Always Have Hope (Emerson Book 3) Read online

  “Sergeant,” said Irene from his side. “We will not go away. Ever. We want to see Mrs. Pierce. We demand it.”

  James hadn’t wanted to bring Irene to Newgate, but she’d insisted on accompanying him. And it was a good thing she was there. Given the stonewalling they were facing, he long ago would have resorted to violence had it not been for her reassuring presence by his side.

  The sergeant at the desk – the sixth they’d spoken to – did not take kindly to being ordered about by a woman. “You can demand all you like, but it won’t do no good. I’m told she’s not to see anyone. Especially her family.”

  “Who issued that order?” asked Irene. “And what about her right to legal counsel?”

  “It’s none of your concern who issued the order. It’s just enough that it’s been done. As for legal counsel, I know you’re no solicitor.”

  James tried hard not to throttle the man behind the desk. “Sergeant, my eldest brother is the Earl of Ridgeway. My other brother is the Earl of Layton.”

  “And how is that possible, to have two different brothers be two different earls?”

  “That isn’t important. What is important…”

  “What is important is that I don’t have to listen to no earls. Especially no brother of earls. Especially when their sister’s a murderess. Toffs don’t matter here. We run this prison and you better think twice about having some mere woman order me about.”

  James was tensing for a fight when he was interrupted by the deep, crisp tones of a born aristocrat.

  “Excuse me,” said Liam Kellington as he strode purposefully to the desk, “but there is still a presumption of innocence until proven guilty in England, is there not? While you claim that you don’t have to listen to earls – and I’d like to see that put to the test – you not only have to listen to me, you have to answer to me, as well.

  “I am the Duke of Lynwood. I control funding for Newgate prison and make recommendations to the Board of Governors about hiring staff, as well as dismissing them. My brother-in-law, the Marquess of Riverton, is also quite influential in these matters. And your complete disregard of Lord James Emerson’s concerns, as well as those of the Earl of Ridgeway and the Earl of Layton, will not sit well with any member of the House of Lords. Not to mention the unprecedented detention of Lady Winifred.

  “You see, peers do not like it when one of their own is treated with disrespect. And you just insulted two earls, as well as their brother – not to mention what you’ve done to their beloved sister. Do not compound your mistake by disobeying me. You will present Lady Winifred Pierce within ten minutes. Or I’ll see you arrested and detained in this prison you only think you control.”

  The sergeant had lost most of the color from his face, but was trying to maintain his bluster for the sake of his nearby gawking colleagues. “You’ll have me detained on what charges?”

  “Did I not mention that my brother and his wife are senior officials in the Home Office? Or that my good friend Joseph Stapleton also works for them when he isn’t assisting in senior level matters at Bow Street? I am certain they could come up with something to not just have you arrested, but to get you transported, as well. You have eight minutes. Produce Mrs. Pierce. And while you’re at it, I want to see this Inspector Dunlop.”

  There was a moment of silence, then the sergeant, along with most of his colleagues, quickly dispersed, presumably to do Lynwood’s bidding.

  “Lynwood,” said James with immense relief. “I cannot thank you enough. But how did you know?”

  “I wouldn’t like it spread about here,” said Lynwood quietly. “But there’s a Bow Street sergeant – a very good man. He didn’t like what was happening and felt something should be done. We are acquainted and he came to get me. I’m just glad I could help.” Lynwood studied his longtime friend.

  James knew he looked very different from how he’d been at school. He was no longer the cocky young son of an earl. His hair was long, his body was muscled from hard work on the frontier. His clothes were more similar to those of a laborer than a nobleman. He wondered what Lynwood’s reaction would be.

  His friend smiled. “It’s good to see you again, James, even under such trying circumstances. My niece Violet can’t stop talking about meeting your daughter. She has planned at least three years of activities for them and now wants to meet your sister Letty, as well. Miss Wallace, it is a pleasure to see you again. Vi also enjoyed her visit with you.”

