Page 17 of Dubious about the Duke (Second Sons of London 5)

Chapter Seven

Jack Blumer wentout in search of Freddie and Charlie, agreeing to meet up with Win at the boardinghouse in two hours, with or without the boys. Dr. Cook returned to his office since the boys weren’t available for him to examine.

Win told Mrs. Bridges to leave Miss Sawyer in her room and sent his coachman to retrieve his solicitor.

“I don’t care what he is doing. He is to come with you immediately. Is that understood?”

“Aye, Your Grace,” the driver said. “I’ll use your name and he’ll drop everything.”

He stopped a boy on the streets and asked who the nearest undertaker was. When the boy replied, Win tossed him a coin.

“Bring him here at once and there will be another coin in it for you.”

The boy’s eyes lit in surprise. “Yes, my lord.” He took off running down the street.

Less than ten minutes later, a somber man dressed in black appeared with the boy. Win paid the lad, giving him two additional coins simply because he wanted to see joy shine in the child’s face.

“Thank you, my lord!” he cried, pocketing his newfound gain and racing away.

“I am the Duke of Woodmont,” he told the undertaker. “Upstairs in Mrs. Bridges’ boardinghouse you will find a Miss Sawyer, who recently expired. You are to handle everything, including the burial.”

The undertaker’s eyes widened. “Yes, Your Grace. Where would you like Miss Sawyer to be buried?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said dismissively. “Just handle the entire affair and report your expenses to my solicitor.”

He provided Cottrell’s address and then paced in front of the boardinghouse, anxiously awaiting Cottrell’s appearance. As he waited, he stopped two people who went to enter the boardinghouse, asking them about the boys and where they might be. One man had only seen the children in passing and had no information to give him.

The second was far more revealing.

“Them two are trouble,” the red-faced boarder shared. “They weren’t when they first got here but their mother is sick. Too sick to discipline them. They’re always into mischief in the neighborhood. I say it’d do them good to be caught and transported to Botany Bay.”

The thought of two young children being charged as criminals and sent halfway around the world sickened Win. He gave the man his haughtiest ducal look and the boarder rushed into the boardinghouse, slamming the door.

His carriage pulled up soon after and Win climbed inside it, finding Cottrell and one of his associates within.

Quickly, he explained about how he had located the previous duke’s two bastards and how he wanted to provide for them.

“The mother expired an hour ago,” he told the pair, not wanting to go into detail about how the boys had separate mothers. Terrance dumping his pregnant mistress was bad enough. Brutalizing her dresser was far worse.

“I will pay for the burial expenses,” he continued. “I will also place the boys with one of my tenants. I wish to provide them with proper clothing and I believe I owe them an education or help in training them in some trade. Draw up whatever papers are necessary on your end.”

“That is most generous of you, Your Grace,” Cottrell said. “But quite unnecessary. His Grace did not claim these by-blows. Surely, you are under no obligation to provide for them.”

He glared at the solicitor until the man cowered. “They have Cutler blood in them. I will see they are taken care of. Don’t ever question me again, Cottrell. Else you’ll find yourself no longer in my employ.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” the solicitor said, bobbing his head up and down several times. “It will be taken care of immediately.”

Win exited the vehicle and instructed his coachman to return the pair to Cottrell’s offices and then return to the boardinghouse. He hoped by then Freddie and Charlie would have been found.

“Very good, Your Grace.” The driver flicked his wrists and the horses set out.

By now, the undertaker had returned with his wagon and another man. They entered the boardinghouse and, several minutes later, they returned, carrying Miss Sawyer’s body wrapped in some kind of sheeting. They placed it in the bed of the wagon and both men tipped their hats to him.

Blumer rounded the corner as the wagon started up and Win looked at the detective expectantly. “Well?”

Frowning, Blumer said, “I found them. But there’s been a bit of trouble. They filched an apple apiece and the grocer wanted them taken away. Transported, Your Grace.”

Win recalled the boarder saying the boys deserved to be sent to Australia. “Would such a petty crime call for such a severe action?”

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