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CHAPTER FIVE

IT WAS A mistake to take her. Con knew it as soon as he said it. Lilah Holcutt never made anything easier. She would fuss; she would question; she would need looking after. But there was no way out of it now. Strangely, deep down it didn’t really bother him.

Con sent a footman to have one of their vehicles brought round, then walked over to Anna. Squatting down beside her, he said, “I need you to tell me everything you remember about your vision.”

Anna nodded. “I had a headache, so I was lying down. I dozed off, I think, because suddenly I woke up with a jolt. And I saw your mother and the others.”

“You saw them being taken?” He was a little surprised to see Lilah sit down beside Anna and take her hand.

Anna shook her head. “No. I didn’t realize that before. It wasn’t in London. It was in the country. There were no other houses around, but there were trees. I saw Thisbe and Olivia being pulled out of—of something. It was rather dark inside the vehicle.”

“A carriage?”

“I’m not sure. It was enclosed, but it opened in the back. It had a set of two doors, and they opened outward.” She demonstrated. “Two men were carrying the duchess and Kyria. They were very still. I wasn’t sure if they were asleep or—” Her voice caught.

“I’m sure they’re fine,” Con said soothingly. “Kyria was chloroformed. Probably Mother was, as well. The men want money for them. They wouldn’t risk killing them.”

She nodded. “Yes, you’re right. There was a third man, who had a gun aimed at Thisbe and Olivia. They were all walking somewhere.”

“Where? Could you see where they were?”

Anna shook her head. “There was a house, and I assume they were going there, but the vision ended before I could see them enter it.”

“What did it look like?”

“Two floors tall, but not a big house. Very plain. It was stone—a beige sort of color—or maybe just aged and dirty white stone. There was an outbuilding, a shed or small barn, off to one side. There was ivy growing up one wall. It—I had the impression nobody lived in the house.”

“Why?”

Anna shrugged. “I’m not sure. I… It looked untended. The smaller building was very weathered and leaned to one side. There wasn’t any garden. The ground was dirt and weeds and such.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “Oh! And there was a shutter half-off one of the downstairs windows.”

“Did you have any idea what part of the country it was in?”

“No. I’m sorry. I’m afraid this isn’t very helpful.”

“It is. Every scrap of information will help me. Was there anything more you saw? You said there were trees.”

“Yes, but not right next to the house. There was, um, a very large tree about twenty or thirty feet away. But in the distance I could see thicker trees. Like woods.” She paused, thinking. “Oh! Right next to the vehicle was a large stump, as if a big tree had been cut down in the past.”

“Good. That’s terrific, a great help.”

“I wish I could be of more use.”

“Don’t worry. This is good. I’ll be able to recognize the house.”

Con stood up and turned to Lilah, who had been watching their exchange with a baffled expression. No doubt she had decided both he and Anna belonged in an asylum. But to his surprise, Lilah said not a word.

Outside, the family’s elegant small town carriage awaited them. The coachman stood at the horses’ head, and he came toward Con now, saying, “They’re in fine fettle, sir. They’ll be wanting to move.”

“Don’t worry, Jenkins, I assure you I’ll take care of the team.”

“I’ve no doubt of that, sir.” The man smiled.

“You’re going to drive the carriage?” Lilah asked, staring.

“Yes.” His smile held a little challenge. “Perhaps you’d like to ride inside. Or you could—”

“I am not staying here,” Lilah replied crisply and went to the front of the carriage. “If you’d give me a hand up…”

Con simply took her by the waist and lifted her to the first step. Lilah grabbed the handhold and shot a dark look at him over her shoulder.

“The first step is rather high,” he pointed out. “

“Yes, and I am rather tall.” Gripping the bar, she lifted her skirt with the other hand and climbed up to the coachman’s seat.

Con caught a glimpse of her stockings once again—an eye-searing yellow this time—and suppressed a smile as he scrambled up after her. The high seat was comfortable but, being built for one driver, it was not especially wide. Con could feel Lilah’s arm against his jacket, the side of her leg touching his.

That was not a thing to be thinking of at a time like this. Taking the reins, Con started forward.

“Why are you driving the carriage?”

“Easier for me to follow that way.” He shrugged. “I have a better view, and I don’t have to yell to the coachman if I want to get down to look at something.”

“Then why the carriage? Wouldn’t a smaller vehicle be easier to handle?”

“I thought of taking my grandfather’s old phaeton, actually. It’d be more maneuverable, lighter. But it’s been some years since it’s been driven—Father couldn’t quite bring himself to get rid of it, but no one uses it anymore. It’s too easy to grab a hansom or a seat on the omnibus.”

“You travel by omnibus?”

“Sometimes.” He grinned at the astonishment on her face. “Too plebian, you think?”

“No. It just surprises me.”