  “Your niece is enchanting,” said James. “She made Anna feel at home when we met at Gunter’s a few weeks ago. And now that we’re not returning to America, I hope the girls can see each other again. I know Letty would like to meet Violet, as well.”

  Irene’s gasp made James turn, but he wasn’t prepared for what he saw. There was Win, unshackled, but with guards on either side of her. She was badly beaten, her eyes blackened. Bruises were blooming across her face and she was stooped forward as if walking was difficult.

  For a moment, James stood rooted to the spot. Then he strode to her. “Win!” He hugged her, then pulled back in alarm when she cried out in pain. It was only then that he realized how badly bruised she must be. He turned to the guards and growled. “Did you do this to her, you bastards?”

  “No, James,” said Win. “It wasn’t them. Please.” She put her hand on his arm. “Is it really you?” She placed a shaking hand on his cheek. Her eyes filled with tears.

  James wanted to cry. It was Win. His beloved Win. For a moment, all he could think about was that he was finally seeing her again. He carefully folded her into his arms.

  “It wasn’t us who beat her,” said a man who was walking toward them.

  Reluctantly, James pulled away from his sister, but carefully wrapped his arm around her waist.

  “She claims her husband did it to her,” said the man who was wearing a suit. “Which could be why she killed him.”

  “I didn’t kill him,” said Win. Her voice was weak, but she spoke firmly. James could feel her trying to stand taller. She began to falter, so he held her closer.

  “Who are you?” James asked the man.

  “Inspector Dennis Dunlop of Bow Street. Are you the duke who demanded to see me?” From the way he looked at James’s rough clothes, it was clear he doubted it.

  “No. I am Lord James Emerson. I’m going to take my sister home, then you’ll hear from our solicitor tomorrow.”

  “You’re not taking her anywhere,” said Dunlop. “We can’t release a murder suspect to her brother. Think of the public outcry when you take her away to the continent.”

  “You release suspects all the time,” said Lynwood. “And you will release Lady Winifred.”

  It was a statement, in no way a request.

  “And who the devil are you?”

  “The duke who demanded to see you. The one who could end your career.”

  “Oh, I see how it is. Once again, the toffs think they can rule this place. Well, I have news for you. There’ll come a day when your lot can’t get away with things just because of who your daddy was.”

  “That may be true. However, today is not that day. And heed my warning, Inspector. My father was a great man. Do not make the mistake of disparaging him. Lady Winifred is leaving this place immediately.”

  “She’s not going home with her brother.”

  “Then you’ll release her to me.”

  That surprised Dunlop. “What’s she to you? Unless…maybe she’s a bit of fluff on the side that the duchess don’t know about.”

  In an instant, Lynwood’s demeanor changed from a proper, powerful duke to something much more dangerous. James had known the man since they were boys, but even he was surprised by the temper just barely kept in check.

  Lynwood took one step toward Dunlop. A step that made the seasoned inspector step back.

  “You have insulted Lady Winifred, you have impugned my honor and you have cast aspersions on my duchess’s good sense. You will apologize. Now.”

  “To
whom?” asked Dunlop, losing some – but not all – of his bluster.

  “You’ll start with Lady Winifred, move on to me, then admit your mistake about her grace’s willingness to put up with such treatment, when I assure you she most certainly would not.”

  “I won’t be ordered about like a servant.”

  “Yet you will apologize.” Lynwood took another step closer.

  Dunlop stepped back again. Perhaps realizing just how serious Lynwood was, he quickly said, “My apologies, Mrs. Pierce, your grace. And I’ll take your word for it about her grace’s intolerance for dalliance. But you still haven’t answered my question. Why would you get involved in this matter?”

  “For many reasons, one of which is a simple dislike of a gross miscarriage of justice. You are being cavalier with Lady Winifred’s safety, which is especially abhorrent since I am confident you’ll find her innocent of the charges you seem so anxious to affix to her. I have known her family for decades. I am willing to vouch for her and will personally guarantee that if you release her into my custody, your goals of finding her husband’s real killer will not be thwarted. If anything, they might be furthered since I’ll see that she receives proper medical care. She might then be in a better position to answer questions about the night Mr. Pierce was killed.”

