“Come on then.” Jane held out a hand, and I pulled her to standing. “I’ll keep watch for you, girl.”
I tried to think of an objection that wouldn’t hurt Jane’s feelings but came up empty.
When they reached the door, Marie turned back. “Oh, speaking of post, a letter ’as arrived for you. I put it in your room.”
I hurried after them, turning left toward my room when they turned right. There weren’t many people who knew I was here. It could be a letter from the club, letting me know of a problem that had arisen. Or it could be a response from the one person I’d written to while I’d been at Perrin Manor.
I only hoped he had some answers.
I’d never seen his hand before, but the address to me was just as it was in person. Bold. Hard. With a bit of a flair on the beginning and ending letters. I sat at the desk in my room and opened the missive.
Lady M—
I cannot begin to express the curiosity your letter has inspired in me. Firstly, that you wrote to me at all, and secondly, as to its contents. I was a bit disappointed that your inquiries were all pertaining to the patrons of mybusinesses, with not even a query regarding my health. Alas, you are forgiven. I am gratified to know, however, that I am the only man of business of ill repute with whom you are acquainted.
As to the particulars of your letter, and the three men you asked about, I can only say the following.
I do not know Mr. Smith. There are no known associations between us.
Mr. Bertram Withers is known to me. To my knowledge, he hasn’t patronized any of my hells, but he is known as someone who likes to gamble. His games only occur in private residences, however, and he seems to only gamble within his means.
As to the third man you requested information of, Lord Havenstone, I have debated long about whether to provide you with the intelligence you requested. He is a patron of mine, and I don’t readily give up information on my clientele. Not only that, but by the tone of your letter I deduced you have involved yourself in another dangerous scheme, and that isn’t something I want to encourage.
However, with or without my information, I know you will persist in whatever course you have undertaken. You are stubborn in that way. And I hope that by being fully informed, you will better be able to protect yourself. To that end, I am well acquainted with Havenstone. He has come to one of my hells on a few occasions, usually when he is deep into his cups. Whether that is the cause, or because he lacks all natural skill at the games, Havenstone always leaves my establishment the poorer.
I have heard that he only tries to win at the tables when he is in dire need of funds. The first I knew of him was when he lost a sum of money to me two years past. Ilearned that he had already suffered a financial loss, had hoped to recoup it at my hell, but eventually settled for a loan from me. As his father-in-law is one of the wealthier members of society, I believed he was good for it, and that indeed was the case as he repaid that loan in full within a year.
Havenstone returned to my hell a month or so again, inebriated once more, losing once more. The loan I provided to him on this occasion wasn’t for quite so great a sum. I don’t make it a habit to inquire for what my patrons need funds, and I didn’t alter my habit on these occasions. I can only say that Havenstone needed money, and I provided it. I do hope whatever you are involved in won’t impede his ability to repay me on this second loan. For his sake, as well as my own.
And as to your brother-in-law, Lord Perrin, to whose home I am now sending this letter, even though you didn’t ask me about him, I will tell you that he is not allowed within any of my hells. I suspect he cheats at cards, and that is something I will not tolerate.
For purely altruistic reasons, I must caution you against pursuing whatever scheme in which you have now involved yourself. Desperate men are dangerous men, and I have seen Lord Havenstone at his most desperate. I would not want you to see that side of him.
Take care. I look forward to the time when I can ask you to return the favor which you now owe me.
Yours truly,
E.C.
I sagged back in my chair. I decided it did no good to worry over what London’s foremost crime lord would want from mefor repayment of a debt. I could do nothing about that situation now. So I turned my thoughts back to the investigation.
Two years ago. Was that when the money Havenstone had invested with Perrin had been lost? And what had happened a month ago? Was Perrin involved in yet another financial loss for the baron? And if so, why would Havenstone come to Perrin Manor for a party?
I laid the letter on the desk, frowning. Mr. Cooke had provided me with more information than I had hoped for, but all it did was leave me with more questions.
And it was time I got some answers.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Henry
Sunlight streamed throughthe empty window into Perrin’s study. Henry had removed the boards on one of the windows and dragged Perrin’s desk beneath it so he could finish reading through Perrin’s documents in the light. Today, all the clouds had dispersed and it was once again a beautiful spring day. The recent rains had made the green in the grass and trees just a bit brighter, made the birds sing all the louder now that they were free.
And Henry could enjoy none of it. He planted his elbows on the desk and rested his chin on his enlaced fingers. Another man was dead. The only things of import he’d discovered in Perrin’s office were letters he hoped would never see the light of day. He was starting to develop feelings for a woman not of his station. And even if her father would deign to allow him to court her, said father might be guilty of murder, a circumstance that would devastate Miss Smith.
Katherine. It had been almost a shock when he’d heard Lady Mary call her such. He’d known Miss Smith’s Christian name before, of course. He’d written it onto the marriage contract. But he hadn’t knownherbefore. Hadn’t felt the warmth of her smile or tasted the sweetness of her lips. Lady Mary had taken the liberty to address her on a first name basis, and Henry wanted the same liberty. Truly, he’d taken so many others, what was one more?
If Katherine’s father had killed Perrin and Taylor, what would become of her? He slouched back into the chair. He couldn’t see it. Not the man he’d spent a pleasant afternoon with, exclaiming over his youthful exploits, laughing at his ribald jokes. In the anger of a moment, Mr. Smith might bloody a man’s nose, but he wouldn’t plot, and scheme, and lie in wait. At least, Henry hoped not.
