Sylvie Sommerfield - Noah's Woman (36 page)

Gregory's heart pounded heavily, and Douglas's face went gray when the carriage they were in was surrounded by grim-faced men. They knew that, indeed, they had misjudged and misjudged fatally.

Anne's shrill cry was cut off when hard hands took her from her carriage. She sought and found her husband, and when their gazes met she saw no pity there and her fighting ceased. Her face was pale and tears coursed down her cheeks.

Glenda was fighting both her rage at knowing they had been thwarted and her fear of what was going to come of it. She was not going to admit to knowledge of the plot. Glenda was a cat who usually landed on her feet, and she meant to do so this time . . . until

she looked into the eyes of Noah Morgan and Lord Brandywine.

Douglas Van Buran was the true realist of the group. From the moment he saw that the attack had been anticipated, he knew all was lost. He was the only one who took his failure with any kind of courage.

When he faced Noah and Charles, he smiled. "You really did decode the letters."

"Long ago," Noah agreed. "We have just been waiting for you to make what is the most drastic mistake of your life."

"No, Lord Morgan, the most drastic mistake of my life was not eliminating you first. I should have known you were a worthy opponent."

"You will pay a terrible price for that mistake. The queen does not look on the attempted assassination of her favorite with mercy."

"I do not expect it. I might have succeeded if I had had someone like you on my side."

"Murder is not my way, Lord Van Buran. It has failed assassins down through history. There were better means of acquiring power. You might have tried honest endeavor . . . or chosen honest friends."

It was then that Gregory and Noah came face to face. Noah held Gregory's gaze while he stepped down from the carriage.

"It's over, Hamilton. You will have ample time in prison to consider the folly of using my wife as a tool to forward your nefarious plans."

"Ah, sweet Charity. I shall have a wonderful time with her reputation during my trial."

Now Noah smiled. "I would not if I were you. You see, the queen is considering the death sentence. Your silence on that subject might mean the difference between prison . . . or hanging. You will have some time to consider your . . . ah . . . testimony."

"You bastard," Gregory snarled.

"I'm afraid not, Hamilton, old boy, not in my case . . . but there is now a question of your parentage."

At this both Glenda and Gregory froze. Noah chuckled and nodded. "The heiress has been found. At this moment the proof lies with the judges. We have the portraits, the letters, and all the proof needed to make sure the Hamilton wealth and name are returned to their rightful owner."

At this Glenda simply closed her eyes and collapsed, while Gregory breathed deeply of the air of freedom . . . while he could.

Noah was roundly congratulated and hands clapped him on the back as he turned toward his carriage. He had only walked a few steps when his whole being froze. The carriage was gone.

Charity had remained still, watching with interest as Noah and his men filtered through the crowd. She had been one of the few who knew when each of the carriages was surrounded, and she had seen the entire capture.

Her carriage was rocked by the force of the crowd about her when pandemonium broke loose, but she sought only one face in the flurry, only one broad-shouldered form, only one tall and formidable man

who carried his anger and his desire for justice like a shield.

She was so startled when three men jumped into her carriage that she didn't have time even to scream. The driver was gripped from behind and tossed from the carriage, and they were moving before she could react to the sudden attack.

By that time a small, wicked knife was being pressed to her side.

"Don't make one sound or one move, or you'll be making your last." The voice was rough, and she knew her captor meant exactly what he said. She had an idea that he didn't care if she was alive or dead.

The carriage raced through the city and soon was leaving the better side for the dirtier and more shadowed one. Only then did they slow the horses to a fast trot.

"You will regret this! Do you know who I am?"

"Yeah, we know who you are. We don't make mistakes. You was what we was after, and you was what we got."

All three men responded with harsh laughter at that, and Charity sat back in her seat. She had to use her head. Obviously this abduction was well planned and the timing had been carefully worked out. Noah and everyone who might have helped her was totally involved . . . but so was every enemy they had. Who, then, would want to take her like this?

