Page 90 of Her Scandalous Pursuit

“Ladies,” Reed greeted them.

“We were wondering where you’d gone,” Theo added. “Desmond came, and we were laying plans to find Wallace’s thug.”

“I can see,” Thisbe replied drily, rising from hugging the twins.

“No need,” the duchess said airily, removing her gloves with an unconcerned air. “His name is Grieves, and we’ve spoken with him.”

The men gaped at them, then began to talk in a torrent of words almost as jumbled as the twins’ babbling.

“What—”

“You never—”

“How did—”

Finally Theo overrode everyone else. “Don’t tell me you went to that tavern!”

“Then we won’t,” Thisbe replied, occupying herself with handing over her outerwear to the waiting footman. It was satisfying to see all three men’s jaws drop.

“You can’t be serious. With those ruffians about?” Reed protested. Desmond, Thisbe noted, was wise enough to say nothing, though he looked equally horrified.

“Actually, the area is quite empty at this time of day,” Cornelia informed him. “Much easier to ask the landlord who the man is and where he lives.”

“He told you?”

“Yes, of course. As did Mr. Grieves.”

“But how did you make him do that?” Theo exclaimed.

“I have found, my dear,” his grandmother replied, “that money is generally more persuasive than fists.”

“You paid him?”

“Yes, of course. He was clearly a man for hire.”

“He doesn’t have the Eye,” Thisbe added. “He gave it to—” she hesitated, her eyes going to Desmond “—Mr. Gordon.”

“So the professor does have it,” Reed mused. “Interesting.”

Desmond didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. His expression spoke clearly enough. He reached over and picked up the ball, holding out his other hand to the twins. “Come on, lads, we’d best get you back upstairs.”

Reed joined him, swooping up Alex while Desmond took Con.

“Well, that’s that,” Cornelia announced. “I believe I shall take a rest. These little excursions take so much out of one.”

“One would think,” Theo muttered, hands on his hips as he watched the dowager duchess climb the stairs. He swung back to Thisbe. “I cannot believe you went with her to the docks.”

“I could hardly allow her to go alone, could I? And, I must point out, we succeeded.”

“I suppose it shouldn’t surprise me that Grandmother was able to wring it out of him. She’s always terrified me.” He began to stroll down the hall toward the sitting room, and Thisbe joined him.

“I must say, you and Reed are certainly thick as thieves with Desmond,” she told him sardonically.

He shrugged. “I was wrong about him, I think. He’s someone we can trust.”

“Because he’s willing to get into a tavern brawl with you?”

“No...well, yes, a little. He had my back. And he... Thiz, what he told us... I think he loves you.”