Page 49 of A Dream of Redemption
Helen stared. That was exactly what she had intended to do. It must have shown on her face.
“If I hear you have been telling tales, I shall tell a few tales of my own, and your Mr. Homeward will be ostracized.”
“I’m sure I have no idea what you mean.” But an icy fear slipped under her skin. What did Lord Fairfax know about Clary? Did he know she’d been in his lodgings—alone?
“I know intimate details, very intimate details about your Mr. Homeward. His Grace has managed to spin some tale about his background. No one has bothered to check because Homeward is not important, but you seem to want to raise his profile.” He leaned closer. “Who am I to stand in the way of lust, whoops love, but fair’s fair. You will do the same for me.”
She didn’t know what to say. How did Fairfax know that Clary’s background was false? She’d only learned of that today.
“You don’t believe me? Pass my threat, no, pass my promise, on toClarenceand see what he advises. I’m pretty sure he’ll agree with my terms.”
With that he pressed a swift kiss to her forehead and strolled off as if he knew he had won.
Limbs still shaking Helen made her way back to the ballroom. The incident in the park flashed in her head. Lord Fairfax wasn’t picking on a man beneath him, he was giving a man he already knew a warning.
The heated ballroom didn’t chase away the block of ice forming in her stomach. She watched Angela glowing on Lord Fairfax’s arm as he led her out for the waltz. Her loyalty was torn. She wanted to warn Angela but she needed to understand Lord Fairfax’s threat first.
She searched the room for Beatrice, wanting to go home. Tomorrow night at dinner, she’d talk to her sister and get some answers that were long overdue.
As she made her way to Beatrice’s side she prayed they would not destroy either her or Clary.
—
Clary was meeting with Richard and his men at Southwark. Richard had news and it was good to have something to take his mind off Helen. He regretted his harsh reaction to her worry about her brother, but the duke’s conversation coupled with Helen’s fright at him talking to her brother hurt.
Tomorrow he would try to see her and apologize.
He should let her go but he couldn’t. She’d turned his life upside down and, as she kept saying, you couldn’t go back.
“Boon has been busy.” Richard’s words broke into Clary’s thoughts. “Tell him what you have found.”
“Since we can’t find Glover I thought I’d try something else. I kept my eye out for new children on the streets and followed them. Sure enough, one got grabbed last night. I followed. They took her to the warehouse—”
“Which warehouse?” Clary impatiently asked.
“Let me finish. You won’t believe it but it was a warehouse right on the docks. Just off Rotherhithe Street.”
Clary looked at Richard who nodded. “Aye, it’s Lord Coldhurst’s warehouse.”
Clary stood and began to pace the room. “Are you sure it’s Glover though?”
Boon said, “I saw the scarred chap, Stilton. It’s them all right.”
No wonder they had not been able to find them. They had not even considered checking a warehouse owned by a man of Lord Coldhurst’s standing.
Richard cursed. “The marquis can’t know, surely.”
“What if he does?” young Boon spoke what they were all thinking.
Richard stood up. “If we ask him, and he is involved…”
Clary swung to face him. “He’s not involved. He loves his sisters and there is no way he’d let Helen visit Southwark if he knew Glover was working out of here.”
“Are you willing to bet your life—the lives of the children on it?”
Was he? Clary thought of the man he’d shaken hands with only yesterday. He seemed to be a pillar of society. He knew he didn’t have a mistress. He believed in family. He had a temper, had fought a few duels, and had been a known rake, but he couldn’t see an ounce of cruelty in him. Coldhurst had enough honor to marry a woman because he’d killed her brother and thought he’d left her destitute.
“Yes, I am. I’ll talk with him tomorrow. Her Grace is hosting a dinner party and Lord Coldhurst is a guest. I shall stay late and talk to him before the dinner.”
