His eyebrows lifted and anticipation began to replace his gut-wrenching fear. “Aye?”
“It was Sir Wycliff.”
* * *
“Oh, but we wouldn’t wish to impose.” Mary worried her bonnet’s burgundy ribbons as she stood gazing at Hydra in his foyer. The early morning sun shone through the opened door and glinted off the marble floor.
They had gone directly from their spot in hiding at the docks to the safe house to swiftly clean themselves up and change, then rode hell-bent for Hydra’s town house.
“Nonsense!” Hydra urged them further into the foyer. “It is no imposition at all, Mary. I was to have my family over to break their fast and Cook always prepares far too much. My sister, Anna, my wife, Bridget, and her sister, Kat, would be pleased to see you. Emaline, as you know, cannot return to London or there would be uproar among theton, but I know she would have been pleased to see you, as well.”
Mary felt a warmth flow through her at Hydra’s words. She had been in residence with his family during much of the past year but did not know that his sisters and wife had taken much notice of her.
She smiled at her superior. “In that case, I would be honoured.”
“Gabe, Greene, please do hand Tim your outerwear and join us in breaking your fast.”
Mary removed her gloves and handed them with her bonnet to Hydra’s butler, then followed him to his morning room.
“I presume that all of you have information for me?” Charles asked in an undertone as a downstairs maid scurried past them.
“Yes, sir.”
“Excellent.” He stopped, spinning around with one arm directing her into the room on the left. “After you, Mary.”
She entered the empty morning room and sat at the grand oak table.
“I had my staff arrange for a larger table in this room, as I find I am always hosting the morning meal.” He smiled at them as he took his own seat at the head of the table. “I also had to find a house in town that suited all of our needs, including a very large morning room.” Raking his fingers through his hair, he settled in his seat. He filled a large mug with coffee, mixing in a healthy amount of sugar, and took a sip.
Mary helped herself to a cup of tea, then poured for Colin and Gabe, who had chosen the seats on either side of her.
“Tell me,” Hydra said, swallowing a gulp of his steaming brew. “How did everything play out last night?” His eyes lowered to Mary’s bruised neck and bandaged shoulder, which she had attempted to hide with a scarf, and his gaze softened with concern. “Mary, you have been injured…”
Gabe growled. “Damned Boxton.”
Hydra sat straighter in his seat. “Anthony Walstone, Viscount Boxton?”
“Aye. One in the same.”
“By damn!” Hydra pounded his fist on the table in outrage, causing the teacups to rattle in their saucers. “Where is he? Where is the bastard? I shall have him shipped to the Americas!” He pointed a finger at them, his eyes alight with fury. “After what he did to my sister and thenthisto you, the blighter deserves to be hung!”
“Here, here!” Colin lifted his cup of tea.
Gabe cleared his throat. “I have been informed tha’ Stevens has taken care of the matter.”
Awareness dawned in Hydra’s dark blue eyes. “Ah. Stevens was there, was he? He witnessed what occurred with Mary?”
“He was, sir, and I believe he did,” Mary said.
A deep, wicked laugh escaped her superior before he took another healthy gulp of his coffee. “The bastard deserved what came to him, then. Stevens cannot abide by men who abuse women… One can only imagine what he did to the blighter.” His gaze rested on Mary once more. “I have summoned Simon—that is, Dr. Claridge—to see my wife. I’m certain that he would see to your injuries, should you wish him to perform an examination, Mary.”
“That is kind of you, Hydra, but I believe I am fine.”
“All the same,” Gabe cut in, “ye should let him examine ye, Mary.”
She nodded in reluctant acceptance. “Very well.”
Gabe leaned forward in his seat beside Mary. “Hydra, have you by chance received any news on Hugh?”
