Page 94 of Claimed By Her Forbidden Duke
Kerry was found dead.
Slowly, he looked up at Gregory. “By whose order?”
“Cyrus Reed.”
It was no surprise, of course, but it still sent a violent shudder through Edmund.
“There was an altercation between Kerry and Haddon. Haddon clearly kept his mouth shut enough and escaped. Rumor has it that Kerry sold Reed out to numerous people and has paid the price.”
“But who pays Reed, I wonder?”
“Clients,” Gregory guessed. “Different ones.”
“There has to be a more controlled avenue.”
Edmund frowned at the contract, but he found no other alias, no other hint. Slowly, he realized it was time to confront the man himself. He would have to. He thought of Thatcher, terrified in his crumbling mansion, and he thought of his first kill under Logan’s authority, and how they were all afraid for their lives.
Nobody would talk now. He had to go directly to the source, Julian’s warnings be damned.
“I will speak with him,” Edmund decided, tucking the contract in his desk drawer with a hard slam. “I will confront Cyrus Reed myself.”
* * *
Penelope walked through Hyde Park alongside Mary and Daphne. Cecilia was attending a dinner with Reginald and had airily stated that although she loved her friends, little children ought to be far, far away from her.
“That is because she cannot help her vulgar mouth,” Mary had snorted after she told Penelope and Daphne about Cecilia’s refusal.
If they only knew how vulgar my mouth has become, Penelope thought secretly, smiling away from her friends’ notice. Their gazes were fixed on their children running up ahead. Daphne watched Catherine and Elizabeth as they skipped alongside Emily and Amelia.
She was only aware she had lost her focus as she watched the girls chatter and play when her friends giggled and Mary nudged her.
“It must be His Grace,” Mary announced loudly to Daphne. “Pen is so wrapped up in him that she cannot help but think of him day and night.”
At the mention of Edmund, Penelope snapped back into focus. “Pardon?”
Her friends only laughed as they each looped an arm through hers so she walked between them.
“We know what is going on, of course,” Mary said. “You are becoming besotted with him. Although, if you ask me, you have been for a while.”
“I agree,” Daphne spoke up. “I could see it in your eyes when you told me of your… dalliance in the library.”
“I am sure I had no such look in my e?—”
“Does Cecilia know about your meetings? It iseverso scandalous,” Mary said, the two of them talking back and forth, peppering her with teasing.
“Ladies!” Penelope exclaimed, blushing. “It is merely two like-minded people meeting secretly to… enjoy life’s pleasures.”
“And only a few weeks ago, Penelope was blushing harder than a rose at the mention of intimacy,” Mary noted, giving Daphne a look. “She has joined the dark side.”
“Dark side! Heavens, Mary.”
“What? I imagine a man of his nature enjoys life’s… more questionable pleasures, no?”
Penelope thought of how rough she had asked Edmund to be at times, and how he had stilled at her requests, asking if she was sure. He was always careful. He snapped in the end, but before that, he checked with her so many times that she was certain.
“That is none of your business.” Penelope laughed.
But her eyes landed on the girls up ahead, and she wondered why she could not stop glancing at what her friends had with envy. Beautiful girls to grow up, guided by their independent mothers and strong fathers—loving parents to raise future ladies.
