Chapter 20

20

Eight days until the wedding…

As agreed, Richard arrived at Elysium the following day to pick up Jane and to search for Reuben. He climbed out of his carriage and his boots landed in the dry, packed dirt.

Two of Thorne’s men stood by the club’s main entrance, watching him.

Knowing he needed a reason to see Jane, Richard turned to the marketplace, which teemed with life—vendors haggling, customers bartering, and children playing. A group of beggars huddled by the market stands, their eyes wary yet hopeful. Richard dropped a few coins into each of their tin cups, and their faces softened with surprise and gratitude. The scent of roasting chestnuts and the faint chords of a distant pipe and tabor filled the air.

Richard wandered through the first row of the marketplace, purchasing a bouquet of wildflowers for Jane and two dozen tantalizingly fragrant pies for the children. The plump vendor, who had sold him all her stock, packed the pies for him with gleaming eyes.

The sights of the marketplace stirred up a warmth of empathy in Richard. He understood why Jane was so keen on helping these people. And she was right—he had both the financial means and social standing to make real changes. Even Thorne Blackmore, a criminal, had done more for them than Richard. As his gaze swept over the dilapidated houses, the people in patched and grimy clothes bustling about, and the beggars clothed in barely more than rags, his mind churned. Land in this area must be inexpensive, and there seemed to be an abundance of willing workers.

Could he do something here that would benefit the community while also being a place of business?

Thinking, Richard returned to Elysium. The two guards stood their ground, regarding him with suspicious, narrowed eyes. They hadn’t been here the previous two times he’d visited. Perhaps he had been lucky, and they’d been on a break, because every time he’d come to Elysium as a patron, there’d been guards checking memberships and ensuring order. It seemed that his luck had run out. Maybe Thorne had seen to that.

“Lord Richard,” one of the men said. “Please, state your business.”

“I would like to visit Miss Grant and the children in the school. Here are some pies for the young ones and flowers for Miss Grant.”

The eyes of both guards softened. One of them nodded. “I don’t think Mr. Blackmore would object. But I will inquire what to do. Janie isn’t finished with her school anyway. Wait here.”

The man disappeared, and when he came out several minutes later, he nodded to Richard. “Mr. Blackmore doesn’t see any harm in it. However, Miss Grant isn’t to leave with you.”

A complication. Richard wondered if Thorne was growing wary of him because he’d caught him with Jane so early in the morning.

Jane had said Reuben was supposed to be home at this time of day and was hoping to talk to him in private. How would they sneak out with these two watching?

“Very well,” said Richard.

“I will open the gate for you,” the man said and walked towards the gate to the backyard, Richard on his heels.

As the guard flung open the door, a thrill of anticipation surged through Richard, causing his pulse to quicken. He stepped through, the mingled scents of horses, freshly baked bread, and the hot, forged iron strangely welcoming. He couldn’t help but hurry, even though he knew Jane’s class wouldn’t finish for another hour. His impatience surprised him; he was as eager as a boy.

The yard was alive with activity: a woman attended to the chicken coop, her movements causing the hens to erupt in raucous clucks. From the stables, a horse whickered softly as a stable boy brushed it. A melodic clanking sounded from the blacksmith’s workshop.

Approaching the small stone schoolhouse, nestled in a corner of the courtyard, he pushed the door open ever so slightly. But his stealth was quickly betrayed by Hercules’s eager barks. The door swung open, revealing Jane’s radiant smile as seven wide-eyed children stared at him.

Hercules jumped and whined, pawing at his hand, but Richard couldn’t look away from Jane. Her attire was different today, a departure from her usual gray and brown. She wore a pale blue dress, simple yet elegant, cut to flatter her figure. Embroidered patterns adorned the edge of her skirt, her spencer a rich, dark blue enlivened by golden threads.

Jane’s hair, too, appeared more groomed, the curls around her face framing it beautifully. Her posture spoke volumes, shoulders squared, back straight, a tranquil expression on her face, and a newfound brightness in her eyes. Warmth spread through him at seeing her so comfortable, so self-assured.

