She withdrew the parchment, and she spied the paper beneath it. Bloody hell, another receipt for the same month. Same ungodly fees. Only in this instance, Leach had provided legal services to Viscount Ashcroft.
Ashcroft or Pendleton? Which of the bounders had purchased her girl?
Confounded, Marianne continued sifting through the papers. She found one other bill dated for the same month. This one was addressed to Marquess Boyer.
She let out a quivering breath. Damn Leach's eyes. The rotter had been busy. A marquess, an earl, and a viscount: which of the blackguards had her babe?
"My lady." The panicked whisper dragged her attention to the door, where Lugo stood. Even from the distance, she could see his tense features. "We must go. Now."
She shoved the three receipts into her reticule. "Why?"
"Leach is dead," Lugo said tersely. "Murdered. Next door in the sitting room."
Instantaneously, she heard the voices in the distance, footsteps approaching outside. Loud banging sounded on the front door.Mr. Leach, we're here from Bow Street. We'd like to have a word with you.
Marianne shot to her feet, her pulse a fierce staccato. Without another word, she raced out of the office behind Lugo. They sprinted through the waiting area and back the way they'd come. Marianne's mind spun with frantic thoughts as she followed Lugo's broad back through the doorway of the clerks' chamber.
Have they surrounded the back entrance? Good God, they'll think we killed Leach—
Her mind went blank as an arm appeared from nowhere, grabbed her by the waist. A large hand muffled her scream. Heart thundering in her ears, she fought, biting and kicking to get away from her captor.
15
"'Tis me, Kent,"Ambrose growled. "Stop bloody struggling or we'll both end up in Newgate."
Even in the dimness, he could see the glassy panic in Marianne's eyes.
"There are constables outside. If you want to get out of here, you'll follow my instructions. Understand?" When she nodded, Ambrose jerked his chin at the looming Lugo. "That goes for your man, too."
The African's eyes narrowed, but he indicated his assent. Ambrose released Marianne, who stumbled away from him.
"Why are you here?" she said in a choked voice.
"No time for that now. They've got the place surrounded."
The voices outside grew in volume. Gut twisting, Ambrose raced through the options. If they caught Marianne breaking into a man's office—whatever the reason—the magistrates would toss her in a cell. Combined with the other circumstantial evidence Coyner had, she might be tried for crimes against the establishment.
Ambrose had convinced himself that he was capable of objectivity—of carrying out his duty, no matter the outcome. He'd believed that his logic ruled his emotions.
At this instant, his error in judgmentstunnedhim: how could he have been in such denial?
Then his instincts kicked in, overriding his thoughts. Every muscle tensed, readying to get Marianne out of this mess. He'd save her now and get his answers later.
"We'll have to go up top. Follow me," he growled.
He led the way to the stairwell he'd seen just past the clerks' room. With the other two close behind, he took the steps to the uppermost floor. They entered an attic room, the gloom relieved by a silvery luminescence. He followed the light to the window, which he wrenched open, swiftly looking left and right. No constables were within visual range, although he could hear their voices coming from the front of the building: the men were planning to break down the door.
He looked down at the neighboring rooftop. The fog and darkness obscured his vision, but he estimated a drop of maybe ten feet. A risk they'd have to take.
"I'll go first," he said. "Lady Draven follows. And Lugo, shut the window behind you—we don't want anyone tailing us."
Ambrose climbed onto the outside ledge of the window. He jumped, landing lightly on the shingles. He dropped low, tensing, waiting for any sign that he'd been seen. But no alarm sounded; in fact, the voices had quieted. The constables must have already gotten into the house. Looking up, he saw Marianne's pale face at the open window.
"Go on, I'll catch you," he said as loudly as he dared.
She gave a quick nod and, after an instant's hesitation, came hurtling toward him. He caught her easily. He gestured to Lugo, who took the leap, landing solidly beside them. With no time to waste, Ambrose grabbed Marianne's hand. She grasped onto him tightly as they ran. He kept close to the stacks, stopping now and again to make sure they hadn't been detected.
When they reached the end of the terrace, Ambrose pulled her behind the shelter of the chimney. Breathing hard, he peered around at Leach's building, now six or seven houses away. Fog swirled in the distance they'd crossed, covering their tracks; there was no sign that their rooftop escape had been discovered.
