Eight for Losing, One for Loving (Wicked Sons #9)

Chapter 8

PS.

Cara, I cannot ask this of Mama for she will just sigh and go all dewy eyed and say how wonderful it is, so please tell me truthfully, what is it like to be married?

―Excerpt of a letter from the Hon’ble Miss Violetta Spencer (cousin and adopted sister to Lady Aisling, Lady Cara and Conor Baxter – Viscount Harleston) to The Right Hon’ble Cara De Vere, Viscountess Latimer.

24 th June 1850, The Queen’s Head, Wrestlingworth, the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire border.

Leo took the stairs two at a time, apologising as he rounded the corner and almost knocked down an indignant-looking rotund man. Fate was having a laugh at his expense, he thought with a sigh. Giving on one hand and taking on the other, for the interruption had been dreadfully frustrating. Still, he felt more optimistic about his relationship with Vi than he ever had before. The realisation that she wanted him, and did not despise him half so much as he feared, was immensely cheering. If the vicar had good news about Mau, so much the better.

Upon seeing Jenny, he asked her if it might be possible to have Vi’s gown ready for her tonight in case they had to go out again. Jenny looked dismayed until Leo held out more coin that she’d usually earn in a month, upon which she bobbed a curtsey and told him it was no bother at all. She directed him to a private parlour where he was told the reverend was awaiting him.

“Ah, Mr Huntington,” the reverend said as Leo entered the room. “I do apologise for disturbing you, but in the circumstances, I thought it best to contact you at once.”

“If you have news about Mau, I can only thank you, sir,” Leo said, sitting down at the table across from the reverend.

“It’s my pleasure, for I do think I may be of help,” the reverend said with a grin, pouring himself a glass of port from the decanter on the table before pushing it towards Leo. “My sister always keeps the good stuff for me, the kindly soul. Do have a drop yourself. Warm the cockles of your heart, eh?” he added with a good-natured chuckle.

Leo accepted, wishing the reverend would get to the point, but he was such a nice old gentleman he didn’t like to rush him.

“Now, then, after you left, I got to thinking about the kind of person who might do such a hare-brained thing as kidnap a cat,” the reverend said, leaning across the table and lowering his voice as if he feared they’d be overheard by spies or ne’er-do-wells. “And it suddenly occurred to me that the Hatt brothers fitted the bill rather splendidly. So, I took myself on a little reconnaissance mission,” he whispered, looking inordinately pleased with himself.

Leo stared at him. “Sir, that is terribly decent of you, but surely that was a little reckless. We don’t know what these men are capable of.”

The reverend grunted. “The Hatt brothers are capable of nothing but a bit of minor mischief, so I believed myself in no danger. They are a foolish pair, idle rather than wicked, but I’m afraid you are in the right all the same, for if I have not missed my guess, they were not the origin of this plot, only the means of carrying it out.”

“You’re certain they’re the kidnappers?” Leo asked, his hopes for getting Mau back rising.

“Not certain, but they are the most likely pair to be involved in such a scheme, and when I went to their property—a ramshackle place down past Mud Pightle—my suspicion grew.”

“How so?” Leo asked, taking a drink from the glass of port he’d been nursing, for the reverend had finished his and was pouring another.

“Well, it was all lit up, candles burning, which is most peculiar for the two never spend money on such luxuries, and there was an old curricle outside. A battered thing it is, nothing so fine and fancy as your tilbury, Mr Huntington, but still far above the Hatt brothers’ touch. It seemed to me they had guests, so I dared to go a little closer and…”

The reverend paused for dramatic effect, clearly enjoying himself enormously.

“And?” Leo said, as it appeared what the reverend wished for him to say.

“And I heard raised voices, shouting,” Harbottle said, sounding triumphant. “Whoever the villain that came up with the idea is, he’s there at the house, and he’s not a happy man.”

“Well, neither am I,” Leo said, getting to his feet. “Would you be able to give me directions to this Mud Pightle? I feel in need of an urgent conversation with the blackguard.”

“I’ll take you there myself, Mr Huntington,” the reverend said, grinning and looking pleased as he gave Leo a critical look up and down. “I reckon a fellow like yourself ought to know how to ‘handle one’s fists,’ eh?” he asked, such a hopeful glint in his eyes that Leo laughed at both his enthusiasm and the fact he knew such a cant expression

“As it happens, I do.”

“Excellent,” the reverend said, chortling merrily to himself and rubbing his hands together.

Leo opened his mouth to enquire if it was entirely godly to be hoping to see a proper turn up but closed it again. He liked the reverend and, if he was anticipating a good mill, Leo was only too keen to accommodate his wishes. The bastards who had taken Mau, or had come up with the dastardly scheme, or all three of them, were going to get a proper hiding if he had anything to do with it. The idea that someone had been watching him, perhaps watching him and Vi, as they’d been together when it happened, made him feel ill. How long had it been going on, with the devils plotting and waiting their chance to steal Mau away? Fury ran through his blood at the desire to take his revenge. Still, three against one was not such good odds.

“These Hatt brothers,” he began, only for the reverend to shake his head.

