Cast in Ice (20 page)

“The two men who run
The Dove
, as it is called, do not own the gaming hell. They only manage it.”

“Who is the owner?”

“The owner is either Lord Cavanaugh, or Lord Bainburn.”

His Grace and Lord Benjamin looked at each other in stunned surprise. When the Duke of Townsend turned back, Nick saw the fury in his eyes.

“Are you sure?” His Grace demanded.

“Whether the owner knows that the club is being used to traffic underage sex or not, isn’t known.”

“That doesn’t matter,” His Grace said, slamming his fist on the arm of his chair. “He
should
know. He should know exactly what goes on at each of his holdings. That especially includes a club of this kind.”

“It could be,” Nick continued, “that he prefers not to know. The reason for the club is probably to provide immense income. Both Lord Cavenaugh and Lord Bainburn are in need of the massive income
The Dove
provides.”

“Are you saying that Cavenaugh and Bainburn are in financial difficulties?”

Nick shifted his gaze to where Mack sat. He wasn’t sure how much his supervisor wanted him to reveal. Mack’s nod gave him his answer.

“I can’t say as to the exact amount of their need, but I’ve discovered that they both require a great deal of money on a daily basis.”

“Let me guess,” Lord Benjamin said. “Lord Bainburn needs the money to cover his son’s out-of-control gambling habit, as well as the thousands of pounds he spends annually on jewels and trinkets for his mistress. Then, there’s also his penchant for the latest fashions, both in clothing and in horses.”

Nick nodded. “From what I’ve discovered, if Bainburn doesn’t rein in his son soon, the boy will land his father in debtor’s prison.”

“And Cavanaugh?” His Grace asked.

“He is in the same situation. Only it’s not his son that overspends. It’s his wife and four daughters. That, plus the lamentable fact that none of his daughters are considered enviable catches. This is the second Season for the younger two daughters, and the third Season for the older two. According to the gossip mills, all that will relieve him from having one or all of them under his roof for the rest of his life is providing them with a very large dowry.”

“Have you deduced which of the two is the more likely owner?” Lord Benjamin asked.

Nick looked at Mack again to get his approval. When he nodded his consent, Nick replied, “Viscount Cavenaugh.”

The Duke of Townsend’s glare turned murderous. “I take it you have a plan to prove what you suspect,” His Grace said.

“Yes, but we wanted you to be aware that one of the men in your venture is involved in a scandal.”

“Scandal be damned!” His Grace bellowed. “The sale of innocent young girls must be stopped. There is no excuse for allowing something so reprehensible to continue.”

“We were sure you would feel that way,” Mack said.

“I assure you, I do. So, do you have a plan to bring this unsavory reprobate out of the shadows?”

“We do,” Mack Wallace said. “Although there are some risks involved.”

“I will take any risk necessary,” His Grace said.

“The risk will not involve you,” Mack Wallace said. “But my men. Mr. Stillman to be precise. He will be the one at risk.”

. . .

Winnie stood with her back pressed against the wall of the adjoining room while Mack Wallace and his brigadesmen explained what they intended to do to flush out the owner of
The Soiled Dove
.

What did Mack Wallace mean when he said that Nick was the only one who would be in danger? How could Nick even think of returning to
The Soiled Dove
? Didn’t he realize that Ellsworth and Willard would recognize him, and take great pleasure in killing him?

Winnie listened more closely while the men talked.

“What is your plan?” her father asked.

“We’d like to enlist your son’s assistance in getting Lord Cavanaugh to
The Dove
.”

“Of course,” Benjamin answered. “Anything I can do to help.”

“In order to determine how involved Cavanaugh is in the running of
The Dove
, we need him to witness what Ellsworth and Willard have turned the club into.”

“Do you think it is possible Cavanaugh doesn’t know?” her father asked.

“It’s possible. If he’s satisfied with the profits
The Dove
provides, he may not care to know how his employees earn the profit he receives.”

“How will you determine how involved he is? What exactly is it you want him to witness?” her brother asked.

“The auctions, sir. The auctions
The Dove
is reported to hold to sell innocent young girls for the sexual pleasures of men willing to pay exorbitant amounts. And, Mr. Stillman being subjected to Ellsworth’s whip,” Mack Wallace answered, as if one of his brigadesmen being whipped was a sacrifice he expected his employees to make.

A painful knot lodged in Winnie’s stomach. Didn’t Mack Wallace realize how deadly Basil Ellsworth was with his whip? Didn’t he realize the danger Nick would be in? Didn’t he realize that if Ellsworth recognized Nick, he might not survive the beating?

