“Because I heard a rumor that you have been seen for the last five nights at a certain establishment.”
Which was true, but he’d only been there to find her. The Frenchwoman he couldn’t stop thinking about, which was ridiculous because he had no idea what she looked like. The woman could have a third eye, and he’d be none the wiser.
“My sources tell me you also came to the defense of a certain French lady who was being insulted by that idiot Hampton. I was told she is a courtesan,” Nathan said.
Zach often lamented the fact that he could rarely place a foot in any direction without someone reporting to a brother.
“And that Plunge was there and fell off his chair,” Michael continued.
“That man should not be allowed out of the house without a keeper,” Nathan said. “How is it he’s so accident prone and imbecilic?”
“He’s harmless,” Zach said.
“I wonder sometimes if he’s putting on an act,” Gabe added.
“Why do you think that?” Zach asked.
“I don’t know, just a feeling.”
Zach thought about the look he’d seen on the man’s face and wondered if it could be true.
“Lord Albermale once told me that Plunge’s father, the late Viscount Montgomery, was the very best of men. Handsome, articulate, and well-respected. He and his wife passed when Plunge was twelve. From memory, there was something suspicious surrounding their deaths, but at the time I was too young to take note. He had no other family to watch over him from what I gather,” Gabe said.
“I wonder who looked out for him?” Forrest said.
Gabe shrugged.
“Why is he Lord Plunge if he is Viscount Montgomery?” Forrest asked.
“Lord Plunge is the nickname he was given when he first entered society. He fell in the Thames twice that season and then at a house party, he stumbled into a fountain. He was given the nickname Plunge, and it grew into Lord Plunge,” Gabe said.
“I didn’t know that,” Zach said. Was there more to Plunge than they had given him credit for?
“Why am I suddenly feeling bad for all the times I mocked him?” Nathan asked.
“I’m sure he’s still an idiot,” Gabe said. “But perhaps there is a bit more to him than he lets anyone else see?”
“We all hide some of us,” Zach said without thinking.
“What are you hiding from us?” Gabe demanded.
“Nothing.”
“Getting back to the Frenchwoman who you seemed interested in,” Michael said as Gabe opened his mouth.
“I am not interested in her.” But he was. In fact Zach had spent far too long thinking about her lovely body showcased in that gown.
“Madame Lucielle or Lucy something,” Michael said. “According to my source, he said she has been seen in many gambling establishments around London and often in the company of Plunge. He also said that they were related.”
“Who?” Zach demanded.
“Plunge and Madame Lucy.”
“Lucienne,” Zach snapped. Was it possible that Plunge was the way to finding her?
“I thought we’d just established he had no blood relatives,” Nathan said.
“Maybe he does but they’re French?” Gabe said.
