The footman appeared and said, “The carriage is in the alley.”
“Come,” Marie said. “Let me show you proof that Creed is not the man you know.” Marie started through the door, not waiting for a reply. Nora and Marianne were right on her heels.
* * *
26
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
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“Go! I will see you tomorrow.” …
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Philomena followed with the same speed as the other women, but her heart seemed to drag behind her, the pulse coming loud in her ears. Dread was slowly moving into her limbs. It disgusted her, the lack of faith in Creed that these women could instill. She held her head high as they stepped outside and rounded the corner.
She was aware that others had followed them from the house and knew those others were Ralph and Morgan.
They arrived at the carriage and Mena took it in as she’d never done before. To her eyes, it was indeed a lovely carriage, styled in a way that spoke of wealth and much more than the average man, and she knew her father had made plenty of money from the hotel. She’d always known it was a fine carriage, yet now that she stared at her transport, she almost allowed herself to think it seemed royal. Its large smooth curves and wide windows, the golden trim that made the painted black seem that much more alive. It gleamed.
Creed had told her he’d purchased it for her.
She believed him.
She walked around the carriage and said, “It’s just a carriage. How could you know it belonged to Princess Victoria?”
She returned to the other side where the group waited just as her footman Harry arrived with a small bottle and cloth.
Maria pointed to the door of the carriage. “Start there.”
Harry looked at Mena, asking her permission.
Mena moved closer and asked, “What are you doing?”
“We’re removing the paint,” Maria told her. “But don’t worry. If we’re wrong, my husband will be more than glad to have it painted again.”
Mena’s heart was still racing and was climbing in her throat. She felt lightheaded from the pressure but managed to stay on her toes. “And what do you hope to accomplish by removing the paint?”
“She hopes to find the royal seal,” Morgan said. The gentleness in his voice almost tore her apart. There was concern in his tone, as though he knew the life she’d known was about to be ruined.
Mena scoffed, though she’d suspected the answer he’d given. There was only one reason to do so. The door would hold the royal seal if it was indeed Princess Victoria’s.
She caught herself retreating and moved back to her position.
Morgan moved, coming to her. He reached out for her and she moved away, but he was persistent and placed a hand on her elbow, his back positioned slightly behind her to give her support.
She wanted to tell him his touch wasn’t necessary, that within seconds, they all would be proven wrong. But instead, she nodded her head.
Harry opened the bottle, which released a disturbingly sweet smell, and placed it on the white cloth he’d brought with him before sweeping his hand in small circles over the place a family seal would lay.
Mena held her breath and waited as black began to appear on the cloth, but nothing else. The royal coat of arms didn’t show. There was no vibrant yellow for the lion and his crown or white for the silver unicorn, both creatures positioned by a shield, a symbol that had been around since the time of Queen Mary, a symbol that could only be used for the Queen herself.
There was nothing.
She smiled, and the relief made her even more lightheaded. She’d been holding her breath and hadn’t known it. She turned to Morgan. “You see? Creed didn’t steal this carriage. He would never do such a thing.”
Morgan’s gaze fell to her with the same gentleness as his earlier words and he turned back to the carriage.
She was aware when the sound of Harry’s movements stopped before they went on.
She heard someone else pull in a breath.
Mena nearly refused to turn around, but she knew she had no choice.
She slowly turned, and she felt Morgan’s hand raise to her shoulder.
At first, she didn’t see anything, but then it became clear.
The metal had not only been painted but imprinted, branding that cut and left a mark better than any paint could do, forever making it known to the world who it belonged to.
The lion and unicorn taunted her as she stared into their vicious eyes and never before had she realized how ferocious the seal seemed. Horror ripped through her.
She took a step back, but Morgan was there, not giving her a way to retreat, yet he didn’t stop her from turning away. “That means nothing,” she whispered. “Creed could have brought the carriage from someone else who’d stolen it.”
Morgan looked past her. “You may return inside. Thank you.”
Everyone retreated into the house, leaving her and Morgan alone.
“You’re right,” Morgan said. “Creed didn’t steal it from the princess directly. Another man, one of her former drivers, stole it and we English spies took it from there.”
“How did Creed get it?” Mena asked.
“He stole it from us and gave it to you.”
Mena shook her head. “No, you’re lying.” She wouldn’t believe it. It all had to be a mistake.
“You know he had to have known. You told me yourself you remember that the carriage was freshly painted when you’d received it. He had to have known. The seal would have been discovered.”
“But why would he keep a royal carriage? Why not return it to the princess? To the future queen?” Mena asked.
“Because Creed doesn’t see Princess Victoria as a future queen and will do whatever he can to see to her end.”
Mena closed her mouth. She suspected that from her uncle, always secretly, but could never understand it.
So, Creed didn’t like the princess. She’d always known this. The carriage, however… that did upset her greatly. Now she felt ill just thinking of the many times she’d ridden in it. Creed had made her a part of his deception and that hurt.
Still, that didn’t mean he was plotting the princess’ end and though she didn’t wish to, she asked, “What proof do you have that he’s trying to ensure Princess Victoria never sees the throne?”
“I don’t have proof to show you. Creed is smart. I’ve no idea what he is planning, but I thought that you could help.”
She leaned her head away though she didn’t take a step from his hands. “Me? Why would I help you?”
“Because you’re a woman who would do the right thing. It’s there in everything you do. Even leaving Ralph behind, you did it to protect a man you thought innocent. I understand that. Ralph understands it, though he doesn’t wish to. He believes you’ll hurt me.”
She moved closer. “I would never hurt you.”
Some measure of warmth filled his eyes. “If not just me, then the entire organization.”
“How?”