“What exactly do you expect will happen?” her father asked.

“Confirmation of how much Cavanaugh knows. Enough proof to hand him over to the authorities.”

“When did you want this to happen?” her brother asked. She heard the determination in Benjamin’s voice. Heard his resolve to do whatever was necessary to help in any way he could.

“Tomorrow night,” Mack Wallace answered.

Winnie didn’t listen to the rest of the conversation. She was too desperate to find a way to save Nick from having to go in the box with Ellsworth.

Somehow, she knew if Ellsworth had another chance to use his whip on Nick, Nick wouldn’t survive.

Winnie could scarcely enjoy the ball her father was giving to announce Anne’s betrothal to Lord Montroy. Worry over Nick and what might happen to him had consumed her thoughts every minute since she’d heard Mack Wallace’s plan to expose the owner of
The Dove
.

Even the latest demand for money that arrived that afternoon paled in comparison to what might happen tomorrow night when Ellsworth got Nick into the box.

Winnie scanned the room. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Nick walking toward her.

Her first instinct was to turn and walk away, but a greater impulse forced her to stay where she was. Until this morning, it had been more than three weeks since she’d seen him. Three weeks since he’d held her.

Three weeks since she’d given him her body.

Her heart ached with a desperation to tell him that she knew what they planned; that she’d overheard their conversation. Every fiber of her being urged her to tell him not to chance going near Basil Ellsworth again. The voice inside her wanted to tell him that there had to be another way. That they would search until they formed another plan that would force Lord Cavanaugh to reveal how much of what was happening at
The Dove
he was aware of.

But she didn’t know what that plan might be.

She watched as Nick came close, then stopped in front of her.

“Good evening, Lady Winnifred.”

He looked down on her, his dark eyes gleaming, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. The two creases on his cheeks deepened.

Winnie’s heart shifted in her breast. “Mr. Stillman. Thank you for coming.”

“Your father issued a special invitation this morning. I could hardly refuse.”

“Have you been well?” she asked.

His smile broadened. “Yes, thank you. And you?”

“Very well. Thank you for asking.”

Winnie couldn’t shift her gaze away from him. And he didn’t seem able to look away from her. Yet neither of them spoke. It was as if they’d gone so long without seeing each other they were content with gazing at one another. Finally, Nick spoke.

“Walk with me.” He held out his hand. “We need to talk.”

Winnie placed her hand on his arm and walked with him through the open doors that led to the terrace. When they reached the steps descending to the garden, Nick didn’t stop, but led her down the three steps.

Winnie knew it wasn’t wise to go so far away from the house, but she would have followed him to the end of the earth if he’d led her there.

When they reached a small pond in the center of the garden, he stopped. “Why did you refuse to see me, Winnie?”

Winnie took several big breaths. What could she say to him? How could she explain? “Because I thought it would be best if we didn’t see each other again. I thought I could forget you if I didn’t see you for a while.”

“Did it work?”

She clutched her hands in front of her and shook her head. “I can’t stop thinking of you, Nick. I can’t stop wondering where you are. What you’re doing. Whether or not you’re in danger.” She turned away from him before he saw the wetness in her eyes and looked out over the water. “I wondered if your back had healed. If you had someone to put salve on it. If it pained you much.”

“Do you know what I wondered?” He stepped up behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I wondered if you thought of me a fraction as much as I thought of you. If my face appeared every time you closed your eyes, like your face appeared to me. If you were able to feel my lips against yours like I felt yours against mine. But most of all, if you relived the magical time we made love as often as I did.”

Nick brought her up against him. “I’ve missed you, Winnie. The last three weeks have been the longest, hardest weeks of my life.”

A tiny cry that she couldn’t stop escaped into the nighttime darkness.

He turned her in his arms and she went willingly. He lowered his head and she met him halfway. He pressed his lips against hers and she answered his kiss with a desperation that frightened her.

She’d dreamed of being in his arms again. Dreamed of his kisses. Every warning she’d issued to herself flew away on the wind. Maybe tomorrow she’d be strong enough to remember the threat he was to her. Maybe in a few days she’d have the courage to walk away from him. Maybe next week she’d be brave enough to remember the danger he posed to her mother, and to her family, and she’d have the resolve to turn her back on him.

But not now. Not tonight. Not until she knew he’d be safe.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him close to her. This is what she’d waited for. This is what she’d craved since she’d left him. This is what she’d been desperate to experience again. What she wasn’t sure she could live without.

