Page 51 of Dukes Do It Better
Phee craned her neck to look up at Lottie. “It is now. Where’s Ethan?”
“He’s been waylaid by the food table.”
“Do we want to know why you are late?” Emma teased.
Lottie didn’t respond to the jest as she normally would. Instead, lines of stress furrowed her brow. “We spent the morning in Kent dealing with getting the production line back on track. So many details, and workers to reassure, without knowing if the saboteur will rear his ugly face again. We got on the road later than expected.”
“Have things settled down since the payment?” Phee asked.
Adelaide shot Emma a questioning glance. Emma wasn’t sure if the blackmail was going to be openly discussed, so she shook her head.
The movement caught Phee’s attention. “Apologies, Adelaide. I won’t get into detail here with young ears and neighbors so close, but suffice it to say we are dealing with an outside threat. They targeted the brewery, and now appear to be going after our shipping investments with the same pattern. Someone, somewhere, is angry, and we have yet to determine who it is.”
“So far, our odious blackmailer appears to be moving on to the next person on his list. I can’t say that’s a relief when you and Cal are the target, Phee.” Worry colored Lottie’s words.
“I have my urchins on the case, and Cal is hiring runners to look into the notes. Bow Street and my old contact, Frankie, and her crew of street children are patrolling the warehouses at the docks, keeping their ears open for mentions of the current investment fleet. Sooner or later, this saboteur will make a wrong move. Don’t give me that look, Lottie. You needn’t feel guilty when someone else brought trouble to our door. Family takes care of one another, and we are all family here,” Phee said.
Everyone followed her gaze toward the men at the refreshment table. Objectively, Emma could appreciate the picture they made, but she couldn’t stop drinking in Mal’s dark, swarthy appeal. The way his coat stretched across broad shoulders and wrapped around the wide torso she knew by heart made the warm day several degrees hotter. Every muscled and inked line was imprinted in her memory forever.
“Seeing them congregating over there as if they’re traveling in a pack is rather appealing, isn’t it?” Lottie said, interjecting levity to the conversation. She made grabby hands at Freddie, who grinned and clambered off his mother’s lap, then plopped into Lottie’s.
“Wolves live in packs,” Alton said to no one in particular.
“They do look rather impressive, as herd animals go,” Adelaide commented. “The jawlines alone make them better candidates for ogling than that poor statue at the museum.” She emptied her glass and said, “I hope Simon gets more lemonade.”
“Simon, is it?” Lottie asked with a raised brow.
A flush graced Adelaide’s cheeks. “He asked permission to use our Christian names. It’s all very proper, I assure you.”
“That sounds alarmingly civilized, dear. How go your flirting efforts?” Phee asked.
“He called her saucy.” Emma grinned.
“Sounds like it’s going swimmingly then,” Lottie said.
“What’s flirting?” Alton asked.
The women paused, looking at each other for an answer.
“Flirting is how you find a friend to bring you sandwiches,” Emma said, fighting valiantly to maintain a straight face.
“What?” Lottie asked.
Phee covered her face as her shoulders shuddered, and Adelaide sputtered.
Freddie climbed off Lottie’s lap. “I’m going to go flirt.”
“Me too!” Alton joined his cousin and the boys made determined strides with their short legs toward another group with children.
“Dear God, what have we done?” Phee muttered.
“Keep an eye on Uncle Cal! Return when he does, so you can eat. And stay where we can see you,” Emma called.
Phee shifted sideways on the blanket so she could keep an eye on both the boys and her friends.
“Sandwiches?” Lottie asked, still bewildered.
“Lord Calvin’s chosen euphemism for lovers,” Adelaide explained.
