As he walked out into the hallway, Luke was coming up the stairs with a man carrying a black bag. Once he had been directed to the office to look after Constance and Mr. Plainview, Luke joined him. “’Ow is she?”
“Resilient.” It was the only thing Devin could think of that truly suited the lady. “Come on. We need to find the doorman.”
It didn’t take long for them to find the bouncer, because even though he was gagged and tied up in a closet near the opposite end of the hallway, he wasn’t quiet about the fact as he struggled with his bindings. When they opened the door, he glared at them furiously, until Devin reassured him that they were there to help.
Once the gag was removed, he let loose a curse. “Damned bastards,” he muttered. Only when he rose to his feet did Devin realize he could be a formidable ally. In truth, he found it hard to believe that Granelli and his crew had gotten the drop on him. He had to outweigh Granelli by at least two stone.
He held out his hand to the man. “My name is Devin Blackmore and this is Luke House.” The latter inclined his head. “We may have a proposition for you in the near future if you’re willing to join forces.”
Brutus clenched his fists and held up the scarred knuckles that had witnessed many battles over the years. “If it means I get t’ use these, then I’m ready when ye are.”
Devin smiled. He had always admired brawny comrades. “Good.”
As Devin led the way back to the office, he found Constance sitting by Mr. Plainview as the doctor appeared to finish up his examination. However, she excused herself and walked over to them. “Brutus. Thank God.” She embraced the former pugilist, and then spoke in a low tone to all of them. “I fear Drennan is in a sorry state. His nose appears to be broken and perhaps a few ribs.”
Devin said nothing about the injuries, because he could sympathize. He’d been through the ringer a few times in the past. “Did he say why they were here?”
Constance looked grim. “After they dealt with Brutus, they ordered everyone out. Apparently, Mr. Plainview hasn’t been quite as adept at keeping his ledgers as he would have had me believe. He owes Granelli quite a large sum of money. He was here to collect.”
While Devin had seen the same thing happen time and time again, men getting involved with crooks who promised heaven itself for a small barter in return, not knowing that the exchange was more than they would have ever bargained for if they hadn’t been so desperate for a change in their circumstances.
“He can’t stay here,” Constance said. “I’m going to convince him to come back to Marylebone with us.”
He agreed that it wouldn’t be wise for Mr. Plainview to remain at Montfree’s where he could be visited again, this time with more dire consequences, but at the same time Devin didn’t particularly care for the idea that one of her admirers would be staying under the same roof.
“’E can share my room,” Luke offered.
“Thank you. That’s very kind of you.” Those green eyes looked at him as if he’d hung the moon, and the effect wasn’t lost on the older man, as Devin swore that he stood up a bit taller.
“What about you, Brutus?” She addressed the brawny man. “I fear that Montfree’s is going to have to take a brief hiatus, so you won’t have any employment for a time.”
Bloody hell. Devin didn’t like how the house was filling up with former vagrants when all he wanted to do was keep Constance all to himself, but he had to admire her for being so compassionate.
However, Brutus declined the offer. “I ’ave my own lodgin’s.”
“Do you feel safe there?” she asked.
He grinned broadly and his gap-toothed grin was almost terrifying. “No one dares t’ bother me ’n my ’ouse if they want t’ live t’ see another day.”
Instead of appearing shocked, Constance laughed. “Of course. I should have known better than to doubt you.”
As the doctor departed, leaving behind some medicine for Mr. Plainview, as well as ensuring that his ribs were properly wrapped, he got to his feet with a grimace. But when his swollen gaze lit on Constance, the one visible eye looked at her in a forlorn manner. Devin recognized that expression all too well. Guilt.
“I’m sorry for lying and for not taking proper care of Montfree’s like I’d promised you.”
Constance put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about that now. You just focus on getting well and we’ll discuss things another time.”
He hung his head, out of weariness or shame, Devin wasn’t sure which, and gave a slight nod.
“Good.” She put an arm around him for support and said gently, “Now let’s get out of here.”
Chapter 18
That night, Constance sat in the parlor holding a tepid cup of tea. She found that as exhausted as she was, sleep had eluded her although the house was quiet proving that everyone else had found the blessed relief of slumber. Mr. Plainview likely had a good dose of laudanum to thank for his peace.
She sighed heavily. She was starting to become worse than an orphanage or a woman’s home. But instead of taking in stray children or single mothers she was caring for thieves, gamblers, and criminals.
Ironically enough, she felt safer and more at ease with Luke, Devin, and Drennan than she did with most anyone else from the ton. The question that she couldn’t seem to answer was—what sort of person did that make her?
