“You were in charge of the interrogation, I take it?”
The other man shrugged. “I may have had a chat with the man to help loosen his tongue.”
Jackson imagined the criminal’s tongue wasn’t the only loose or missing limb after leaving the Home Office cell. After the man nearly had had Anna shot, he was lucky to still be upright and breathing.
Roberts quirked his head as if he’d heard something. He grinned. “How’s the honeymoon going? Finally got the duchess to see to your serpent?”
Yes.
“You’re vile,” Jackson said. Then he sighed. “Not rushing was good advice.” A miracle given the man was crass enough to offend a sailor in his cups. “However did you come to such profound knowledge?”
“Simple,” Roberts said, his tone bored. “I’ve a hellcat of my own.”
“You have a woman?”Miracle upon miracles. “Actress or widow?”
“Worse,” Roberts said. “A wife.”
Jackson gaped as his friend slipped through the window, what was supposed to be apainted-shutwindow... mere seconds before the door to the library opened and Anna marched in.
Seeing him, she stopped and frowned. “You look as if you’ve lost your head.”
A loss of something. How many more security risks had his partner conveniently placed throughout the townhouse? Not to mentionRoberts was married? “I’m having a break from reality,” he said.
“Well, stop,” Anna ordered. “I have news.”
“Your brother has finally recovered from the facer you gave him?”
“His nose barely bled,” Anna complained.
Jackson chuckled, remembering the look of shock on Lord Brixby’s face. “Your news?”
“I’ve invited the Widows to tea this afternoon.”
He startled, his gaze immediately flicking to every door, window, and crack in the plaster for a means of escape.
Anna laughed. “They don’t bite, you know.”
“You’ve not seen the metaphorical teeth marks to my self-confidence.” Jackson shuddered. “I know you’ve a fondness for the spiders, but is tea entirely necessary?”
Anna smirked. “I’ve found the Widows a great source of insight in many areas of my life. One in particular to do with my secretive husband. All it took was a simple note to confirm my own suspicions.”
Jackson stared.She couldn’t mean—“That’s why you were listening at the door the night Roberts showed up?” If it were true, the Home Office had a far bigger concern than a few counterfeiters.
Anna went on to explain her aunt had been one of the Widowed Widows, and everything fell into place. Widows. Like Lady Crews.
And Bessie Dove-Lyon.
A woman who apparently knew everyone, including Secretary Sidmouth.
Thatwas how Mrs. Dove-Lyon had known about Anna’s cousin inheriting the barony. The Widowed Widows had kept tabs on their friend’s niece and nephew. And, if Jackson had truly thought about it, didn’t widows of thetonall know each other? Roberts liked to call the group ‘The Society of Vengeful Demons.’ The man did liken marriage to hell, after all.
Butstill.
Anna had to have known Mrs. Dove-Lyon was involved the same time she’d figured out about the Widows. “When didyoumake the connection?” he asked.
She didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “Our wedding. I got the idea that Mrs. Dove-Lyon might herself be a member of a certain weekly whist game from time to time after I saw the four of them speaking in the church.”
“They could be friends.”
