Belong To Me (book 4) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (34 page)

Ian found some of the stolen jewels, enough to prove he wasn’t the thief. Good fortune was certainly on his side. But now he needed someone else to see and witness the stolen items kept in the commissioner’s townhouse down in the cellar. Ian needed to contact his friend who worked as the King’s guard. The man owed Ian a favor, and he was the only one who would help him out of this mess. If there was anyone who could free him from these false charges, it would be George’s cousin. Now that Ian had the proof, the rest would be simple.

He carefully made certain to put things back the way they were. He checked his makeup and wig in the hall mirror and headed into town. The first thing on his mind was to send a message to George’s cousin, and hopefully, Ian’s freedom wouldn’t be more than days away. It was so close he could taste it, but he mustn’t get too excited. Not yet. Not until everything was completed.

The weather turned cool and windy tonight, so wearing a hooded cloak wouldn’t look too conspicuous. He went straight to his office, and quickly penned a note. After putting his own seal on it, he carried it outside, and to the nearest delivery person and instructed him to take it to William Stanhope, George’s cousin.

After everything was done, Ian headed back to Ewan’s house. The women would be finished with their search by now and they were probably waiting for his return. He hoped everything had gone well. The plan was infallible. Charlotte and Jacqueline had worked out every detail. But as Ian approached the house, he knew something was amiss. It wasn’t so much that the lights were all on, nor was it the lack of movement behind the drapes, but something else he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

He tiptoed closer, keeping among the shadows of the hickory trees. No movement. No sound either. That’s it! There was no sound. The place was dead quiet. Yet, what did he expect to hear? Ewan and the commissioner were all in dreamland?

Ian cautiously opened the front door. Everything seemed as it should, but Ewan was the only person in the room. Ian stepped past the sleeping man on the floor and walked upstairs, checking in every room. No sign of his wife, Jacqueline or the commissioner. Panic tightened his chest and he ran back down the stairs. He kneeled by Ewan’s side and shook him. “Ewan, wake up.”

His secretary groggily opened one eye, smiled then slumped back into dreamland. Ian slapped his friend’s face, but still didn’t get a response. Irritation rushed through him. Somebody had to know something! He took a deep breath and convinced himself there was a good explanation for all of this. The women probably went back to the castle.

Ian left the house, climbed atop the coach and urged the team forward, pushing them as fast as they could run. After he arrived at the castle, he ran into O’Toole, who was the first servant he saw. Ian paused to catch his breath. “Is Charlotte home yet?”

“No, Master. She left with you earlier and hasn’t returned.”

Ian swore under his breath, the ache in his gut growing. His hand clutched his side and he tried to slow his breathing. “Quickly, get the servants together and search the castle anyway!”

“What’s wrong?”

“She’s missing.”

“Sir?
Before you leave, an urgent message was delivered for you.”

Ian didn’t have time for this nonsense, and was going to refuse the missive his servant held out, but doubt snuck in through his worried mind. What if this was a letter from Charlotte informing him she was leaving? Ian took the letter from his servant and opened it.

We have your wife. And just like three years ago when you robbed us of our money, we demand one hundred thousand pounds in twenty-four hours. Your time started at eight this evening, so we encourage you not to waste a minute. Your wife’s life is at stake, and rest assured, this time we’ll kill her. We’re also going to lead you on a little scavenger hunt. We want to have a little fun at your expense, just like you had with us three years ago. We also want to test your skills to see if they are any good. By eight on Tuesday evening, if we haven’t received any word from you, we’ll kill your wife.

In a frightened rage, Ian crumbled the paper in his hands. What had he gotten her into? If it were not for him, she would be
back
home right now, safe with Allison. Why had he insisted on her staying?

His gut wretched with apprehension…he had to find her!
But how?
He already guessed by the note that these were the same blackhearts who had kidnapped her three years ago, but what were they doing in Bath? And how did they find her? The only thing he could presume was that they were somehow linked with Jeffrey Franklin. Was Ewan part of this? Ian didn’t think so since the man was still passed out at his home and the commissioner were missing.

Ian looked at O’Toole, standing still, wringing his hands against his middle. “She’s been kidnapped.”

His servant hitched a breath as color seeped from the older man’s cheeks.
“Oh, no.
What can we do?”

“Nothing yet.
I need to find out where the commissioner has her first. If I need your assistance, I’ll let you know.”

Ian turned and dashed out the door. As he untied one of the horses and mounted, he prayed she was safe and the commissioner hadn’t touched her improperly. He’d kill the man with his bare hands.
Oh Charlotte, my love…I’m coming!

When he reached Ewan’s house, he stopped his horse and jumped down. Instead of knocking on the front door, he threw it open and entered.
“Stout?”
Ian yelled.
“Stout?
Where are you? Answer me!” He didn’t hear an answer, so he sprinted up the stairs in a panic, his heart beating so hard he thought it would break a rib.

Just as he reached the top floor, Ewan trudged out of his bedchamber, wearing a black robe. The man’s thin brown hair looked like it hadn’t been combed in a week, and a growth of stubble covered the lower half of his face. Ewan rubbed his red, tired eyes, blinking them into focus.

Once he recognized him, he gasped. “Fielding? What do you want? And please, lower your voice,” he complained, holding his head in his hands.

Ian took Ewan by the elbow and led him downstairs into the kitchen to prepare the coffee.

“Am I seeing right? Is it really you?” Ewan asked.

“Yes.”

“But...but...I thought you were in hiding.”

“I am, so don’t tell anyone you saw me.” Ian placed the kettle on the stove. Not too long ago, they’d done this together as friends, each helping the other when they had drunk too much.

“So,
Ewan,
how was your night?” Ian asked.

“Aw,” he groaned as his head pounded. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Well, that is too bad, because I do.” Ian sat at the table by him. “What happened to the commissioner during your little party?”

