He shot her a sharp look.
Lord Stanley spoke in a calm, almost conversational tone.
‘And I suppose you never wondered what was stored there.’
Payne smirked.
‘My business is entirely above board. I have no idea what you are referring to.’
Charlotte’s hands tightened in her lap.
‘You are lying, Mr Payne. Your game is up. We already possess confessions stating you knew precisely what thosewarehouses were being used for,’ Lord Stanley said, hoping the tactic would prove as effective as it had upon the others. This time, however, it failed entirely.
Payne merely leaned back farther in his chair, looking infuriatingly relaxed.
‘It is their word against my own. I know nothing of what they are speaking of.’
‘Who organised the Odd Fellow operations?’ Stanley asked.
‘I know nothing of any such organisation,’ Payne answered without hesitation. ‘I am a respectable businessman.’
‘Do you know Falcon?’ Charlotte asked.
He shook his head.
‘I have no idea who that is. For all I know, you may as well be speaking of Napoleon himself.’
Charlotte glanced sideways at Lord Stanley.
‘Well,’ she said dryly, ‘that would certainly complicate matters.’
A corner of Lord Stanley’s mouth moved.
‘If you truly know nothing of the warehouses at the Liverpool docks,’ he said evenly, ‘then you will have no objection to our searching them and questioning your workers. And yes—I am fully aware of your “off the books” properties. Rose and Thorn, is it not?’
Mr Payne turned an unpleasant shade of green.
Then, in an instant, his expression twisted into fury and he launched himself across the desk.
Lord Stanley had only enough time to shove Charlotte backwards out of harm’s way before Payne struck him heavily across the face.
Charlotte gasped.
Payne swung again, but Stanley blocked the blow and drove him backwards with enough force to send the heavier man staggering. The Bow Street Runners immediately seized Payne,forcing him to the floor as more men rushed in from the hallway to assist.
Payne continued shouting threats as he was dragged from the room.
Silence settled over the study once more.
Charlotte turned quickly towards Stanley.
‘Are you hurt?’
A thin line of blood had appeared along his brow—Payne must have been wearing a ring.
Without thinking, she drew out her handkerchief and reached towards him.
Lord Stanley caught her wrist gently before she could dab at the cut.
