Page 36 of Choosing Her Earl at Last
“Hmm,” she hummed in curiosity. Taking her nail, she scratched at the edge of the patch. As the top of the patch fell away, she gasped in relief to find four mysterious symbols that matched some of those on her father’s message.
“Finally,” she whispered, pleased to have found anything that would lead to progress forward. She was not certain, but she felt as if the symbols were telling her to open the patch just as her pendant had opened.
Taking the edge of the patch between her fingers, she gently pulled it off the canvas. Hidden beneath, she found another letter folded up just as the first had been.
With both letters in hand, Emmeline sat at her father’s desk and spread them out together, side by side. “It is a map key!” Beaming with joy that she had finally figured out her father’s code, she rose to tell Rebecca only to halt in her steps as pain clutched her chest once more.
Rebecca was not there to share in her discovery. Falling to her knees, she prayed fervently for her sister’s well-being.God,please do not take her from us. Please protect her, keep her safe, and guide us to find her. Please, I beg of you, bring my sister back to me!
Chapter 16
The next morning, Michael and Colin arrived at the Frampton townhouse just after breakfast to discuss their next steps and what information Michael had gained from his conversation with his father’s magistrate friend.
Mr. Hardy showed them into the drawing room where Emmeline awaited them. “What have you discovered?” she asked, not bothering with pleasantries.
Michael lowered himself into a chair near Emmeline’s. He sighed as he rubbed the place between his eyes. He had not had a moment of sleep since the night before, having spent all night speaking with magistrates and their runners. He removed a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to her. “The coachman delivered this to my London townhouse this morning.”
Emmeline took it from him and unfolded it. “What is it?” she asked, as she scanned the page.
“It is a list of locations that Martha and Rebecca were known to frequent together,” he explained, gratefully taking the cup of tea that Mr. Hardy offered him. “Thank you, Mr. Hardy,” he murmured as he drank in the fragrant dark liquid.
Moments later, a plate of scones with strawberries and clotted cream appeared in front of him. His stomach rumbled at thesight of them, and he practically inhaled one before he spoke again. “I thought it would be a good idea to visit each of them and see if anyone has seen anything that might be of interest to our investigation.”
Emmeline nodded in approval. “Good. If we can find anyone who knows who Martha was involved with, it might lead us to who might want to take Rebecca.”
Michael took another drag of tea, then set his cup down. “To that end, I spoke with my father’s friend, as well as the Bow Street magistrate. He told me that around six months ago, there was a new criminal element taking over London’s underbelly.
At the time, we were discussing the art thefts, but I thought perhaps if we could find this man, he might know who would have been capable of taking Rebecca. After speaking with the coachman last night, there was something that he said that I could not get out of my head.
He said that Martha had gotten involved with someone of ill repute who had recently arrived in their community. With this in mind, I went back to my father’s friend and Bow Street to look at the crimes that had been committed within the last six months.”
“That could not have been easy,” Emmeline acknowledged his efforts.
“It was not, but I believe that it was worth it. I think that I have found a pattern, and the Bow Street magistrate agrees with me. They are going to follow this pattern and see if they can find the individual or organization responsible for the recent rash of crimes. If they find the criminals responsible, they may be able to find the identity of their benefactor. Perhaps they will know who took Rebecca.”
“Or perhaps they are the ones who took her,” Colin finished for him.
Michael nodded in agreement. “Colin and I will follow this list of locations and report anything that we find to the magistrate. We will send word if we make any progress.”
Emmeline stood up, her eyes filled with fiery determination. “I am going with you.”
Michael shook his head. “It is too dangerous. We have no notion as to where this list will lead us or if it is a trap. I will not be responsible for your being taken or worse.”
“That is not your place to decide,” Emmeline reminded him. “I can take care of myself.”
“No, you cannot,” Michael argued adamantly. “You are no match for a man’s strength.”
“You are constantly underestimating me, my strength, my courage, my intellect, my intentions!” Emmeline was trembling with anger as she shot firebolts from her eyes.
“I would never underestimate your courage or intellect, but it is a truth well known that a man with ill intentions can overpower a woman of your diminutive stature. I cannot approve your attendance and ensure your safety.”
“I do not need your approval! You are not my family, and I outrank you!” Emmeline’s words stabbed through Michael’s heart like icy daggers, burning through to his soul.
Before he knew what he was doing, Michael closed the gap between them, grabbing her arm. “If a man who meant you harm laid hands on you, you would not be able to free yourself.”
He proved his point as Emmeline attempted to jerk her arm away from his grasp and did nothing but wrinkle her sleeve.
“Release me, you brute!” Emmeline shouted.
