By the time Detective Fitzroy got to the hay loft Allie had freed the ladies from being tied up and also removed the cloth covering their mouths. Clive was correct there were no major injures besides some redness and bruising from being tied up. Allie was just finishing examining the last woman when she noticed Detective Fitzroy observing her.
Allie had taken the name and age of every woman, where/when they were abducted, as well as their injuries. Allie led the ladies and introduced Detective Fitzroy to them. As she let Fitzroy take control of the scene. He asked the women if they were missing anyone, to which they replied no. Allie handed him the list of the 6 women's information. One of them being Eliza's Miss Ann Doyle. Detective Fitzroy was impressed at Allie's work telling her, "You did good, but we need to talk about your listening skills." Allie smiled and replied, "Thank you, that's what my parents always told me too."
Eliza watched as Allie came down first, then the 6 women, and then Detective Fitzroy. Allie let Eliza know she had identified the women one of which was Miss Ann Doyle, and had asked other questions as well. "Lizzie they are all in good health, just a few minor bruises and redness from where they were tied up. They had been feed good meals and allowed to bath, what do you think those men wanted them for?" Allie asked. Eliza stated that her guess is that they would probably be taken to other countries and sold, or ransomed for money. Allie shook her head and stated, "It is a man's world and women are just another object in them." Eliza responded, "Not all men Allie, as she nodded towards Fitzroy. Inspector Wellington has done well with him and has turned him into a good man, not the scared young man he used to be." Allie smiled as she watched Fitzroy interview the women. Eliza and Allie with the other men searched the rest of the barn and yard for any other evidence. Allie and Eliza noticed a shack a bit off the back of the Barn, and they started towards it.
The shack was barely standing, the two looked around it, and peeked through the dust caked windows. "My luggage!" Allie said cheerfully. Eliza opened the door, and added, "and apparently the other women's too!" They noticed Phelps was walking in their direction. "Miss Scarlets what did we find now?" Phelps said in a dry bothered tone. Allie said in a rather sassy way, "We found my luggage and appears that there is luggage here from the other women, don't worry we haven't touched anything we wouldn't want to jeopardize the investigation." Again Phelps rolled his eyes, he knew now how Inspector Wellington felt. He found himself wondering how the Inspector would handle two Miss Scarlets instead of only the one.
Detective Fitzroy led the women out and Phelps waived them over to the shack. Officers were taking out the luggage and lining it up for easy identification. The women came and each identified their own, and then officers tagged them with the correct names. The women were loaded into a few coaches and taken to the hospital for further examination while their families were notified. Eliza rode with so she could ask Miss Doyle some questions and notify her family personally. Allie volunteered to help stay with the men to help with the luggage, and just breathe in the clean country air for a bit while waiting for the carriages to come back to pick them up. The luggage was placed in a neat pile and Detective Fitzroy suggested to Phelps since he was the acting Chief Inspector to take the men in the secure carriage with some of his men so they could start booking them and questioning. Phelps agreed and off he went taking as many officers that could fit in the carriage following the suspects. It was just Detective Fitzroy, Allie, and two other officers who were off fine combing the area for any missed evidence.
There was a bench in front of the farmhouse and Allie took a seat it was a beautiful place with a view of the city on one side, and then on the other side plush meadows surrounded by trees at the very far edge. Not far behind the home was a decent stream with a bridge built for easy crossing. Now that all the chaos was over Allie closed her eyes and listened to the quiet moving water, it was just now dawn and the birds were starting to chirp. Though she had been without sleep, the fresh cool air and excitement had made her feel more refreshed than she had felt since leaving Ireland. Allie heard footsteps nearing and felt a visitor join her on the bench. "Miss Allie what may I ask are you doing with your eyes closed? Are you that tired? I promise you will be home soon." Fitzroy said with a smile in a caring yet teasing manner. It was Allie's turn to roll her eyes, "Detective Fitzroy you really think so low of me to just fall asleep sitting up on a bench? I was enjoying the fresh cool air, birds chirping, and the sound of the stream. I had closed my eyes only to enjoy it more and not be distracted by your men high stepping through the tall grass, they have to know they look absurd." Fitzroy leaned into Allie's shoulder and softly said, "You know you can call me Oliver again, I could and would never think low or less of you for any reason, and yes I know they feel ridiculous as I have been in their place before." Allie blushed and let out a laugh, "You know Oliver I can see it, was it the great Inspector Wellington who made you look that way? He and Lizzie have spent most of their lives very closely intertwined and I don't know much about him other than I may have met him once when we were younger and that he told Lizzie he loved her and left."
