“The nob happens to be the Duke of Strathaven. And someone, using your shot and your gun, attempted to assassinate him a week ago. So, unless you want to be carted off to Newgate as an accomplice,” Will growled, “you will tell us what you know.”
“Already told you. Don’t know nothing,” Palmer said belligerently.
Alaric noticed sweat trickling down one of the clerk’s temples. “You—Babcock, is it?”
“Y-yes, your lordship.”
“Have you seen a disfigured man in the shop? One with a scar down the middle of his face?”
Babcock darted a terrified gaze at his employer. “N-no, sir—I mean, your lordship.”
“That’s a bluidy lie,” Will said, his hands balling.
Alaric held his brother back. “If either of you remembers anything, there happens to be a sizeable reward,” he said coolly.
The clerk wetted his lips, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“Ain’t nothin’ for us to remember,” Palmer spat. “Now get out o’ my shop afore I toss you out.”
***
As the carriage rolled off, Will said in frustrated tones, “Both of them were lying through their teeth. I could have gotten the truth out of them.”
“By beating them?” Alaric smoothed his gloves in place. “Palmer still wouldn’t talk. My guess is that he has some personal connection to the shooter.”
“We’ll have Palmer tailed,” Kent said. “He might lead us to the suspect.”
“If Babcock doesn’t come to us sooner.” Alaric’s instincts told him the clerk was more than ready to fly his employer’s coop. “He wants that reward.”
“Blunt doesn’t buy everything,” Will said.
“Anyone who believes that doesn’t have enough of it,” Alaric replied. “Kent, any progress at The Cytherea?”
“I confirmed that Lily White was indeed an actress there—the term “actress” being applied loosely,” the investigator said. “By the look of things, the theatre is a step up from a bawdy house, with skimpy outfits and skimpier talent.”
“Got a good look, did you?” Alaric drawled.
“I have no interest in such depravity.” Kent shot him an irritated look. “According to the manager, Miss White up and left the company around the time she started as a maid at your cottage. No one at the theatre has seen her since, and they haven’t any notion where she might have gone. Apparently, she kept to herself.”
“That’s what my staff claimed as well—until Emma somehow got them to talk.” With an odd mixture of ruefulness and pride, Alaric had to acknowledge the truth: his future wife was a force to be reckoned with. Fortunately, he knew how to put her energies to good use.
“Donotbring my sister into this,” Kent said through his teeth.
“She’s already in it.”
“Aye, and I don’t like it.” The investigator glowered at him. “What are you up to, Strathaven? Why are you sending Emma on a wild goose chase through theton?”
“You have a better idea for keeping her out of trouble?”
The look of impotent frustration on Kent’s face spoke louder than words.
Will’s brow lined. “What wild goose chase? Why is Miss Emma involved?”
“She is determined to be part of the investigation and, more specifically, to protect my life.” Emma’s loyalty and concern reached a dark, frozen corner inside him. There it was again, that dangerous spark of hope...
Don’t be a fool.He could lust after Emma, do what it took to make her his. But he would never lose control over his heart or his head. Never set expectations that would only lead to disillusionment and pain.
In cool tones, he said, “I’ll leave it to Kent to explain why his sister disobeys commands and does exactly what she pleases.”