It was hard to think. She had not been married to Noah long enough to know or recognize where his enemies might come from. She had to remain calm, and try to find a way to get help.

But there seemed to be no answer as they came to a dingy street, filled with debris and shadows. Just to look down its length brought a shiver of fear. She had been in some nasty places in this city, but never had she seen a place like this. She had no idea where she was.

Roughly she was dragged from the carriage, and one of the men drove it away. She and the other two men were left together. Then, one on each side of her, they walked her down the dirty alley toward a blackened door.

"What do you want? If it's ransom, my husband will pay you well to bring me back. Let me write him a note, and he'll give you money . . . I promise."

"Now, don't you worry none about us being paid. We're getting enough just to make sure you get brought safe and sound here. We don't expect we'll have to ask your husband for nothing . . . and you ain't goin' back."

"Shut up, Henry. You talk too much."

"Please . . . why are you doing this?"

"You got an anxious friend who just can't stand sharing you with anyone else. He'd kinda like you all to himself for a while . . . before you take a nice, long boat trip."

"Henry, I told you to shut up."

Henry decided that it would be better to stop talking. Charity reached for courage. If they meant to harm her, they had had more than one opportunity, so they didn't mean to harm her . . . yet. But why bring her all this way?

She could smell the stench of the docks, and hear

the lap of water somewhere nearby. The room in which they finally locked her was surprising, for it was reasonably clean, and held furniture, which included a huge bed. She went to the bed and sat down. It was here for a purpose, and she had an idea someone meant for her to have a long stay in this room.

She gathered herself together. She looked about to see if she could discover a weapon or some means of escape. There seemed to be neither. Now she gave herself over to trying to figure out why someone would pay to abduct her. A boat trip . . . someone had paid them well . . . but, a boat trip?

Noah had gazed about in surprise, and thought for a minute he was disoriented or that Charity had moved the carriage. Then another, more horrible thought came to him, and he raced to where the carriage had been. He scanned the area, then accepted the fact that it was nowhere in the square. Charity had vanished.

For one awful moment panic took over, and he fought for breath. Charity! This could not be! He was soon joined by his friends, who were alarmed at his pale face.

"Noah, what's wrong?"

"Charity's gone!"

"Send for Lord Brandywine!" someone said. Brandywine came to Noah's side at once.

"She's been taken," Noah groaned. "Someone"

The search was on, and within two hours it was clear that Charity was gone. Noah had never felt such a surge of fear in his life. Police were turned out in

force, and every area of the city was swept, but there was no sign of her.

When news was taken to Beth and Jason, they came to Noah at once.

"I don't understand," Beth said tearfully. "Who would want to hurt Charity? All the people who were involved in this plot are in custody. There is no . . ." She paused in sudden realization.

"Beth?" Noah said hopefully

"Charles Brentwood."

"Damn!" Noah said. "I should have thought of him. I was thinking about people who meant me harm. I never considered him, but I'll find him."

There was grim determination on Noah's face that promised retaliation, and Beth leaned close to Jason and whispered.

"Go with him, Jason. Don't let him do anything foolish, and for God's sake, make him bring Charles to justice. Don't let him take it into his own hands."

"I'll do my best." Jason didn't ask if Noah wanted him to go with him, because he knew Noah would refuse. He simply went to the carriage and got in. Noah looked at him directly, saw that he was not going to be moved, and decided not to waste time in arguing. He got in and drove to Charles's home, but there they were to get another surprise.

"No, sir, Mr. Brentwood hasn't been home for nearly two weeks . . . in fact, since the day you were here last," the housekeeper said. "He was very upset, and he packed and made plans to take a long trip. Said he wouldn't be back for three months."

"Do you know where he went?"

"No, sir."

"Have you had any messages, any word?"

"No, sir, but I don't expect any. My wages is paid until he's to come back, and all I have to do is collect his mail and take care of the house."

"Thank you. If you do hear anything at all, will you contact me?"

"Of course, Lord Morgan. I'll send round word right off when he comes back, or if I hear anything."

