Henry shifted in his seat.
“If this doesn’t suit, I can always pay a visit to Riley’s just up the street. I’m sure John Riley will—”
“No, no!” Boon sighed. “You drive a hard bargain, Mrs. Dove-Lyon, but considering our long history of helping each other, I will take a fifty-fifty split.”
“Excellent,” Bessie said, “let’s say tomorrow evening you lure Middlemarch into your club with an invitation-only poker game—sent exclusively to your most esteemed clients and best players—something his ego won’t allow him to resist.”
“Aah, excellent idea, playing to the man’s vanity. And once he’s committed to the game, I’ll put my man Six across from him. He’s a savant at counting cards.”
Bessie nodded. She knew all about Six. When Boon had first caught him counting cards in his establishment, he threatened to cripple the man’s hands, but Six quickly offered up his services and has been faithful to Boon ever since.
“Success is guaranteed, then?” Bessie said.
“With Six, yes.”
“And how will you ensure that Middlemarch keeps gambling? Will free-flowing brandy and whiskey be enough to do the trick?”
“That and a little of this.” He opened his drawer and extracted a small bottle from his desk.
“What is that?”
“Just a little tincture to inject an extra bit of energy. Only the minutest drop in a glass of brandy is needed to do the trick. It will keep him playing for hours. He will feel as though he is on top of the world even when he is losing his britches.”
“Outstanding,” Bessie said. “I knew I could count on you, Boon.” She stood up.
“Tell me, what did the unfortunate fellow do to you?” Boon asked.
“He breached confidentiality. No one comes to the Lyon’s Den and gossips about what they saw or heard there—no one. Not unless they want to suffer the consequences, that is.”
Boon looked at the veiled woman with admiration and nodded. “It’s a pleasure doing business with you, Mrs. Dove-Lyon. A real pleasure,” he said. “And you can count on me to get the job done.”
“I know I can,” Bessie said. “But everyone will know I was behind it, and my message will come across loud and clear. If you cross Bessie Dove-Lyon, you will pay a heavy price.”
Bessie exited Boise’s gentleman’s club with a sense of satisfaction, but her job was not yet done. Now it was time to visit some of her oldest friends.
Chapter Thirteen
“Idon’t understandany of this.” Kate sat beside Oliver on the ornate scarlet sofa in Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s office. “Emilia is my dearest friend. How could she turn against me? If I can just talk to her, I’m sure she’ll explain.”
“How long did you know her in Yorkshire?” Oliver asked.
Kate bit her lip. The truth was she’d only known Emilia for seven or eight months. But she’d been so desperate for friends her age and Emilia had been such wonderful company that they’d become instant best friends. And when Emilia had introduced Kate to Theo, her world changed. Finally, she’d met a man—a handsome, kind man—who’d loved her and wanted to marry her. Emilia and Theo had given her a new family.
“Perhaps Middlemarch influenced her thinking?” Kate said, ignoring Oliver’s question. “Where on Earth could she have met him?”
“I don’t know, but I suspect that is why Mrs. Dove-Lyon called us here today She has far-reaching connections, that’s why I asked for her help in this matter.”
“Is that how Middlemarch came to ruin?”
“I imagine she had something to do with it, yes. Don’t tell me you pity him.”
“No,” Kate shook her head. “He got what he deserved.”
“Lord and Lady Knox,” the Black Widow of Whitehall entered the room, wearing her signature black dress and veil that obscured her features. She sat across from Kate and Oliver on one of her plush, scarlet armchairs. A maidservant entered seconds later and placed a silver tea tray on the oval table at the center of the seating area.
“I have done a little sleuthing on our behalf, and I must say I enjoyed it very much,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon said.
“Did you manage to uncover anything about Miss Harrington?” Oliver asked.