"HE DID!?"Fitzroy exclaimed with a smile from ear to ear. Allie nodded yes now feeling it may not have been appropriate to share this with a detective who works under Inspector Wellington. Allie sheepishly said, "I probably should not have told you that, not only will Eliza kill me, so will he." Fitzroy still smiling, "The secret is safe with me, I am not exactly friends with anyone at the station and keep to myself mostly. It could be our first secret ?" He was still facing Allie and his hand had moved slightly barely grazing hers. Fitzroy blushed, "I am sorry, my hand was starting to cramp and I didn't realize our hands were so close." Allie shook her head and she moved her on top of his, "I am fine with it if you are Oliver, don't be sorry, and yes let's keep what I told you between us." Fitzroy's eyes were smiling, he looked down at their hands. This was a whole new experience for him, in his past dealings with women he was always so nervous, uncomfortable, and scared to be honest. He had never courted anyone, the most experience he has had was the two horribly awkward dances he went to. He felt none of these things with Allie, he felt so light he could fly and not weighed down by expectations of his father or anyone else. Fitzroy removed his hand from under hers and placed his on top and gently squeezed her hand which made her turn towards him. He leaned into her shoulder again, she was comfortable, and whatever was happening between them felt right. Her head was feeling heavy, and she rested it on his shoulder. She looked up to see his face making sure that he was okay with this, he looked down and smiled, "I knew you were tired." Allie loved the banter, "Oliver, it's just that your shoulder looked so inviting, speaking of inviting I am guessing we are postponing hosting you for dinner until another night?" Fitzroy looked down and his eyes met hers, "My shoulder is at your disposal, I was hoping I could ask you to dinner and it might be the first of many. We have much to discuss about you being as bullheaded, if not more than your cousin." Allie still looking him in the eyes though she was struggling now to keep her eyes open, "I really like your shoulder, I accept all your invitations you ask of me. Sounds like Lizzie will have to sit in on the discussion too." Fitzroy laughed, "Inspector Wellington is in charge of Miss Eliza, he is the only man for that job, and believe me he has tried his best with her, I am sure it's just an understanding between them that everything he says is strictly a recommendation." Allie let out a sigh, "I am not going to deceive you I don't listen well either as you said before, I think it in Lizzie and I's genetics. Tell me more about Inspector Wellington while we wait, he sounds like a true gentleman." Fitzroy saw her close her eyes and said softly, "Inspector Wellington is a true gentleman at the core, but I like to think of him as an onion. An onion has several layers and once you get past peeling the first couple away and the occasional tear or two from your eyes burning, it gets better." Allie laughed and moved her head so she was looking eye to eye with Fitzroy who looked a little disappointed she moved away from him. "I cannot wait to meet him! I love onions Oliver!" Fitzroy chuckled nervously, "Maybe this can be our second secret, me calling the Inspector an onion?" Allie beamed, "Two secrets already in five minutes? With Lizzie and Inspector Wellington in our lives, it seems as though we will share many secrets between us." Allie stood up as the carriages returned to pick them up, she looked down at Fitzroy offering her hand to help him up, "Are you coming? I don't blame you if you want to stay, it is beautiful here, but we have to get your arm looked at." Fitzroy took her hand, he really didn't need help up but he was going to take any opportunity he could to be near and touch Allie, he was completely taken with her. He completely forgot he had been shot hours earlier. He didn't want to hide what was happening between them, nor did he care if anyone including other officers had seen them. He felt as if she was his to protect and be there for her to confide in. Even though he realized how new this was for both of them, he was hers and he just hoped and prayed that she would be his as well.