  “How do I know you won’t just hand her over to her brother and let her leave the country?”

  “Are you impugning my honor again, Dunlop?”

  It was obvious to everyone he was, yet the inspector must have had enough sense to know when to back down. “I’ll release her into your custody,” he said grudgingly. “But she’s not to leave your house, not even to visit her brother. If she does, she’ll be back here quicker than you can imagine. And nothing you say or do will get her out of here again.”

  “Very well. Lady Winifred, let us be off. Dunlop, make sure the paperwork is all that it should be. You wouldn’t want to disappoint me in this.”

  With that, Lynwood turned his back on the inspector and with a smile and nod for Lady Winfred, who was on her brother’s arm, the four of them left the accursed prison.

  None of them said anything until they were underway in the spacious Lynwood carriage. But then Winifred spoke.

  “Thank you, your grace. I cannot imagine what it would have been like to remain at Newgate. But I regret the imposition of my stay with you.”

  “Please call me Lynwood. You as well, Miss Wallace. And think nothing of it, Lady Winifred. I am terribly sorry this has occurred. All of it,” he added softly as he looked at her bruises. “My sister-in-law is a surgeon. She, Ned and their daughter Violet are currently staying at Lynwood House. I believe she should look at your injuries when we arrive.”

  “Thank you,” said Win.

  “About your injuries…” began James.

  “I cannot speak of it now. Please. There will be enough time for that later.”

  James could not remember ever being this angry. If Pierce weren’t already dead, James surely would have killed him. He wondered how long this had been going on. He wondered why this was happening to his dear, sweet sister. And he wondered how he was ever going to save her.

  Then he felt a gentle kick from Irene sitting opposite him. “James, this might be as good a time as any to introduce me to your sister.”

  James was thankful for the interruption from his increasingly dark thoughts. His betrothed knew him well. “Win, I would like you to meet Miss Irene Wallace, your future sister-in-law.”

  Win lit up at the notion. And James was hit with a wave of sadness thinking of how long it had been since he’d seen that glorious smile.

  “It is such a pleasure to meet you, my lady,” said Irene. “Though I am terribly sorry for the circumstances.”

  “The pleasure is all mine, I assure you, and please call me Win. I cannot imagine it is every day that future sisters meet under such circumstances. But you could not have chosen a better husband. I am also looking forward to meeting your daughter, James.”

  “You know about her?”

  “I saw her from the window the day the two of you came to the house.”

  “So you were there. I knew that damned butler was lying. But why didn’t you come down? Why didn’t you call out?” He tried to keep the hurt from his voice.

  “It is a long story and I cannot tell it fully tonight.” She smiled wanly at him. “But know that had it been in my power to do so, I would have.”

  “Pierce kept you prisoner?” James was growing angrier by the moment.

  “Please, James. Not tonight.”

  Irene took his hand in hers. She was the only one who could help him in a moment like this.

  Lynwood spoke again. “James, you and your daughter must stay with us as long as Lady Winifred is in residence.”

  James was torn. He didn’t want to leave his sister, but he was becoming indebted to too many people. “Anna is at my family’s estate in Wiltshire, though I sent word through Layton’s staff for my brothers and sisters to come to London as soon as possible. I thank you sincerely for your kind invitation, but I cannot impose on your hospitality. My family owes you enough already.”

  “It is not an imposition and my duchess will be terribly insulted if I tell her you declined our invitation. Miss Wallace, we will drop you at your home tonight, but you are, of course, encouraged to visit Lynwood House daily and stay as long as you like.”

  Irene cleared her throat and even in the dim light of the carriage James could tell she was blushing. “Thank you, but this afternoon, upon hearing that Lord James and I are to marry, my father and grandmother disowned me. Effective immediately. I was going to stay with James at Lord Layton’s house. I know it is most irregular given we are not yet wed, and this certainly isn’t the impression I wanted to make on you or Win, but that is the truth of it.”

