Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25

F inn entered his chamber after the party was over and the guests gone home. He was surprised to find Esme still in the antechamber, standing at the window, her hands clenched before her.

“The party has ended?” she asked.

He heard the anxiety in her tone and moved toward her in the hopes his presence would help calm it. “It has. Sebastian and Marianne wished to stay, but I forced them to go. They deserve a few days of wedded bliss, even if we do decide to involve them in whatever happens with Chilton.”

Esme shifted. “Good.”

“If it’s good then why do you look so nervous?” he asked. “Is it just thoughts of what we discussed with the duke and duchess?”

“Yes, but also no. I’m concerned because I haven’t heard from Jane today. I wrote to her last night and expected a response. Even if she was angry with me for putting myself in danger, she would have offered to bring me clothing.”

“I understand why you’d be worried. But don’t forget, I asked Ripley to look after her. It’s possible he’s taken her someplace safe.”

“I wrote to him, as well. And even if he tried, he couldn’t stop Jane from responding. Or even showing up here to scold me in person for taking off and locking myself in with you. She’d want to make certain I was unharmed.”

Finn’s frown deepened. “I trust you know her best. And if course your best friend would be a woman with her own mind.”

“I’m certain Ripley has decided to guard her. But Jane is capable of slipping a guard if she thinks it’s foolish to have one. She’s feared for me about all this, but she would likely believe she could take care of herself. She always has, her entire life.” She frowned and her worries were apparent. “I hope there’s some other explanation than that she got into trouble.”

There was a knock at the door at that time and they both turned toward it. “Come,” Finn called out, distracted by the number of ways this situation could be wrong. Could be dangerous.

The door opened and Bentley entered. “I’m sorry to disturb, but there’s a missive here for a Lady Charlotte. I told the man that no one was here by that name, but he insisted?—”

Esme rushed forward. “Charlotte?” she gasped, and grabbed the note.

Bentley looked confused but he exited when Finn nodded. He moved to Esme as she tore the seal and unfolded the pages.

Just because I can’t get to you doesn’t mean I can’t get to those you care about. Meet me at my home at ten tonight. Come alone or she’ll lose more than her hair. F.

Esme gasped as she read the words out loud and then held up a crudely cut chunk of blonde hair. “Jane’s,” she gasped. “He’s taken Jane.”

E sme’s stomach rolled and she gagged as Finn took the note and the long piece of hair and looked at them, himself. “Breathe,” he said gently. “Breathe, my love.”

He turned and went to the door to ring for Bentley. The butler returned and Finn said, “Send for the Duke and Duchess of Willowby right away. Tell them it’s an emergency and to come as soon as they can. When they arrive, have them brought straight to us here.”

“Yes, my lord,” Bentley said with a quick, concerned glance at Esme, who was bent against the back of a chair, shaking like a leaf.

When the servant left, Finn went to her. “We don’t know for certain?—”

“It’s her hair,” she whispered. “I’ve fixed it a dozen times for her while we giggled about what gentleman she was meeting that night. I know her hair. And it would explain exactly what we were just talking about. No matter what we did, he found her thanks to me. He realized who I was because I was foolish enough to turn to you. And now he is going to punish me through her. It’s my fault.”

“It’s not your fault,” Finn said, and caught her arms. “Look at me.” She lifted her chin. “None of any of this is your fault. It’s his. His fault for being a cruel bastard. My fault for not taking it seriously enough from the beginning. Your father’s fault for not making sure you’d be protected from a man he didn’t trust. You were failed, but you never failed.”

Her mouth fell open at that passionate defense of her, said with certainty in his tone and fire in his eyes. She blinked and rested her head forward on his chest. “I won’t survive it if she dies because of her relationship to me.”

“We won’t let her,” Finn said. “Right now she’s leverage. I’m guessing he hasn’t harmed her if he thinks he can gain something from her.”

“He hasn’t harmed her because if he can make me suffer, he will,” she whispered. “He’ll harm her in front of me just to hear me scream for her. For you. For my father.”

Finn shivered and then pulled her in for a hug. “Well, I won’t let that happen either,” he said.

“What if Diana and Willowby won’t make a move because going for him now could harm their larger case?”

He shrugged. “Then we’ll call on Ripley and Sebastian and we’ll go on our own. I don’t give a damn about what the government wants. I give a damn about you .”

She wondered at that for a moment, the absolute devotion of this remarkable man. Then she drew in a deep breath and refocused on Jane. “Let’s see what they say and then we’ll decide our next step.” She took his hand. “Together.”

