“What the devil is going on in here?”
“Harper was getting bored,” said Raven, looking up from playing tug-of-war with the hound over a disgusting-looking bone.
“And lonely,” chirped Hawk, who was sprawled atop Harper’s shaggy iron-grey flank. “So we decided to come over early, before Lady Cordelia arrives, to keep him company.”
Wrexford made a pained face at Tyler. “What were you thinking to bring along that big hairy beast to the city?”
Harper let go of the bone and pricked up his ears.
“The Weasels suggested that he would make an excellent guard for the professor,” replied the valet. “ Any intruder will think twice before challenging those fearsome teeth.”
To Raven’s and Hawk’s chortling delight, the hound responded with a monstrous yawn.
“It would serve you right if he bitesyou,” growled the earl.
Tyler smirked. “He won’t. He’s Scottish.” A pause. “As you’re a Sassenach, it’s far more likely that he’ll snap at you.”
“He had better not bite the hand that feeds him,” warned the earl, “or he’ll find himself exiled to the Outer Hebrides.”
Harper, his pink tongue lolling out of his massive jaws, rolled onto his back and let out a whuffle of contentment as Hawk scratched his belly.
“Lud, just look at you.” Wrexford shook his head in censure. “You heard Tyler. You’re supposed to be a fierce guard dog, ready to tear an intruder limb from limb.”
The hound flopped onto his side and bared his teeth in a canine smile.
“You’re an embarrassment to your wolfly ancestors,” muttered the earl, though the corners of his mouth twitched upward.
“Woof.”
More laughter.
“Out, you little beasts,” ordered the earl. “And take Harper with you.”
“May we take him for a run in Hyde Park?” asked Raven.
“Absolutely not. Two lads running wild with a large animal might attract undue attention, even at this hour. He gets his exercise with me on my morning ride. I’m known to be eccentric, so nobody questions it.”
Seeing the two crestfallen faces, Wrexford added, “You’ll have ample opportunity to take him on runs when we return him to the country.”
“We’re invited for another visit?” asked Hawk.
“Yes, but it’s up to Lady Charlotte and Lady Peake,” the earl replied. “So I suggest you follow orders. I would hate to have to say a bad word about your behavior.”
They scampered for the door, Raven turning to let out a low whistle. Harper rose and padded off after them.
“Don’t scowl at me,” said Tyler as he picked up the bone and placed it in one of the workroom waste pails. “You said yourself we’re up against a very dangerous enemy. The hound is an extra measure of protection.”
“Enough jesting.” Waving off the offer of a drink, Wrexford sat down at his desk. “I need you to make some inquiries about Lord Elgin Copley.”
“For what am I looking?”
“Whether his saintly appearance masks some very dark sins,” replied the earl.
The valet went very still. He was no longer smiling. “You think the corruption runs that high? Copley is the most powerful and respected member of the board of directors.”
“It’s quite possible.” The earl passed on what Charlotte had told him, then explained, “I noticed that he carried just such a snakeskin walking stick when he came to play backgammon with his cousin at White’s. He was a trifle late and hurried upstairs without passing over his coat and hat to the porters.”
Silence.
