20
It took them four hours before they arrived at Moss's they were hoping he was there but more importantly they were hoping they could rescue Clementine. During the ride Johanna and Jensen had been alone in the barouche and were able to talk about what they had learned.
"I cannot believe the awful things they did to those girls. How do you think Clementine is going to fair once she is rescued?"
Jensen shook his head. How would she do. Polite society would not welcome her back with open arms. Her father had passed a few years ago and a distant relative now held his title. Her mother died right after she had gone missing it was believed she killed herself. What was to be Clementine's fate it remained to be seen. What about her children what would happen once they found out what their father had done and that their mother was locked in a tower? Jensen happened to know Robin Moss he was a few years older than Jensen and would be the heir to the Marquis if the king did not strip them of the title.
When they reached the house and were greeted by the butler who was surprised at all the people who had arrived. They had not been expecting any guest and there were like twenty influential men in the bunch. When they reached the stairs Simon and Victor led the way and asked for the master of the house. When Richard Moss did not show his son, Robin was the one to greet them.
"Seems my father is not home. What can I help all you gentleman with?"
Simon held out the warrant for Robin to look at. He read it and knew he did not have a choice it had the seal of the crown on it and he had to open his home to all these men. Before they could start their search one of the men Simon brought with him a young agent who was a Duke of Hereford Jackson Yardley he had been in service since he was thirteen. He was the darker of the twins he usually was deep under cover working with the underground collecting evidence against traitors to the crown. His twin was the light of the two and worked in the upper crust of London the Duke had caught Richard Moss trying to escape.
"Your Grace I found him trying to escape. I thought I should bring him back here."
Simon laughed Moss would not have a chance against the nineteen-year-old Duke who was in top shape. Simon grabbed Richard from Jackson and pushed him up against the wall.
"It is my pleasure to let you know Richard Moss that you are being arrested for the murder of Genevieve Kingston Your brothers Forester, and Harry, and the abduction of Clementine Harrison, Trudy Summers, and Marsha Winchester. Now you can make this easy and tell me where you are holding Clementine, or we can do this the hard way and I can let this gentleman beat it out of you."
He had pointed to Jackson. Jackson walked forward and waited for his orders. He would be glad to beat on someone. He was in a foul mood his contact in the underground was not able to provide him with the information he needed and the man he had been looking for had gotten away. Beating this filth would help his mood nicely. With his luck they would call William to assassinate him and take all his fun. He could not even pull rank William was a Duke as well bloody hell.
They waited for Moss to respond, but he was buttoned lipped and so when Simon was going to hand him over to Jackson when his wife walked in and had heard what her husband was accused of.
"I believe I can show you where he has been hiding what you seek. At least I can show you the room he slips into when he things I am not watching."
They all followed the Marchioness and Simon handed Richard to Jackson to bring him along. Richard looked pale. Simon was glad for it this man was a disgrace to his title and the gentry. When they went to the room it was not so easy to find the hidden room, but like she had done at Jensen's home Jo found the hidden lock. When the door sprung open they could tell that the area was much larger than poor Trudy's living space.
They walked up carefully as to not scare Clementine she would have no idea she was being rescued if she even thought she was in harm. They let Jo lead them up the stairs hoping a woman would be able to keep her calm if the need arose. When they were more than three quarters of the way up the stairs Jo started to call up to Clementine.
"Lady Harrison, we would like a word with you. I do not want you to be afraid there is a lot of us coming up to see you."
Clementine heard a strange voice she must be hearing things after all in all the years she had never heard another voice other than Richards. She remained quiet she did not want Richard thinking she was daft. She had been so afraid he would put her in bedlam. Before Jo called out again the Duchess of St. Helen had arrived. Word had been sent to her and Matthew that she had been needed Clementine had been found. The men who were on the steps moved out of the Duchesses way and she made her way up the flight of stone stairs. When she reached Jo, she smiled and started to call out to Clementine.
"Clemmie its Holl's can I come up and talk with you with Lady Hartford?"
Clementine had not heard that name in years. She had not forgotten the name Holly she was such a spunky and sassy girl. She was younger than the rest of them, but she was probably the most mature out of the five of them.
"Alright."
Was the weak response. Holly and Jo made their way up to the top of the tower and were both surprised that Clementine was well kept beautiful and seemed happy. She was not in a room like Trudy had been it seemed that Richard had supplied her with a beautiful apartment and beautiful clothing. Holly was surprised at the greeting she got Clemmie sprung at her and gave her a big hug.
"My what a beautiful woman you turned into. I knew you would be. Who did you marry? You are married are you not?"
"Yes, Clemmie I did get married. I married the heir to the Dukedom of St. Helen."
Clementine seemed to be thinking back to who the heir was and then had a smile on her face
"He was very nice looking when he was young is he still looking well?"
