Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

Henry was optimistic when the carriage pulled up outside Ethridge. What if Ebony had indeed returned from France and he'd missed the letter his family had sent? It was a perfectly plausible scenario.

Though he could tell by the look on his mother's face that this had not come to pass. Emilia met him at the door with a look of deep anxiousness.

"Mama, what has happened?" he asked worriedly. "Tell me immediately."

"Thank God you have returned," Emilia murmured. "How is Celeste? Is she alright?"

"Yes, she's healthy and well. Grandmamma is caring for her. Mama, why do you look so sorrowful?" Henry pulled his mother into the drawing room, subtly checking the pianoforte stool for any opera singers. He was out of luck.

"Vernon came by yesterday," she continued quietly.

"What?" Henry snapped. What was he doing back in London? He was supposed to be in France!

"He's brought the opera back to London so that he could debut his newest star - a Mademoiselle Georgette Sinclair. He found her in Paris and has since cast her as Elvira." Emilia sounded terrified, her tone depicting Henry's exact emotions. Where. Was. Ebony?

"Mama, tell me," Henry begged her.

"I asked him," she promised. "I asked what had happened to the previous Elvira and he said that they'd parted ways and she had moved onto another opera in Paris."

"A lie," Henry seethed. "Vernon would never simply part from his property. He's done something to her." The memory of Mrs Young warning him that Vernon had killed before and would not hesitate to do so again flashed into his mind. What if he learned that Celeste was gone and had simply disposed of Ebony? He had nothing to hold her to him anymore so she was of no use to him. She was in a position to go to the authorities. He'd murdered her. "I'm going to kill him," he said murderously, turning to go his satchel that housed one of William's pistols. He would watch the light leave Vernon's eyes and he would avenge Ebony for himself, and for Celeste.

"No!" Emilia cried! "No, you mustn't! You will be caught and you will be killed!" She seized Henry's arms and used all of her might to hold him back. But his little mother's strength was nothing to his. He pulled free easily.

"I don't care." He honestly didn't. This man had stolen, cheated and killed for far too long. If Henry did not do anything then he would continue to do so for the rest of his days. He nearly took the drawing room door off its hinges when he pulled it open.

"SEBASTIAN!" Emilia yelled desperately. "JAMES! COME QUICKLY!" She was wailing and screaming, doing all that she could to stop Henry's leaving. She threw herself in the way of the front door and guarded it with her arms. "If you want to throw your life away then you shall kill me first, for that is what will happen if you are caught," she threatened.

Henry would not allow Emilia to guilt him. "Stand aside, mother," he ordered. His satchel was still on the roof of the carriage outside. He was so close to a weapon.

"No," she said firmly, her brown eyes glaring at him. In that time his father and elder brother had come running, most likely expecting to see some kind of marauder but instead found a standoff between mother and son.

"What the devil is going on here?" Sebastian demanded as he positioned himself between Henry and Emilia. He glared at Henry, and he was ready to protect his wife with his body. James placed a hand on his brother's stiff shoulder in an effort to calm him.

"Vernon killed Ebony so I'm going to kill him," Henry said, sounding surprisingly calm. His state of initial shock had passed and he was ready to take action. "Move out of my way." But his parents refused to budge.

"Henry, calm down," James said soothingly. "What proof have you?"

"I know his character," Henry spat. "He doesn't have anything to hold over her anymore. He doesn't need her."

"You are not going to harm anyone, Henry," growled Sebastian. "That is final ... or I'll ... or I'll cut you out of my will," he threatened.

Did Sebastian really think he cared about money at a time like this? "I couldn't care less what you do with your money. All I know is that he is getting away with taking everything from everyone. It stops now!" He went to move forward and push past his parents but James secured his arms in a tight vice. James was far stronger than his mother and he could not pull free.

"It does stop now," James hissed in Henry's ear. "But the right way. The police will be notified and he shall be arrested. And if he has killed Ebony then we shall have him hanged for it. But you have no proof. If he has not done so then you shall be the one hanged. You have watched out for me for so long, little brother, and now it is my turn to repay the favour." He still did not release Henry. "He does not suspect you. We shall go down there together and find out what happened to Ebony from the cast. They will know the truth. The new singer - Georgette - she will know."

