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* * *
Ally fished several coins out of her reticule to pay the hansom cabbie.
“This ain’t the greatest area, milady,” the cabbie said. “You sure you want me leaving you here?”
“I will be quite fine, thank you.” Ally, a dark cloak covering her, handed him the coins, hoping the words she spoke were true. The area was poverty-stricken, not unlike where she had grown up. They had lived in town during her teens, rather than on the Longarry estate, which her father couldn’t afford to keep in repair. Ally had hoped never to see areas like this again in her lifetime. She wouldn’t have to, if she got through tonight. After she saved Sophie, she would marry Mr. Landon, and they would both be taken care of forever.
To be legal, the marriage would have to be consummated. She had looked forward to sleeping with Mr. Landon…until she had slept with Evan. She couldn’t imagine that the two would compare. Although she enjoyed her kisses with Mr. Landon, comparing his kisses to Evan’s was like comparing a coddled egg to the most decadent cheese soufflé.
Nothing to be done about that. She had made a decision, and she intended to see it through.
There were still a few hours until midnight. She would go to the address, look around, and find a good hiding place. She fingered the kitchen knife in her pocket. It wasn’t much, but it gave her a bit of confidence. Evan would show up at midnight or a bit before, and she would be here to help him if he needed her.
The cobbled street was littered with refuse and waste. Ally held a handkerchief to her face and breathed through her mouth. Rats scattered away from her, and tomcats strode the alley mewling and looking for females in season.
Yes, this was all too familiar to Ally. After tonight, though, this type of life would truly be in her past.
None of the doors of the building were open, though one window was broken. She walked toward it and touched the jagged glass. “Ouch!” She had not expected it to be quite so sharp. A bead of blood pearled on her fingertip.
Why would anyone bring her sister to such a godforsaken place? Who had Sophie?
Darkness surrounded Ally. Even if she had come here at high noon, she still would have felt the darkness. Neighborhoods like this were just dark.
Quick as lightning, a blur ran past her and grabbed her reticule.
“Wait!” Her feet started to move, but she rethought the action. She would never catch the perpetrator. She hadn’t brought much money with her, but how would she get back? She hadn’t really thought this out. Evan was right. She was impulsive. All she knew was that she had to rescue Sophie.
After all, this was her fault.
She found a spot on the side of the building where she was out of sight of the moonlight. She sat and waited.
* * *
Sophie was blindfolded and gagged again. They had placed her in a rickety old coach and they were now driving who knew where. Her heart thudded as fear barreled through her. If these people were part of a group against the publication and distribution of obscene literature, what did they plan to do with her?
Kidnapping her wouldn’t gain them anything. Perhaps they were just eliminating people who were associated with what they called obscene literature.
She gulped, refusing to let the fear overtake her. She would protect Ally at all costs. After all, she owed her.
The horses stopped, and Sophie was forced from the carriage. Her hands were bound, and she was still blindfolded and gagged. She was pulled and pushed forward into what she assumed was a dwelling.
* * *
Ally’s ears perked up at the low voices. She stole toward the front of the building, taking care to stay out of the light. A broken-down coach stopped, and two people—no, three people—emerged, one woman blindfolded and gagged.
Sophie!
Ally resisted the urge to cry out her sister’s name. A woman unlocked the door, and the two forced Sophie in.
Now what? Ally’s feet were glued to the ground. She had no idea what to do. What had she been thinking, coming here? Evan was right. She would just be in the way. Her eyes misted with tears.
Ally, don’t cry like a ninny. This is all your fault!
She readied to knock on the door and demand that they let Sophie go, to tell them that she was Alexandra. She again resisted her impulses. That would just give them two hostages instead of one. They would not let either of them go, and Evan would have to save them both. She could not do that to Evan, and she might end up putting Sophie in even more danger. She bit her lip. What to do?
She stood, hidden, until a large dark figure approached the dwelling. She cowered, fear coursing through her, until—Evan! He was all in black, his hair pulled back, a black hat upon his head. Had he truly come alone? Without even a horse and coach?
Against the side of the building, she fel
