Toady fell quiet, an acknowledgment of the truth of Jack’s statement.
“Now that I have your attention,” Jack said, “take me to Leo.”
“Who?”
Jack smiled. “If you do not take me to the den of the Seven, they may never see you again.”
“And what can you do to me?” Toady had the impudence to ask.
“I can peel the skin off of you from liver to gizzard,” Jack assured him. “And then I will take your eyeballs and use them for dice.”
Toady was uncertain if Jack was serious. “I don’t think you will.”
“You are wrong.”
The boy let himself hang in the air a moment. “Very well, sir. I will take you to see the Seven.”
Jack lowered him to the ground. He released his hold—and as he anticipated, Toady took off at a run. He was fast, Jack would grant him that. He also believed he was outrunning Jack. He shot a triumphant look over his shoulder. He believed he had escaped.
Instead, Jack was gratified to notice the boy was running in the direction of the alley he had been scouting, the one where Lady Charlene had met Leo.
Jack followed, but at his own pace. Toady was actually free to go anywhere in the city, but the Seven reminded Jack of a tribe, and a good tribesman always warned the others of danger. They also had a habit of returning to the same safe campsites.
Reaching the alley, Jack removed his hat and moved stealthily through the narrow passageway. He was halfway along when he heard Toady’s excited voice warning the others of the man who had almost captured him. Jack hurried his step and burst into the courtyard.
Leo was exactly what Jack had anticipated. He was a tough creature, a man in a boy’s body. His face still had the smoothness of youth but the eyes had seen too much. He wore a jacket, a filthy shirt, and a black neck cloth tied with such flair any dandy would be jealous. He carried a crop in his hands and wore an outrageouschapeau brason his head.The hat made Jack laugh.
The other members of the Seven were more like Toady, wise to the ways of making their own way. They were clever lads and Jack was certain they could be devils if they chose. Several of the lads were older, sixteen or so, like Leo. But unlike him, they were brawny young bulls. They’d used their fists a time or two.
Jack set his hat on his head. “Hello, Leo.”
Toady announced, “That’s him. That’s the man who grabbed me. He threatened to use my eyeballs for dice.”
“And I still might,” Jack assured him.
Leo stepped forward. “You’re the one who has been sniffing around here. What do you want?”
“I want you to leave Lady Charlene alone.”
“Who is Lady Charlene?” Leo said, his words round with innocence.
“She is the woman who owes you money.” He pulled his purse from his pocket and counted the money. Five guineas. He tossed it to Leo. “There, she is acquitted of you. Leave her alone.”
Leo made no move to pick up the money that had fallen at his feet. “That is not the amount she owes us.”
“It is the only amount you will be paid,” Jack assured him. “If you are as intelligent as you wish to pretend, then you know that the Crown frowns on blackmail.”
“But not among criminals,” Leo said, spreading his hands as if that explained all. “Lady Charlene is not an innocent. She is one of us and we can bear witness.”
“Leo,” Jack said as if having to explain life to the boy was tiresome, “no one will believe you. All seven of you could line up in front of a judge, standing on stacks of Bibles, and not one of you would be believed.”
“The duke will believe us. He won’t want to marry a woman who would cause him that much scandal. They say Baynton is a stickler. High and mighty, he is. He won’t want to hear what we could tell him.”
“And then Lady Charlene won’t haveanymoney to pay you,” Jack agreed. “That solves everything, doesn’t it?”
“Are you blind or ignorant of Lady Charlene’s obvious charms?” Leo answered. “We will work our money out of her.”
That was the wrong thing to say to Jack. “Take what I gave you and leave her alone.” There was no longer humor in his voice.