“Not in your class, sir, I suspect. The taller one, Edgar, fancies himself as something of a pugilist, but I reckon you’ll deal with him tidily enough. His younger brother, Burt, is a coward, simply put, and won’t stand. The new fellow, however, I can’t tell you.” The reverend frowned. “I caught a glimpse of him through the window, and he looked as tall as Edgar, but more than that, I’m afraid I don’t know.”

Leo nodded. Well, provided none of them did anything idiotic like produce a pistol, he should be fine. However, he was not about to take Violetta into such a situation. He sighed with regret, not liking to leave her out of the adventure, for he suspected she would handle herself well in a tight spot, but the terror he felt at the idea of her getting hurt far outweighed any satisfaction he would gain from proving to her how brave and capable she really was. She would not like it though, he thought with regret, and just as he was getting into her good books, too.

“Would you wait for me, I shan’t be above a moment, but I must tell Mis—my wife that I’m going out,” he said, hurriedly covering up his slip. Lord, but he needed to be more careful.

“Of course, of course,” the reverend said, settling back with the port. “I’m in no hurry and I rather doubt the Hatt brothers are going anywhere tonight.”

Leo nodded and hurried back up the stairs, giving a sharp knock before entering. “It’s me, love,” he said, his breath catching as the sight before him burned itself into his eyeballs.

Vi was sitting at the dressing table, once again wearing the indecent nightgown. She was unpinning her hair, which fell down her back in a shimmering curtain of gold. Her hands were raised, searching for the last pins, and the upraised position pressed her breasts firmly against the thin cotton. The little nubs of her nipples were clearly defined, as was the gentle curve of her belly, and she turned and smiled at him, her expression eager.

“Is there news?” she asked him hopefully, and Leo opened his mouth to reply, but produced nothing but a strangled croak. He felt winded, his reasons for returning suddenly vanishing against the sudden, urgent desire to tumble her onto the bed and do the wickedest things he could think of. “Leo? What’s wrong? You’ve gone all red.”

Leo leaned back against the door and closed his eyes, giving a low groan.

“Leo! Whatever is the matter? Are you ill? Is something wrong? Is it Mau? Oh, for heaven’s sake, why don’t you—”

“Nothing is wrong,” Leo said gruffly, opening his eyes to discover Vi in front of him—far too close—clutching at his lapels. “Lord above, Vi. Give a fellow a bit of warning, eh?”

“Warning? Whatever do you mean?”

“I mean, that if you’re going to look like… that—” He gestured wildly to the indecent nightgown without actually looking at it. “—and take your hair down and smile at me in that… that provoking manner, then you’ve to expect me to… to…”

“To do what?” she asked, looking far too interested in the answer.

“To lose what’s left of my sanity,” Leo retorted, aggrieved. “Just cover yourself up, will you, or I’m never going to find the willpower to leave the room, and Mau is depending on me.”

“Oh, Leo, is there news? Whyever didn’t you say so?” she demanded crossly.

“Because you distracted me!” he shot back, irritated. “You’d try the patience and the best intentions of a saint, and I’m no saint, Vi.”

Leo shook his head as he saw her arrange her face into something grave and repentant when he could see very well that she was pleased as punch by his words, the wicked girl.

“I beg your pardon, Leo,” she said, obediently going to the bed and tugging the counterpane around herself. “Better?” she asked, but with such a glint in her eyes, Leo almost growled at her.

“No. But I suppose it will have to do. Now, Harbottle thinks he knows who has Mau. Two brothers, by the name of Hatt, apparently, though it seems a third party put them up to it. We’re going there now to get Mau back, so just sit tight and—”

“What do you mean, sit tight?” Vi objected, glaring at him. “I’m coming with you.”

“In that?” Leo asked, gesturing to the quilt she was wrapped in and relieved he could use her lack of clothing as an excuse. “I think not, love.”

He prayed Jenny did not come up with the gown any time soon or he would be in the basket. If only he hadn’t asked her to do it tonight. He hadn’t been thinking past the fact that he wanted Vi with him at that point, never considering that it might not be safe for her.

“Then ask Jenny for it back,” she said crossly. “I’ll wear it as it is.”

“No, love,” Leo said, with genuine regret, for he hated leaving her behind. “I don’t want you there. I’m sure it will be fine, but—”

“Oh my word, you think there will be a fight!” she exclaimed, getting to her feet and once more clutching at his lapels. If ever he got home again, his valet was going to have an apoplexy, and he could hardly blame the fellow. As she moved, the counterpane fell to the floor and Leo sighed. Fate was definitely laughing at him. “Leo, you don’t know these men! They are obviously criminals, they may be armed and—”

“Calm down, love. These are small-time crooks. Opportunists not hardened criminals. Harbottle says one is certainly a coward, and the other brother will go down easy. It’s only the organ grinder who might put up a fight, not the monkeys, so don’t fret.”

