25. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Thistlewood Calls

T histlewood had stayed overnight at Venus. The price had been more than he was prepared to spend, but he decided to hire the doxy, Terry, to use and abuse. He left at dawn. Oddly, the place still had many men gambling, and who knows what else. He returned to the flophouse in the rookery where he had rented a room. People in those places never cared what went on as long as they got paid. He went in and laid down, knowing he would not be able to call on Clarice until he knew Blackwood had left for the evening – as usual.

He had watched the house for two days, to learn the comings and goings of Lord Blackwood. What his coach and horse looked like. To avoid any unnecessary problems. He slept until a few hours after dark. He got up from the uncomfortable bed, splashed his face with water from a somewhat clean bowl, put on his topcoat, and walked out. He hoped he would be leaving for Dorset in the early morning hours after he dealt with Clarice.

Thistlewood had rented a hackney for a few days from an unsavory character in the rookery. He left the rookeries and traveled to No. 1 Manchester Square wondering how best to deal with Clarice. He rode past the address and tied the horse up to a hitching post at the end of the lane, then leisurely walked back to No. 1. On the off chance things didn't go well with Clarice, he did not need anyone to get a good look at him. With no one around the stable area, he decided to look around.

The coach sat parked next to the stables, but Blackwood’s stallion missing meant the man was not home. So he walked back to the end of the lane and rode the hackney back to the Blackwood townhouse. He tied the old horse to the hitching post in front of the house and strode up to the front door. He smiled to himself as he waited for someone to come to answer his knock. He was quite prepared for his meeting with Clarice. And he had the element of surprise.

The strange-looking butler came to the door. There seemed to be low light throughout the main floor. A boon for him. “I have come to see Lady Blackwood.”

“Wait a minute.” He closed the door and disappeared. He waited several minutes. “Who are you?” The ghoul asked.

“Tell her I am here about Linda. She will understand.” He gave the butler a snicker. The ghoul closed the door on him again. After a ridiculous amount of time, Clarice finally came to the front door.

“What the hell are you doing coming to my house? I can’t be seen speaking with you.” She put her hand to her chest and was visibly flustered.

“Then come out here, we can go for a ride where no one will see you.” He had all the nonchalance of a cunning cad.

“Yes, yes. You are right. Let me get my reticule.” She closed the door on him – again. He decided to walk out to the hackney. He had spent too much time on the front step.

Clarice came out and looked around. “Out here, Clarice.”

“You are such the gentleman.” She sneered.

“Your idiot butler and you slam the door in my face three times and I’m being denigrated for my etiquette?” He smirked. Why did she not notice the look of disdain? “You have a lot of nerve, my lady.”

“So why are you here? What is it? Has something gone wrong?” They were now riding down Baker Street.

“I want you to answer some questions for me. I have been left out of the loop.”

“What kind of questions? Left out? Whatever do you mean?” She was only a fair actress at best.

“I mean what happened to Charlotte?”

“Charlotte? Charlotte who? I have no idea who you are speaking of.” She snapped. She turned her head away from him.

“Charlotte. The woman who collected Linda’s money weekly. That Charlotte.” He watched the road, not looking at her. “Did you kill her?”

“Did I? What? Did I kill her? I have no idea who she is. I have never seen her. Why? Did she run off with your four pounds?” She looked straight ahead as she cackled.

He had become tired of her sarcasm. “Well, shall we talk about Linda? You want to tell me why you killed her. And don’t lie to me because I know you did.”

“And how would you know?” She acted too cavalier for Thistlewood’s taste.

“I know because you just admitted it. So tell me why you killed her. I want answers, now.”

“Alright, alright. I did speak with Charlotte, but I did not kill her. She told me Linda had plans to i ntroduce Stephen's bastard child to the ton. I refused to allow it. Besides, the only reason you are upset about it is because you are losing a measly four pounds a week!”

“You mean two hundred, eight thousand pounds a year, you stupid bitch.”

“Oh, you don’t need it. Not anymore. With all the money you have made off the woman all these years. You should be sitting on a pile of blunt. And if you are so overset about it, I tell you what I will do for you, right here, right now.” She smiled and gave him as seductive a look as if it could be possible, for her – ugh.

