Chapter 33

As soon as Dominic returned home, Catherine flew towards him to inquire what had happened. She helped disrobe him, shaking her head at his disguise.

"Did you have to make yourself smell like a beggar, too?" she wondered. "Looking like one wasn't enough?"

"No, no," Dominic shook his head. "We had to blend in. But even like this, we didn't catch him."

She stopped unbuttoning his shirt the moment she heard that. "You didn't?"

"No," he shook his head again, gently pressing his hand into hers so it was resting on his chest, exactly in the place where his heart was beating. There was something endearing, tender about that moment that she didn't want to interrupt.

"So, there is no news?" she asked, trembling at the thought of Annabel and Rosie's fate being undetermined for one more day. Her heart ached for the little girl, who was probably frightened more than ever before. Fortunately, she was with her mother. That was the silver lining in this entire ordeal.

"Your brother did receive the second letter with the instructions," he clarified gravely. "New instructions."

She frowned. "What do you mean, new instructions?"

"I think he knew we were trying to catch him," he spoke slowly, heavily, as if every word he spoke caused him great physical discomfort. "So, he didn't come to the little boy. The letter reached Reginald's home, so we think he probably gave it to another urchin off the streets."

"I see," Catherine nodded. "What are the new instructions?"

Dominic hesitated for a moment, obviously considering whether to share it with her or not. He finally decided for it. "He is asking for one thousand more."

Her eyes widened in shock. "Six thousand pounds?"

"Yes," he nodded, then hastily added. "I don't mind, Cate. I really don't. I will have the money for tonight, as he demanded."

"Tonight?" she gasped again. "And you still won't contact the constable?"

"No," he shook his head. "Timothy advised us against it."

"Are you sure about that?" she asked apprehensively. "I feel like all this is just too much. The constables could come and sort everything out. We might not even have to pay him, and we'll assure that Annabel and Rosie are all right."

"You can't know that," he shook his head solemnly. "You don't know these people, Catherine. They are… desperate, and sometimes desperation drives people mad. It makes them oblivious to anything and everyone else. If he sees a constable, if he suspects even the slightest of things, that could mean that Reginald will never see Annabel and his child again."

Catherine gasped. "Do you really think so?"

"I don't mean this as a bad thing, Cate," he said, much more softly this time. "But you and your brother have lived a sheltered life because you had each other. I was also fortunate enough to have my aunt. But Timothy… he lost his brother to such people."

"He did?" Catherine asked, aghast at what she had just heard.

"Yes," Dominic nodded. "It... broke him. It broke them all, him and his parents."

"What happened?" Catherine asked, but she wasn't certain if she wanted to know.

Dominic paused for a moment, as if he could read her mind, and was waiting for her to decide on her own whether she truly wished to hear the story.

"Tim's family had always been wealthy," Dominic started. "Beyond wealthy and with direct lineage to the royal family."

"Really?" Catherine's eyes widened in surprise. "I would have never guessed."

"He never speaks of it," Dominic clarified.

"He is actually a very private person, and he became even more so after what happened to his brother. You see, two men, desperate men, such as George Thompson kidnapped Tim's younger brother, Samuel. He was thirteen when it happened. He was taken from his carriage one sunny afternoon in the middle of the street. No one lifted a finger to help a screaming boy. No one knew where he had been taken. All that was known was that he was kidnapped."

"My goodness… poor Tim," Catherine gushed sadly.

"Two days later, a letter arrived, demanding an insane amount, which, of course, Timothy's father was ready to pay at once," Dominic continued. "The called the constables, and they assured them everything would be all right, that they did the right thing by involving the law into the whole affair. As it turned out… it was the worst thing they could have done."

"Why?" Catherine asked, although she was even more afraid to ask now than she was before.

"Because the two men found out about the constables," Dominic"s story went on. "They left a note at the delivery place. They didn't want to get caught. The note stated that they didn't want the money any longer, and where to find Samuel."

"So, they rushed to find him, no?" Catherine asked, breathless.

"You would think that," Dominic replied. "But no. You see, the note was found several days later. By the time they found Samuel, nine days had already passed since the day he had been kidnapped."

"Oh, no… no…" Catherine shook her head, her hand pressed to her lips.

"They were in time to bring him home, exhausted and feverish," Dominic explained. "But Samuel had been born with breathing difficulties. So, being kept in a hole for nine days, with no food or water given to him for the last several days, left him on the brink of death. And the night that he was brought home, he passed away peacefully, in his own bed. Tim said that he simply fell asleep and didn't wake up."

"Oh, goodness…" Catherine burst into tears, and Dominic immediately wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you the story."

