“One moment.” Gabe raised a hand. “Are you telling me members of Alexius are undercover?”
Geraint nodded. “I cannot go into detail.”
“Well, clearly whoever it is, he is not a nobleman, as we are not that intelligent,” Gabe said.
“They have been undercover for some time,” Geraint said. “I will pass on anything they learn to you and the others as soon as I have anything of interest.”
“‘They?” Michael asked. “How many are there?”
“There is more I must tell you,” Geraint said, instead of answering the question.
“But of course there is.” Nathan sighed.
“We fear a member of Alexius is betraying us.”
“Excellent,” Zach muttered. “That rounds things out nicely. Not only are noblemen notoriously unreliable with national secrets, but they are also willing to sell them for the highest price?”
“So, these women are just pawns is what you believe, and it is them we need to find first?” Forrest said.
“Because they will be easy to get information out of,” Nathan added.
Geraint nodded.
“Then we shall endeavor once again to clean up the mess men of power and consequence have made,” Gabe said. “Veritas scutumtibi erit.”
“Veritas scutum tibi erit,” Geraint replied.
They left in single file as they’d arrived, and only when they were outside the church with the door shut did Zach say, “It does not inspire me with confidence that such men run this country.”
“There are many good ones also, little brother. Friends that we respect,” Michael said. “Not to mention Gabe.”
They walked until they could flag down a hackney, all deep in thought. They then directed the driver to take them to the Speckled Hen.
“Geraint said they had someone undercover,” Forrest said. He was now wedged between Zach and Nathan while Gabe and Michael traveled in comfort. “Do you think he could possibly have been speaking about a woman?”
“Why would you say that?” Zach asked.
“Because you said when Ruby had gone missing you thought you heard a woman’s voice at the church door and that she had knocked twice. Why would she be there if she was not working for Alexius?” Forrest added.
“No women are part of Alexius,” Gabe said.
“Change is everywhere, Gabe,” Forrest continued. “Who better to get close to other women than one of their kind?”
“It would be incredibly dangerous, surely?” Nathan said.
“It would,” Forrest agreed. “And take a brave woman to put herself in such a position.”
“But it is not inconceivable,” Zach added softly. His back tensed, and he wasn’t sure why.
He was still thinking about it as they entered the Speckled Hen, a tavern that they had frequented for many years.
“It’s like I can’t go anywhere without falling over a Deville.”
The voice belonged to Warwickshire Sinclair. Friend and, until recently, fellow rabble rouser. With Warwick were his brothers Lord Devonshire and Mr. Cambridge Sinclair.
“I hardly think a Sinclair can speak,” Gabe said, shaking hands. “You and those Ravens are everywhere.”
These were some of the men he respected, Zach thought. Big builds with dark hair and green eyes, all seven of the Sinclairs were similar enough that if you saw one alone, you knew who they were instantly.
