Page 73 of A Stormy Season

“No.”

Her heart seemed to have stopped as she waited for him to say something more.

Finally, he said, “We have been searching for a long time and you must be tired. Would you like to take a drive with me?”

“I have been enjoying the search, but a drive sounds very pleasant.”

As they went to collect their gloves and hats and jackets, she noticed how attentive he was, how gentle while he helped her with her pelisse and waited for her to tie her bonnet’s ribbon under her chin. When she compared him to how Lord Hampstead had treated his wife and her sister the night before, she realized that Luke was nothing like him. But he was a lot like her brother Henry.

Just as he was about to open the door for her, Jane stopped him.

“How many carriages do you keep here in London?”

“There are two carriages in the mews, the coach and a landau.”

“Which one did Anne use most often?”

“The landau. It was her favorite.” He frowned slightly.

“Let us take the landau. We can see if there are any hiding places inside it—unless you had rather not.” She suddenly realized he probably had bad memories regarding Anne’s favorite carriage.

“I think it is a good idea. In fact, I should have thought of it sooner. The landau hasn’t been driven since—since she died.”

Luke ordered the landau brought round to the front of the house and they soon were inside with the top down, as the weather was finally improved—cold, but no longer raining.

“Just to let you know,” Luke said, speaking first, “I have brought along a pistol.” He reached inside his coat and showed her the silver handle of a gun. “Under the circumstances, I decided to carry one with me when I leave home.”

“That is probably a good idea,” Jane said, “under the circumstances.”

As the carriage was moving along at a jaunty pace, Jane happened to glance toward the sidewalk. “Lenoir! That looks like Lenoir!”

She pointed frantically and Luke strained to look.

“He’s standing right there on the street.”

“I believe it was Lenoir.” Luke moved to sit down on the cushion next to Jane.

“He was looking straight at us.” Jane’s shoulders suddenly felt tense, exactly how she’d felt after the kidnapping and the attempted kidnapping in Hertfordshire.

Luke instructed the driver to head toward the Gilchrist townhouse so he could inform Henry of Lenoir’s whereabouts. Then he sat back down beside Jane.

“Don’t worry. All is well. We’re past him now, and I am prepared for anything he might try.” His hand went up to rest on his coat where the gun was hidden.

Luke was sitting so close his arm was pressed against hers. But she didn’t mind. Part of her wished he would put his arm around her. But if they ever wanted this to be over, they had to find that list.

“Let’s look under the seats.” Jane stood in the jostling carriage and lifted the seat cushion where Luke had just been sitting. She drew out a blanket. Underneath that was a warming pan, but there was nothing else.

Luke helped her put the things back and replace the cushion, then they turned and lifted their seat cushion.

Inside was nothing except a piece of paper, folded like a letter, with the initials “L. W.” written on the outside.

~ ~ ~

Luke snatched up the piece of paper with his initials on it, then let the seat fall back into place. He unfolded the paper and sat down.

His breath was stuck in his throat. He quickly scanned the words on the page, distinctly written in Anne’s dramatic, sloping hand.

It was a list of names, many of them familiar names of Members of Parliament, business owners, and at least one constable. There was not one other thing on the paper. Only names.