The shops she passed were open for business; people passed her on the street, giving her second glances and raised eyebrows. She was walking alone on the streets of London. Not good. She would have preferred to hire a hack, but short of a few farthings, she had given every coin she had to her brother, leaving her without enough for the fare.
Despite her love for long, solitary walks in the country, she understood that in Town, a lady never walked alone. She considered for a moment returning to the chocolate shop to produce the letter but thought better of it. The store might not be safe. She was certain she did not know all the intrigue surrounding this letter, but she was wary someone may not wish her to speak of it later. No, she must meet the Candyman in a more neutral place, and it certainly was not going to be at some public house of his choosing.
A small shape caught her eye as it darted into a doorway near her.
"Jem? Is that you?"
The thin urchin emerged from the doorway, glancing around nervously.
"Have you been following me?"
Jem stepped closer to her and nodded. "What's you doing out on the streets alone, milady?"
Genie sighed. Chastised for lack of propriety by a street urchin. "I need to deliver a letter. You know the chocolate shop you recommended to me as having a moneylender?"
The boy's eyes widened and he nodded.
"Could you deliver a message to the Candyman? Tell him I have what he was looking for and I will meet him at Hookham's Lending Library. Do you understand?"
Jem's eyes remained wide, and he nodded but remained where he was.
"Oh, of course," said Genie rummaging through her reticule and pulling out one of her few farthings. "You would like a treat from the shop." She held out the coin but the boy did not take it. "Is something the matter?"
"Are you sure you want me to go to the chocolate shop?" asked the boy.
"Yes. Is something wrong?"
"I don't like the Candyman," said Jem in a low voice, head down.
"I can always go myself-"
"No! I'll go." Jem turned on his heel and raced down the street. The coin Genie had offered still rested in her hand.
***
Genie waited impatiently in Hookham's library. The Candyman had not come. She had thought for certain he would arrive, given how much he wanted the envelope in her reticule, but it had not come to pass. Genie began to wonder how long she should wait and how she was going to return home.
The walk to Hookham's had not been smooth. Her unchaperoned presence had drawn more attention than she wished to garner. She had drawn looks of censure from older matrons, whistles from common laborers, and rude comments from several dandies. One of these set had followed her into Hookham's and was even now sitting in plain sight with a wolfish grin on his face. She did not relish stepping outside the relative protection of the library.
The bell at the door rang softly and Genie turned her attention, hoping the Candyman would arrive to put this entire situation behind her. Genie gritted her teeth in recognition. It was Mr. Blakely.
Genie turned away and pretended to read a book, but he walked over to her.
"Good afternoon, Miss Talbot." Mr. Blakely sat in a chair next to her.
Genie did not look up or acknowledge him in any way, hoping by sheer neglect to make him somehow disappear.
"I am glad I have seen you." Blakely leaned forward, speaking softly. "I wish you to know how sorry I am for our disagreement."
Genie glanced over the top of the book at him. "Sorry enough to forgive my brother's debt?"
Blakely colored slightly. "No, I mean … it is not in my power."
"Good day, Mr. Blakely. I can have nothing more to say to you."
"Wait, you misunderstand me. I was contacted by the Candyman who indicated you had negotiated terms and he was going to pay off your brother's debt. He asked me to meet you both here and bring a letter of forgiveness for the debt."
Mr. Blakely pulled a sealed letter from his breast coat pocket. Genie's eyes followed the letter. It was everything she wanted.
"Do you know when he will arrive?" she asked, her pulse starting to quicken. She was so close to saving her brother and being done with it.
Mr. Blakely inspected his pocket watch. "He should have been here by now. I do not know what has kept him."
Genie sat primly on the edge of her seat. She wished the Candyman would arrive soon, so she could forget she ever met Mr. Blakely.
"I suppose I could stop by the shop and see what has detained him."
"Hey, gent." The ogling dandy strode up to Mr. Blakely. "I found this ladybird first. She's coming home with me if she's leaving with anyone."
Mr. Blakely rose slowly from his chair, staring down the dandy. "You have made a grave error in judgment. You will apologize immediately to the lady or I will meet you at dawn."
The smirk on the dandy's face slid into gaping fear. "I-I am sorry. I do apologize. Thought you were someone else." He retreated and left the library with due speed.
"Thank you," Genie breathed. Even though Blakely was more interested in money than her, it did appear he was still gentleman enough to have a care for her reputation.
"Think nothing of it. I cannot imagine why he would target you to suffer his rudeness."
"I walked here without my maid," admitted Genie.
"Oh, my dear girl. I do hope you have not suffered any rough language."
"I shall survive."
"Let me take you home at once." Blakely held out his arm and Genie stood and took it.
"I would like to settle our business," said Genie.
"Yes, of course. If you have whatever it is you need to give to him, let us go at once."
Genie hesitated but nodded. It would be best to get the business completed and she did not wish to walk back home by herself. Blakely had every incentive to see her deliver the letter to the Candyman. All he wanted was the money, and she was his ticket to getting paid. She figured he would be happy to keep her safe at least until he got his money. If he decided to abandon her at the chocolate shop, she could always walk herself home. It would be only slightly longer than walking home from Hookham's and at least the business would be resolved, even if she had to endure glares and the occasional lewd comment to do it.
Blakely helped her into his coach and gave the direction to his driver. Genie hoped the journey would not be long. It was impossible to make conversation with the man who was the cause of so much distress, even if he was trying to be pleasant.
"Come to think of it, there is no real need for you to come inside," said Blakely mildly. "I can handle the details if you wish. You wait in the carriage."
"I should like to ensure everything is completed," said Genie as the coach rolled to a stop in front of the chocolate shop.
"I suggest we trade envelopes. You hold this, which declares your brother's debts cleared and I will take in your envelope to the Candyman. If everything is fine, I will take you home."
Genie hesitated. If the Candyman opened the envelope, he would certainly discover all was not fine. Yet she could not see how standing before him would improve her situation.
"Yes, all right." She accepted the letter from him and placed it in her reticule, pulling out the letter with the red seal. When she removed it from her bag, her last farthing caught on the seal and fell to the floor of the coach.
Blakely took the sealed letter with a wide grin and bent down to pick up the coin. "Here, allow me." He tried to pick up the coin but finding it too difficult with gloves, he whisked off one of the gloves and picked up the coin holding it out to her.
Genie held out her hand, but as he gave the coin to her, she noticed his hands, covered in red scars. She had seen those hands before. She stared at Blakely's face; it couldn't be, and yet, she could see it now.
Blakely narrowed his eyes. "On second thought, you had better come in with me."
Genie shook her head.
"Oh, but I insist." Blakely pulled a small, dark handkerchief from his pocket.
Genie dove for the door on the opposite side but was caught from behind and pulled back into the coach. Something went over her mouth, her lungs burned, and everything went dark.
***
"Wake up!"
Genie awoke in a dark place with a damp chill to the air. She lifted her head slowly, only to find she was tied to a chair. Around her was blackness, a single lantern on a table the only light.
"Where is it?" demanded Blakely. "Where is the code? I told you to bring me the letter with the red seal in the duke's safe!"
Genie tested her bounds, but she was tied securely. "You are the Candyman, the moneylender!"
"And you are too smart for your own good."
"But why? Why wear a disguise and pretend to be a moneylender. What kind of a gentleman are you?"
Blakely smiled. "I am no gentleman at all."