It was Camille who caboshed their new plan with the surprising insight, “Nic knowsallthe Merrys’ faces. If you must use them, he’ll sniff out the trap before it’s sprung.”
Percy’s gaze narrowed. “How do you know that?”
She returned his gaze without flinching. “Renard and I had a run in with Nic at the Docks. The Merrys were there.”
Percy cursed and ripped a hand through his hair. “Damn it, people, tell me these things!” He stood and considered the entire room. “Anything else I should know before I put all our lives at risk with half the details?”
They all exchanged expectant glances until Camille sighed. “If we’re going for full transparency, you should know my darling nephew is hiding in the curtains.”
A flurry of movement behind the curtains stopped them all in their tracks until they parted and the heir of Camine stepped into the firelight.
“Leopold!” Charlotte shot up from her seat. “What were you doing in the drapes?”
“Listening,” the boy said without shame, his accusing gaze going to each person in turn. “No one tells me anything.”
“Sweetheart.” Charlotte crouched down to press a kiss to her son’s head. “We’re not leaving you out on purpose. There’s a problem we’re all trying to fix.”
“I can fix things.”
“This isn’t for little boys to fix.”
“I want to help Uncle Percy!”
Charlotte glanced helplessly at her husband, and the Duke of Camine walked over to take his son’s other side. “Son—”
“No!” Leo pulled away, his determined gaze landing on Percy. He took out a child’s slingshot from his pocket and brandished it like a sword. “I can help.”
Danny’s heart squeezed at the boy’s courage. Love filled the room to bursting, but there was no place in this fight for him and everyone knew it, except one.
“Of course you’ll help,” Percy said.
Make that two.
Everyone turned to Percy.
He crossed the room and gave Leo’s hair a good toss before taking the slingshot from the boy’s hand and tapping him on the nose. “Your mother was right, dear boy; you weren’t left out of our planning... because youarethe plan.”
“Percy.” Charlotte’s warning tone was accompanied by a glare matched by her husband.
Leo looked up at Percy as if his uncle had told him he was the hero in his very own play. “I can do it,” the boy said. “Whatever it is, I can.”
Percy nodded and faced Charlotte. “He’ll never be in any danger, I promise you.”
Charlotte worried her bottom lip, clearly conflicted. Hamish placed a hand on her shoulder and looked down at his son, his expression serious.
“Uncle Percy is counting on you, Leopold. The very weight of your title and honor as a gentleman is on the line.”
Leopold stuck out his chin, eyes shining with pride. “I won’t let you down.”
“There now!” Percy clapped his hands together. “With the addition of my godson, our army is formidable.”
“Even with Pops and Leo on our side,” the Duchess of Lux said, giving her nephew a warm smile, “it’s not much of an army.”
“That’s because we’re short a man,” Percy said.
On cue, there was a knock on the door, and Mr. Frendstone popped his head inside to announce Percy’s visitor had arrived.
Mr. Brinkley froze seeing the esteemed ensemble populating the room and after a moment remembered himself and bowed. “I came as you requested, Your Grace.” He inclined his head to Percy and fussed with the hat in his hands. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I’ll come back when you’re not busy.”
