“That will do, Zach,” Gabe cautioned.
He’d asked for it by annoying him, but the words still made him want to roar. Nathan would have once, but no more.
“Excellent idea. Clearly she wants a title and money, both of which he has.”
“I’m sorry, that was uncalled for,” Zach said.
“It was, but as you are still young and stupid, I forgive you.”
“Getting back to what I was saying about Jack,” Gabe said, changing the subject before Nathan gave in and punched Zach. “Something was removed from Lord Russell’s office on the evening of his ball.”
“What?”
“A book with codes that only he can decipher, so there is no danger yet. But government secrets could be uncovered if someone does crack it.”
“Good Lord.”
“And I had word from Geraint this morning, and he said that last night someone took papers from Lord Lithgow’s coat. Again, important documents.”
“Shouldn’t these important documents be locked away so they are not easy tolift?” Zach shot Nathan a look as he said the word. Nathan ignored him.
“Where was Lithgow when his papers were stolen?”
“A brothel, apparently.”
“Of course. The one place a man cannot think with any clarity,” Michael muttered. “Why would he be carrying important papers with him into a brothel? We seriously need to think about who we give information about national security to in this country.”
“Which brothel?” Nathan said slowly.
Gabe looked as if something had dawned on him. “Madam Bolade’s.”
“Now that’s all very convenient. Especially as that is where the meeting Nathan went to—alone—was.” Zach’s look was smug now. Nathan rolled his eyes. “And the Russian-Hungarian-German woman was there.”
“It’s the Russian connection.” Michael was squinting into the distance. “All very interesting and linked, in my opinion.”
“Very interesting, but at the moment we have several ideas of interest and nothing that ties them together,” Gabe said.
“Except the Russian men and the woman of unidentified origins,” Michael added.
Who I kissed.
“It’s like wading through mud up to your bollocks in the dark,” Zach said, rising up in his stirrups and following Michael’s gaze.
“What in god’s name are you looking at?” Nathan snapped.
“I’m unsure, but it looks to me like a gathering of some sort.”
They all looked now.
“Should we make a run for it or go to investigate?” Gabe asked. “The latter, methinks, especially as Dimity was to go driving with the duchess today.”
“I’m curious.” Zach touched his heels to the sides of his horse and was soon trotting away from them.
Was Beth promenading in the park today?
Nathan followed, slowly, with Gabe and Michael.
“That is the Duchess of Yardley’s barouche with your betrothed and Walter seated in it,” Michael said.
