“Swing your hips a bit more,” Blanche said quietly. “You’re walkinglike a nun.”
Beth studied Blanche and then began the same kind of swaying walk, handon hip, light on the feet, moving her shoulders to greatest effect.
“Hey, lovely!” called a roughly dressed passerby. “Want better companythan you’ve got there?”
Beth winked at the man over her shoulder. Lucien dragged her againsthis side. “Ger out of it!” he snarled at the man, showing a fist. The manhurried on his way.
Nicholas was almost helpless with laughter. “We are supposed to be onserious business, my friends. Beth, you can come out and play harlotanother night.” He took Beth’s other arm and hurried them along. Blanchehad Miles and Tom Holloway to escort her as Hal had reluctantly split todo his duty with Francis at the front of Deveril’s Grosvenor Squarehouse.
As they had expected, the streets were already filling with merrycrowds celebrating the victory. All the buildings bore extra lights thoughthey hadn’t had time to mount proper festive illuminations. Drink wasflowing but the mood had not yet turned wild.
Beth had never been involved in such an atmosphere in her life and,safe between Nicholas and Lucien, she loved it. When the crowd began tosing “God Save the King,” she joined in lustily.
She laughed up at Lucien. He grinned at her, swung her out ofNicholas’s grasp, and into a thorough kiss. The crowd shouted and whistledits approval. Beth was left feeling dizzy and very much that she wishedthey were in a more private place.
The crowds thinned as they got closer to Grosvenor Square. There hadbeen riots here earlier in the year over the unpopular Corn Laws but themob had no reason for anger tonight, no reason to seek out the homes ofunpopular ministers and break the windows.
Such a disreputable group as they were gained a few funny looks inMayfair, but the pavement was still supposed to be free to anyone, and sothey strolled along without interference.
Near Deveril’s house they passed Hal and Francis, every inch thegentlemen and apparently chatting while waiting for a friend or acarriage. Francis held up two fingers as they passed. He thought therewere two men in the dark house.
They continued to Upper Brook Street, where Miles actually had hisrooms, then slipped down the alley to Blackman’s Mews, which ran behindDeveril’s house. It was dark and slimy underfoot.
Nicholas seemed to have a mental map, for he stopped by a path leadingup to a house. “All right,” he said. “You go up first, Blanche, and get inthere. They’ll be cautious about opening the door ? Deveril was a toughmaster and they don’t know he’s dead ? but they’ll open for you quicklyenough. Keep them distracted and make a lot of noise. I’ll climb on theroof of the scullery and in the upstairs window. It shouldn’t take morethan a minute or two to do the job. Lucien and Miles will watch near thekitchen, and Tom will watch back here with Beth. All right?”
Beth grasped her courage and pulled away from Lucien. “I think I shouldgo, too.” She carried on over his protests. “Two on two will be so mucheasier, and it’s only for a few minutes. Please, Lucien?”
After a moment Lucien sighed. “You’re determined to have your piece ofthe glory, aren’t you? Go on then.”
Beth recognized the extent of his sacrifice and gave him a hug. Thenshe followed Blanche up to the back door while Lucien and Miles slippedalong behind them.
Lucien whispered, “Scream for help if you need it. Either of you.” Thenhe and Miles moved off to the side to conceal themselves.
Blanche and Beth could see through a lighted sunken window into thekitchen. Two men were sitting at a table playing with greasy cards anddrinking what looked to be a good wine.
“While the cat’s away . . .” Blanche muttered. “At least there’s nosign of a gun. Ready?”
The men were rough and dirty and reminded Beth of the two men who hadaccompanied Deveril, but she nodded firmly. “Ready.”
Blanche went down the steps and knocked. They heard a bolt drawn backthen the door was opened cautiously by a bearded man with a pistol in hishand. He hadn’t been one of the card players. There were three.
“Yeah?” he grunted.
“Well,” said Blanche in a heavy accent, “is that any welcome for alady? I’ve a mind to share that bottle of wine, luv.”
The man relaxed and opened the door a little more but also lookedcarefully out behind them. “Where did you fall from, me angel?”
“Heaven, of course,” said Blanche. “Your master, he ordered us up foryour supper, ‘andsome.”
The man’s eyes sharpened. “His lordship? You’ve seen him?”
“Yesterday, luv. Look,” Blanche added with a pout, “are you goin‘ tolet us in? There’s other fish in the sea tonight, you know. In fact, Ithink we should all go out and join the fun.”
“Can’t, me honey,” the man said, adding with a grin, “but you’llcertainly make a dull time brighter.” He opened the door wide. “Come onin. Hey, lads, come see what his lordship’s sent for us!”
The two men threw down their cards. “Bleeding sight for sore eyes,”said one who was largely without teeth. His eyes seemed to strip theclothes off both of them.
“Too soddin‘ right,” said the other, flashing a great many very yellowteeth.
