“You cannot stop me?—”
“I know.” He exhaled. “I don’t wish to stop you from being who you are, Lottie. You’ve accepted me for who I am, and I want to do the same for you. I loveyou—and that includes the brave, bold, and capable lady investigator that you are.”
Her eyes shone. “That means everything to me, Jack.”
“But even the best investigators need reinforcements.”
She nodded slowly. “My society has a motto:sisters first. Partnership is what makes us strong.”
Relieved that this was going better than planned, he said, “So you agree to have a partner?”
“I do. Unfortunately, it cannot be you. Karlsson got too good a look.”
He wanted to kick himself for not choosing a more thorough disguise.
“You couldn’t know that Brompton’s might be tied up with the First Flame.” With her usual acuity, Lottie read his mind. “I will have to bring in a different partner. Since Pippa recently gave birth and Fiona is starting to show, I think they should sit this one out. That leaves Livy and Glory.” She hesitated. “And Devlin.”
Since he and his wife loved each other and had spent the night proving it, Jack could afford to be magnanimous. Moreover, her safety came first.
“A pair of reinforcements wouldn’t hurt,” he said. “You and one of the Angels can apply to be factory workers. And Devlin can put in to be a foreman.”
Lottie looked pleased. “That is a capital plan. After breakfast, I shall gather my team.”
“And I will contact mine. We are going to dig into the background of Brompton’s,” Jack said with resolve. “If the company is abetting the First Flame, we’ll need proof before we take them down.”
Thirty-One
After breakfast, Charlie decided to stop at Glory’s home first. The residence was in the East End, a starkly elegant compound where Glory’s husband, Wei Chen, ran a clinic that specialized in Chinese healing arts andkung fu. An elite martial artist, Master Chen had become a sought-aftershifufor gentlemen eager to improve their health through his remedies and physical exercises.
Thus, it was no surprise that the courtyards were already packed with pupils when Charlie arrived. They were practicing drills on wooden dummies, honing their punches, kicks, and other maneuvers. The majordomo took her through to a private building at the back of the compound, where Glory and Master Chen received her in a spacious hall that served as an all-purpose entertaining area.
“Good morning, Lady Fayne.” The master bowed, the clipped waves of his raven hair gleaming. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
Although he often dressed in the English style, when at home Wei Chen wore the traditional Chinese tunic and trousers. The elegant simplicity of the steel-blue fabric suited his noble features and lean, wiry build. Handsome yet reserved, Chen was not an easy fellow to read…except when it came to Glory. When his eyes alighted on his new bride, they gleamed with the depth of his emotion for her.
Standing beside her husband, Glory looked equally content. In fact, she was quite radiant in her high-necked lavender gown, and there was a telltale glow on her cheeks that Charlie had seen in her own mirror this morning. Nothing like an early morning romp to get the blood pumping.
“I am afraid this is a matter of business, not pleasure,” Charlie replied.
They took their seats at a round rosewood table, and Glory passed out porcelain cups of jasmine tea.
“Is this about the case?” Glory asked. “Fi and I haven’t finished surveying the site of the Great Exhibition?—”
“A more pressing situation has arisen.”
Charlie explained her plan to infiltrate Brompton’s manufactory with a partner. Given Glory’s zeal for investigation, she’d expected the other to volunteer immediately. Instead, Glory bit her lip and exchanged a look with Chen.
Charlie frowned. Of all the spouses, Glory’s was typically the least likely to interfere with Angel business. Not because he was any less protective than the other men; in fact, he was capable of incapacitating anyone who even looked askance at his wife. The reason that he could be more relaxed about his lady’s participation was because he’d personally taken her on as a pupil. Whilst all the Angels had been trained in combat, Glory was learning martial arts as well. When she demonstrated her “lightness”kung fu, a technique that enhanced her natural speed and agility, Charlie had marveled along with the other Angels.
“I was thinking you could accompany me, Glory.” Charlie arched a brow. “Unless there is a problem?”
Glory cleared her throat. “It’s not a problem, exactly. Mr. Chen and I were going to wait to share the news, but, um…”
She hesitated, but Charlie already knew.
“My wife is with child.” Master Chen did not hesitate, his manner one of fierce and quiet pride.
“May I offer my congratulations?” Charlie said sincerely.