“Don’t fret?” she repeated, her expression one of such fury he would have taken a step back if the door hadn’t been behind him. “Leo Hunt, if you leave me here to worry whilst you get yourself involved in God knows what, I shall—”

Leo kissed her firmly to silence the words, his hand gripping the doorknob behind him. “I’m sorry, love, forgive me,” he said, and let himself out, closing the door on her indignant face as her words became muffled.

“Leo! You are the most—”

“I know, Vi, I know,” he muttered to himself as he hurried back down the stairs.

“Oh!” Vi said in fury, vibrating with anger as she stared at the door that had just been shut in her face. She was trapped, quite unable to leave the room without her clothes and Leo was off getting himself into heaven alone knew what trouble without her.

“Idiot man,” she raged, stomping up and down the bedroom. “Don’t fret, love,” she repeated, imitating his deep timbre as she stalked back and forth. “I’m a big, strong man and nothing can ever happen to me. Idiot!” she repeated, adding, “Man!” after that, for the two words seemed inextricably linked at this precise moment.

The soft knock at the door barely registered until a voice called through it.

“Ma’am?”

Vi paused in her rant and turned to the door, her heart leaping with hope. “Jenny?”

“Yes, Ma’am. I’ve your gown here. It’s not as good as it might be, but—”

Jenny leapt about a foot in the air as Vi snatched the door open, grasped the girl’s arm and hauled her inside.

“Quick!” she instructed, stripping the nightgown off and snatching the shift from the pile of clothing Jenny held. “Don’t just stand there, help me get dressed before that stupid man goes and gets himself killed!”

“Killed, ma’am?” Jenny said in horror. “What man?”

“Mr Hunt —ington,” Vi said, shaking her head. “Oh, just wait until I get my hands on him. I’ll wring his stupid neck, just see if I don’t.”

Jenny stared at her for a moment before letting out a long-suffering sigh.

“Men,” she said in disgust. “They’re all fools. Ma is always complaining about it for my father is a hothead. I walked out with a fellow for a short while until I discovered he was just the same. Well, I sent him packing. They go off half-cocked without thinking things through. Reckon they’ve got to go off and flatten someone to prove they’re strong and capable when all that’s needed is a bit of common sense.”

“Exactly!” Vi said with feeling, recognising a kindred spirit as she wriggled into her corset. “And will they listen?”

“Nah. Leastways, my fellow never did,” Jenny replied ruefully as she tugged at the strings. “But I wasn’t going to spend my life like that. I knew it would be me that had to make things right again, patch up heads and torn clothes and make peace between him and whatever stupid beggar got him all riled up in the first place. No, thank you.”

“Men!” Vi said, throwing up her hands in sympathy with this summary, though she’d never had an experience of that sort. Still, Jenny seemed to appreciate the solidarity.

“Can’t live with them,” Jenny said with a snort.

Can’t live without them , Vi silently added. Oh, lord. If anything happened to Leo, she’d be wretched for the rest of her days, and he hadn’t even made love to her!

Once she was decently attired, Vi ran for the door and then ground to a halt, realising she didn’t have the faintest idea of where to go.

“Lud! How ever will I find him?” she exclaimed, before turning back to Jenny. “Do you know the Hatt brothers?”

“What on earth do you want with them two scoundrels?” Jenny asked, eyes wide.

“Nothing at all, but it’s them that Leo… that is to say, Mr Hunt… Huntington has gone to see. They kidnapped his cat, you see and—”

“His cat?” Jenny looked sceptical, regarding Vi with less than her previous sympathy.

Vi sighed, realising she would have to tell the whole blasted tale again. “A very rare cat, valuable, the dreadful men have stolen it, hoping to hold it for ransom.” She ran through the ludicrous story at record speed, with Jenny’s eyes growing wider with every word.

“Mercy me,” Jenny breathed. “I never would have thought Edgar and Burt had it in them.”

“It seems they did not, there is some kind of criminal mastermind behind the plot,” Vi said, hoping if she made it sound more exciting, Jenny would be more willing to help her.

“But what can you do, ma’am?” Jenny asked. “I don’t say as how you’ve got a deal more sense than the menfolk, but if it comes to breaking heads, well, it might be dangerous.”

“Nevertheless, Jenny, I am going. Please give me their direction.”

Jenny sighed, recognising an immoveable object when she saw one. “Well, if you’re determined, I reckon I’d best get Mick to come along too.”

“Mick?” Vi repeated in confusion.

“They call him the mountain,” Jenny said with a smile. “He’s my brother. Not terribly bright, but he’ll look after us.”

“Us?”

Jenny grinned at her. “Don’t think I’m going to let you have all the fun, do you? I’d pay good money to see Edgar Hatt get his comeuppance. Nasty bit of work, he is. Pinches my behind whenever he gets the chance. Besides, it ain’t proper for a lady like you to be gallivanting about by herself at night. Your husband wouldn’t like it, I reckon.”

“True,” Vi said with relief and smiled warmly at Jenny. “Thank you, Jenny. I will make sure to suitably recompense you for everything you've done for me.”

“I ain’t doing it for that, but much appreciated all the same,” Jenny said. “Come on then, grab your bonnet. We’d best hurry if we’re to catch them up before it’s all over.”