“It’s more convenient in certain parts of town. More in character sometimes.”

“Such as when you’re dressed as a quack medicine salesman?” A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

“Careful, you might actually grin.”

The blue eyes narrowed, and she snapped her head around to look forward again. Con felt a pang of regret. After a moment, he picked back up their earlier topic of conversation in a conciliatory tone. “The carriage is more useful, too. We’ll need to bring my mother and sisters back.”

She cast a quick sideways glance up at him. He suspected the words if we find them were on the tip of Lilah’s tongue, but she said nothing. They had reached the site of the abduction, and Con turned onto the street the kidnappers took. At the end of the block, he turned left and joined the jumble of traffic.

“Back there, at the house, how did Desmond know what to do? Who should go to the Dearborns and who should go to Alex’s prison and so on. Nobody objected or discussed it.”

“We know each other well. Rafe is the most intimidating. He’s not as large as Theo, but his eyes can get this look that chills one’s blood. Having lived through a bloody war, then making a fortune in the Wild West, he has little regard for the niceties of gentlemanly behavior. Especially when Kyria’s in danger. That’s why he would be better able to get information from the Dearborns. Stephen is his friend—they were partners in a silver mine after the American Civil War. They understand and trust each other. Stephen will make sure Rafe doesn’t get into trouble. Theo and Reed balance each other, as well. Reed’s the levelheaded one. Theo’s more one for action.”

“Then I really do serve as your counterbalance.” She shot him a sideways glance, and this time her smile won the battle.

Surprisingly, Con found he enjoyed having her along. Granted, Lilah questioned everything, but so far she had not been stuffy, and her conversation kept his mind off the worry gnawing inside him.

“Why were you chosen to follow the kidnappers?” Lilah asked.

“I’m better at that sort of thing. I can tell north from south. I’ve always been good at maps, and I’m familiar with the streets of London and the roads out of it. I’ve had experience, you see. That’s what my agency does—locate lost or stolen objects, missing people. Alex often makes that easier, of course, with his ability. But I’m the one who tracks down the leads and decides where to go.”

“I thought you investigated nonsensical things—ghosts and demons and whatnot.”

“Mmm. I’m especially fond of whatnots.” His words brought forth a laugh from her. “Sadly, though, there aren’t that many supernatural possibilities to investigate. So I’m forced to fall back on something useful and mundane.”

As they talked, Con had been weaving in and out of the heavy traffic, bypassing slower vehicles, but he also kept his eyes in motion, looking everywhere.

“What are we looking for?” Lilah asked.

“Any sign that a speeding vehicle might have gone this way.”

“Which would be?” “I’m not sure, really.”

“That’s certainly informative.”

“I’m sorry. It’s hard to describe—you can see from the way people act, the way things look, if there’s been a disturbance. For instance, an angry seller whose cart has been overturned by a speeding vehicle. Or people talking excitedly. I don’t imagine I’ll find any, as it’s been a good while since they passed by. But I’m hoping my sisters will help me out.”

“What do you mean? They’re captives. What could they do?”

“They’re resourceful. I think they’ll try to draw people’s attention one way or another. Leave us a sign, perhaps.”

“But how can you be certain you’re on the right road? What if they’ve turned off?”

“I’m not certain. It’s my best guess. There’s no reason for them to twist and turn, trying to evade pursuers. No one was following them. They’d want to get to their target the fastest way possible, where they can secrete the women and get rid of or hide the vehicle. This is a major thoroughfare with a lot of vehicles. The more people, the more carriages and wagons, the less likely it is that anyone will notice or remember a certain one, even if it is uncommon. Also, eventually this street turns into the road to Tunbridge Wells. From what Anna said, the house they’re using is in a rural area.”

“Really, Constantine, don’t tell me you believe in visions foretelling the future.”

“Actually, in this case, it’s more the present than the future.” He glanced at her. “Why wouldn’t I believe it? Anna’s no liar. She wouldn’t mislead us, especially about something important.”

“I’m sure she isn’t lying or trying to mislead you. But it’s far more likely that Anna dreamed it. She had a headache, lay down and fell asleep, and she had a nightmare. Dreams seem very real sometimes.”

Con thought of a room with curving walls and clocks. “I know. But whether it came while she was asleep or awake, she saw that they were abducted. We know that was true. So it seems silly to ignore the rest of her vision.”

“But how could anyone ‘see’ something happening miles away?”

“I’ve witnessed stranger—”

“Con!” Lilah grabbed his arm.

“What?” A little jolt ran through him. “What’s the matter?” He glanced around.

“Stop. Stop. Look.” Lilah pointed to a woman walking down the street. “That’s Olivia’s.”

“What?” Con pulled back on the reins.

“That woman is wearing Olivia’s scarf!”