She trusted Wick, trusted that he cared for her. And she couldn’t deny that her feelings for him were deepening day by day. He was everything she’d ever hoped to find in a lover, a partner, a husband. Yet so many things remained unsettled. Not only was there a secret adversary to stop, but Wick’s surveyor, Mr. Norton, had yet to deliver his report. In her experience, the journey to happiness never went as planned…
“As you wish, angel.” Wick released her hand. “Why don’t you fill a plate, then, and we’ll plan our next steps.”
Bea was returning from the sideboard with coddled eggs, juicy sausages, and sliced tomatoes just as Carlisle arrived. He made up his own plate and joined them at the table.
“Do you think this Ralph Palmer character is in London?” he asked, forking up a bite of kippers.
“Possibly,” Wick said. “But after meeting with the Palmers, Beatrice and I went to the Baited Bear and the barkeep confirmed what Mr. Palmer told us: he didn’t know anyone who saw Ralph Palmer personally. So the sighting could just be a rumor.” He took a drink of his coffee. “I could dedicate men to finding Palmer, but that’s looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack.”
“My intuition tells me Grigg is the more important lead,” Bea agreed as she buttered a crisp slice of toast. “Thankfully, we have Mr. Lugo assisting us in that regard.”
“Lugo knows what he’s about,” Carlisle said. “He and my brother-in-law Ambrose have solved some of the most difficult cases in London. You’ll have your answers soon enough.”
The butler arrived with the paper, setting it next to Wick.
“Bloody hell.”
At Wick’s vehement oath, both she and Carlisle stared at him.
Heart thudding, she asked, “What’s the matter?”
“I’m going tothrottleMcGillivray. He and the Potteries Coalition are behind this,” Wick ground out. “They threatened to go public if I didn’t go along with them, and now they have.”
“What’s happened, brother?” Carlisle said quietly.
“This.” Rising, Wick threw the paper down on the table.
Even from her angle, Bea couldn’t miss the headline printed in bold capitals:
INVESTORS FLEE GLNR AS MURRAY FAILS TO DELIVER ON PROMISES.
Her chest clenched as she saw the white lines of anger carved on Wick’s face.
“What…what will you do?” she stammered.
“I don’t know.” His hazel eyes were hard, remote. “The investors were already getting agitated; once they see this they could start jumping ship. And others will follow like lemmings. The whole project—our company—could go under.”
“Whatever I can do, Wickham…” Carlisle began.
“Stay here and look after Beatrice,” Wick said tersely. “I’ve got to get to the office.”
Before Bea could think of what to say, he strode from the room.
* * *
Wick had expected mayhem at the offices of Great London National Railway.
What he found there exceeded his worst expectations.
An angry mob had gathered in front, and it took the escort of six guards to get Wick through the front door. Even so, he didn’t escape unscathed. He was wiping raw egg and rotted produce from his sleeve as he entered Garrity’s office.
Garrity was seated at his desk, Kent on the other side. Both wore grave expressions.
“It was McGillivray,” Wick bit out, stalking over to face his colleagues. “He and the Potteries Coalition threatened to take us under and support the competition if we didn’t start laying track.”
“One cannot blame them,” Garrity said coldly. “We have failed to keep our end of the bargain to them. To all the investors who entrusted us with their money.”
Guilt speared Wick. He knew that the other was right. They had failed…no,hehad.