He kissed her again. Then again. Then he lifted his mouth from hers and nestled her against him.

“Don’t ever do that to me again, Winnie. I’m not sure I can survive thinking I’d lost you.”

Winnie stayed in his arms, but she didn’t answer him. She couldn’t. He would survive losing her. Somehow. Just as she’d survive losing him. Just not now. Not tonight. Or tomorrow. But soon.

As soon as she made sure Nick was no longer in danger. As soon as he’d accomplished his goal of shutting
The Soiled Dove
down, and had put Ellsworth and Willard where they could never hurt anyone again.

“I need to return,” she said. “Father will announce Anne’s betrothal soon.”

He held out his arm and she placed her hand on it. He placed his palm over her hand and gently squeezed her fingers.

They walked back into the ballroom just as the Duke of Townsend was escorting Anne to the dais. The Earl of Montroy followed, and stood beside Anne as their father announced their betrothal.

The crowd cheered at the end of her father’s speech, and the orchestra struck a waltz.

Lord Montroy led his intended to the dance floor and the crowd gave them several minutes as the center of attention before they joined them.

“May I have this dance?” he asked.

Winnie couldn’t refuse him. She knew she should, but she couldn’t. For just this once, she’d allow herself to think that this is what her life would be like if her mother weren’t a murderer. She’d allow herself to believe that tonight was a fairytale night, and tomorrow would never come. That
The Soiled Dove
didn’t exist and that she’d thought of a way to keep him safe.

But her mother was guilty of murder. And tomorrow night Nick would put himself in danger to destroy the men that ran
The Dove
. And she didn’t have a plan in mind to stop it from happening.

When the dance ended, Nick escorted her to where Benjamin and Rachael stood at the side of the room. She tried to join in their conversation, but her heart ached too much to pretend nothing was wrong. She excused herself and went up to the retiring room, desperately needing to be alone for a few minutes.

The room was empty, as was a small adjoining room with a settee large enough for someone to lie down if they felt ill. Winnie sat down, knowing if someone did come into the first room, they probably wouldn’t even notice she was there.

It wasn’t long before the door opened and a group of females entered the first room. Their laughter and gaiety made the ache in her breast hurt all the more.

She didn’t know who the females were, and was determined to ignore them—until they mentioned
The Soiled Dove
.

“Should we attend
The Dove
tonight, or wait until tomorrow night?” one of them asked.

Winnie wasn’t sure, but she thought the speaker was Lady Blanche, the Earl of Shurman’s daughter.

“No, not tonight. My dance card is full and I don’t want leave until the very last minute. Lord Carlyle asked for the last set.”

“I don’t want to risk going there tonight, either,” a second female said. “Viscount Humphrey asked to partner me for the last set, and I wouldn’t dream of missing the opportunity to dance with him.”

Winnie was certain the speaker was Miss Constance Fortney. The nasal tone to her voice left little room for doubt.

“I can’t go tonight, either, but I’m going tomorrow night, whether any of you go or not. I saw the most gorgeous bonnet in Madam Justine’s window and simply must have it. The only way I’ll get it is if I earn enough money at the tables.”

Winnie sat up. Her heart beat a steady rhythm in her chest. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she recognized the voice.

“What’s the matter, Emmaline? Did your father put a halt to your spending?” Constance Fortney asked on a giggle.

“Yes. He and Mother had words when the bills came for the new gowns Mother ordered for tonight’s ball. Father said we had enough gowns to attire half of London Society, and Mother argued that we couldn’t possibly be seen at the Duke of Townsend’s ball in gowns we’d worn before.”

“Who won the argument?” Lady Blanche asked.

“Mother, of course.”

“Of course,” Constance Fortney said. “Everyone knows Lord Cavanaugh can’t deny his daughters anything.”

“That’s usually the case,” Lady Emmaline said. “But now isn’t the time to push him on the matter. And I simply must have that bonnet. It’s too special to think of anyone else wearing it.”

“Then we’ll meet at
The Dove
tomorrow night,” Lady Blanche said. “Hopefully your luck will be better than the last time you were there, Emmaline. You almost lost more than you could cover.”

“I have more incentive,” the Earl of Cavanaugh’s daughter said as the trio headed for the door. “I have to win enough to buy that bonnet.”

Winnie sat where she was for several minutes. She’d been given a way to keep Nick from facing Ellsworth in the box.

If only she were brave enough to risk doing what her plan required.