Unlacing Lilly. Gail Ranstrom

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СКАЧАТЬ be admitted to one of your clubs unless I was carrying the coal scuttle. You have to go slumming if you want to see me, Hunter.”

      Despite his excellent instincts for survival, Devlin liked James Hunter. The man worked for the Home Office as a clandestine operative, he was honest and straightforward, and he never interfered with Devlin’s business. But, as a younger son of an earl, he was certainly a member of the ton, and consorting with society could give Devlin a bad name in Whitechapel.

      “Farrell’s is the best of the Whitechapel gin houses, Dev. At least I know I won’t go blind drinking what you serve. In fact, if it was in Holborn or Mayfair, it would be quite a respectable place.”

      “Aye? Well, it’s not in Mayfair. And neither am I. I’m a Whitechapel gutter rat, and here I’ll stay. But did you not see the sign outside? I’ve changed the name to The Crown and Bear.”

      Hunter shrugged. “It’s your business and your life.”

      “What do you need, Hunter?”

      His guest sipped his whiskey and looked thoughtful. “I’ve been meaning to thank you for your assistance last month at the chapel on the old Ballinger estate. We could never have stopped the Blood Wyvern Brotherhood without your assistance, and my brother would be dead without your help.”

      Devlin sipped again, remembering the incident. A degenerate group of peers looking for excitement had made a game of human sacrifice and Devlin had been drawn into the scheme by those trying to stop it—James Hunter and his brothers. “It wasn’t a fair fight. If I hadn’t thrown him a sword, someone else would have.”

      “No one else had one,” Hunter reminded him.

      “I am no hero, Hunter. Don’t try to pretend otherwise.”

      Jamie gave him a wry grin. “If you say so, Dev. But you didn’t have to be there. Did you?”

      “I felt some complicity since I told you where to find the bastards.”

      “If I recall correctly, you mentioned that you had your own reasons for being there.”

      Damn! He knew he would live to regret those unguarded words. “That’s my business, Hunter.”

      “And I won’t interfere. But my investigation is not finished. We disbanded the bloody Brotherhood, but we did not capture them all. Since they were disguised by their robes, we cannot be certain we even know everyone involved.”

      “They scattered like cockroaches in the sunlight.” Devlin chuckled. “They won’t surface again for a very long time.”

      “And that is why I’ve come.”

      “You want me to flush them out?”

      “Aye. The problem is in bringing them in. We know some of those involved, but they are lying low until the affair blows over. It will not blow over. These men are murderers and must be dealt with. We suspect some of them may be hiding in the rookeries. Thieves Kitchen. And that’s where you come in. You know things, Dev. You hear things. People will talk to you because they trust you. See what you can learn.”

      Devlin shook his head. “I’ve grown accustomed to my neck the way it is. I do not need it broken.”

      “Does it not bother you that Henley got away? Or that Lord Elwood and Percy Throckmorton are continuing on as if nothing has happened? There were others, Dev. If stopping them was not your reason for being there, what was?”

      Revenge. Rough justice. He’d waited for an opportunity like that, only to watch it disappear in an instant when he stopped to throw a sword to Hunter’s brother. “’Twas none of my business. I owed your brother a favor, and now it’s paid.”

      “There are some compelling reasons why you should help, Dev. Self-interest, chief among them.”

      “How is it in my own interest to assist the Home Office in anything?”

      Hunter’s dark purple eyes narrowed, and he took a deep breath before speaking. “Your…cooperation with the Home Office keeps the charleys from your door. If you didn’t cooperate, their frequent visits at The Crown and Bear could be bad for business.”

      Ah, blackmail. Devlin seethed beneath the surface. Hunter must be desperate, indeed, to resort to that. He took another long drink from his glass and considered his options. Refusing Hunter’s request would gain him nothing. Nor would granting it cost him anything. He did not respond favorably to threats. Nor did he think the charleys would be particularly bad for business. The crowd that frequented The Crown and Bear were a cut above the usual gin-house rowdies. He and Mick Haddon kept a superficial peace. And, to tell the truth, he didn’t give a damn about Henley or the others.

      No, he’d only wanted to know if Olney or Rutherford were at the sacrifice. And he’d wanted to use that information against them. But perhaps he could still uncover that information. If he and Hunter tracked the Brotherhood down one by one, he might get lucky and discover a stray duke or marquis in the lot. Now wouldn’t that be delicious? Yes, that would make an excellent backup if his first plan failed.

      “I have pressing business for the next week, Hunter, and may have to go away for a short while. A week, at most. After that…I might find some time.”

      “The sooner, the better,” Hunter urged. “A month has passed already, and I fear the blackguards may be making plans to leave the country until the scandal blows over.”

      Devlin laughed. “I disagree, Hunter. A month is just enough time for them to get cocky and think they’ve escaped unnoticed. Give them another week, and they won’t even be looking for us. We shall take them by surprise.”

      Hunter raised his glass in a salute and Devlin returned it. Yes, things were coming together nicely.

      Lilly sipped her tea, affecting a serene countenance as all about her was in turmoil. Isabella and her new husband were gently entreating her mother. Gina sat in a corner, applying herself to her needlework and ignoring the conversation. Lilly wished she could, but since she was the subject of it, that was not possible.

      “I really think—” Isabella began.

      Their mother waved her hand to silence her sister. “Good heavens, Bella, I cannot believe you want us to remove to your home. That would be so disruptive when I am still in mourning for poor Cora. Why can we not stay on here? The lease is paid through September.”

      Andrew Hunter, her sister’s new husband, placed his hand on Bella’s shoulder in a show of support, an expression of profound patience etched on his face. “Because, Mrs. O’Rourke, we wish to see to your needs and to offer you the protection of our home. When Miss Lilly is married, I am certain you would not want to intrude upon the newlyweds. Your house will be nearly empty with only you and Miss Gina left.”

      “I suppose it will be very lonely and quiet here when Lilly is gone.” Mama glanced over her shoulder at Gina and lowered her voice. “I cannot think what has got into Gina. She used to be so lively.”

      Lilly and Bella exchanged a quick glance but said nothing. Only they knew of the night barely a month ago when a brotherhood of murderous villains had kidnapped Gina intending to make her their next victim. If Mama ever found out how close Gina had come to death, she’d never allow her to leave the house again.

      Bella СКАЧАТЬ