He huffed but remained silent.
Juliette turned back towards Simone. “I see you brought your handsome suitor,” she said with a wink.
“He is not my suitor,” Simone rushed to say. “We are just friends, friends with a common purpose.”
Juliette didn’t look convinced but she shifted her gaze towards Caleb. “Mr. Bolingbroke,” she said. “Thank you for coming.”
Caleb’s gaze remained expressionless, giving nothing away. “How is it that you know my name?” he inquired.
“I have my ways.” Juliette tsked. “You didn’t think we would invite a stranger to meet with us, did you?”
“I’m afraid I am at a disadvantage then since I don’t know anything about you, or your brother,” Caleb said.
“In due time,” Juliette stated. “But we brought you and Simone here for a purpose.”
Simone lifted her brow. “Which is?” she asked.
“We need you to secure an invite for us to Lord Pendley’s ball,” Juliette replied. “It is to be the event of the Season and we don’t dare miss it.”
“Lord Pendley’s ball is in five days,” Simone pointed out. “It would be nearly impossible to get you on the guest list now.”
Juliette nodded. “True, but surely you can use your connections to help us.”
Caleb spoke up. “Why, pray tell, do you wish to go to the ball?”
With a wave of her hand, Juliette said, “Victor and I haven’t been to a ball in ages and we think it would be fun to do so.”
Simone didn’t believe Juliette’s innocent act for one moment. There was a reason why Juliette and Victor wanted to attend the ball, and they needed to discover that reason.
Victor crossed his arms over his chest. “If you don’t secure us an invite, we can’t guarantee we won’t kill you.”
“Are you truly resorting to threats already, Brother?” Juliette asked lightly. “We haven’t even given them a chance to respond. They will do the right thing. I am sure of it.”
Juliette smiled at them and continued. “I know we are like-minded individuals and this would truly help support the cause. What do you say?”
“How will it help support the cause?” Simone asked.
“You don’t need to worry your pretty little head about that,” Juliette remarked. “I knew you would come in handy when I saw you at the pub.”
Simone exchanged a glance with Caleb before saying, “We will try our best to secure an invite.”
“Trying isn’t good enough,” Juliette said, her voice growing hard. “You will do as we say or else I can’t promise Victor won’t make good on his threats.”
Caleb looked hesitant, as if he were cowed by Juliette’s threats, but Simone knew it was just an act. “We will get you an invite to the ball, but you must promise no harm will befall us,” he said.
The smile returned to Juliette’s lips. “You have my word,” she replied, her words sounding very much like an empty promise. “I knew you were a smart man.” She walked to the door and opened it. “This goes without saying, but you would be wise not to discuss this conversation with anyone. It could have dire consequences.”
“I understand,” Simone said as she approached the door. “How are we to contact you?”
“You don’t,” Juliette replied. “We will make contact with you.”
After they stepped into the corridor, the door was shut behind them. Caleb offered his arm and led her towards the waiting coach. Once they were situated, the coach rolled into traffic, leaving the boarding house behind.
“Why do you suppose they want to go to Lord Pendley’s ball?” Caleb asked.
“I don’t rightly know, but whatever the reason is, it can’t be good,” Simone replied. “Victor matches the description of one of the French spies that was given previously, right down to the broken nose. I think it is a reasonable assumption that we have found them.”
Caleb nodded in agreement. “We should report our findings to Kendrick at once. He might just arrest them and be done with it.”
