“Thank you,” said Arthur. “Please inform Miss Lucy that we will be out momentarily.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
“Are you ready to do this?” asked Arthur. “Are you ready to give your parents exactly what they deserve?”
“I am.”
CHAPTER39
Turning The Tables
Arthur, Margaret, and Lucy rode in the coach. This was the last thing they needed to do in London, and Margaret would be glad to be out of London and go back to York. She still felt a little conflicted about what they were about to do, but she knew deep down that they did deserve it, and she was not only doing it for justice but also so they could not harm her or her child.
She reached down and took Lucy’s hand. “Thank you again. You have already helped me twice, and you are helping for the third time.”
“I hope it all goes well,” Lucy said with a slight gulp.
“You don’t have to worry about anything,” consoled the duke. “No matter what happens this morning, you are coming back to York with us, and you will have a place there for as long as you want, and you will have our unconditional support if you want to move onto anything else.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” said Lucy.
“No, thank you, Lucy. And I really mean that. You have helped us out more than can ever be repaid, but we are going to try and repay you,” said Arthur.
“Do you have somewhere you can go for the night?” asked Margaret. “If not, you can stay with us. We will leave in the morning.”
“All my things, what little I have is still—”
“You don’t have to worry about that unless you have anything sentimental. We will provide everything for you when we get to York,” interrupted Margaret.
“I can leave it all behind,” said Lucy with a smile. “And, yes. I do have somewhere I can go. My sister lives close to the docks and she has always told me that I am welcome there.”
“As soon as we are done here, go straight there and be with your sister for one more night. We will send for you in the morning,” said the duke.
Margaret could feel the excitement running through Lucy’s body as she held her hand. She gripped on tighter, happy to add one more person to those around her. It felt as if she was assembling a team that would surround and protect her, but, at the same time, this was a group of people that she wanted to protect too.
The coach slowed and then came to a stop. The footman came to the door and opened it. The duke alighted from the coach first and then helped Margaret and Lucy down. Margaret took Arthur’s hand, still holding onto Lucy’s hand, and the two beside her gave her strength. She looked straight ahead at the door in front and walked for it, opening it and striding into the constabulary.
“Your Grace,” said the countable behind the desk by the door. “And, Your Grace,” he added when he saw Arthur. “Is this to do with Miss Lancaster? She has had all charges dropped.”
“No, this is about something else. Well, something connected,” said Arthur.
“Of course, please go on,” said the constable.
“I wish to report a crime,” said Arthur.
“A crime?”
“Yes, a crime. And, I have brought a witness. One of many that I will one able to produce should you need statements from them all,” stated the duke.
“Please, sit down and let me get my notebook. I hope that no one is hurt, though you do not seem alarmed or in a rush.”
“No, no one was hurt. I wish to report a robbery. I was driving my carriage down Drury Lane with a sizable amount of cash toward the bank when we stopped to repair one of the wheels. It is then that my money went missing. I thought that I had perhaps misplaced it, but I was told later that my money was stolen.”
“And, do you have an idea of who stole it, Your Grace?” asked the constable.
“Mr. and Mrs. Wellington,” said the duke.
“Mr. and Mrs.—” He turned to Margaret. “Your parents?”