Belong To Me (book 4) (The Fielding Brothers Saga) (36 page)

Chapter Nineteen

Ian paced the floor, using Lord Thatcher’s cane for support as he remained in his disguise. Seconds ticked by, minutes blended into hours, and he couldn’t stand the wait. Jeffrey Franklin sat in his chair, appearing patient as he sipped his tea, calm and collected.

Ian didn’t know what would happen next, and the uncertainty of the situation made his heart burn with terror. Would they harm Charlotte? Would he be able to stop them before they did? Could he rescue her as he’d done before without complications? With a sinking feeling, he doubted his own ability. Too many players stopped him this time.

Footsteps clomped up the stairs from the cellar. Ian stopped and turned toward the hallway, waiting to see who came. Henry marched into the parlor, his face set hard in a scowl when he looked at the commissioner.

“She’s
demandin
’ to see Lord Thatcher again,” Henry barked.

Jeffrey sighed heavily in irritation. “Can’t you clumsy oafs control her? I’m certain you’ve dealt with women like her in your miserable lives before.”

“No, we haven’t. Not anything like this tornado. She’s got a wicked tongue,” Henry mumbled.

Jeffrey glanced at Ian then back to Henry. “Why does she want to see him?”

“Don’t know. She won’t say.”

Ian spoke, making his voice deep and raspy like Adam’s. “Perhaps she’s bored with your company.”

“No matter,” Jeffrey quickly cut in. “Tell the woman she cannot see Lord Thatcher.”

“I’ll go see what she wants,” Ian said, ignoring the other man’s instructions. “I’m certain she just wants to be reassured I’m still here.”

Jeffrey scowled openly, letting his irritation show through his distasteful grunt of annoyance. “All right, you can go, Lord Thatcher, but just for a moment.” He rose from his chair and followed behind Ian as he hurried down the stairs.

Ian entered the room. Charlotte’s mouth was pulled with worry. He walked to her and bent to her level, peering into her eyes. “How are you holding up, my dear?”

Charlotte eyes misted. “I...I...” She motioned with her head for him to come closer.

He bent further and she whispered in his ear what she needed. A smile spread across his face as he straightened. “It appears,” he directed his comment to Jeffrey, “that you and your men haven’t considered the needs of a woman.” By their drawn expression, Ian could see the men were still mystified, so he said succinctly, “She needs to use the privy.”

Henry and
Benji
chuckled. Jeffrey rolled his eyes heavenward. Charlotte passed him a scarlet-faced scowl.

“I suppose we’d better let her go relieve herself.” Jeffrey untied her arms.

“Thank you,” Charlotte snapped, rubbing her wrists. “Do you mind if Lord Thatcher takes me? I’d rather have a gentleman escort me instead of farm animals like you and your friends.”

Jeffrey nodded. “That’s acceptable, but we’ll be watching closely.”

Charlotte hurried into the privy out in the back yard, not saying a word. Ian stood guard, relieved the other three men were farther away.

“When are you going to get me out of here?” she whispered through the wooden door.

“Patience, my dear.
I’m biding my time until a friend of mine arrives. He works for the King and will be able to clear me from these false charges.”

“When will that be?”

“I don’t know. Soon, I hope.”

“What am I to do during that time?”

“Keep irritating Henry and
Benji
. That will keep your mind busy.” He paused then asked, “Where’s Jacqueline?”

“I don’t know. The commissioner took me to the cellar without her.” There was a brief pause. “Ian?” she whispered.

“Yes?”

“I’m...sorry.”

His heart lightened, and he wished he could take her in his arms.
“For what, my sweet?”

“For...well, for yesterday. I have a quick temper and I allowed it to explode before thinking things over.”

Ian closed his eyes, keeping his blissful emotions inside for now. “Do you know I never meant to hurt you?”

“Yes.”

He sighed heavily with relief and looked at the door. “Charlotte?” he asked, touching the wood, imagining he touched her instead.

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Ian.” She stepped out and gazed at him. Her eyes were moist. “How can I make up to you what I’ve put you through?”

He chuckled. “The same way I will make it up to you.”

From the corner of his eyes, Ian spotted Jeffrey walking their way. He took a step away from Charlotte and turned toward the commissioner, getting back in his Lord Thatcher character.

“Are you ready, Mrs. Fielding?” the commissioner asked. “We don’t want to be out here for very long.”

She glared at him. “Why? Are you afraid Ian will come rescue me and you won’t be able to do a thing about it?”

Jeffrey grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back into the house. Ian kept in step behind them, hiding his fists in the folds of his cape.

Once inside, Jeffrey pushed her toward Henry. “Take her downstairs, and tie her up,” he snapped.

“‘
ow
much longer do we ’
ave
to wait?”
Benji
asked with a whine in his voice.

Jeffrey glanced at Lord Thatcher, and then back to his brother, sighing heavily. “Let’s give him four more hours, but that’s all.” He turned and marched into the parlor.

* * * *

Charlotte took one more look at Ian before they dragged her downstairs. Her eyes stung with the tears she refused to shed. Not now. She had to be strong. But the wait nearly killed her. She wanted to be back in her husband’s arms, making up for everything that had happened lately.

“
Yer
a feisty wench,”
Benji
barked when he pushed her in the chair. Henry knelt behind her and tied her hands with rope.

When the band tightened, she cried out. “Do they have to be so tight? My hands will go numb.”

“Too bad
yer
mouth don’t
go numb,” Henry replied, getting a laugh from
Benji
.

