She pursed her lips, a sign she was not happy about the situation. Nor was he, but he was not going to relent and allow her to place herself in the path of danger. “Then how are we to lure my aunt into making a mistake?”
Havers stepped forward. “There is no need. Does this man not look familiar to you at all?”
Gory now stared at Havers. “What do you mean? Should I know him?”
“Perhaps not.” Havers frowned. “It does not matter. I am certain your aunt knows him, and I will get her confession in time.”
“You will get it in time?” Gory said, repeating his words. “What if we run out of time? Are we not better served by dangling bait in front of her?”
“Stop referring to yourself as bait,” Julius said between clenched teeth. “Put the idea out of your head at once.”
Havers regarded him a long moment. “What if I came up with a plan?”
“Do you have one in mind?” Gory was all in before Havers responded to her question. Smiling, she stepped forward. “Excellent. What do you need me to do?”
CHAPTER 13
JULIUS KNEW ALL eyes were on him as Gory, Havers, and Barrow awaited his consent to Gory’s attending her uncle’s funeral. He frowned at Gory. “You’d probably knock me out and tie me up, leave me trussed in a cupboard if I refused.”
“I would be very gentle with you,” she teased. “But I am going and you mustn’t stop me. I’ll never be free of the danger if we don’t take this opportunity to force them into making mistakes.”
“I still do not like it.” He held up a hand when she thought to protest. “I’ll go along, but I have terms.”
“And what might those be?” Havers asked.
“I remain beside Gory at all times. No one replaces me as her last wall of protection.”
Havers grinned and arched an eyebrow. “That is acceptable to me, although the magistrate might not take kindly to hearing the Duke of Huntsford’s brother was stabbed during the melee that erupted at the Earl of Easton’s funeral. Try not to get hurt, will you?”
Julius cast him a wry smile. “Do your job and get the assailant before he reaches me.”
Havers nodded. “I will do my best.”
Julius saw that Gory was already beginning to fret for his safety. His. What about hers?
She nibbled her lip and then looked up at him. “Perhaps you ought to let–”
His eyes were a fierce smolder as he said, “No one stands next to you but me, Gory. That is my first requirement and not negotiable.”
“Ape,” she muttered, but cast him a loving look. “And what is your second requirement?”
He cleared his throat. “That you marry me tomorrow. You do not attend the funeral unless you are already married to me. We’ll make the announcement that we are husband and wife at the funeral. I do not care about the scandal of it. I want Lady Easton and her associates caught by surprise and at odds with each other over their next steps. They are more likely to make their mistakes if caught off guard.”
“But how can I marry you when I am still betrothed to Allendale?”
“You won’t be bound to him for long,” Julius assured. “I’ll have Allendale sign off on the termination of your betrothal tonight. Mr. Barrow will assist me in ensuring it is done.”
“No, I’ll go with you to confront Lord Allendale,” Havers said. “It is more official that way. Besides, Mr. Barrow and his men are more capable than my constables when it comes to taking on guard duties, I regret to say. They will do a better job of protecting Lady Gregoria while we are off on this errand.”
“Mr. Havers, why are you suddenly so certain of my innocence?” Gory asked. “You did not even toss me a doubting glance when that man leaped up and began shouting that I was the one who paid him off.”
“Because I already know who was paying him. One of my men saw the exchange and reported it to me.”
“But how would they know where it was to take place? Or who the parties involved were to be?” Julius was amazed and now eager to hear more.
“The Wallingford Arms,” Havers replied. “I am good at what I do because I notice the smallest details. Your attention was fixed on Lady Easton, but any investigator worth his salt will know it is pointless to concentrate on her. She is not one to ever get her hands dirty. She is not one to ever go down to the docks herself to pay off an accomplice, or ever demean herself by performing maid’s work.”
“Maid’s work?” Gory regarded him, confused.