“And what would that be?” Disgusted, he thought he knew where this was going.

“Let me unbutton your fall and I will be happy to show you.”

“Alright, yet I must say, this seems to be a mediocre consolation prize.” He unbuttoned his fall for her and pulled his cock out.

“My word. I should have been doing this for you a long time ago. Maybe after I make you happy, you will return the favor.” She waggled her brows.

“It depends on how good you are. So are you going to talk me off?” He drawled.

She cackled again. “You are going to think you died and went to heaven.” He rolled his eyes. They were almost to the Mall on Constitution Hill.

He was sitting uncomfortably. “Wait a minute. I’m going to pull over and get the full benefit of your skills.” She went down and he closed his eyes, thinking about the enjoyment he would deem from her. He thought she did a fair job. “Keep your mouth on my cock and take a big swallow sweeting.” While still down on him, he reached into his topcoat pocket and pulled out a handkerchief.

She had raised to a seated position when she said. “Now, it is your turn to take care of me.”

He smiled at her. “I sure will, sweeting.” He leaned toward her. Put the handkerchief behind her head and twisted the ends together in the front, tightening it around her neck. “I’m doing you, you stupid bitch. Killing Linda. I had my own plans for her and you have cost me.” She reached for his hands, trying to pull them off. His strength easily overpowered her. He gave an evil-sounding chuckle. “Are you trying to breathe? Oh, I’m sorry. You have had your last. Now, do me a favor and die quickly. You are boring me.” Her eyes bulged and her tongue flopped out of her awful ugly mouth. “You thought for one minute I would touch that ugly cunny of yours. You could only pay men to service your ugly arse. I’m saving you money.” He said to the now-dead bitch. He only had to ride a little further and dump her over the Westminster Bridge.

It would be days before they found her if they ever did. He rode the hackney to the far side of the bridge, looked around, and saw nothing. He had more luck with it being a night with no moon. Walking to her side of the hackney, he picked up her reticule and went through it. He pocketed the money, a piece of jewelry, and tossed the rest out into the river with the reticule. He lifted her over the railing and dumped her like garbage. Turned the hackney around and rode back to his room in the rookery.

Mr. Douglas Comes Along

Daniel and Max returned, but they had an extra rider with them. Mr. Winston met them in the stables. Stephen and Fredrick could hear several male voices. It sounded as if they were rather uplifting. “Whatever happened, it must have been entertaining.” They did not bother to stand. Stephen held out his glass to Fredrick, indicating he wished for a refill.

“I may need fortification,” as Stephen shook his head. “Ha.”

“My lord, the gentlemen have arrived, plus one.” Mr. Winston smiled.

“It better not be the Cobra unless you dragged her here behind the coach. She would be good and dead.” Stephen did enjoy his own humor.

Daniel, Max, and one more walked into the study. “Your grace, I would not let these gentlemen leave your house without me. I would not stay and be tortured by her wrath. Not that she would care that you were gone. She…well, you, of all people, know exactly how she is.” Mr. Douglas sounded pitiful.

Fred understood. He could not blame the man. “It is alright. You are more than welcome. I have so much room in this house. It will be nice to have company. You and Joshua can exchange complaints about your lords.”

“I could never complain about Lord Blackwood. The man is a saint. I would have killed his wife years ago and buried her in the backyard. No one would miss her. If I may be so bold, your grace.” Mr. Douglas seemed to be genuine. A relief to Fredrick that Blackwood had someone from his house loyal to him.

“So what happened when you arrived?” Fred looked to Max and Daniel for an explanation.

Max began to relate the events. “We both went to the front door and knocked. It took forever for someone to come. Daniel knocked about four times and harder each time. Finally, a drunk-looking stick came to the front door. As big around as a spill, high-pitched voice, and acting feminine. ‘Who are you?’ he asked.”