"Yes, Matthew is a fine-looking man and a good man as well. Clemmie we have come to take you out of here. You are free to leave this tower."
"I have nowhere to go. Are my parents still alive?"
"No, I am afraid not they both died a while ago. We will find a place for you to go Clemmie you can come home with me if you would like. I have already talked with Matthew and he is alright with it."
Before Clementine could answer the Marchioness of Newbury made her way through the crowd of people.
"She will stay here with her children. We will take care of her."
Everyone was shocked by Hilda's words. But when she turned and stared all the men down they knew she was serious.
"No one will ever tell anyone that my children I raised are hers. This way Robin can inherit the title and the others will not suffer because of the actions of their father. Of course, there will be some repercussions but out here in the country we can whether this. That is if Lady Harrison is alright with that."
Clementine started to weep.
"My children are all here. He told me he was going to take them to the orphanage and leave them on the doorstep."
"All five of them are hear Lady Harrison and we will raise them together if that is agreeable to you."
Suddenly Clementine became pale.
"What about Richard? He is going to be terribly upset. I do not like when Richard gets upset."
That was when Victor came out of his hiding place.
"Lady Harrison my name is Victor Valentine, my parents were Charles and Felicity Valentine and I give you my word that Richard will never hurt you or anyone else again. He will be punished for his crimes."
She looked sad, she needed to save Richard after all they had been together for an exceedingly long time. She had lost track of the years, but she knew it was an exceptionally long time.
"Richard never hurt me really he took very good care of me as you can see."
"I can see that my lady, but Richard stands accused of killing your friend Genevieve and violating her. He also stands accused of killing his two brothers. It does not matter how good he was to you what he did to the others is unforgiveable."
Holly saw Clemmie getting ready to faint and she caught her. It was Robin who came up the stairs and carried her down and out of the tower. They were all glad she did not have to see Richard again. They all went downstairs and the women except for Jo stayed behind to help Clemmie adjust and answer any of her questions.
Johanna and Jensen made their way outside they needed to find the tree before the sun went down in a couple of hours. She knew the tree was not too far into the woods since the Marchioness saw him looking at the trees. She had a hunch that the tree holding Marsha was one of the trees that had wild growth and branches or possibly a dead stump. She did not think the healthy trees would have a big enough hole in the truck to hold and hide a human body. Within the hour they found the tree covered in moss and hiding quite naturally in the center of the tree was a covered hole. If she had not been looking for a tree with a hole she would never have thought it was there.
She decided she did not want to see them take Marsha out of the tree. She did not think she could stomach seeing a rotting dead body. Jensen accompanied her to the barouche and away from the horrors of Moss's house. Simon came over to talk with them.
"Lady Hartford I owe you a debt of gratitude you have found justice for those who had been forgotten."
He turned his attention to Jensen.
"You know what needs to be done do you want me to send someone to do it or do you want the task?"
"I think I would like to do it after all he is my responsibility. I would like to warn my Uncles before I go and pick him up."
"I would like you to take someone with you for back up and not this lovely creature."
"I will ask Jacob to go with me or Michael."
"I will then see you tomorrow night I have a bit to do before I leave here. I am going to be sending Victor back in case you or anyone else needs something or another warrant. The warrant for your uncle will be waiting for you at Everleigh house."
"Until tomorrow then we will have this all wrapped up."
Johanna and Jensen made it back to London a little after sunset. Neither of them talked there was nothing to say they had solved the mystery they had set out to solve all except the key, but Jensen had a feeling he knew how to solve that mystery. But first he needed to find Justice for Genevieve and Trudy and her child. He dropped her off at her home and talked with her brother and his aunt and told them what had happened and that she was going to have to testify about what she saw possibly. But with the confession of Thomas Cantor they might not need anything from her at all.
Jensen made his way home where he expected William and Michael to be waiting for him. He was not disappointed they were both waiting for him in his study having a drink.
"What is the matter your grace."
"Let us not stand on formality I did not ask you here as the Duke of Richmond but a family matter. You will be glad to know that Aunt Pauline is now talking, and she told us what tragedy befell her when she was five. It seems she witnessed the death of a young girl by the hands of Nesbit and three others. They violated her and threw her in the river to drown. Then they abducted another three young ladies and you know about the secret room, he had kept a young girl in. I have found that the baby has lived, and she married a Baron. Tomorrow I will go to his house and arrest him for all of that. I just wanted to tell the two of you what was coming."
The three of them sat there for quite a while drinking before Jensen thought this would be a good time to let his Uncle's know that he would be getting married soon. A date had not been set and that his Aunt was also getting married to her first and only love Luther Everleigh. Both were happy for both couples and told him they always thought Pauline and Luther should have been married when they were younger, but they were glad they had found each other once again. They toasted to their second chance at happiness. They finished their drinks and parted knowing that when the sun rose their family reputation would be tarnished in a very unfortunate way.