They left, but Noah stopped when the door closed. "He's got her, he's taken her somewhere. I'll kill that man with my bare hands."

"Where would he take her, Noah? He had to have had this well planned. For all we know, they could be miles from the city now."

"If need be, I'll tear this city down brick by brick. When I find him"

"Noah . . . wait!"

"What?"

"I know someone who knows this city better than anyone else. There is noplace to hide that she cannot find, and she has all the help you could ever want. Help from people who can go places that you and the police will never find."

"Who?"

"Amiee. Come on, let's go."

Noah didn't question Jason. In his desperation he would have gone anywhere or done anything. He had to keep going, because he was afraid to stop . . . and think. He could picture Charity at Charles Brentwood's mercy, and the black rage that was forming inside him was terrible in its force.

Amiee was surprised to see Jason, and even more surprised to see Noah. But one glimpse of Noah's ravaged face was all she needed to tell her that something was drastically amiss.

"You need something strong to drink, both of you. Sit down and tell me what has happened."

Amiee poured two liberal glasses of brandy and handed one to each man. "Now . . .?"

"Charles Brentwood has kidnapped Charity," Noah said abruptly; "at least we think it was him."

"Where has he taken her?"

"We don't know," Jason said quickly. "Amiee, we need your help, and maybe the help of everyone else in the Round."

"I've got to find her . . . I've got to," Noah groaned. "I threatened him, and he'll make Charity pay for every word. I've got to find her."

"The police" Amiee began, but she could not bear the look in Noah's eyes, for she realized that by the time the police found Charity, it might be too late.

What happened next would not only stun Noah, but would bring home to him the reality that Charity had made the finest friends a person could have, and wealth and position had nothing to do with it.

Amiee led them down to the center court of the Round. Noah stood in wonder as she called around her the most motley crew of misfits he had ever seen. Among them were Tiny, Minnow, and Piper. The crowd was large, and Amiee stood on a box to talk to them all. Noah watched as they silently stood and listened, their faces intent. One of their own was in need.

''Charity has been grabbed by a gent who doesn't mean to let her go. We all know how this works, don't we? Pretty girls are a market product, and they get stolen every day. They're somewhere in this city, and the police will never find them. This is her husband and he's going to give a big reward to the one who finds her." She turned to Noah, who nodded.

"I will let you name your own reward, for there isn't anything I wouldn't gladly give to get Charity back. This man means to take his hatred out on her," Noah said.

"Tiny, you take Marcus and go down to the docks. See if a ship is going to leave anytime soon."

Tiny nodded and left without a word. He looked quite prepared to do Charles a great deal of harm should he run across him.

"The rest of you spread the word. I want everyone out on the street. I want this town covered . . . I don't want a mouse to slip through, and I don't want a rat to get away."

There was a roar of encouraging laughter, and the crowd dispersed in seconds.

"Amiee . . . do you think they can find any trace of her?" Noah asked.

She smiled. "You can put your fortune on this. There is nothing going on in this city that these people don't know about, and no one they can't find. Charles Brentwood has just bitten off more than he can chew. Relax, Noah, because all we can do now . . . is wait."

They swarmed over the city like a horde of locusts, into places the police had never heard about. Gamine

children skittered here and there like inquisitive mice. Word fled ahead of them like a forest fire, alerting everyone and sending out the message that one of their own was in trouble.

Within the Round Noah waited. Minnow had not left his side, and neither had Jason. Amiee had gone to listen to reports that were brought back and to give any orders necessary. Time, to Noah, seemed to move at a snail's pace. He found it difficult to do nothing while others made the search, but Amiee assured him he would be even less effective than the police.

It was now nearing sunset, and Noah began to have nightmares about the night . . . Charity . . . and Charles. Then the door opened and Amiee entered.

Charity paced the room as her nerves grew more and more tense. She could not find the answer to this. Surely whoever had kidnapped her would know that Noah and all the force he could muster would be looking for her.