“How about we hear about it on the way?” Travell suggested as he lifted an inquiring brow and headed toward the passageway.
Logan followed her brother, but while Triana intended to trail behind them, Gabriel walked over to her and held out his hand. She looked up into his face and saw a spark of gentleness there that eased her racing mind and gave her cause to hope.
She gently put her hand in his.
He continued to clasp her hand as they joined Travell and Logan in the hired hackney.
Once they were all seated and the conveyance set off into motion, Travell glanced between the two agents. “It sounds as if you two were out having fun without me,” he began.
Logan propped one booted foot over the other. “It would take more than those so-called ‘thugs’ that were hired to trail us,” he murmured.
“What was their purpose?” Travell prodded.
“From what we… gathered,” Logan said tactfully, after a glance at Triana. “They had been ordered to follow me. Apparently my presence at the docks has been well noted.”
Travell seemed to mull this over. “I’m not sure that I like the sound of that.”
Triana couldn’t stop a tremor from running through her body. She knew that today could have turned out quite differently. In the lives of spies, danger was a constant concern, and it seemed that the threat of harm was growing steadily closer.
Gabriel must have sensed her unease, for her pulled her closer to his side. She laid her head on his chest and allowed the warmth of his body to chase away the chill of her fear.
“Do you think you were recognized?” Travell asked Gabriel.
“I don’t think so,” he returned grimly. “But we don’t know what the courier revealed before he was dumped in the Thames either. They knew about Montgomery. Who knows what else they’ve found out.”
***
Lady Worthington was reclining in her private sitting room when the door suddenly burst open and two men rushed inside, one of which was her butler. Both of their clothes were tussled as if they’d had a brief… disagreement.
The servant was breathing hard as he stuttered, “My lady! I… tried to stop him… but…”
With a glare and an impatient flip of her hand, she waved his explanations away. “I’ll take care of this,” she stated firmly, keeping her eyes fixated on the other man.
After a slight hesitation, the butler straightened his jacket and bowed, leaving her alone with her midnight guest. It was the first time he’d dared to enter her domain in the middle of the day. “What are you about, barging into my house like this?” she hissed, directing all her anger on him. “Have you no sense? You know the servants talk!”
He lifted an arrogant brow. “You have a problem.”
The room went deadly quiet as she narrowed her shrewd gaze. “What kind of problem?” she spat.
He didn’t even hesitate. “Madame Corressa is gone.”
“I thought that was the point.”
“You misunderstand. The man I had trailing her is dead,” he stated flatly. “She found a way to slip past us.”
She clenched her fists in frustration and anger, and said in all vehemence, “I didn’t realize I relied on you for such insubordination!” Turning, she walked over to the window, not in the least inclined to look upon him any longer.
“That’s not all.”
She gave a dry scoff, but didn’t turn around. “I didn’t expect it was,” she snapped, with mockery dripping from every word. “Get on with it then.”
“We located the man from the docks.”
“I assume you took care of him.” She finally spun back around to face his stony expression. “Must I do everything, you insolent fool?” she roared.
He clenched his jaw at her tirade, but otherwise, kept his composure. “It seems he has an accomplice, and between the two of them, they took out two of my best men this afternoon. But it was identity of the second man that I thought you might find of particular interest.”
At his pause, she growled, “Who is it?”
