She perused the area. Mr. Weston’s superior had begrudgingly agreed to his plan and sent four investigators, handpicked by Weston and Markham, to Hyde Park. The men were hidden in the dark behind several bushes. Winnifred scrutinized the area as closely as she could to ensure that the authorities did not give away their plan again as they had at Vauxhall Gardens.
“I can’t see them anywhere.” She finally confessed quietly. Seth slowly nodded his head as he followed her gaze.
“Neither can I. Good. Now we need to….”
“Papa!” Helena said and pointed to a spot in the distance. It was dark, the crescent moon stood high in the sky, but it gave little light. Neither did the stars, making the entire affair even more unnerving.
“We ought to have brought a lantern,” Seth said regretfully.
Winnie spotted several figures walking across the grass and then step onto the gravel pathway. There were four figures in total. At least four she could see. Winnie wondered if perhaps there were others hidden in the foliage. It would make sense for Elton to bring extra support. But then again, would a man like him want to admit that his family was snatched from under him? Perhaps that was the sort of thing a gang leader didn’t want his underlings to know.
Beside her, Seth gasped as he looked in the direction of the four figures.
“Rose…” He whispered. As their eyes got used to the darkness, and as the party before them approached ever closer, Winnie too could make out the shape of Lady Rose. She was a short woman with a beautiful, curvaceous figure. Winnifred always admired the way the young woman walked, with her hips swaying gracefully.
One of the figures before them walked precisely like that. Behind her was a tall fellow, much taller than anybody else in the group. She knew at once that this was Leo.
“Leo!” She called out and waved. The figure stopped but was promptly shoved forth by the fourth person, the man she assumed was Elton.
The group stopped a few steps away from Winnifred and Seth. And for the first time in almost a month, she had her eyes firmly cast upon her brother’s face.
He looked thinner than he had before he disappeared, even in the dim light of the stars. His shoulders were slumped forward, but he appeared uninjured. The same was true for Rose.
“Frances! There you are, my dear. Are you injured? Have they touched you? Because if they have, I will hurt their siblings right here, right now, in the same way that they have harmed you.”
The deep gravelly voice spoke, suppressed rage swinging with every word—Elton.
“I’m not hurt. Neither is Helena. They have treated us as well as I hope you have treated their siblings.”
For a brief moment, there was silence, and then Elton cleared his throat. “Any guests of mine are treated well. You’ve taught me all about hospitality, Frances. Haven’t you been treated well, Lady Rose?”
“Yes,” Rose’s shaky voice replied. “Mr. Elton. Very well.”
Beside her, Seth shifted at the sound of his sister’s voice.
“Well, Elton, here we all are. Let our siblings go, and then I will send your wife and daughter over to you.”
Winnifred took a deep breath. This was the moment they would find out if Seth’s plan would work.
* * *
For a split second, Seth thought his plan would work. But then Elton broke into a burst of roaring laughter, and he knew he’d been wrong. His plan was flawed—and failed.
“You must think me stupid. Do you think I have never done a prisoner exchanged before? No. I will not send your siblings over there. What will happen is as follows. I will have your sister set free. And in exchange, at the same time, he will set my daughter free. They will pass one another and return to our loving arms. And then we will do the same with my wife and Lord Drayton.”
Seth swallowed. He felt incredibly naïve and stupid for having ever considered that this plan might work. Then, with a deep sigh, he nodded and turned to Helena. He placed a hand on her shoulder and lowered his voice. “Don’t you worry. All will be well. Go now. Go to your father.”
Slowly the little girl walked forward, and at the same time, Rose started in their direction. Seth’s heart beat out of his chest as he saw his sister’s familiar shape come closer and closer, and at last, just as she had passed Helena, she broke into a run and flew into his arms.
“Seth! It has been so long. I can’t believe it. Finally, finally, I’m free. You rescued us! I knew you would.”
“Oh, my darling Rose. To hold you in my arms again, I cannot even explain the joy I feel in this moment.”
“I have been foolish. I have kept so much from you. I am so sorry. I’ve put myself into this position and caused you so much trouble and cost myself and Leo so much harm.”
He cupped her face in his hands. Don’t worry, Rose, there’s nothing to fear about anymore. Now you are free, and we are going home, and everything will be well. But first…”
“Enough with the heartfelt reunions,” Elton said, with one arm around his daughter. If he hugged or kissed her when she arrived at his side, Seth hadn’t seen it. But he wouldn’t be terribly surprised if the man hadn’t. He didn’t seem to care about his wife or daughter. They were, it seemed, nothing but pawns or perhaps status symbols for him.
