The Forgotten Duke by Sophie Barnes

Author:Sophie Barnes [Barnes, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Sophie Barnes

12

“A young lad just told me he saw Ida being carried out of Amourette’s the night before last by a man of medium height whose appearance he likened to that of a dockyard worker,” Blayne told Carlton two days later.

“Why the devil did it take him so long to come forward?” Had he not made it clear that time was of the essence?

“The lad is but ten years old. He wasn’t here when you made your announcement about the disappearances. It was his older brother who mentioned it to him last night.”

“I see.” They were in Carlton’s study downstairs at the back of the tavern. Yesterday morning, after seeing Regina and being reminded of what she’d looked like with a lot fewer clothes on, he’d felt his desire flare up and had instantly fled the parlor.

“He also said that…Guthrie? Are you listening?”

Carlton blinked and muttered a swift, “Of course.” It shook him to think that Regina could distract him so easily. He forced himself to focus.

Blayne frowned but did not question him further. Instead he said, “He described the same sort of unmarked black carriage.”

“A hackney perhaps?”

“That’s what I’m thinking. According to the boy, it headed south. He managed to follow it all the way to Seven Dials, after which it disappeared.”

Carlton considered this new information. “I didn’t think to investigate there.”

“Perhaps we ought to head back out,” Blayne prompted.

Carlton nodded. “There isn’t a moment to lose.” He strode from behind his desk and collected his hat from a nearby chair. He opened the door and proceeded to make his way through The Black Swan. As he went, he signaled for Patrick and Claus to follow, demanding that they bring their knives with them just in case.

“What’s happening?” he heard Patrick ask Blayne as they walked toward Broad Street.

Reaching the wider road, Carlton raised his hand to hail a hackney. “We’re goin’ to comb every street between Holborn and the Thames.”

But as with the previous occasions when Guthrie had gone out looking for Scarlet and Ida, the trail went cold. While some of the people they questioned had seen a black unmarked carriage and confirmed that it was indeed a hackney, no one could say for certain which way it had gone. One man scratched the back of his head and said he believed it was bound for the east end while a couple of women insisted it was heading for the docks.

“We’ll have to split up,” Carlton said. It was the only way to cover so much ground.

“I can check the docks,” Patrick told him. “I grew up in that area so I’ll know where to look.” When Carlton hesitated, Patrick said, “The people there also trust me. If the women are there, I’ll find them.”

“Very well,” Carlton agreed. “Claus can go with you.”

“That…” Patrick began, paused, then finally said, “sounds good.”

Carlton frowned in response to an odd bit of doubt creeping over his shoulders, but then Blayne said, “I’ll come with you, Guthrie.”

Agreeing to meet back at The Black Swan, the groups parted ways, each consisting of five additional men.

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