“Good. He needs that sort of penance in his life.”
“I don’t plan on changing.”
Joan smiled softly. “He was right, much as it pains me to say that out loud.”
Elizabeth winced. “Painful indeed. I’ll not tell him the words left your lips.”
“Thank you. He said we would be fast friends, and I can see that we will truly get along famously,Miss Essex.”
Elizabeth blushed and thanked the duchess. “I truly hope so.”
“I’m already assured of it.”
“Assured of what? Or should I not ask?” The duke entered the room followed by Elizabeth’s father.
Elizabeth stood and curtsied.
“Thank you, but not necessary.” He gestured back to her chair and took a seat as well. Elizabeth’s father took a chair beside her and accepted the duchess’s offer of tea.
“To answer your question, just saying that we’re going to be fast friends. Beware.” Joan quirked a brow at her husband.
“I see. Well, at least when you two join forces, I can retreat to billiards with Collin.”
“Capital idea,” Joan replied. “And I have a brilliant idea of my own. When my wayward brother returns to London in the next few days, Lord willing, I believe a party is in order.”
Elizabeth glanced up.
“A party?” Elizabeth’s father asked politely.
“Indeed, a ball. You, Miss Essex, need to let the world know that my brother has met his match. And a party is just the right way to announce it.”
Elizabeth forced a smile.
She’d studied social protocol, rarely followed it, and now was going to be the highlight of a London ballroom where the strictest social protocol was notonly expected, but any faux pas would be a scandal.
What could go wrong?
She was quite certain she had the answer.
Everything.
Thirty-one
It is one thing to show a man that he is in an error, and another to put him in possession of truth.
—John Locke,An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
Collin shared a look with Michael as they parted ways, he to the apothecary, Michael to the rear entrance at the back of the building. It was the closest exit to McKensie’s office, and if things went badly and Collin needed to run, Michael would be close by. If there was no one guarding the back door, Michael could possibly sneak in as well. Although he wouldn’t try that unless Collin took too long. It was risky regardless, but at least Collin wasn’t alone.
As Collin walked down the street toward the apothecary, he thought over what he was going to say and how he’d persuade them to take his offer. Any sort of bribe went against his grain. However, he’d gone over the scenario time and time again, and he didn’t see another way out when he was dealing with a crime ring as large as this.
He paused in front of the apothecary, took a deepbreath, and entered. The door closed behind him, and Collin took in his surroundings. The candlelight flickered from the gust created by the closed door, but there was no other movement. The man who had been behind the counter the first time was absent. After a few moments, Collin heard steps.
Olsen came out from the hall, his regard quickly sharpening with recognition as he studied Collin for a moment. “I thought we said not to come back.”
“I have something I think you’ll be interested in.” Collin left his hook vague, hoping greed would whet their curiosity enough to gain him an opportunity.
“I doubt that.” Olsen cracked his knuckles. “But lucky for you, it’s not up to me. Wait there.”
