“Don’t ask, Daphne. I’d rather not know myself. I fear I’d have to drag him to Newgate if I knew the extent of what he’s been up to.” Rafe settled himself in his seat and faced forward.
The newspaper’s headline flashed through Cade’s mind and his stomach clenched again, but he remained steadfastly silent while Daphne peered back at him. “Very well,” she finally said. “I probably don’t want to know.”
“You don’t,” Cade agreed, more than ready to change the subject. “But how did this conversation get turned around to be about me? Weren’t we talking about your new French lady’s maid? How old is she?”
“I’d say she’s perhaps five and twenty.”
“Is she pretty?” French or not, Cade always appreciated a fine-looking woman.
Both Daphne’s and Rafe’s heads snapped to face him. Daphne looked worried. Rafe glowered.
“Don’t even think about trying to seduce the poor young woman. I’ll toss you out on your ear if you so much as glance in her direction,” Rafe warned.
Cade smirked and tugged at his cuff. “So touchy, dear brother. I’ll take that as a yes, she is pretty.”
Daphne crossed her arms over her chest. “Please, Cade, don’t use your legendary charm on Danielle. The last thing I want is a scandal under my roof.”
“I merely asked if she was pretty.” Cade settled back into his chair, but he couldn’t keep the grin off his face. He’d really riled them this time. Mademoiselle must be quite pretty indeed. He was looking forward to meeting her.
Rafe’s eyes narrowed on his brother. “Don’t think I don’t know what you were doing at the Monroes’ estate with one of the maids in the middle of the night during our wedding party last month.”
Cade winced. “You heard about that?”
Rafe scowled. “Deuced embarrassing. Had to apologize to Monroe.”
Cade shrugged. “I don’t see why. What happens between consenting adults in the middle of the night is none of your concern.”
Daphne turned to him. “Danielle seems like a nice young woman. Please don’t cause any scandal, Cade.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Cade said in the most innocent voice he could muster.
“Yes, you would,” Daphne replied. “Your eyes are twinkling.”
“Can I help it if my eyes twinkle?” He blinked at his sister-in-law.
“When Rafe’s eyes twinkle, he’s up to no good.”
The brothers exchanged a surprised look.
Cade rubbed his chin. “Be that as it may, the only thing I did with the maid at the Monroes’ estate was—”
Rafe put up a hand. “Please, spare us.”
Another shrug from Cade. “Very well. I’ll leave it to your imagination.”
The music began and the theatergoers became silent. Soon, an enormous curtain was pulled open from each side of the stage and the performance began. Cade watched for the better part of a quarter hour before getting restless. He’d never been able to sit still for long. He would just go out and have a cheroot. He slipped out of Rafe and Daphne’s box and strode down the carpeted corridor toward the lobby. He pushed through the large double doors and out into the courtyard in front of the theater. He lit a cheroot and had taken only one puff when an urchin ran by, knocking him off balance. “Oy, there. Watch where you’re…”
The child kept running and soon disappeared behind the side of the large building.
Cade glanced down, brushing ashes from the front of his impeccably tailored black evening attire. A spot of white next to his foot caught his attention. A small folded piece of paper. He stooped to grab it and unfolded it. In scrawling handwriting it read,Meet me in the alley behind the theater. Now.
Cade glanced around. No one seemed to be watching. There were only a smattering of couples. A few other men smoking. A handful of waiting carriages and their grooms. He tossed the cheroot to the gravel and ground it under his shoe, strode to the side of the theater, glanced back and forth into the shadows, and strode toward the back of the building.
He’d made it nearly halfway when a man jumped from the shadows and punched Cade dead in the face.
CHAPTER FIVE
Was that… singing? Aman… singing? Danielle glanced up from her work in Lady Daphne’s wardrobe. She’d been organizing the delicate, expensive undergarments, lovely lace handkerchiefs, and gorgeous butter-soft gloves all evening.
