“Do tell, I’d love to hear your theory,” he said, keeping his tone carefully neutral.
“You are after my brother, Lord Winston. Winston Leonard, I suppose he is known as when he is slumming amongst people like you.”
Ellis’s eyes went wide. He’d seen her reactions in the park, but he’d been more focused on her father. But it was evident Leonard’s behavior and reputation were as known to her as they were to anyone else. She hadn’t been protected from them. Or perhaps she had just been investigative herself.
“And what if I am after him?” Ellis asked carefully.
She leaned forward. “I think it is a good idea. It’s time someone eliminated him.”
His lips parted at the harshness of her tone. “You would wish me to exterminate your own flesh and blood?”
She shook her head slowly and let out a long sigh. “Although I am ten years younger than my wayward brother, I have always been aware of his sadistic cruelty. I watched him wield it over my brothers, over my father and my mother. He tormented servants, he destroyed lives. And no one has ever checked him, no matter what damage he did. His power and his influence and his ability to get what he wanted at any cost grew over the years. No one in our family has been left untouched by it.”
“I am sorry,” Ellis said, and meant it.
She met his gaze evenly. “You needn’t patronize me. His bad behavior outside the walls of our family homes was just as bad, if not worse. Because of his lack of decorum, he has destroyed the reputation of my elder brothers and harmed my own. My father is utterly weak, too weak to protect anyone, even himself. And Winston is an animal. I hate to say it, but putting him down is the only way this will stop.” She shifted. “Are you the man to do it?”
Ellis steepled his fingers on the table. This could be a trap. This woman could be as cold as her brother, working in league with him. But there was something in the spark in her stare that made him wonder if he could risk it.
“My intention is to be that man,” he admitted.
Her breath hitched. “Even though you know there will be consequences? He is the son of a duke, no matter how far he has fallen.”
“The consequences to allowing him to continue down this path of destruction are far worse,” he said.
She considered that a moment. “I can lure him to you. But he wants that gem. It is all he rants about. He is incensed that it was taken and is willing to do anything to get it back.”
“I know. Where is he staying? I could take care of the problem quietly.”
She shook her head. “He’s on the move, property to property here in London. His paranoia is at a peak. And so is the danger. Get the gem, Mr. Maitland, and I can get him.”
Ellis took a long breath. For weeks he had been strategizing and planning and trying to get to the man this woman had offered to him on a platter. Now he was being offered the end game. He just had to get one thing. Of course Juliana was the key to it.
“I’ll get it,” he said softly.
She seemed to sag with relief. “Good. Send word to me at my father’s house when it’s done. I’ll take care of the rest and make the arrangements.”
“Good.” Ellis got up. “I can imagine turning on your family isn’t easy. Thank you for your assistance.”
“He isn’t my family,” she said as she pushed to her feet and headed into the crowd without a goodbye. He watched her walk over to the closest handsome gentleman, wrap herself around him and lift up for a kiss. It was clear how she intended to soothe her fears.
His mind shifted to Juliana. If this was the end, if he could truly get to Leonard and end the danger to those he loved…that meant it was the end for them, as well. He would be lost after he murdered his enemy. Hanged, transported or shot in the attempt to kill Leonard, the result was the same.
Even though he had been prepared for that, had always known it, he regretted it. Regretted the fact that he would never see or touch Juliana again. Hear her voice. Feel her skin against his. He ignored what that desire meant.
This was the only path now. And he had to stay on it so that everyone would be safe, including the woman who had turned his dark and dangerous world on its head.
Juliana walked down the hall with Anne, the two of them laughing at a joke Rook had told in the parlor after supper that night.
“You two are so well-matched,” Juliana said as they reached her door. “It’s lovely to see.”
“Thank you.” Anne leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Ihatethat Father is insisting you return home to him tomorrow. Despite all the danger still out there.”
“We both know he doesn’t acknowledge danger to anyone but himself,” Juliana said with a long sigh. “He is entirely selfish. But I doubt I am in danger. After all, I am not related in any way to anyone Winston Leonard wants to destroy. I worry more about you. About Thomasina.”
Anne worried her lip. “And what about Ellis?”
Juliana froze, hand on her door, as she stared at her sister. “What about him?”
