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“I am not taking you anywhere, sweets. But there is a captain on the ship we are headed to who will be sure you remain locked up until you arrive at The Penguin Brothel in Australia.”
Black dots danced in her eyes until complete darkness took over and she slumped to the floor.
16
Marcus swung his leg over his horse and handed the reins to the groom at the mews behind the row of stores where Once Upon a Book was located. He hoped to entice Lizbeth to join him for lunch.
Since Lizbeth had accepted his marriage proposal, his spirits have never been higher. He was no fool and knew they had to go a long way before she would be comfortable with the marriage bed, but as he’d said many times, he was patient. And Lizbeth was well worth waiting for.
She was everything he would ever want in a wife. Aside from her beauty and physical appeal, she was smart, talented, sweet, and caring. She would be a wonderful mother when the time came.
He was whistling when he opened the door to the bookstore. Mr. Finch hurried up to him, anxiety written all over his face. “Thank goodness you are here, Mr. Mallory. I was about to see if I could find someone to send a note to you.”
A spasm of panic hit him, and he looked around the store for Lizbeth. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m not absolutely certain something is wrong, but I am concerned. Miss Davenport left about an hour ago to walk to the end of the street where there is a café that she frequents to buy soup. However—”
Before the man had finished, Marcus was out the door and down the street. He came to a sliding stop in front of the café and flung the door open to see Stanley Maxim, the man Marcus was paying to follow Lizbeth, sitting in a chair with a bandage around his head, talking to Dr. Stevens. The panic increased. “What happened?” he asked the doctor.
Dr. Stevens offered him a warm smile. “Hello Mr. Mallory. Is this man a friend of yours? Because he needs—”
Marcus turned his attention to Maxim. “Where’s Miss Davenport?”
The doctor was wise enough to remain silent as Maxim began to speak. “Two men grabbed her, right in front of my eyes. She didn’t realize I was there to help her, and she kicked out at me and knocked me to the pavement where I smacked my head and was knocked out. When I woke up, they were gone.”
“Bloody hell!”
“May I help?” Dr. Stevens said.
“No. But thank you. Perhaps you can just see that Mr. Maxim gets home? I have an emergency on my hands.” No matter how hard Marcus fought the panic, it was beginning to overwhelm him. He had to calm down, get her back. He returned to the mews, grabbed his horse and headed for Mrs. O’Leary’s boarding house.
He pulled the reins to stop in front of the house and jumped off, leaving the animal at the edge of the pavement, knowing his well-trained horse would just stand there. Marcus bounded up the steps, shouting for Mrs. O’Leary, and banging on the door until it was finally opened by the startled doorman.
The same man from when he and Lizbeth had visited before glared at him. However, he was not in the mood for any sort of delay. He pushed his way in, looking around. “Where is Mrs. O’Leary?”
“Excuse me, sir—”
Marcus raced past him, shouting for Mrs. O’Leary. She wasn’t in any of the rooms on the ground floor, but completely oblivious to the man at the door’s threats, he sprinted up the stairs to the first floor, calling her name.
The woman came out of one of the bedrooms, her eyes wide at seeing him opening and closing doors. “Mr. Mallory, I must ask you to leave. This is a respectable women’s boarding house and we do not allow men on this floor.”
He grabbed her by the arm and pushed her back into the room she just left. “Someone took Miss Davenport. I want names, locations. Now!”
She drew herself up and glared at him. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
He’d never put his hands on a woman in anger in his entire life, but there was simply too much at stake. He pushed her up against the wall, his forearm against her throat. “I will kill you if you don’t help me.” God help him, he meant it, too.
She swallowed and gave a quick nod.
He leaned in farther. “Speak.”
Her face reddened. “Barton took her to Bristol.”
He frowned. “Bristol?”
“Yes. He’s putting her on a ship there to Australia.”
Australia? “Which ship? And when does it leave?”
