Dark Passions

57.

Meredith cradled Michael in her arms, inhaling the sweet baby scent, as she watched Derek's carriage pull away from their townhouse. A fine misty rain permeated the air, and the clouds were low and threatening overhead. It suited her mood, and she hugged her shawl around her and the baby a little more securely.

Derek was on his way to pick Marcus up, and they were going to confront Jack St. Vincent. The baby fussed against her tight embrace, and she looked into his innocent green eyes, kissing his little nose. "Your father is a very good man, my son," she murmured. "You will have a fine example to follow as you grow up." Michael gurgled happily, trying to catch her fingers. She ruffled his dark curls, unable to resist laughing at his antics.

The carriage was no longer visible, and she turned to go inside, where Winston waited with the door for her. "My lady..." he murmured, with a little bow, as she went by. Meredith smiled to herself, as she nodded to him. Even after all this time, it still seemed a little odd to be addressed as such.

"Winston, Lady Isobel will be coming by soon. I will be in the sunroom. Please show her in there when she arrives."

"Very good, ma'am."

⚜️⚜️⚜️

"Marcus, I have to thank you for agreeing to come with me today," Derek said, as his friend settled into the carriage. "After all, you are still newly married. I hope Izzie wasn't too upset with me taking you away."

"She understands, Derek. She is acquainted with St. Vincent as well, and she told me to be sure and do whatever it takes to make sure Meredith is never bothered again. 'A devilish cad' is what she called him, I believe," Marcus commented, watching the streets of London go by. The more genteel areas gave way to somewhat seedier, narrow streets, as they neared their destination.

Derek's eyebrow went up, and his mouth set into a grim line. His anger had been simmering from the moment Meredith told him what had happened to her. "I will make sure he thinks twice before attempting blackmail," Derek said quietly. "Or he will never pick up a paintbrush again..."

The carriage began to slow, as the driver searched for the address that Meredith had given him earlier. The dingy looking buildings were crowded close together, and the few people on the street gave the ornate carriage suspicious glances.

"This is not a place I want to stay very long," Derek commented, as the carriage pulled up. "Let's find this cad and get it over with."

The building was fronted with a lone window, dusty and smeared, and a few gilt edged paintings could barely be seen through the grimy glass. A small dilapidated sign hung crookedly above the door. "St. Vincent's Fine Portraits" was just legible on it.

"Hmmm, business is not too brisk, is it?" Marcus observed, smoothing his gloves over his knuckles, as they stepped out of the carriage. "Hard to feature Meredith here."

Derek nodded curtly. "It has been a few years, but still..." His heart went out to her even further, imagining how she must have felt at the time. He moved purposefully towards the door, his long black overcoat swirling around him.

They entered the shop, their eyes sweeping the small space, finding it seemingly deserted. Dust motes danced in the gust of wind from the open door. They walked towards the back of the shop, where a curtain hung to keep the rooms separate. They found a small storage area, with a staircase at the side. They could hear some voices, and with a nod, they ascended the rickety stairs. It opened up into a large, bright loft, with several windows. There was an easel in the middle of the floor, with a canvas half finished. Derek looked over to a bed in the corner of the room, where a young woman reclined, half naked, while a man leaned over her, his hands at her breasts. The girl was protesting, trying to back away from the insistent pawing the man was giving her.