Mr. Wycoff glanced between Haddington and Hawthorne. “Am I free to go now?” he asked. “I assume our business is concluded.”
“Before you go, can you tell me how you got into the orphanage?” Hawthorne asked.
“Someone unlocked the front door,” Mr. Wycoff replied.
“Do you know who that was?” Hawthorne pressed.
Mr. Wycoff gave him an apologetic smile. “I do not, but I know someone was feeding Lord Wakefield information about Miss Holbrooke. That is how I knew she would be at the market and which room was hers.”
“Did Lord Wakefield tell you that he plans to kill an orphan every day that Miss Holbrooke is not returned to him?” William asked.
Mr. Wycoff pursed his lips. “He did, but there is little I can do.”
“But you are a Bow Street Runner!” William exclaimed.
“It is his word against mine, and his carries much more weight,” Mr. Wycoff said. “Besides, if you went to the magistrate, then you would play right into Lord Wakefield’s hands. He is still Miss Holbrooke’s guardian, and he is entitled to bring her home.”
“By killing innocent children?” William asked.
“I’m sorry,” Mr. Wycoff said. “My hands are tied on this one. I am only a Bow Street Runner. I do not have enough clout to go against someone like Lord Wakefield.”
“No, you don’t,” Hawthorne agreed, “but we do.”
Mr. Wycoff glanced between them. “For what it is worth, I am sorry that I ever agreed to work for the man.” He walked over to the door and stopped. “I wish you luck. I don’t believe Lord Wakefield will stop until his sister is returned to him.”
After the Bow Street Runner departed, William walked over to the settee and dropped down. “He’s right,” he declared. “How are we going to stop Lord Wakefield?”
Hawthorne and Haddington exchanged a meaningful look.
“What is it?” William asked.
Putting his hand up, Hawthorne said, “We have discussed this, and we believe we know a way.”
“That is wonderful!” William exclaimed. “How?”
Haddington came to sit across from him and carefully met his gaze. “You must marry Miss Holbrooke.”
William blinked. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Did you just say that I must marry Miss Holbrooke?”
“I did,” Haddington confirmed. “It is the perfect solution.”
“For whom?” William asked.
Hawthorne stepped closer. “It is obvious that you hold Miss Holbrooke in some regard.”
“I do, but that is a far cry from wanting to marry her,” William said. “What does this have to do with stopping her brother?
“We can keep Miss Holbrooke safe for a few days, maybe a week, but Lord Wakefield won’t relent,” Haddington said. “He will keep coming for her, and how many people will die in the process?”
“How do we know he won’t kill the orphans if Miss Holbrooke and I wed?” William asked.
“Once you are married to Miss Holbrooke, there is no reason for Lord Wakefield to pursue his sister,” Haddington said. “Her usefulness will have expired the moment you two wed.”
“It is the only way,” Hawthorne declared. “We have posted guards at the orphanage to keep the girls safe, but it only buys us time.”
“What if Miss Holbrooke refuses to go along with this madcap plan?” William asked.
“You must convince her,” Haddington insisted.
