“You can believe the lady,” he assured her. “His lordship don’t go back on his word.”
The front knocker sounded and Roger went to answer it.
A tall, slender man in a red coat entered the hall. “I’m Mr. Hatchet from Bow Street.”
Dotty rose. “I am Miss Stern. You will find Lord and Lady Merton as well as Major Horton of the Life Guards in the parlor. I believe you will require help.”
“My associate, Mr. Bonner, will be here soon.”
“I shall leave you to it then.”
Though she would have rather helped go through the items in the landlady’s parlor, she decided to wait for Mrs. Horton. It wouldn’t do to have her walking in on the scene unawares. What they had to tell her would be distressing enough. Even Dotty felt as if a lead weight had lodged in her stomach, and she knew a great deal about how cruel people could be to one another from the visits around the parish she had been making. Still, something told her that the worst was yet to come, and she would need all the strength and compassion she could muster.
Before long, the other Runner arrived and Dotty directed him to the parlor. Sukey, accompanied by Roger, went to the kitchen to make tea. Dotty sat on the stairs again. It seemed to take forever before Dom and his mother reentered the hall.
He held out his hand to her, helping her rise, then drew her into his arms. “Do I have a new servant?”
She loved how his dry remarks always made her feel better, and grinned against his coat. “Yes, you do. She cannot remain here at all. It is too dangerous.”
“Roger will escort her to Merton House.”
Remembering his mother was present, she jerked back. “My lady, I forgot myself. I shouldn’t have—”
“You have had a hard day, my dear.” She smiled gently. “There is nothing wrong with allowing your future husband to comfort you.”
Dom pulled her back to him. “Nothing at all inappropriate.”
Though when Major Horton walked into the hall, Dom’s arms dropped to his sides. “Major, where will you go?”
His face settled into grim lines. “I don’t know. The Runners assured us that we could remain here for the next few weeks, but I will not leave my wife alone after I’ve gone.”
“Is there no way you can take her with you?” Dotty asked.
The major ran a hand through his hair. “No. I may be able to get out of the mission, but it won’t do my career any good. With the war over, it’s getting harder to stay on active duty.”
Dom’s profile was grim. “What about your parents or hers?”
The major gave a bark of humorless laughter. “We talked of her staying with her mother, but it would be war. Our families hate each other. They haven’t cut us off, but if my wife and child were to live with one over the other, it would drive poor Rebecca out of her mind.”
Dotty exchanged a look with Lady Merton and an idea started to take root. “What if you had safe housing for your family?”
“What are you thinking, dear?” Lady Merton asked.
“I do not know the legalities or even if it could be done.” Dotty glanced around the hall. “But what if this house, or one like it, could be purchased and made into a safe place?” Ideas flooded her mind as she spoke. “The apartments could be rented by families such as Major Horton’s or widows with no place to go, or”—her next suggestion was so outrageous, she didn’t know if even her ladyship would agree—“ladies in need.”
Holding her breath, she waited to see if her future mother-in-law understood.
A glow of comprehension lit Lady Merton’s face. “Yes, of course. There are so many gently bred ladies of limited means and—and others who need assistance.”
Dotty breathed again. “My lord, will you buy this house and one or two others?”
Lady Merton glanced at Dom and raised a brow. “If he does not, I shall.”
He regarded his mother for a few moments, then took Dotty’s hand and brought it to his lips. “Probably not this one. It is too well-known to the criminal element. However, if it will make you happy, I shall have my steward look into others.”
His gaze caught hers, warming her. She had been right. Dom was a kind and generous man, and he was hers. Hers to love. And she had never been happier. “Thank you.”
“Gor, ain’t he a fine gentleman,” Sukey said from the corridor to the kitchen.
