Page 37 of The Scarred Duchess Deal
“Fine. Who is it? We need to fetch them quickly,” Leo said. He hoped that it might make his grandfather feel some sort of sense of urgency for their agenda, but it did not seem to faze the older man.
“Why, Theodore of course. We have become very fast friends over the last couple of weeks while you and your wife have been avoiding one another,” Aurelius explained.
Mortimer shot Leo a curious look as if he wished to inquire why they might have been avoiding one another, but Leo knew that he might snap if Mortimer attempted to play the protective older brother at a moment like this. While he might have a justified reason to be angry with Mortimer, now was hardly the time or the place. Once Tessa was safely returned to his arms, all else could be figured out.
When they pulled up in front of the Windrop home, Aurelius swiftly ducked inside for a few moments. When he reemerged, it was with Theodore thundering behind him, holding more muskets than any person should have been able to safely produce in less than five minutes. Gone was the fun-loving, dog-worshiping, dopey grin on Theo’s face; instead he wore a mask of intense focus. The carriage shook when he entered it. It was no longer a comfortable fit but one that they had to squeeze into.
Theodore was shocked to see Mortimer, shocked enough that it broke through his otherwise intense expression. He blinked twice as if he were seeing a ghost.
“How–” he started, but shook his head. “You have some explaining to do when this is all over, Boy,” he said to his nephew very firmly.
Mortimer nodded and hung his head.
The version of Mortimer that Leo had been friends with was firmly loyal to his family; there had never been a question of that. Neither had there ever been a question as to whether he was kind. He was the fun-loving sort who tended to leap without looking in most instances. No matter where or what he landed in, he always faced it with an infuriating sense of optimism. Now he just looked deflated.
Mortimer guided the carriage in the direction of Rotten Johnny’s last known hangout. They would likely meet with Leo as they knew his position in Society and they were also in possession of his Duchess. They would likely ransom her for everything that they felt they could get out of him. He would be willing to pay it, provided that they had not harmed her. If she was harmed, then all bets would be forfeited.
The carriage stopped in front of the entrance and the men exited. Unsurprisingly, Theodore had already formed his version of a battle plan for them to carry out. Leo noted that if this is what the large man was like on the battlefield, he was very happy indeed that he would never have to come across him. He could only imagine how terrifying this man and a snarling Colonel Floppy Ears would look rushing toward you on the opposite end of a musket.
“You have experience shooting one of these?” Theodore asked the group as he held out a pistol.
Leo nodded. He had spent many hours honing his shooting skills as well as practical fencing lessons. While dueling was of course illegal, he knew how to hold his own should the situation require it.
Mortimer glanced at the pistol and then quickly averted his gaze. Leo knew that he had once been a very good shot; it was interesting that he now appeared to have an aversion to weapons. It was troublesome to think of the thin man walking into such a terrible place wholly unarmed, but there was no time to argue. Aurelius, too, declined the pistol in favor of a sword on his hip that had never once been drawn and likely would not be drawn tonight either.
They met no resistance on the way in.
“Well, well, well. If it is not the prodigal son returned home!” A man addressed the group as they entered a slightly larger room. It might have once been a tavern with its lingering stench of stale ale, but now it seemed to be a gathering space. It was absent any chairs or benches in the main part of the room. Sacks and linen bags were propped up against the walls with who knew what in them. Everything smelled damp.
The man, presumably Johnny from his filthy appearance, spoke directly to Mortimer, who started to fidget where he stood. He did not seem to have any interest in speaking to the man across from him, so Leo interrupted.
“Where is my wife?”’
“Ah… so you’s the Duke then? High an’ mighty like. How’s about you pay me first, then I might be in a more conversational like mood.” Johnny’s voice felt slimy. Every word felt like pollution in the air as he gestured with grandiosity. A man of too much self-importance, in Leo’s opinion.
Theodore raised a pistol. “He asked you a question.”
All of the hospitality faded from Johnny’s expression at once. Three other men sauntered into the space as if that would make the fight somehow more even.
“Now, you come in my place, pointing things, making demands of me–”
Theodore was not in the mood. He fired a round directly at Johnny’s leg. It hit him in the shin. The man yowled and hollered in pain as he fell to the ground. He clutched at his leg and roiled around, absorbed in his own wound.
“We do not barter with the enemy! Take no prisoners, boys!” Theodore raised his pistol a second time as if he were back on the front lines sending his men into active battle. Leo followed suit and lifted his pistol as well.
“Wait! Wait!” one of the men called. He lifted his hands in surrender. “I will fetch her! Do not shoot us, please!”
“Cowards!” Johnny screamed through his pained moaning.
Moments later, the same man reappeared with Tessa, a black hood pulled down over her face. He thrust her in their direction, and Leo rushed forward to catch her so that she would not fall. He ripped the black hood off of her face and watched as Tessa’s expression quickly shifted from fear to relief.
“Shh, shh, I have you now. You are safe. All is well,” Leo whispered as Tessa threw her arms around his shoulders and clutched him tightly.
“Oh! I was so frightened! I am so sorry for going off on my own. I should have listened to you,” Tessa cried.
“Never mind that now, are you harmed? Have they injured you?” Leo asked.
Tessa shook her head against his shoulder but would not release him.
