Page 101 of Stolen By the Heartless Duke
“What are we doing here?”
“I require insurance.”
Before she could ask what that meant, Hector stepped down from the carriage. The street stood quiet. Only one lamp burned beside the entrance.
He climbed the front steps and knocked. A sleepy footman answered almost immediately. “Your Grace.”
“I need this delivered to Lord Redforth at once.”
The folded note disappeared into the servant’s hand. “Immediately?”
“Immediately.”
“Very good, Your Grace.”
After that, Hector returned to the carriage.
“I asked him to meet us at the warehouse. He’ll bring men he trusts.”
“You think we’ll need them.”
Hector paused. “I hope we won’t.”
“But you expect we might.”
He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked out toward the dark streets stretching ahead. “If Strachan truly is inside… I would rather have help arriving too early than too late.”
Jane nodded solemnly. “I agree.”
The carriage lurched forward once more. This time, toward the eastern edge of London. Neither spoke for several minutes. Outside, the city gradually changed. Elegant terraces gave way to narrower streets.
Together they fell silent again as the carriage disappeared into the darkness, carrying them toward the first real chance they had ever had of finding the men they had been searching for.
Chapter Fourteen
The carriage slowed to a crawl as the last traces of London gave way to open stretches of road broken by clusters of weathered warehouses and neglected docks.
Moonlight spilled across the Thames in fractured ribbons, turning the sluggish water into polished silver. The rhythmic clatter of the horses’ hooves became the only sound for several moments.
Hector glanced through the narrow carriage window. “There.”
He hit the roof of the carriage, and the driver followed his instruction without a word.
A squat brick warehouse stood apart from the others, its walls stained by decades of soot and river mist. Once, it had likely bustled with merchants hauling crates from barges moored along the riverbank. Now it looked forgotten, its roof sagging slightly in the middle and several upper windows boarded shut.
At least, that was how it appeared. Hector knew better. The building was too isolated. And according to Hale’s information, far too well guarded for an abandoned warehouse.
The carriage rolled another hundred yards before stopping behind a cluster of neglected sheds.
The driver climbed down. “We’ve arrived, Your Grace.”
Hector nodded. “Remain here.”
He stepped from the carriage first before turning to offer Jane his hand. She accepted it without hesitation.
The instant her boots touched the ground, she pulled her hood farther over her hair and looked toward the looming warehouse.
“So, that’s the place?”
