He shook out his hands, squeezing and releasing his fists. Perhaps Uncle Thorne would be in the card room; Bull always relished the chance to try his cheating skills against his favorite family member. A little bit of card mishandlingand uncle baiting was just the focus he needed right now to?—
“Bull!”
The sound of his name drew him up short before he could step out into the hall, and he turned in surprise to see his younger brother Rupert—stepbrother, but their parents married when the lad was ten, so he’d been Bull’s brother for the last two decades hurrying toward him, his fingers entwined with his lady-love, Allison’s.
And they both looked extremely worried.
Bull pulled up short, attention locking onto them, senses on high alert. It wasn’t a secret that the two of them were in love and quite perfect for one another, but as far as Bull knew, Rupert and Allison had come to no formal arrangement. Whatever was concerning them must surely be unrelated to the way they desperately clung to one another.
“What is it?” he asked in a low voice as they reached him, both glancing over their shoulder once or twice. “What’s wrong?”
Rupert’s expression was serious as he pulled Allison to his side. “Allie has been threatened.”
“Please, Bull,” she whispered, eyes wide and brimming with fear. “We need your help.”
One quick nod, and Bull felt the pull of excitement which always came from starting a new case. He held open the door to the library, gesturing for them to precede him, and glanced about as well—as if there was danger here at the family gathering.
“I’ll help ye,” he vowed. “Tell me everything.”
This is what he needed; a new case to distract himself from thoughts of what could never be.
Bull stepped into the room, pushing them toward the arrangement of chairs in front of the hearth. Allie wore the latest style of gown from London, the soft lavender complimenting her coloring, but Rupert’s cuffs were hopelessly spattered in ink as he clasped his love’s hand. The young couple settled on the sofa, fingers still intertwined as if they might float apart without each other as an anchor, and Bull sat opposite.
Well,satwas too comfortable a word for what he did; heperched, his weight resting forward as he placed his elbows on his knees, his attention focused on those who needed his help.
“What’s going on?” he asked in a low voice, assuming they didn’t want this overheard.
Allie took a deep breath and glanced at Rupert, who gave her an encouraging nod. She nodded back.
“My father was…not a nice person,” she began, and Bull managed not to snort. His sister Marcia, who had been one of his best friends since before their parents had married, was now married to Allie’s uncle and guardian—another of his closest friends—so Bull had learned the family’s sordid past.
Aye, when he thought about it, there were a number of complex ties between the lot of ‘em here this Hogmanay.
Perhaps someone needs to publish some sort of family tree…
Young Allie’s smile seemed part grateful, part sickly. “Yes, well, you understand. He did not leave much of an estate, and what I did inherit, I thought little of. Now that Uncle Maxwell has Tostinham, I moved my things there and?—”
“And paid her father’s things nae attention,” Rupert blurted, expression serious. “Until the letter came.”
Letter? Bull’s brows rose, urging them to continue.
Allie fumbled for her reticule—and Bull’s brow twitched, knowing Marcia’s crusade to bring usable pockets to the masses. Apparently her niece-by-marriage hadn’t been converted yet.
The lass pulled out a folded piece of paper, which she unfolded and read aloud. “Your father had in his possession a portrait ofhisgrandfather’s mistress, a young woman dressed in yellow and wearing a splendid ruby necklace. By rights this portrait should belong to me, and Iwillhave it. I hold some power within Society, young Allison, and I am prepared to ruin you socially if you do not give it to me. You will hear from me soon.”
During the reading Bull had slowly straightened, his fingers unnaturally still as they gripped his knees. “Ruin ye socially?” He pierced Allie with a stern look. “What does this arsehole have on ye?”
The young woman flushed, as Rupert sat forward and hotly declared, “She’s done nothing wrong!”
“Yes, but…” Allie’s chuckle sounded forced, bitter. “With my family’s reputation? The way Uncle Maxwell inherited the title, after so many heirs died? My father’s disreputable deeds? It does not matter if the rumor is true…”
Bull hummed in understanding. “Aye, it doesnaeneedto be true, in order to ruin ye.”
“The blackmailer knows this!” Rupert declared passionately. “He also knows we will do anything to protect Allie’s reputation, including giving him the portrait when he contacts us again!”
Blackmail.
Bull’s heart began to pump and one corner of his lips curled.
