“Then how can I prevent violence?”
“By being nearby.”
The duke was a decent man, a brilliant man. But he could be stupid. “You and I will call on Miss Snelling. If I understood the burglar’s actions, he didn’t strike until he felt cornered. I believe while she greets us, her brother will sneak out the back. Sumner, you and Smith will need to watch from different points, and please, be careful. Snelling knows if he’s captured, he will hang.”
“It’ll keep her out of trouble,” Sumner said as he held the duke’s gaze.
“Very well,” the duke said.
I gave Sumner the drawing. He nodded, and then he and the footman left the coach a block before Blackford and I rode up to the door. He helped me down, and then we walked into the grimy-windowed building.
It was more depressing inside than out. An oil lamp was lit despite the glaring sunshine outside. There were a few sailors staring into their glasses and one man stood behind the bar, but no women were in sight. I walked up to the barman and said, “I’d like to speak to Miss Snelling, please.”
“Rose? You mean Rose?” he asked in confusion. Then he gave a belly laugh, showing a mouth full of rotted teeth. “Miss Snelling, indeed.”
“Is that Rose’s last name?” I asked, my eyebrows raised.
“No one ever uses it.”
“I do. Now please call Miss Snelling.”
He walked over to the bottom of the stairs. “Rose! Someone wants ya!” I was surprised his bellow didn’t bring down the building.
There was a pause and then a woman’s voice yelled, “Who wants me?”
“Miss Adams,” I shouted in return.
“Why do ya wanna talk to me?”
“I’m not going to shout. Either come down and find out, or I’ll deal with somebody else.”
“Jest a minnit. I’m not decent.”
The barman gave another loud laugh. “She’s never decent. She’s a whore.”
“All the more reason for her to want to be dressed,” I told him and walked to the bottom of the stairs. I heard quick footsteps upstairs somewhere, but I couldn’t tell where. If it was Mick Snelling, he must have been climbing out a window. I only hoped Sumner and the footman would be able to catch him and rescue the plans for the warship.
The young woman slowly came down the stairs, glancing upward over her shoulder once. She was slender and still pretty, but her profession was already showing in a hardening of her features. “What do ya want?”
We had the full attention of the drinkers scattered around the room. All of their expressions were lethal. I stepped forward toward her. “Miss Snelling?”
The barman snorted at the name.
“Yeah.”
“I’m Sally Adams. I’m here to help you and your brother, if you’ll let me.” I hadn’t thought out my role, deciding to improvise as I went along. I had nothing to offer her, and nothing less than a hangman’s noose for her brother if I was right.
“We don’t need no help.” She turned around and marched back up the stairs.
I put up a hand to Blackford and followed her up the stairs. The first floor was even more depressing than the ground level. The odors of ancient urine and sweat and blood hit me as I reached the rough wooden floor of the hallway in time to see Miss Snelling dart through a door near the front of the building.
Knocking on the now closed door earned me a “Go away.” The doorknob refused to turn in my hand until I used a hairpin on the lock.
I opened the door and dodged a thin pillow. Suspecting lice, I opened the door wider and edged my skirt around the offending object. The room was small, with a double bed, an armoire, and a wooden chair. There was no masculine clothing in sight. Mick hadn’t been staying with his sister. Then who belonged to the running footsteps I had heard from up here?
“Where’s your brother been staying?”
“None of your business.” She dropped onto the bed and lounged on it. She probably hoped Blackford had followed me here. I certainly hoped he’d followed my direction to wait.
I glanced around the room. The dirt-streaked window sat open and I walked over to look out. Part of the street was visible, but there was nothing to break Snelling’s fall if he’d gone out this way.
When I pulled my head back inside, I saw a chocolate box from the most famous chocolatier in London lying in the corner, as out of place as a ruby. I hurried toward it, over Miss Snelling saying, “’Ey! What are you doing?”
Miss Snelling reached the box at the same time I did and she smashed me against the wall. My shoulder took the brunt as the decrepit plaster stood firm. I swung around to see her dive back onto her bed clutching the chocolate box.
Forgetting my fear of lice, I dove after her and knocked the box out of her hands. It flew across the room.
The chocolate box was empty. The woman collapsed back onto the bed with a sigh. “He took it with him.”
“The plans to the ship?”
She made a face at me.
I leaped off the bed and began a search of the room, which brought the prostitute to her feet. “’Ey! This is my room. Get out.”
“I came for the ship plans your brother stole. Give them to me and I’ll leave.”
“They’re not here.”
“Where’s your brother’s room?”
“Not here.”
I gave her a disbelieving frown.
She shook her head. “I don’t know where he’s hiding. Not here.”
“Your brother’s in a lot of trouble. If Scotland Yard catches him, he’ll hang. If he gives those blueprints to the man who hired him, the man will kill him to cover his tracks. I’m here to offer him, and you, a way out.” If she bought my story, I had to think of a solution.
She dropped back onto the bed. “I know he stole those plans for someone, and I know he’s in a lot of trouble. Some lady fell and hit her head. When he saw what happened, he ran. And if he doesn’t hand over those blue papers, the man who hired him will find him and kill him.”
“There’s a way out,” I said as the plan came to me.
“What?”
“I have the name and address of a man who can give him a second set of plans, doctored plans, to give to the man who hired him. Then he can get two sets of coins, one from us for switching the plans and one from the man who hired him.”
By the calculating glint in her eye, I knew I had her interest. “What if this man realizes the drawings are fakes?”
“He won’t. Not until months of work have been done on them. By then, your brother and his money will be long gone. Away from the law and anyone looking for him.” This time I smiled.
“Who’s this bloke and what’s his address?”
“His name’s Stevens. He pretends to be a butler, but he’s really a mastermind. You’ll find him at Blackford House on Park Lane. He’ll be the one who opens the front door. Tell your brother to say the duchess sent him with the plans.” And Stevens would know what to do because Blackford would instruct him.
“How do I know this isn’t a double cross?” She studied my face, disbelieving.
I held her gaze as I walked over and held out my hand. “Rose, if you want to keep your brother alive, you have to trust me. This is his best chance.”
She stared at my hand and then shook it. “You’re the first person who’s seen a way out of his troubles.”
“Your brother needs to get in contact with Mr. Stevens soon. Everyone’s looking for him.”
“Don’tcha think I know that.”
“Stevens will give him more than enough money to stay out of sight. Your brother will just have to find a way to deliver the doctored plans and get the rest of his money without getting caught by the police or murdered by the man who hired him. That’ll be up to him.”
I gave her a curtsy and left, shutting the door behind me. I paused long enough to rub my shoulder, certain I’d have a bruise by later that night. When I reached the bottom of the stairs, Sumner and Blackford were in close discussion. I joined them and looked from one man to the other.