Confusion crossed Ewan’s brow when he looked back at Ian. “How did you know the commissioner was here?”

“Because the party was mainly for that imbecile.
Jacqueline and my wife planned everything. I won’t go into it right now, but I need to know if you have seen Jeffrey Franklin.” He tried to keep the impatience from seeping into his voice.

“What makes you think I know?” Ewan’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Because he was here in this house when I dropped off Charlotte and Jacqueline.
When I came to pick them up, they were gone.
All three of them.”

Ewan shook his head, holding it in his hands as if it were going to fall apart.

“Think really hard, Ewan. This is a matter of life and death.”

“Whose death?”
He looked up expectedly.

“Charlotte’s and possibly Jacqueline’s.”

Ewan’s eyes widened. “Jacqueline?”

“I believe the commissioner has kidnapped them.”

Ewan’s hands massaged his forehead as he squeezed his eyes closed. “I thought it was a dream.”

“Tell me all you can remember,” Ian urged.

Ewan opened his eyes, staring into thin air for a long moment. “I vaguely recall a man trying to awake the commissioner. I also believe this same man was yelling at that new girl who Jacqueline brought.”

“That was Charlotte in disguise.”

Ewan’s eyebrows lifted. “It almost seemed as if they were upset at her for some reason.” He paused. “I remember them tying her to a chair.”

“Think. Was there anything else?”

“I can’t remember. I don’t think I even remember them leaving,” Ewan said.

Ian slammed his fist on the table and cursed.

Ewan jumped, and then moaned as he held his head again. “Wait…I think I do remember something else.”

Leaning forward, Ian grasped his friend’s arm. “What?”

“I think the commissioner’s brother came. I remember seeing him…”

“His brother?”

“Yes, his younger brother,
Benji
.”

Ian pulled away from the table. “Thank you, Ewan. You don’t know how much you’ve helped me.”

“Ian? Are you going to get Jacqueline back, too?”

“I’ll get them back. They’re holding Charlotte for ransom.” He moved to leave then turned back to Ewan. “By the way, where did you get that bracelet? You know the one you gave Jacqueline?”

His face turned a deep red. “I—I—I stole it from the commissioner. He has so many pieces of fine
jewelry,
I didn’t think he would miss one.”

“Do you know where the commissioner got it?”

He shrugged. “No. I figured since he’s blackmailing me and Jacqueline, he’s probably getting money and jewelry the same way.”

Ian grabbed the collar of Ewan’s robe roughly, jerking him out of the chair. “Ewan, did you tell the commissioner about some of my clients? Did you divulge information about their secret rooms and where they kept their jewels? Did you?”

Once again, Ewan held his head as if it would explode. “Please…I need a drink...a strong one.”

Ian let go of the man, shoving him away. He quickly hurried to his liquor cabinet and poured him a whiskey. Ewan gulped it back, choking as tears filled his eyes.

“Ewan, please.
I need to know.”

Ewan nodded. “He tried to get me to confess. I wouldn’t, but he knew things about me...things I didn’t want others to know.” He sank into his chair, lowering his head, and covering his hand over his eyes. “Forgive me, Ian, but I had no other choice. He threatened to tell everyone.” His voice tightened.

“Ewan, although not directly, I still have connections with the King.
Will you tell him what you just told me?”

“Will it get Franklin arrested?”

Ian nodded. “He’ll get his comeuppance, I assure you.” He patted his friend’s shoulder. “I must leave so I can rescue the woman I love.”

“Ian? Thank you. You’re a good friend.”

Ewan’s squeaky voice stopped him. Ian nodded, and walked to the door then he heard Ewan call out again. “I think the commissioner might have taken the women to his cottage in the country.”

“He has a cottage?”

“Follow the road leading north out of Bath. It’s about three miles northwest.”

“That’s where I’ll go.” He hurried out the door and mounted his horse.

* * * *

“Your plan won’t work,” Charlotte told Henry as he paced the floor in front of her.

So far, Henry had been ignoring her angry outbursts. Since the commissioner had brought them here, she’d been taunting both Henry and
Benji
. She detected that Henry was the meaner of the two, and she’d overheard the commissioner instruct them not to lay a hand on her. So she felt safe enough to continue her insults.

Henry walked past her again and she snickered. “Ian will see past your tiny little brain and fool you once again. He did it before when you first tried to kidnap me. And he’ll do it again. You spineless fool!”

When he spun around and moved toward her, she realized this time she’d gone too far. She trembled and an oddly primitive warning sounded in her brain.

Henry grasped her shoulders roughly and jerked her once. “Then Ian will have a dead wife, won’t he?”

“Henry,” Jeffrey said calmly as he descended the stairs to the cellar where she was tied to a chair. “Please handle my woman a little better than that.”

Charlotte shivered and her stomach churned.

Looking over his shoulder, Henry gave him a quizzical stare.
“
Yer
woman?
When did that happen?”

Jeffrey laughed. “From the very first moment I laid eyes on that lovely creature. She’s like a spirited filly that just needs to be reminded who really holds the reigns.” He moved to Charlotte, and caressed her cheek softly. “Say the word, my beauty, and I’ll not let this beast lay a hand on you.”

“May the devil take you!” she snapped.

He shook his head. “Tsk, tsk, Charlotte. Those are not the right words, but I’ll give you another chance.”

She decided to hold her tongue. She didn’t want to ruin her chances of having the commissioner’s help when she needed it, but she also didn’t want to give him the wrong impression, either. She tilted her head beguilingly, the way women often did to charm men. She flirtatiously batted her eyelashes, lowered, and then raised them demurely, looking through them at him. She smiled sweetly, turning her shoulders. She felt like a complete idiot, but what other choice did she have? None!