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Being with him tonight would be dangerous. She needed to stay in control. Although it was very improper for an unmarried woman such as herself to meet an eligible man in private, that was the only way to get answers. Tonight, she would make sure that nothing happened. Her family didn’t need her name caught in a scandal.
Chapter 7
The sky turned purpleand gold as the sun descended, making it appear as if God were painting again. God’s creations never failed to take Wayne’s breath away, especially this evening. Although he would love to just sit and watch the fading colors, he had work to do. Being a Bow Street Runner took up much of his time, and currently, he had one goal to reach. Tonight, he would discover what the Earl of Penrose was planning.
Over the years, the Bow Street Runners had collected information that some of the peerages were up to no good. One of those on the list of lords was none other than Harold Meyers. Wayne believed the earl to be too calculating and had too many secret meetings not to be involved in something illegal. After becoming intoxicated against his will and hearing that Regina had experienced the same feeling, Wayne could only conclude that Meyers was indeed involved with Opium.
It had been one hour since they left the boxing match. Thankfully, Jane and her mother were still out, and Regina did not stay much longer, either. Wayne visited briefly with Harold, giving Regina time to put some space between the Penrose estate and her home, mainly because Wayne would be very tempted to follow her home and try to get close to her again, which he could not do.
Once Wayne had reached the boarding house, he rushed to find his long, black coat, black knee boots, and black hat. He wanted to stay hidden as much as possible when he followed Harold. After all, what excuse could he give Jane’s father if caught?
Wayne hoped that he would find some proof of the earl’s criminal actions before the wedding. Becoming Jane’s husband wasnotan option.
He sat atop his horse in the thicket of trees near the Penrose estate, watching for the earl to leave. It relieved Wayne that he didn’t have to wait long. Harold rode his horse instead of taking a coach tonight. Wayne was certain the man did this so that nobody would suspect what he was doing.
Following from a distance, Wayne hoped the earl wouldn’t suspect he was watching from behind. Then again, Wayne learned one thing about the earl after studying him for so long. The man was arrogant and never admitted to doing anything wrong. The earl loved his daughter – and Regina nearly as much – but the man’s first love was making money and gaining power over everyone and everything. If the Bow Street Runners couldn’t break down Penrose’s growing empire, Wayne feared what might happen to Britain.
Shop owners in town were closing and locking their doors. Passing by one of his father’s jewelry stores, Wayne’s stomach tightened. In a few hours, he would meet Regina here. They would be alone. He already knew what happened when he and Regina were alone together, and his mind created images of what could possibly happen tonight and how thrilling it would be.
The rhythm of his heart thumped wildly as anticipation grew inside him. It was difficult not to let these feelings distract him from his duty as a Bow Street Runner since he had never felt this way before. He cursed the poison Harold had given him once more. Wayne still couldn’t decipher how the earl – or one ofthe boys– had given him this poison, but indeed, it had wrecked his whole world for twenty-four hours. Hopefully, the effects would wear off soon.
At long last, Harold headed down one of the back streets, leading toward the waterfront. Wayne knew this area well. The Bow Street Runners were always on the lookout for blackguards and crooks. Although most lords stayed far away from this section of town, it didn’t surprise him to see the earl moving in that direction.
Within fifteen minutes, the earl stopped his horse in front of an old warehouse. This particular building had caught fire two years ago, but there was only minimal damage. Thankfully, Britain’s trusty rain had kept the building from burning completely. The outside walls still protected the structure. However, the owners couldn’t afford to rebuild, and the place had been empty ever since.
Wayne stopped his horse and dismounted. Keeping the reins in his hand, he pulled the animal back into the shadows created by another warehouse used for shipping trade goods. As he watched the earl tie his horse to the post and walk into the abandoned building, Wayne hoped this would be the night he would make an arrest. If not, he prayed it would at least give him something to prove Harold was dabbling in illegal trade.
His intention for tonight’s action wasn’t to barge into the warehouse unannounced, waving his pistol around and making threats. Instead, he needed to study the earl. Once everything was collected and the proof was found, Wayne would enjoy arresting the man.
After ten minutes without seeing any light inside the building, he crept closer. Darkness hadn’t covered the land yet, but it was close. So, why hadn’t Harold lit the lantern yet?
Wayne tied his horse to the nearest tree before making his way toward the warehouse. He took careful steps not to place the weight of his foot down on something that might break and make a loud noise. As he neared the building, he pulled out his pistol, preparing for the worst, but hoping nothing would happen to make him have to use his weapon.
When he reached the side of the building, he pressed against the outer wall. Taking deep breaths, he listened to the sounds around him. Being this close to the water, splashes against the rocks or the docks were the loudest sounds he heard. A few men’s voices from the building not far from him caught his attention, but they left their warehouse, mounted their horses, and rode away.
Suddenly, there was a noise behind him. Whoever was here hadn’t been as light on their feet as Wayne had.
