“Good god, Lu. What’s got into you? You were always the most sensible of all of us, and all you ever wanted to do was help everyone.”
“This is to help someone,” she said emphatically.
Charlie closed his eyes, drew in a deep breath as if trying for calm and took a step closer. He laid a hand on her arm lightly. “Please, let me come with you, or at least tell me where you’re going in case something goes amiss.”
He was being practical because he knew it would work on her.
“His name is Beck. A con man who took advantage of James. I’m going to reason with him.”
Suddenly, all the calm was gone, and Charlie clasped her arm tightly. “I can’t let you go converse with a criminal in the dead of night.”
His voice had risen, and Lucy shushed him, wishing she could take every word back. Charlie wasn’t discreet. He was gregarious and impulsive, and he’d no doubt blurt everything she’d told him to the first person he saw. Namely, their parents.
“He’s not a man my sister should have any business with.”
Lucy let out a gasp. “You know him?”
“Not well, of course. I know of him.”
Her brother had stunned her by potentially proving to be the most useful person in her life at the moment.
CharlieknewArchibald Beck.
“Tell me what you know.” Now she was the oneholding on tightly to him, tugging at the lapel of his suit coat.
“I know of a club he owns.” He dipped his head and then cast a sheepish gaze up at her. “I may have been once or twice.” He pointed a finger at her. “Swear to me you’ll never tell Mama or Papa.”
“What’s it called and how do I get there?”
“Lu, it’s not a place for you.”
“Tell me, or I’m marching in to tell Papa and Mama now.”
He glared at her, and even in the moonlight she could see that his cheeks had gone a radish red as they had when they’d fought as children.
“The Helix Club,” he said through clenched teeth. “Cannon Street near London Bridge.”
“You’re a godsend, Charlie.”
The one part of her plan she’d imagined would take her the longest was tracking down Archibald Beck, but now she had a place to start.
“I’m going,” she told him as she took a step away from him. “Don’t follow me, and don’t tell Mama or Papa.”
“You can’t, Lucy.” He reached for her as she’d expected he would, and she took another step back.
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him. “I have a gun.”
“Jesus, where did you get that?”
“Aunt Cassandra, of course.” Lucy gave him a smile and a wink.
As soon as she turned to depart, he laid a hand on her arm. “Don’t get yourself killed,” he bit offin a frantic whisper. “If I have to tell Mama and Papa I didn’t stop you, they’ll never forgive me.”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “I appreciate your concern. Go to bed, Charlie. I’ll be back soon.” She lifted the edge of her skirt and sprinted down the mews. She didn’t hear any footsteps at her back, and she was glad for it. Charlie would just get in the way.
She’d dressed in black, adding a white lace collar, hoping to be mistaken for a servant. If Beck didn’t allow ladies into his club, that might be her only way in.
Finding a hansom wasn’t hard, though the driver gave her a long look when she told him where she wished to be delivered.
