“And if it isn’t?” Miss Fontaine asked.
“Then I shall informThe Morning Postof the inconvenience I have caused you today, accompanied by a public letter of apology addressed to both you and Mr. Thompson.”
“Your reputation will suffer.”
Adrian was aware, yet he said, “I am confident enough in my conviction to take that risk.”
Miss Fontaine gulped down a breath. “Very well.”
Noting how fiercely Miss Fontaine’s hands trembled, Samantha felt compelled to say, “There’s another way around this. If you prefer not getting involved, we can wait outside and keep watch until he returns.”
“But that could take days, during which I’ll wonder and fret. Plus, if you’re right about him, he might hurt additional people by then.”
“There’s nothing to suggest he will do so. However, if our theory is correct, we are dealing with a dangerous man,” Samantha warned her. “You need to be aware that in helping us you will be taking a risk.”
“Then I’d best pray I’m as good an actress as I believe myself to be.” Miss Fontaine went to collect some writing supplies. Her unsteady voice and hasty movements conveyed a degree of nervousness that made Samantha think she might have started believing them. “What should I tell him?”
Adrian gave Miss Fontaine clear instructions, which she followed to the letter. When she was done, a shimmer of hopefulness lit her eyes. “Does this mean I’ve earned more than five pounds?”
“You most certainly have.” Adrian handed her afistful of coins along with his card. “Rest assured, we did not come here to deceive you. Our only aim is to learn the truth, which we’re a little closer to doing now thanks to your assistance. So if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“That was very good of you,” Samantha remarked when she and Adrian made their way back to their carriage. “I think you must have given her more than twenty pounds.”
“She deserves every penny for the help she’s providing.”
Samantha turned to him, her hand catching his arm. “You’re sure she’s up for this?”
He glanced back toward the building they’d come from. “If everything goes according to plan, Miss Fontaine won’t have to face her protector again. He’ll be caught before he knocks on her door.”
Having reached the carriage, he swung the door open and handed Samantha up. “Go home. Tell Murry to meet me here with Ward and Turner.”
“I’ll return with them. Lord knows you can use all the help you can get if we’re right about whom we’re up against.” He opened his mouth as if to argue, prompting her to lean forward, one hand braced on the bench beside her. “This isn’t up for debate, Adrian.”
Despite the stubborn line of his mouth, he gave a quick nod. “In the meantime, I’ll find an errand boy to deliver the missive, someone who won’t raise any suspicions.”
The door closed before she could make a responseand the carriage took off. Samantha pressed her back firmly against the squabs, her mind already working its way through the upcoming challenge.
If they were correct in their suspicions, they’d soon be faced with some tough decisions, and she very much feared her husband might make the wrong ones.
31
He sighed with contentment as he settled into his favorite chair. Keeping a low profile appeared to be paying off. Just a little while longer until he’d be free to live the life he wanted.
It was rather astounding really, how easy it had all been. Killing Lady Eleanor, while messy, had not been much of a challenge. Though she’d attempted to fight him, his superior strength had overpowered her quickly. After which, he’d simply had to relax into the role he’d prepared for himself beforehand.
Planting a dark brown hair beneath one of her nails had been done to lead the authorities further astray. Along with the limp he’d affected, a spur of the moment decision inspired by slipping and falling, though the bushes he’d landed in had kept him from any real harm.
His only mistake had been the loss of his blade, which he’d tossed to the ground before climbing downfrom Lady Eleanor’s window. It had disappeared into the darkness and when he’d realized it would not be easily found, he’d abandoned his search, keen to be gone before anyone saw him.
Except he had been seen. By that bloody footman who could have so easily ruined it all. Had he not been so tempted by greed. A stroke of luck really, getting blackmailed by him.
And to think it would soon be over. A smug grin pulled at his lips. Everything was going according to plan. He’d sail for India in a couple of days and assume a new identity, leaving Bow Street and Mr. Croft behind with their bumbling investigation.
This had never been his intention, but he liked to think of himself as the flexible sort. One had to be able to pivot when the wind changed direction.
And so he had, without even blinking.
Samantha returned home with pure determination burning in her veins, only to freeze when Elks informed her of Kendrick’s presence in the parlor. She sent the doorway a quick glance and immediately spied the chief constable through it.