"No, no," she shook her head. "I wanted you to tell me. You can't shelter me from the hardships of the world and from evil people."

"But I want to," he said, cupping her chin. "I am your husband and I love you. I will give my life to keep you safe."

"Oh, Dominic," she gushed, as tears rolled down her face.

"You see, that is why Tim is so against the law being involved, as they don't really care about the people involved," Dominic continued.

"He is afraid that the same thing might happen again. He hasn't said it in those exact words, but I know him well. There is a child involved here, and he is worried about her more than he is letting on. He fears that if George finds out, he might choose the coward's way out and just disappear again, without telling us where Annabel and Rosie are. If that happens… I'm afraid we will never be able to find them."

"No, no," Catherine shook her head. "We can't allow that to happen."

"That is why we must catch him," Dominic clarified. "He is the only person who knows where the girls are. If he believes he has the money in his hands, he will be more open to cooperate. I told you, Cate. I don't care about the money. I just want them back home safe."

Catherine's heart swelled with gratitude as she looked at him, his noble countenance softened by the sunlight entering the hallway through the big windows to their side. With trembling hands, she reached out to grasp his, her touch a silent testament to the bond that had formed between them amidst the trials and tribulations of their shared journey.

"I cannot begin to express how much you help means to Reginald and me," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur.

Dominic's gaze softened with understanding, his eyes reflecting the depth of emotion that echoed within her own. With a gentle squeeze of her hand, he offered a reassuring smile, his unwavering presence a source of comfort and strength in her hour of need.

"You don't need to thank me, Cate," he replied, his voice a soothing balm to her troubled soul. "It is my honor and privilege to stand by your side, although I have at first usurped that position. Now, I hope that I stand there with your permission, ready to offer whatever assistance I can to you and Reginald."

Tears continued to flow down her cheeks as she listened to his words, her heart overflowing with gratitude for the man who had started off as almost an enemy, but who had, in the meantime, become her steadfast companion and confidant. In that fleeting moment of shared vulnerability, she felt closer to him than ever before and she knew that feeling was only growing.

With a trembling breath, she leaned forward, her forehead coming to rest against his. She closed her eyes, listening to the steady sound of his breathing, taking comfort in the knowledge that he would be by her side no matter what. She never knew that they would reach this point in their marriage, and yet, here they were. Together, hand in hand, ready to help her brother.

He pulled away with a smile, wiping away her tears with his fingers. "It has been quite a day, hasn't it, my dear?"

"Yes," she smiled back. "But it is not over yet."

"Not nearly over," he agreed, looking at his clothes. "I really need to get out of these clothes and take a long bath before this evening."

She thought about it for a moment, then she seemed to have an idea. "But… wouldn't it be better to appear at the agreed place still wearing a disguise?"

He looked at her, his eyes wide. "Why… that is a marvelous idea! That means I do not need to take a bath at all."

She chuckled at his conclusion. "I didn't mean that. Do take a bath, but just put on the same clothes."

"Not the same ones," he shook his head. "Maybe he recognized us. Or maybe he noticed that we were surveying the boy. I don't know. Whatever it is, I do not think that it is a good idea to use the same disguise. I'll go see if Mrs. Jenkins has any more old clothes I could borrow for me and Tim. He is coming over here, then we are headed to the rendezvous place."

"Reginald is going alone?" Catherine asked apprehensively.

"He has to," Dominic explained. "The note stated for him to come alone. In the meantime, we shall check around the place to see if there is anyone else working with Thompson. Then, once we assure that we're all safe, we will appear before him and demand to know where the girls are."

Catherine sighed heavily. It all sounded so complicated, so frightening.

"I hope everything goes according to plan," she said softly.

"Pray that is does, my love," he smiled, caressing her cheek. "As for us, we will do everything in our power to bring Annabel and Rosie back home safely. You have my word."

She smiled. She knew that he could not promise such a thing, when almost nothing was under his control, and yet, she still felt reassured. She trusted her husband. Even more than that, she loved him and she knew that somehow, he would pull through.

"Just be safe," she whispered tenderly. "I need you to come back to me. We still haven't finished what we started at the library." She had no idea where that came from, especially at a moment such as this one. But she couldn't resist it. And her comment alleviated the tension of the situation. It made them both chuckle at the same time. It reminded them how much they cared about each other.

"Well, when you put it that way, how can a man resist?" he replied playfully, giving her a peck on the cheek, then heading upstairs.

She watched him disappear in the darkened corridor, then she was alone. She inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself down. This situation was more dangerous than anything she could ever have imagined. But she had faith in her husband. He would bring the girls back. She was certain of it.