Detective Fitzroy and Allie helped the other two officers place the luggage in on the carriage the two officers would take back to Scotland Yard to be logged as stolen items so the men would also be charged with robbery as well. Then the men were to deliver the luggage back to the hospital where the women were. Detective Fitzroy and Allie took the other carriage. "Would you like to be dropped off at home Miss Allie?" Allie was sitting across from Detective Fitzroy, she leaned forward and put her hand on his forearm. "I think we are past Miss Allie now. I need to make sure you get your arm taken care of first, and make sure Lizzie doesn't need help." Fitzroy moved to her seat and was sitting beside her, "On our way you can get some rest if you wish Allie," he put his arm behind her and pulled her closer to him as she rested her head on his shoulder, and in turn he rested his head lightly on hers. Allie loved how safe and secure he made her feel, she could be herself with him. He was so affectionate and how he never made her feel like her affections were unwanted. She raised her head slightly which startled him to sit straight up and turn his gaze towards her. He thought he had done something wrong, he should have second guessed resting his head on hers, may that was too much too soon. Again Allie took Fitzroy by surprise as she kissed him gently on the cheek and said "Thank you for everything Oliver." Fitzroy was on a level of happiness he never knew existed, he had feelings that were completely foreign but he knew he would crave the way them as soon as she left his arms.
20 minutes passed and they were pulling up to the hospital. She had been sleeping peacefully and he had rested his eyes for some of the way cherishing every moment he had with her. He kissed her forehead lightly, "Allie, my dear it's time to wake up. We are at the hospital." Allie opened her eyes and smiled cheekily, "Oliver? Did you just kiss my forehead?" Fitzroy chuckled nervously again thinking the had done something wrong, "I am so sorry if that was not acceptable." He was mid sentence and he was being shushed and pulled in to a hug by Allie who was careful not come close to his injury when she wrapped her hands around his chest, she looked up at him who was now speechless as she intended, "Oliver, no it's just that you missed." Fitzroy was confused, how could he have missed? He meant to kiss her forehead, his mother had told him that a kiss on the forehead means that you adore someone. His thoughts became interrupted when one of the arms that had been wrapped around him was now on the side of his cheek and Allie was no longer hugging his chest. She was looking straight into his eyes, she leaned up giving him a brief kiss on the lips. "Allie," he said in a deep breathy voice that was almost a whisper, "I promise you I will never miss again." Allie smiled as he placed his hand gently below her ear and gently brushed her cheek with his thumb, then he lowered his forehead on hers. They were now eye to eye looking deep into each other's eyes. His lips met hers. Though the kiss was swift, they sat that way completely immersed in themselves until a knock was heard on the roof. Allie pulled away and reached up to sweep his hair back in place and then returned his hat on his head. "Come on Detective Fitzroy, let's get you taken care of." Allie said. He saw her reaching for the carriage door, "No let me get that for you!" Fitzroy got out on his side and rushed around the carriage opening the door for Allie, he offered her his hand which she took and gently squeezed before releasing it as soon as she had finished climbing down. He rushed up the stairs to get in front of her to open the door, while he opened it and she stepped past him she stopped in the door frame and placed her arm on the forearm of his injured arm. "I will wait for you until they are finished fixing you," Allie promised. Fitzroy took his arm from her and placed his hand on the small of her back to guide her, and lowered his head and whispered, "Thank you, I will ask them to be quick." Not that he cared for himself, but didn't want to risk Allie's reputation, he quickly checked to see if anyone was around them. After seeing no one he quickly kissed her temple and guided her past him to the waiting area before checking in. He glanced back at Allie she was looking down taking off her gloves, the light was streaming though the windows directly landing on her, his heart was no longer his, she had it and he never wanted it back.