Sara's brows drew together as she tried to puzzle out what might have happened. "It doesn't seem possible that Charles could have known that Eliza was coming here to see me. And if he did, surely he would have stopped her himself or sent a servant, not brought a man from the other side of London."
"What if it wasn't Miss Eliza they were after?" Jenny asked miserably. "You said she and I are about the same height and coloring. What if they thought she was me? I always knew Weldon would be furious that I ran away, but it didn't seem likely he'd ever find out where I'd gone. But maybe he did and sent a couple of his guards to bring me back. Mrs. Kent would know they had the wrong girl, but would probably keep her anyhow. She's always looking for new girls."
The maid swallowed hard. "I wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even Weldon's daughter."
Sara stood. "Come. We must go to my husband. He will know what to do.''
Neither Sara nor Jenny spoke during the ten-minute ride to the house on Park Street. Even though Sara didn't want to believe that Eliza had been taken to Mrs. Kent's house, she had a horrible intuition that was exactly what had happened. The girl would not be the first innocent victim of the struggle between Mikahl and Weldon.
In spite of their estrangement, Sara did not doubt that Mikahl would rescue Eliza. Though he hated Weldon, he had already decided not to punish the child for her father's crimes.
She was so sure that her husband would solve the problem that it was a shock to arrive at the house and learn that he was not home. Neither was Benjamin Slade, who had returned to the city with his employer. The men had gone out together some hours earlier, leaving no word of where they had gone or when they would be back.
After a moment of feverish thought, Sara drew Jenny into the drawing room so they could talk privately. "Do you know exactly where Mrs. Kent's house is?" When Jenny nodded, Sara continued, "Then I'll go and bring Eliza home if they have her."
"You can't go there, Lady Sara!" Jenny said, horrified. "It's in one of the worst parts of the city."
"I must go, Jenny," Sara said, her voice calm. "I can't allow Eliza to be held captive in such a place. She has been there for hours, and the longer she stays, the greater the chance that something dreadful will happen to her." She bit her lip, unable to say out loud what might happen to the girl.
"But we don't even know if she is there," Jenny said desperately. "Really, my lady, you mustn't go."
"I won't go alone. I'll take one of the guards." Sara had a happy thought. "Better yet, Kuram. Didn't you say that he was there the night Mikahl took you from Mrs. Kent's house?"
"I suppose he could find it, but it's just too dangerous a place for a lady," Jenny said stubbornly.
"My cloak is plain and has a hood, so no one will know that I'm a lady," Sara said, impatient to be off. "A brothel is in the business of making money, so I'll take plenty of gold and ask to buy Eliza free. With Kuram along, I'll be safe enough. But there is no time to be lost. It's almost dinnertime, and I assume that evening is when a brothel is busiest."
Jenny nodded with reluctant agreement. "I'll go with you."
Sara considered the offer, for certainly Jenny knew more about such places than her mistress. But Mrs. Kent might recognize the girl and try to prevent her from leaving the house. The risk was too great to take.
"Stay here and explain to Mikahl what happened if he returns before I do," she said. "If something more needs to be done, he will know what." It was odd, Sara realized, to trust her husband to help her in spite of their estrangement. But trust him she did.
Though Jenny still looked unhappy, she agreed to stay. Kuram also had grave doubts about taking his master's wife to such a spot, but soon capitulated to Sara's urgency. Ten minutes later, Sara was heading for dockland in a small closed carriage, with Kuram and a driver outside on the box.
As the wheels rattled through the darkening streets of the city, she prayed that she would be in time to save Eliza from the horrors that Mikahl and Jenny had suffered.
* * *
Killing Peregrine was the key. Once the bastard was out of the way, Weldon could bluster his way out of any accusations that might be leveled against him. He would claim that the foreigner had forged evidence out of jealousy against a man who had been his wife's former suitor. Weldon still had enough influence to make sure that an investigation wouldn't go far.
But Peregrine would not be an easy man to kill, especially now that he was on his guard. For all his dangerous skills, Kane had already failed at the job, and Weldon was unsure where to turn next. A fire perhaps? Or find another marksman?