  “How horrible, Irene!” said Win. “They should be ashamed of themselves.”

  Lynwood cleared his throat. “Your father, Miss Wallace, is an ass – if you and Lady Winifred will excuse my language. So is your grandmother. Then that settles it. We will all return to Lynwood House.”

  The ever efficient Heskiss opened the door upon their arrival. Lynwood’s brother Ned was waiting in the foyer with two ladies. One was Rosalind, the Duchess of Lynwood, and the other was Ned’s wife Jane.

  “My love,” said Lynwood, as he kissed the lady wearing spectacles and a welcoming smile, “we have guests. They shall be remaining with us for a while.”

  Quick to pick up on his master’s cue, Heskiss set an army of staff in motion to prepare the rooms.

  Lynwood made the introductions. “Lord James Emerson and Miss Irene Wallace are newly betrothed, but for our purposes, we shall consider them married.” He ignored Irene’s squeak of embarrassment. “Lady Winifred has been accused of murdering her husband. She was released into my custody by one of the more obnoxious inspectors at Bow Street. I will write to Stapleton tomorrow about it.” He turned to Win. “He is one of Bow Street’s finest inspectors. It was his former sergeant who summoned me tonight.”

  “Was he the sergeant in the room with me?” asked Win.

  “Yes. He’s a good man.”

  “Very much so.” She turned to Rosalind. “Your grace, I cannot thank you enough for allowing us into your home. And please be assured you are not sheltering a murderess. Although I suppose that is exactly what a murderess would say.”

  “You are most welcome here,” said Rosalind, with a warm smile.

  She was not a traditionally beautiful woman, noted James. She had brown hair and brown eyes – though it was hard to tell beneath her spectacles – and appeared to be in her middle twenties, half a dozen years younger than her husband. But her genuine warmth gave her a unique beauty.

  Rosalind continued. “We are also not unfamiliar with false accusations of murder. Ned was accused of murdering Jane’s grandfather, which is how we met Joseph Stapleton.”

  “Yes, nothing like being accused of a capital crime
to strike up a friendship,” said Ned as he shook James’s hand and bowed to the women. “Violet has done nothing but speak of her excellent tea at Gunter’s. She’ll be over the boughs to see the two of you and Anna again.”

  “Before any of that happens, I would like to examine Lady Winifred,” said Jane. She gingerly took Win’s hand. “You’ve been through quite an ordeal, I think. Perhaps Rosalind can show us to your room.”

  “That is an excellent idea,” said Rosalind. “I’ll also have Heskiss send up some dinner, though unless I miss my guess, he has done so already. I’ll also ensure that James and Irene are in the bedchamber next to Win, if that is suitable to everyone.”

  “Your grace…” began Irene.

  “You must call me Rosalind.”

  “Thank you, Rosalind. We are not as of yet married, though we plan to be so soon. I would not wish to set a bad example for Violet or embarrass you in any way with the servants.”

  “You could not do either, Irene,” said Rosalind. “Now let us get Winifred to her room. If you’ll be so kind as to accompany us, I can show you where you’ll be staying.”

  James started to follow them.

  Win turned to him. “Perhaps, I should see you after the examination,” she said with a slight smile.

  James didn’t want to let her out of his sight. But he also didn’t want to delay getting her the care she needed. He nodded, then carefully kissed his sister on the cheek. “I’m glad we’re together again, Win. I’ve missed you so much.”

  Tears came to her eyes and she could not speak. She nodded, then squeezed his hand before being led upstairs.

  *

  Win was extremely tired as she climbed the stairs. She looked around to keep her mind off the pain that came with every breath. The house had an understated elegance that her own sorely lacked. There was no mistaking the wealth of the mansion, with the rich mahogany panels, the smooth marble stairs and the occasional ancient vase. But the halls were also decorated with family portraits. And not just of long-ago ancestors. She saw a painting of the duke and duchess smiling at each other. It was a lovely change from the customary regal poses usually adopted by the aristocracy. Win could never have imagined posing for such a portrait with Clarence.