Page 69 of Lady Charlotte and the Lending Library
She knew the park was open to all of London until nine o’clock in the evening, although that didn’t prevent vagrants and those up to no good from roaming the park at night. She’d arrived at the ball after ten o’clock. It might be well after midnight by now.
The nearby water must be the Serpentine. What did the boss want with her? Perhaps she was to be drowned in the lake like the poor man lying on the shore. Her thoughts strayed to Lord Ashford. Would she ever see him again? Charlotte must survive this ordeal. She had to see the marquess again and tell him that they belonged together. Tell him that she loved him.
The sound of hooves against the turf alerted her to the approach of a rider. She looked up to see a black horse halt near her surly companion. The cloaked man took the leads of the horse while the rider dismounted.
The rider approached her and stood a few yards away. He was tall and thin, dressed in full evening kit. A cloud moved, and the moonlight illuminated the figure in front of her.
The man pulled the beaver hat from his head, revealing a shock of bright red hair. “Good evening, Lady Charlotte. I’m James Landry. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”
* * * * *
Edith, Louisa, and Alicia were waiting for Ashford when he and Nathaniel re-entered Norfolk House from the terrace. He quickly put up a staying hand to halt the volley of questions he knew was headed his way.
“We found William. Charlotte has left Norfolk House in the company of Lord Meers. Baron Harbury, William, and I will find Charlotte. You ladies are to return to your own homes with the assistance of Lady Louisa’s brother.” His tone brooked no argument.
“Nathaniel?” Alicia looked genuinely frightened.
“Perhaps you could accompany Lady Edith to her home.” The baron added, “If that is quite all right with the lady?”
“Of course,” Edith replied quickly, sending Alicia a reassuring smile. “Your sister can stay with my family as long as necessary.”
“We must go,” he said to Nathaniel, nodding to the ladies before striding away from them and out of the ballroom.
He was relieved to see his carriage just down the street from Norfolk House, William standing beside it. Thank goodness his driver hadn’t been forced to park further afield. Ashford vaulted onto the box, taking the reins from his driver.
“Find Lord Cecil,” he said to the driver. “Tell him to come to the east end of the Serpentine in Hyde Park, near the Piccadilly Gate. The footmen may return home.”
The servants withdrew from their places on the coach. Nathaniel joined him on the seat while William entered the carriage. With a flick of the leads, they were off, headed south to the thoroughfare of Pall Mall.
“You’re not going through St. James’s?” Nathaniel asked over the sound of horse hooves hitting cobblestones and the jingle of the bit straps and harnesses.
He shook his head. “Too much road traffic.”
“Why do you believe Lady Charlotte is being held near Piccadilly Gate?”
“That area of the park has the least amount of crime. I recall Cecil telling me the runners have stepped up patrols at that end of the Serpentine. I wouldn’t put it past Landry to bribe the runners to vacate that area of the park when he wants them to.” He was only guessing Lord Meers had taken Charlotte to Hyde Park. Ashford prayed his gamble was correct.
A few minutes later, they drove past Green Park. Ashford turned the carriage right onto Constitution Hill, narrowly missing a pedestrian weaving across the road. The drunken man shook his fist in the air and cursed them as the carriage drove away.
“Why do you think William is still alive? He was the only witness to Lady Charlotte’s abduction.” Nathaniel clutched the side of the leather bench with one hand and the back of the seat with the other.
As the carriage raced along, Ashford worried over the same question. There was only one conclusion. “I believe whoever is behind the abduction of Lady Charlotte is going to kill Lord Meers. The other man involved wore a cloak with a hood. He is unrecognizable.”
Ashford said no more as they reached the Piccadilly Gate. If the men involved in Charlotte’s kidnapping wouldn’t hesitate to kill Lord Meers, the lady was in grave danger indeed.
He halted the coach, and Nathaniel dropped to the ground to remove the chain across the lane. A chain that was essentially Piccadilly Gate.
William opened the coach door and leaned out. “Are we there?” the boy asked gruffly.
He replied just as gruffly, “Nearly! Get back in the carriage!”
Nathaniel was again beside him on the seat. Ashford drove the coach to the left, taking the Ring Road toward the east end of the Serpentine, his eyes adjusting to the darkness. When he reached a place where the water was visible in the gloom, he halted the coach. If Charlotte and her captors were nearby, the lanterns on the outside of the coach may have already alerted them to his presence.
Dropping from the box, he put a finger to his lips as Nathaniel joined him and William exited the coach.
“I shall take the east side of the shoreline. I want you two to take the west. Your eyes should adjust to the gloom soon enough.” Ashford paused, hearing a noise behind him. Turning, he was surprised to see Cecil standing beside the town coach.
“I’ve been following James Landry this evening. I know exactly where he is.” Cecil put up a staying hand as Ashford started forward. “He’s here with one of his lackeys. Landry is armed, and he has Charlotte.”
