Mr. Brummell had returned to Richard's flat.

"Did Banks tell you where Benjamin is?"

Beau shook his head no. "In fact, he said if we don't let him go by noon today, that he has instructed his men to kill Benjamin."

"Do you believe him?" Richard asked.

"Whether I do or not, I doubt it's worth the risk. Clara has destroyed Banks' chances to woo her publicly. He's been shown to be a fraud. I believe he knows he has lost and so has nothing left to lose, which makes him a very dangerous man. How is Clara?"

"Still sleeping," Richard told him.

"Sleeping? Clara?" Mr. Brummell's tone of disbelief had Richard racing up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He threw open the door to find Clara sitting on the bed, looking startled.

"Have you any word?"

Richard gave a sigh of relief that Clara was here. "No, I'm afraid not and fear the situation has only gotten worse."

"Worse, how so?"

"If we don't release Banks, he has ordered his men to kill Benjamin by noon."

Clara jumped up from her bed, and the room spun. She grabbed the bedpost and squeezed her eyes shut. She had moved too quickly. Richard reached out to steady her.

"Are you unwell?"

Clara had brushed off Richard's concern. "I'm fine. Just slightly light-headed. I haven't eaten in a while. What is our best option?"

"To let Mr. Banks go, and hope he leads us to Benjamin."

"Then we do what we must," Clara said.

Richard nodded and he and Mr. Brummell left to put their plan into effect.

The moment their carriage disappeared. Sturgis stepped from the shadows and Rosalyn let him in. "She is waiting for you in her room. I'll take you to her."

Rosalyn opened the door.

"Tell me you have him?" Clara said when she'd seen Sturgis in the doorway.

Sturgis look was grim. "The Commander's men are still on the search, but they are narrowing down the options. It will be soon."

"Not soon enough. We have until noon," Clara said, looking at Benjamin's pocket watch, clasping it shut before placing it in her pocket. "My brother and Mr. Brummell have left to let Mr. Banks go," Clara told him.

"How did you know?"

"That Mr. Banks would make the threat? It's simple. I have ruined Mr. Banks' chances to marry me. Disgraced him publicly. His best move is to leave the country. He does not care whether Benjamin lives or dies. So, I've made some arrangements that he gets exactly what he wants."

Sturgis smiled. Now their side mission made more sense.

"Are you certain you are well enough to do this, Miss?" Rosalyn asked, her face full of concern.

"I must Rosalyn, it is the only way to bring Mr. McAllister home."

"Are you ready?" Clara asked Sturgis.

"I am," Sturgis replied.

"Then it's time."

_________________

Mr. Brummell and Lord Bentley went to the place where Mr. Banks was being held. Lord Bentley opened the door. Mr. Banks was a sight to see. His face was bruised, the blood from his swollen lip dried in the corner of his mouth. He couldn't even wipe it away. They tied his hands behind the back of the chair he was sitting in.

"Come for a second round?" he sneered. "I've already told your compatriot that you're wasting your time or I should say Benjamin's time."

"Tell me, if your goal is to have Benjamin killed, why should I bother to let you go at all? Why shouldn't I just dispatch you myself and tell Clara the bad news?"

A flicker of fear shone in Mr. Banks' eyes. 

"Because you know Clara would never forgive you. That Benjamin's death would be on your hands and even though you don't know if I will keep my word and return Benjamin to you, you are out of options, and so will do as you are told and release me."

Richard growled at Mr. Banks, and the man chuckled. "I thought as much. Untie me."

Richard untied him.

Mr. Banks took a moment to rub the sore areas where the ropes had burned his wrist from struggling to get free. "I'm glad to see you've come to your senses."

Richard gripped Mr. Banks up by his shirt and got into his face. "If you don't do as you are told and free Mr. McAllister, there will be no country far enough that will keep me from hunting you down like the dog you are and killing you."

Richard noticed the slight shiver that shook Mr. Banks' body, but he gently pried Richard's fingers from his shirt and smoothed it out.

"I have received your message loud and clear," and with that, Mr. Banks strode out of the room. Once he exited the building, he took a moment to look around to be certain he wasn't being followed, and then he decided on his next move.

Mr. Brummell watched Mr. Banks leave the building. He let just enough time pass that he would not alert Mr. Banks to his presence before exiting the alley. He followed him down a side street, knowing Lord Bentley would not be far behind him.

Mr. Banks headed for London's Flower Market. He knew the streets would be bustling with people, just as he knew Mr. Brummell and Lord Bentley were likely following him. He had to lose them if he were to make his escape.

As he entered the busy streets, he wove in and out of the crowd. He found a place to hide and ducked down behind a bunch of crates. Mr. Banks waited. Soon he saw them.

"Where did he go?!" Lord Bentley shouted to Mr. Brummell who looked panicked that he too lost Banks in the crowd.

"I don't know. I'd seen him a moment ago but..."

"Bloody hell!" Richard scanned every face. Nothing. "We need to split up and turn this place upside down. He couldn't have gotten far."

"Agreed," Mr. Brummell said, picking a direction and starting his search.

Mr. Banks looked around, but there was nowhere he could go that he wouldn't be spotted. Yet if he stayed, he'd they would find him for certain. Mr. Brummell was getting closer. He took the risk and made a run for it.

Within seconds, Mr. Brummell spotted him and was closing in. Mr. Banks dumped a crate full of apples to slow Mr. Brummell down and the commotion caught Lord Bentley's attention. Now Mr. Banks had both of them hunting him down.

He darted down an alley, and someone pulled him into a warehouse. Mr. Banks nearly yelped, but a gloved hand over his mouth cut off his words. The masked man had him against the wall and he held a finger up to his own lips, signaling Mr. Banks not to say a word.

Soon they heard footsteps and yelling down the alley.

"What do you mean you lost him?!" Lord Bentley shouted.

"I'd seen him run down this way, but he's gone!" Mr. Brummell said in response.

"How the hell..."

"We have to keep moving. We found him once. We'll find him again."

The men split up and ran in opposite directions.

The man holding Mr. Banks captive slowly lowered his hand.

"Who are you?" Mr. Banks asked, trying to catch his breath and slow his heart that was trying to beat free of his chest.

"A friend of a friend. They have informed me you may need transport out of London?"

"Yes," Mr. Banks said hesitantly.

"Excellent. We should be off then. Follow me," the man walked to a different exit out of the building, but then he stopped. "Aren't you coming?"

"And why should I trust you?"

"Because your work has caught the Emperor's eye. He sees you as a valuable asset and us... sympathizer must stick together, should we not?"

"You're saying that Emperor Bonaparte has taken an interest in me?"

"He has heard good things from Lord and Lady Holland. Friends of yours?"

Mr. Banks nodded.

"Come then, we are wasting valuable time if we wish to set sail before nightfall."

Mr. Banks pushed away from the wall and walked out of the other exit. There was a carriage waiting for them. The man in the mask opened the door and waved Banks to climb in.

"Thank you," Mr. Banks said upon entering the carriage.

"Oh no, Mr. Banks. The pleasure is all mine." The stranger had climbed into the driver's seat and they set off towards the dock.