Henry saw the sense in it. He saw the logic in finding out the truth but he couldn't quell the need to finish Vernon once and for all. He knew him to be capable of harming Ebony in such a way. Henry knew he had to be strong enough to protect her if he did find her alive. "The singer is French, I cannot speak to her," he murmured.

"My wife happens to be familiar with the language." James offered Henry a small, encouraging smile.

"He will be suspicious if you come too," Henry replied quietly. "It will look like a pack rather than a casual visit."

"I will not have Alice in the same vicinity as him without me there to guard her," James said firmly.

"Alright," Henry agreed. There was a small chance that Ebony was alive. It was hope, albeit a tiny, miniscule amount. And if she was alive, then he would set her free. She would be free to reunite with Celeste and work as a singer of her own accord. She could see whomever she pleased, be it Henry or any other man. He just needed her alive. He needed to see her uncontrollable hair and her pale skin and her narrow frame. But most of all he wanted to see her face, he wanted to see her beautiful face appear carefree and not afraid. He just needed to see her in one piece.

"You will watch him," Sebastian said seriously to James. "And if, God forbid, she is dead then you will bring him straight home. I will not have that man tear my family apart."

"Fear not, papa, for there will be no bloodshed today," Henry said cynically. He could not promise the same for tomorrow. If she was dead, then Vernon would be too.

Emilia's eyes were full of tears. She stepped away from the door and cupped Henry's face. To see his mother so upset and torn made him feel so guilty for what he knew would happen if Ebony had been killed. "I love you," she whispered and stood on her toes to plant a kiss on his cheek. "And I'm so sorry." She still blamed herself for Vernon, though it was not, nor had it ever been, her fault.

"Hush, mama," Henry said quietly as he pulled Emilia into a tight hug.

When they separated, Emilia spoke. "I shall fetch Alice, and I will care for Jack and the girls while you are ... out." With that, she left them, bound for upstairs.

Ten minutes later, Henry, James and Alice were all in the carriage Henry had just arrived in. They were bound for the King's Theatre.

James was playing with Alice's small hand absently as he stared out the window. Henry spied the pistol on his brother's hip, ordinarily covered by his coat but on view as he was sitting. He didn't want to think himself capable of such evil, but when it came to those he cared for he did not know what he could do.

"Henri, it will be alright," Alice assured him. "I am glad I can be of some 'elp to you." His sister-in-law smiled at him as she twisted one of her brown curls in her fingers. Alice never had been one for the complicated up dos.

He didn't answer her, though he wished he could be as blindly faithful as her.

When they arrived, it was nearly dusk. If there was a performance that evening, then it would be commencing in an hour or so. He didn't have much time before the backstage area would be a mess with hurried cast and crew.

The foyer was the same as he remembered it. The doors to the theatre were open and he could see the great sets being erected in their usual places by men wearing dirties shirts and slacks.

Just as he was about to lead James and Alice backstage, the door opened and Vernon emerged. Henry tensed immediately. His hands curled into fists, his teeth gritted and his muscles all became taut, ready, if need be, to reach for the pistol his brother possessed.

Vernon's cool, grey eyes looked over Henry before a cocky smile spread across his face. "Henry, m'boy!" he cheered. "How the devil are you? It has been a long time since you have been to visit us. I'm very glad to see you, I was just at your house yesterday."

"Sorry to have missed you," Henry managed to choke out.

Vernon shrugged. "No matter. And who are your guests? I recognise you, young man. The eldest son, I presume?"

"Yes, sir," James said flatly. "James Alcott. This is my wife, Lady Alice Alcott." Henry noticed how he positioned his body in front of Alice, though that did not stop Vernon from insisting a personal introduction.

"My, my," he gasped. "You are very fair, my dear girl. You don't sing, do you?"

James glared at Vernon but he didn't seem to notice. "I do not, Monsieur," Alice answered just as Vernon secured her hand and kissed it.

"Another Frenchy in our midst!" Vernon exclaimed. "Capital! I do not suppose that you've heard of our new rising star? Mademoiselle Georgette Sinclair. I discovered her, of course. The highest soprano I've ever heard. She could crack glass, I daresay."

"And what of your previous star?" Henry asked, trying to sound casual.