She threw a glare over her shoulder, aimed at the larger man. But somehow, she needed to get one of them on her side. Out of the two,
Benji
looked the most submissive. Hopefully, she could use her womanly charms and persuade the commissioner’s brother to help her. Of course, she’d have to be nice to them, which might be harder than she realized.

“I want
Benji
to tie my hands.”

“Why?” Henry asked, rising from his position and walking in front of her.

“Because he’s gentler.
Three years ago, he was always nicer to me, too.”

She noticed
Benji’s
smile widen. “Ye remembered?”

“I remember a lot of things.”

“Well, too bad,” Henry snapped. “This isn’t one of
yer
little tea parties, ye know.
Yer
our
prisoner,
and
ye’ll
be treated like one.”

Lifting her chin, she ignored the bulky man beside her and put her attention on
Benji
. “Would you mind answering a question for me?”

Benji
nodded.

“How long have you been working alongside your brother, Jeffrey?”

“Several years now.”

She shook her head. “I just don’t understand why you would want to be in business with somebody like him.”

Benji
moved in closer, wearing a scowl. “
Whot’s
that supposed to mean, lady?”

His ugly face frightened her, but she knew he was not allowed to lay a hand on her, thanks to the commissioner, so she decided to let her razor-sharp tongue loose. “He’s an imbecile. He’s possibly the worst man to do business with. I’m amazed you even trust the lout.”

Benji’s
eyes darkened. “
‘e’s
my brother.”

“Then why is he not as honest and devoted to you as you are with him?”

Benji
shook his head in confusion. “Eh?”

“He’s a very greedy man. Granted, I haven’t known him for very long, but I’ve realized this particular trait in him, nonetheless.” She hesitated for a brief moment so they’d absorb what she was saying. “I just cannot understand why you would want him to be your partner if it’s obvious he’ll go behind your back and deceive you.”

“Ye know
nothin
’, lady!”
Benji
yelled.

“But he’s deceived you before. Look at those items right over there.” She pointed with her head to the small room on her left, which held items the commissioner had taken from Ian’s clients. “Has your brother even told you about taking those things? Has he even shared any of them with you?”

Slowly the two dimwits moved to the stash and looked through the items.

“Do you see all that jewelry?” she asked. “Has he even offered any to you?”

“
‘
e
would’ve told us sooner or later,”
Benji
defended.

“No, he wouldn’t. Do you know how long he has had these things? Do you think you’d know anything about it if he hadn’t made you bring me down here?”

Benji
shook his head, still denying.

But Charlotte wouldn’t give up.
“At least a month, right?
Has he spoken to you during that time?”

He nodded.

“And, did he mention to you he had all this jewelry worth so much money?”

“No,” he said a little softer. “But that doesn’t matter. Besides, ‘
e
finally told us.”

“Not until after I had mentioned something first.
And when the topic was finally brought up, he tried to change the subject quickly, hoping you’d soon forget.”

Benji
shook his head. “But now we know, so ’
e’ll
share.”

“You are not afraid he’ll take the ransom money and keep it himself?”

“Listen, lady, my brother will share the ransom money, and ’specially this newly acquired treasure.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“My brother knows
whot
’e’s doing. We follow ‘
im
because ’e’s more educated. ’
e
is never wrong with ’is ideas.”

“Except, of course, for this time.”

Henry stepped forward, his massive arms crossed over his chest. “Now, what are ye yapping about?”

The wheels in her mind turned like crazy, trying to find some way for these two men to doubt their so-called leader. “Well, the commissioner thought he had this whole thing planned, and so far, it’s not turning out the way he wanted. Look how long you’ve been with him, and you’re not rich yet. But, on the other hand, the commissioner is very wealthy. He owns a townhouse and this cottage. Isn’t it obvious he’s using the two of you, yet he’s not paying up?”

She could tell she hit a nerve with them, because their expressions looked actually clear, as if a light had come on inside their tiny little brains. Maybe, they would see the commissioner as she saw him.

Benji
shrugged. “Well...perhaps ’e’s getting’ paid better than we thought.”

“
Benji
,” Henry warned to keep quiet, but the other man continued.

“Jeffrey means well, but I’m sure ’e’s been too busy—”

“
Benji
, the woman doesn’t need to know.”

“But we ’
ave
always been a team,”
Benji
continued. “Jeffrey ’as always led us...although most of the time it ’as turned out badly.”

“
Benji
.
That’s enough,” Henry snapped. “Can’t ye see what she’s
doin
’? She’s
tryin
’ to make us doubt him. She wants us on her side.” His gaze switched from
Benji
to Charlotte. “But it
ain’t
gonna
work. I can see through that brave mask
yer
wearing, and
yer
scared to death, so don’t try and trick us. We’re actually smarter than
ya
seem to think.”

Charlotte sighed in defeat. Now what could she do?

* * * *

While Jeffrey hurried outside, Ian rushed through the small cottage, looking for Jacqueline. There wasn’t a trace of her anywhere. Would the commissioner have just let her go? Perhaps she escaped and was finding help right now. Ian wished that were the case, but he didn’t want to depend on Jacqueline. The woman was very weak and dependent on the commissioner for everything. It had something to do with her past, but Ian didn’t want to get involved. Not now.

Hurrying back down the stairs, he quickly entered the parlor before the commissioner returned. Ian had come back just in time. Not more than two minutes later, Jeffrey walked through the front door.

“Well, Lord Thatcher,” he said as he entered the room. “It looks as if you were right. Mr. Fielding must not care about his wife, or else he would’ve been here by now.”