paused, fortifying before opening the parlor door.
The sight of Mrs. Dove-Lyon in the room with his mother-in-law should have shocked him, yet Evan said nothing. There were rumors that the Widow had a heart. Perhaps the rumors were true because there she sat, comforting Lady Romney. She stood and motioned for the two men to follow her to the other side of the room.
“Several of my men are on the dock looking for a specific boat, a boat that heads to the Orient when it leaves this dock. It is my belief that Lord Langdale”—she practically spit the name—“has ordered his niece and nephew taken aboard.” She did not mince words. “Lord Langdale used Jane, the new maid, to monitor his niece.”
“How do you know all of this?” Evan challenged. She alluded to slave trading. It had been outlawed several years back. However, there had been renewed suspicion that it still operated illicitly.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon drew up her shoulders. “I understand you are quite distressed but know that I am here to help. There are two boats due to leave port tonight, according to the information Titan secured. He will go with you. You must hurry.”
Being told what to do by this woman rankled him, but he quickly set it aside. She had forced him into a marriage, and while he had satisfied that debt, he would owe one of gratitude if they could save his wife in time.
Screaming in the hall alerted him to Jane. “In here, missy.” The housekeeper opened the door and thrust the girl inside. “I caught her in Lady Clarendon’s room going through her drawers.” Mrs. Graves held up a small velvet bag, which he assumed contained some of Charlotte’s jewelry. “I will put these away.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Graves.” Evan stood in front of the maid. “My wife has been taken. Tell me what you know. My wife’s life could be in peril,” he said as forcefully as possible.
“He will kill me,” she cried, collapsing to the floor.
“Who? Who will kill you?” Banbury asked, pulling her to her feet.
“Lord Langdale. He threatened to if I let anyone know he had hired me.”
“Well, you will be lucky to live a month in Newgate if you do not tell me what I am asking. You have taken part in the abduction of two peers of the realm.”
“I heard him mention a ship named The Mermaid,” the young woman cried.
“I saw that ship,” Titus spoke up.
“Where is Langdale?” Evan demanded of Jane.
“I do not know—in his home, maybe, waiting to hear,” she cried.
“I will take two footmen and go to Langdale’s,” Banbury said. “You and Titan go to The Mermaid. As soon as I have Langdale in the magistrate’s hands, we will follow.”
“Thank you, Christopher,” Evan said quietly.
Myers stepped in. “I will handle the situation here.” He snapped his fingers, and a footman materialized from behind him. “Take her to Lady Clarendon’s wardrobe and lock her inside,” he demanded. “Make sure her mouth is muffled and her hands are tied.”
“Yes, sir.” The footman did as asked.
“Hurry, gentlemen,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon pleaded. “The Mermaid sails tonight.”
The four men took off out the door. The footman and Banbury left for Langdale’s. Titan and Evan mounted their horses and went in the opposite direction, heading to the shipyards of the East End.
“If you do not mind, my lord,” the bouncer began, “I know this area. Follow my lead, and I believe we will have a better chance of finding the young lord and your wife.”
Evan nodded as a new realization soured his stomach. Titan was right. All this time he had worried about losing a wife to childbirth when greater dangers existed. Charlotte had been right, and he would tell her. Life was to be lived.
The dock area was black, and the air was thick with the smells of urine and vomit. Evan tried to keep his head down, hoping to evade the odors. The two men slowed their horses and rode slowly and deliberately down a cobblestone street that ran alongside a large corner tavern known as the Lion’s Head. “We will pay someone in the stable near the pub to hold our horses, my lord. From there, we will not be far from The Mermaid.”
Just as Titan had said, he rode to the stable at the back of the pub and whistled. A young street urchin came forth. “Watch these horses. Do not take your eyes away.”
“Aye, guv.” The child smiled with several teeth missing. Titan tossed him a shilling, which he promptly bit before putting it into his pocket. Evan handed over his horse and also gave him a shilling.
“We don’t have far, my lord.” Titan pointed to the area beyond a row of buildings. A group of men dressed in sailors’ garb stumbled by, singing and laughing. Titan motioned to keep to the shadows of the building, allowing the men to pass without noticing them. Evan wished he had worn his greatcoat and a sword. All he had
