Page 91 of The Pursuit of Mrs. Pennyworth
“As much as she loves her little Betsy, she has nothing good to say about the girl’s father. I’m sure if she can help in any way, she will.” He climbed to his feet. “If you want to speak with her now, I’ll take you there. I just came by to browse the bookshelves.” He jerked his thumb in the direction of the bookstore. “Can’t afford to buy anything.”
They walked the mile and a half from the center of Melbourne Station to Mr. Adams’s house. The older gentleman kept up a constant stream of comments on the town, his granddaughter, and her little Betsy.
They approached a comfortable cottage. A young woman sat out front, holding a baby about a year old in her lap. Both were bundled up for the cold weather in worn coats. “Hi grandpa. Did you fetch the potatoes?”
“Yes, I did, Miss Molly.” He held up the sack he’d carried with him and opened the wooden gate. “Molly, this here is Mr. Baker. He is looking for information about Barton.”
Molly’s nose wrinkled as if she suddenly had a whiff of something nasty. “I prefer not to speak of the dreadful man, even if he owns this entire town.”
Mr. Adams moved past the bench where Molly sat. “I’ll leave you two to discuss whatever it is Mr. Baker came all the way from London for.”
Molly smoothed her skirts and adjusted the baby’s cap. “What is it I can help you with, Mr. Baker?”
“Do you remember a woman named Miss Charlotte Reading?”
Molly stiffened and her lips pursed. “No, sir. I don’t remember her.”
He reached into his jacket pocket and took out a copy of the warrant. “I find that strange because according to this paper, you were the one who made charges against her that you found a very valuable necklace under her mattress.”
The girl turned pale, and her eyes grew wide. “I don’t remember that.”
“Are you sure, Molly? You don’t remember making these charges?”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she shook her head.
Elliot decided to use another tactic. “You have a lovely little girl there. What is her name?”
Molly smiled, her plain face turning quite lovely as she gazed at her baby. “Betsy.”
The child smiled in his direction, two tiny teeth making an appearance. “How old is she?”
“She just turned one year a month ago.” A mother’s pride filled the girl’s face.
“I’ll bet her papa is very proud of her.” He knew he might be causing the girl pain, but she’d caused a great deal of pain for Charlotte with her false charges.
As if a cloud moved over the sun, Molly’s expression grew grim as she fussed with the baby’s blanket. “No, sir. Her papa has never seen her.”
He dipped his head to look into her eyes. “Is Lord Barton her papa?”
She sucked in a breath. “Grandpapa told you?”
“Yes, he did. And I assume from what you’ve said that Lord Barton has not supported you in any way?”
Tears filled her eyes. “I was most foolish, Mr. Baker. He promised me all sorts of things, but once I learned Betsy was on the way, he turned me out with no references.”
“Are you sure you want to protect someone like that, Molly?”
She hesitated, and then said, “Lord Barton told me if I didn’t say I found that necklace in Miss Reading’s room that he would turn me out.” She gave a bitter laugh. “He did that, anyway.”
“Would you be willing to speak to the magistrate and explain that you didn’t find that necklace in her room?”
Her eyes grew wide and she sucked in a breath. “Lord Barton said if I told anyone, I would be arrested for filing a false police report, and would go to jail. If I did, what would happen to Betsy? Grandmama and Grandpapa are too old to take care of her.” She dabbed the corner of her eyes with the edge of the worn blanket. “Besides, no police officer or judge in this town would go against Lord Barton. I’m afraid Miss Reading’s case is a lost cause.”
Lord Barton might be somebody important, but Elliot had contacts, too. “If I could have you speak with someone who could guarantee that you would receive no punishment for what you did, would you be willing to deny the charges you made two years ago?”
She chewed her lip, studying him. “But once I did that Lord Barton would make sure something terrible happened to me and my grandparents.”
Elliot leaned his forearms on his thighs. “What if I promised you a job in a very pleasant household in London, with a place for your child to be raised with you?”
She chewed her lip. “What about Grandmama and Grandpapa? He would hurt them, I am sure.” He was probably overstepping by offering the girl a job in Charlotte’s house, but if everything went as he planned, it would soon be his house, too. “I will see that your grandparents are taken care of, as well.” Hell, they could all work for him and Charlotte.
He needed to get this mess straightened out and have his fiancée released from jail and into his arms.
For good.