Max looked at Daniel to continue. “I said, ‘We have come at the behest of your master, Lord Blackwood.’ The stick held his belly and it sounded like – giggling – like a little girl. Ugh! I suppose he thought me funny. I told him we were coming in to retrieve some of his belongings. He told me we were not welcome; we would not gain entry. So, I pushed him. I guess he fell. Two other men came from one of the front rooms. I would guess the drawing room. They appeared to be foxed as well. One fellow was quite carbuncle-faced. They met us in the hallway. They asked who we were. I told them we came at the behest of Lord Blackwood. For some reason, they found my explanation hilarious. They asked what we came for. I told them we had come for some of his belongings. The big, fat kid said. ‘I don’t think you are goin’ anywhere, ‘cept maybe out the door.’ He started toward me and I hit him twice. Once in the stomach and once on the jaw. He went down and never got up. The carbuncle-faced one immediately threw up his hands. We had no trouble after that.”

Max intruded. “Well, not until we walked into Lord Blackwood’s bedchamber.” Max got tickled. He looked over at Mr. Douglas. Mr. Douglas’s face turned rather red.

“Well, my lords, having no idea who they were and having not received any missive from you, I picked up a chair. I guess I planned to throw it at them. I asked who they were. This big one," directing a thumb at Daniel, "handed me a note from you. I told them they were not going anywhere without me. I would not stay in this house without Lord Blackwood. I told them what to take. I packed some of your private items, in case anyone decided to go through your bedchamber.”

“You are the most noble of men, Mr. Douglas. I’m sure Lord Blackwood is honored to have you as his valet.” Fred commended.

“The cobra there?” Blackwood asked.

“No, my lord. Sometime after dark, I overheard a man at the front door. Minutes later, she left with him. A stroke of luck for the three of us. She would have made getting your things and leaving a difficult task.” Mr. Douglas explained.

“I would say you three are deserving of a glass or two of scotch.”

Fredrick saw their eyes light up. “But first, make sure you have Lord Blackwood and Mr. Douglas settled, then I will give you a bottle to enjoy”

“Thank you, my lord. We will get their rooms ready in no time. We will have our drinks in the small breakfast room, with your permission, my lord.” Mr. Winston said, grinning ear-to-ear. “Certainly, you don’t think I would allow staff such an activity without my supervision?” Mr. Winston, hands behind his back, gave a small smile.

“No, no, I would not think of it, Mr. Winston. You can get the scotch and glasses ready in the small breakfast room.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

“And Mr. Winston, will you look to see if we have any tarts, scones, or meat pies left? I would like a little something before bedtime. It has been a long day.”

“I’m sure there is something. Cheese and bread as well?” Winston suggested.

“Yes, that sounds good. And a tray for your small group as well.”

“Yes, my lord.” Winston stepped out to rummage through the kitchen.

“I think the trip to No. 1 Manchester went much easier than I would have ever hoped. Her not at home. Those idiots she has working in that house must drink fairly often. I have had to order cases more often than I should. The hired help entertained themselves with my liquor. They probably feel entitled in exchange for the sexual activities they are responsible for. It gives me the chills.” Blackwood made a face of disgust.

“And I have witnessed her charms first-hand. It gives me the chills.” Fred visibly shuddered. “You are welcome to stay here as long as you wish. Stephen, regarding those heirlooms you wish to keep; let me have those two return to retrieve them. You may store them at my coach shop. There is ample room. Ponder it. What can she do? She has no family to fall back on now. She has no friends. Her staff does not like her. And if you worry about taking Little Stevie girl there, buy a new place. You have the money and Stevie and you deserve it. You need to think on this logically.”

“You are correct. She has no access to funds. Only what I deem to give her. I would love to divorce her. I would love to pursue a certain someone, but being married. I know she would never agree to live with me without papers. Dammit. I could be so happy with her.” Fred could see him drifting to a place, full of possibilities. Fred had been thinking of the possibilities with an emerald-eyed beauty.

“My lord? Shall I put it on the butler’s table?” Mr. Winston came in with the late-night treats.

“Yes, right here is fine. Thank you. Did you make another for all of you?”

“Yes, thank you, my lord.” Mr. Winston had almost made an exit when he turned around. “The bedchambers are prepared for you and Mr. Douglas when you are ready, your grace.”

“Thank you, Mr. Winston.” Blackwood picked up a slice of bread and a slice of cheese. “Mmm. This is good. Unable to eat dinner, I suddenly realize I am hungry. Thank you for this idea. It is nice. I enjoy snacking.”

They ate and talked about Stephen’s options. They had a few more drinks and were about ready to retire for the evening when Mr. Winston entered the room.