“Together,” he agreed.

L ess than an hour later, Willowby was pacing the room, reading and re-reading the missive from Chilton as Diana quietly questioned Esme about her friend. Finn stood to the side, feeling utterly helpless.

He watched Esme for a moment. She was calm now, almost too calm. The only signals of her upset were the occasional flutter of her hands, the slight shifts in her position. Otherwise, she looked solid and serene. She had gifted him her collapse, something that broke his heart, but also gave him hope for the future they could have after they saved her friend.

They had to save her friend.

He crossed to Willowby. “We need to go after her,” he said, and folded his arms across his chest. “I don’t give a damn about your case.”

Willowby’s brow wrinkled. “I’ve no intention of leaving the young woman to the wolves, I assure you.” He looked back at Esme. “We’re going to rescue her, of course.”

Esme buckled a little and then stood. “Thank you, Your Grace. I’ve some thoughts on that score.”

“You do?” Finn asked.

She nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it since the arrival of the letter. I should go to the meeting at ten.”

Finn took a long step toward her. “No. Absolutely not.”

“I wasn’t asking,” she said gently even as she closed the remaining distance and took his hand. “I’m the reason Jane has been taken. I’m the only reason she’ll be released. We’ve no time for more complicated plans. This is the only way.”

Behind him, Willowby cleared his throat. “I fear the lady may be correct, Delacourt. I could put together a force, make plans to draw Chilton out, send in a rescue team for Jane…but not on less than two hours’ notice.” He looked at Esme. “You’d be in danger.”

“I know how to protect myself,” she said, and lifted her chin, the steel of her bravery on full display once again. How Finn loved her for it. “That was why I started fighting, you know. To protect myself. It isn’t for show, or at least not alone. I’m not afraid.”

“You are a remarkable woman,” Diana said, moving to stand beside her husband. “What do you think, Lucas? A four-square defense might be best, cover each direction. Who could we get on short notice?”

“I’m not sure,” he mused.

“Ripley would help if you need someone. I’m sure Jane made it so he doesn’t know that she slipped his protection,” Esme said. “He…he cares about Jane. Deeply.” She smiled at Finn. “You never had anything to worry about when it came to him, ever. And Finn could be the other.”

“No,” he said. “Because I’m going to be with you.”

All three of them pivoted toward him, but it was Esme who spoke. “No! Firstly, my cousin already demanded that I come alone or he’ll harm Jane. And secondly, I don’t want you in danger.”

He shook his head. “If Chilton knows that you’re here, he knows that I’m protecting you. He wants my help and if I offer it as part of a bargain, he’ll at least listen.”

Esme pursed her lips, but he could see she knew he was right. He faced the other two. “You can’t stop me. I won’t leave her to enter that man’s domain alone.”

“Of course you won’t,” Diana said with a gentle smile. “Lucas, this could save the case for the smuggling. If we can determine where in the house Chilton will hold his meeting with Esme and Delacourt, you could position yourself to hear what they say. Not only will you be closer to offer protection if things go wrong, but you could hear the man’s treason from his very lips.”

Willowby considered it a moment. “I’d want another person on site, then.”

“Ramsbury would come if I called for him,” Finn said.

“On his wedding night?” Esme gasped. “I already ruined their wedding day and wedding gathering!”

“You haven’t ruined a thing,” he promised. “Marianne and Sebastian know what you mean to me,—they’d do anything to help us secure a future.”

Her eyes fluttered shut. “Is there no one else, Your Grace?”

“It would be helpful to call on your friends,” Willowby said. “I know Ripley a little, from the few times I boxed at his club. He’s solid. I’d say the same about Ramsbury.”

“Don’t let him hear it,” Finn said with a weak chuckle. “Well, then I suppose we have friends to contact.”

“Diana and I will go to Chilton’s estate and try to determine the situation there, including where he might be holding your friend. And I’ll reach out to other contacts, get some more men on our side if we can find them.”

“Thank you,” Esme said.

“You two stay here,” Diana said as she caught one of Esme’s hands. “Take your time together, we’ll be back by nine-thirty to make final plans.”

They departed then and Finn put his arms around Esme. “Let’s write our requests and then come to my room,” he said. “My bed. Not because I want to make love to you, but because I want to just hold you and look at you for a little while before we do this.”

He held his breath. He feared this attempt by her cousin had solidified her idea that she was only a danger to him. That she would pull away, but instead she took his hand. “Yes,” she said softly.

In the midst of fear and pain, it was the most beautiful word he’d ever heard.