Vernon frowned. "Oh, terrible story that. Just as we were about to go on stage she complained of a headache. Her understudy went on in her place. By the time I checked on her after the final curtain she was dead. Though I've always thought the weak minded are those who succumb to headaches."

Henry was overwhelmed. It was all too much. She couldn't be, she just couldn't. Vernon was a pathological liar! He lied all the time. He lied and manipulated! He could well be lying. He had to be!

Alice's small hand took Henry's and she squeezed it. He tried to concentrate on the contact and nothing else. He didn't want to collapse or retaliate, not until he had proof. And when he did, James' pistol would be aimed directly at Vernon's chest.

"It 'as been so long since I 'ave spoken my mother tongue. Would you mind terribly if I go backstage to meet 'er?" Alice asked to fill the silence with conversation.

"Of course, Henry, you remember where the dressing rooms are? If you'll excuse me - and Lady Alice, if you ever want a singing lesson or two, I'd love to have you on stage. A face like yours sells!" With that, Vernon flitted away on his business.

Alice was immediately whipped into James' arms and he buried his face in the nape of her neck. "Horrible man," he hissed. "I'll cut out his eyes if he ever looks at you like that again."

Alice pushed him away, but not before kissing him quickly. "We may talk of this later. Right now we 'ave urgent business. Take us there, Henri."

Henry practically ran through the stage door and dodged and weaved his way around the crew who were working. On the final turn he came to the dressing room. He could hear tenor and baritone voices warming up, and finally a pretty soprano in what was Ebony's room. He didn't bother to knock. He pushed open the door and a tall, voluptuous woman jumped.

She was very attractive. Her golden hair was straight, and hung at her hips and her eyes were big and green. Her lips were plump and pink and her teeth were slightly crooked in an endearing way.

She quickly asked something in French, sounding alarmed. Alice was quick to rectify the situation and Georgette calmed.

"Ask her about Ebony," Henry instructed.

Alice nodded and began to jabber away in her rapid French. Even if he'd learnt the language, he would have never been able to keep up. He'd been taught French, German and Latin at Eton but he'd never had the aptitude for languages.

"She says that she met her the day she disappeared. She was caught with a letter and then she was gone, the seamstress with her. But she saw them on the boat a week later and they were tied up," Alice translated.

Henry processed the information. Ellen had been taken too. They were both alive when they had returned to England. If Vernon wanted them dead then he would have just killed them. He was keeping them somewhere.

"Why did she not free them?" Henry asked Alice. If she could have simply untied them then they could have found their own way off the boat secretly. She could have gone anywhere and got word to him. He would have found her if someone had bothered to untie them.

Alice asked her the question. Georgette's eyes looked to Henry apologetically before she replied to Alice.

"Her family owns a patisserie and her father was about to default on his loan so Vernon paid it in return for Georgette's service. Only now has he informed her that she won't be receiving wages, and if she attempts to leave then Vernon will call in the loan and her family will be on the street."

She was just as frightened as Ebony had been when she'd been fearing for Celeste's welfare. He had a hand in torturing every single one of his employees, and Georgette was the latest.

"She's alive, Henry," James summarised. "She's somewhere in London. We'll find her, I promise you."

They would find her, and this time, Henry knew exactly where to start looking.

----

Hope you liked it :)

Nothing really interesting happened today ... well, I meowed at my cat and she meowed back and then ran away. I may have insulted her in cat language so I chased after her yelling 'let me love you!' :P I'm gonna be a crazy cat lady later in life ;)

I don't think I'll be able to get any uploads in the next few days. Tomorrow I'm doing my timetable tomorrow and then I have netball and then I'm going to a trivia night for Interpol - I know, what? My mum asked me with the incentive of 'Hot policemen, Laura!' Lol. Plus, they need me ;) My general knowledge is freaky - I know who designed the Statue of Libery, Queen Victoria's real name, and the youngest man to be ranked number 1 in tennis - LLEYTON HEWITT C'MON AUSTRALIA!! AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI OI!!!! I really am going to be a crazy cat lady, aren't I? Lord :P

By the way ------ I've receieved a few private messages telling me to correct my spelling with the examples of 'honour' and 'favour'. They aren't wrong. I'm Australian and we follow the British dictionary. If you think I mispell things then half the books on here are wrong :P

Have lovely weekends everyone!

Vote and comment :)