Page 56 of A Stolen Heart

“If I do, then I need you on the outside to rescue us, not in there with me and caught. Besides, while I’m gone, I want you to question him about the job he was hired to do. Find out who hired him and why.”

Thorpe turned, cast one last icy glance at Peggoddy and stepped out of the carriage.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

SEBASTIAN STRODE RAPIDLY ACROSS THE street to the alleyway. He paused at the end of the long, dark corridor and looked down it cautiously, aware that Peggoddy could easily have given him directions that would land him right in a nest of his henchmen. However, he could make out no variation, no shadow along the blank wall until the darker indentation of a doorway halfway down.

Drawing his pistol out of his pocket and holding it at the ready, he made his way along the narrow pathway to the door. He was just about to ease the door open a crack when it opened, throwing a line of yellow light out, and he stepped back hastily. A girl came out, carrying a pail far too large for her, and poured out some water. She turned to go into the building, and Thorpe, who had pocketed his pistol, stepped up quickly behind her, grabbing her around the waist and immobilizing her arms. His other hand he clamped over her mouth to prevent a scream.

“I won’t harm you if you’ll be quiet. I only want information,” he whispered. “Do you understand?”

The girl nodded, her eyes wide with fright.

“If you will give me the information, I’ll give you money—more than you earn here in a month, I wager. Are you interested?”

Again the girl nodded, this time with less fear and more interest.

“All right. I’m going to take my hand away. You have to promise not to scream—because if you do, I will have to hurt you.”

At her firm nod, he released her mouth.

“Cor!” the girl whispered. “You scared a girl to death, you did.”

“Sorry.” A faint smile touched his lips. “Somehow I don’t think you’re one to scare easily. What’s your name?”

“Janet, sir.” Even in her fright, she recognized the tone of class and authority, and she responded to it.

“All right, Janet, I’m going to let you go, and we’ll talk.”

“Yes, sir.” He released her, and she turned to look at him. “Were you lyin’ about the ready?”

“No, indeed.” He fished out a gold coin and held it between his fingers. Janet’s eyes widened.

“Wot you want to know?”

“The whereabouts of a young lady. She was brought here by a man named Peggoddy in the last day or so. Beautiful.”

“Black ‘air?” the girl asked. “Funny talkin’?”

Relief flooded Sebastian. He had been worried that perhaps they had taken a wrong turn with Peggoddy, and that he was not speaking of Alexandra. “Yes. She is an American.”

“Aye, I seen ‘er. Peggoddy brought ‘er in t’other day. Stubborn sort.”

Sebastian couldn’t quite suppress a smile. “That would be her.”

“She’s ‘ere. Madam’s ‘olding ‘er till tonight. She’s got three lords wantin’ to bid on ‘er.”

Ice settled in the pit of his stomach. “Tonight? When?”

“In a ‘alf hour or so. She’s in there, gettin’ ‘er ready. I was just carryin’ down the water from ‘er bath.”

“Can you take me to her?”

“You goin’ to steal ‘er?” Janet asked, eyes great with curiosity.

Sebastian nodded. “She was stolen from me. Will you show me where she is?”

“It’ll be worth me ‘ide if old Mags finds out.”