Rosalind said, “Put those papers away. It cannot do any good for these men to see them.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Hamill’s coachman slowedthe horses and Balthazar, Hamill, Van Doren, and Darden scrambled out of it. They were armed with everything they could carry.
They would go on foot down an alley to the building they sought.
As always happened when he entered the Rats’ Castle, the few lights in windows went out, people slumped in doorways suddenly revived themselves and stumbled away, women pulled children inside, and gin shops slammed their shutters.
Darden looked about him at the scattering of people. “Do they know you?”
“Be quiet,” Balthazar said. “Follow me.”
The alley was close and reeked of urine. From the description, they were going four doors down on the right-hand side.
He paused in front of it. The door into the building hung loosely on its hinges, so no break-in was required.
The rent must be the lowest to be found if there was not even a locked door to protect its inhabitants. That made perfect sense—Mondrian would not outlay any unnecessary money for the maintenance of his gang of boys and they would not know they deserved better. As well, a thief was likely to pass by a building such as this. After all, what could possibly be in there to take?
According to their information, they were going to the second floor.
Balthazar prayed the information was correct. If it was not, he’d personally ride to Crosby’s estate and strangle the little rogue who had given it out.
Everything hung on this one piece of information being right.
They moved single file up the stairs, pistols drawn.
On the second-floor landing, Balthazar held a hand up to stop their progress. In the silence, he listened.
There were only sounds coming from one room, and it sounded like boys.
He stealthily moved forward and pressed his ear to the thin door.
“You never saw anything so funny in your life. They think we’re gonna act out some kind of love charade, we drop the older one at the party, and then off we go!”
“You stole a lady though,” another voice said. “Ain’t you gonna get hanged if they catch you?”
“I ain’t gonna get caught. Mr. M says there’s no way we get caught, he’s got them locked up right and tight at his own place and nobody knows where he lives.”
“You know.”
“’Course I know, you puddin’ brain. Nobody what’s not in on it knows. Anyhow, me and Mason are gonna get paid five pounds. Five pounds each, mind.”
“Five pounds,” the other voice said in some wonder.
Balthazar had heard enough. He examined the door, which seemed more like a suggestion of a door than anything solid.
He used his shoulder to crash through it and raised his pistol before either one of the boys could try for a window.
“Don’t make a move,” he said, as Hamill, Darden and Van Doren piled in after him, weapons raised.
By the looks on the two boys’ faces, he did not think they imagined fighting off four armed men who were twice their size.
“Where has Lady Rosalind been taken?”
“I don’t know,” the first boy said.
“Just tell ’im, Barney, afore he kills us both!” the other boy said.