“My apologies,” he stammered, his eyes still riveted on her. “I didn’t mean to disrupt your class. I was hoping to…observe.”

“You’re early,” she remarked, a sweet smile gracing her lips. A smile he ached to kiss.

“I couldn’t wait to see you,” he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. His previous painful associations with Lady Brewster’s garden had now been replaced with sweet memories of Jane. It was now the place where a beautiful woman he couldn’t stop thinking about had given him a new hope and started to fill the cracks in his heart.

Jane flushed, a delicate shade of pink coloring her cheeks, her breath hitching.

The implication hung heavy in the air, punctuated only by her soft reply. “Oh, well, you will still have to wait.”

“Of course,” he replied, extending the bouquet toward her. She took it, her lips parting in surprise as she drew in the fragrance. “And these,” he continued, presenting a newspaper-wrapped package of pies, “are for the young ones.”

She accepted the pies with a grateful smile. “Thank you, for both.”

As the scent of the freshly baked dough wafted through the room, the children erupted in excited chatter. One of the girls sprang up to help Jane with the pies, while Hercules stared at the bag with keen interest.

“I’ll wait until you finish,” Richard announced, turning to leave. “Come, Hercules, time for a walk.”

Jane nodded, gifting him with a special smile that sent his heart fluttering against his rib cage. “Thank you again, Richard.”

The way she uttered his Christian name—it felt like a secret promise between them. Picking up Hercules’s leash, he said, “It’s my pleasure, Jane.”

He and Hercules then took a brief stroll, waiting for the perfect moment to reenter the yard. Upon his return, he was greeted by the sight of the schoolchildren emerging from the small classroom, their faces joyful and relaxed, quite different from the expressions he’d seen the first time he’d come here. No doubt, it was thanks to Jane’s influence. She was right. Her school was important.

He watched them depart through the gate, then turned to Jane.

“Your brother doesn’t want you to leave with me today,” Richard stated, watching as Jane’s face grew serious. “He was fine with me paying a visit, but we can’t leave here together.”

“Right,” said Jane. “I heard that Reuben is to leave on an errand for Thorne this evening. We must hurry to see him. It’s only eight days till the wedding, and I don’t know when he’ll return.”

Richard expected a chill to run through him at the news that the wedding may be inevitable, that they would need to go through with it. But instead, the thought of marrying her brought warmth radiating from his middle.

“We must meet somewhere else,” he said. “I’ll leave alone, making sure the lads see me and see my carriage depart. I’ll stop a street or so away. You wait for a while and then tell them you’re going to a shop or on an errand. Is that possible?”

She nodded. “Yes. That could work. I’ll say I need to buy something at the market for the children. One of them might want to come along. But I’m sure I can lose him in the market with so many people bustling about. Park your carriage on Bristle Street, and I’ll find you.”

“Jane,” he said with a chuckle, “you could give Calliope a run for her money.” Richard enjoyed the spark of enthusiasm in her eyes, though he was aware of the dangers of their plan. “But please don’t.”

“I won’t.” Jane let out a quiet huff of laughter.

“I’ll see you soon,” he said, already exhilarated at the idea that he’d spend more time with her today.

She gave him one of her gorgeous smiles in response. He nodded to her and left. As he passed through the gate, he threw a glance at the two guards who, as he had hoped, noted his departure. He crossed the street and told his driver where to go, then climbed into the carriage.

They pulled away, and with satisfaction, he watched the guards follow the carriage with their eyes. Good.

In a few minutes, the driver turned left and soon stopped the carriage. It was a quiet street with more of the broken, crooked houses with holes in their roofs and boarded-up windows. He kept looking out of the window, hoping to see Jane’s slim figure at any moment, but time stretched like honey, sticky and long.

One whole hour must have passed when he finally saw her hurrying towards him, holding a basket in one hand, Hercules at her heels. She told the coachman the address and climbed in, putting the basket on the seat next to her. The loyal dog leapt in after her.

And they were deliciously alone.