“It is not closed,” Gabriel said.
Two pairs of eyes turned on him.
“I have not been there in years, but I have heard talk of it,” he clarified. “They still have that chamber with the whips and such, and references are still made to it in some circles.”
“I find myself warming to the rags and soot all the more,” Brentworth said. “If I am going to do this, you will come with me, Stratton.”
“Are you afraid if you go alone Mrs. O’Brian will tie you down again and have her way with you?” Gabriel asked.
Brentworth turned red, which for him was so unusual that Stratton howled with laughter.
“She swore the bonds would not be secure,” Brentworth muttered. “Stratton, devise some deception so we can ride over this afternoon. Tell your duchess that you are needed for some secret meeting in Westminster. She is sure to question why suddenly you do not spend hours in the nursery.”
“I do not lie to Clara.”
“Perhaps you should, just this once,” Gabriel said.
“No, no, do not lead him astray, Langford. Forgive me for suggesting that you introduce deception into your marriage, Stratton. I will correct myself. Tell your duchess that you must go with me to an infamous brothel populated by women who do things with men that decent women have never even heard about. I am sure she will understand.” He stood. “In fact, Langford and I could use a lesson in such honesty with women. I am sure you won’t mind if we watch this.” He strode to the door and asked a footman to request the duchess’s attendance.
Gabriel sat up and made himself comfortable. Even at her most pliant, the duchess was formidable. This promised to be some excellent theater.
She entered, curious and a little annoyed at being summoned. She greeted them, then gave Stratton a look that saidI hope this is very, very important.
“Darling, Langford requests my help in a matter most urgent,” Stratton said. “It requires that I go out this afternoon, and be absent from the house indefinitely, beginning tomorrow.”
“Does it indeed?”
“It does.”
She looked at Gabriel, who tried to appear worried and grateful. She looked at Brentworth. “You are involved too, I assume.”
“I would prefer not, but the obligation of friendship demands it.”
“May I ask what this is about?”
“Discretion forbids me to tell you,” Stratton said. “It will require I spend some time in unsavory parts of town, but it is not dangerous. I only tell you so, if you should hear reports of my presence in unexpected places, you will know it is part of the mission. I will leave a sealed letter in my dressing table with my expected locations, to be opened if you need to find me.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Mission, no less. A sealed letter. My, that all sounds important. Almost official. Except the friend in need is Langford, so I suspect this is unofficial in the extreme.”
“I will ensure that Adam remains safe,” Brentworth said.
“How good of you. Well, my dear, do what you must. Try not to let Langford bring scandal down on your name and title if it can be avoided.”
She excused herself and started to leave. She paused beside Brentworth. “Do not act as if you are above it all. You cannot wait for the Decadent Dukes to ride into trouble again.”
Stratton waited for the door to close behind her. He sat back in his chair, stretched out his legs, and smiled. “And that, gentlemen, is how it is done.”
“Impressive,” Gabriel said. “I see only one small problem. If she accepts such ambiguity from you, she will expect a similar trust if her own plans can’t be explained fully.”
“True, but it has never happened since we married. Clara is very forthright. She does not keep secrets from me.”
“Of course she doesn’t,” Brentworth said, dryly. “So, the first step is plotted. Let us complete the plans for the rest of the scheme.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
They made it through Middlesex and most of Berkshire before they stopped at a coaching inn at nightfall. After a meal in a private room, they retired to the chambers Langford had taken.
Amanda had changed into her nightdress and already lay on her bed when Langford arrived and stretched out beside her.
