Page 94 of Too Scot to Handle
“I don’t see that I have much choice,” Colin said. “The money must be found, or the orphanage will fail amid a storm of scandal. Anwen will be ashamed to have brought trouble to her family’s doorstep, and my sisters will not thank me for bringing trouble to my own house.”
“And you might spend the rest of your short, handsome, and overly honorable life in Newgate, until such time as you are hanged.”
“You Irish are such a cheerful lot.”
“You Scots never know when to blow retreat. I can have you on a yacht sailing north before sundown, MacHugh. Don’t be an idiot.”
The show of support was lovely, the lack of faith was tiresome. Colin had lived his life in the shadow of an overprotective older brother, and one fraternal nanny was one too many.
“A generous offer, Rosecroft, but I must decline. Anwen’s good name is at stake, and if I allow Montague to keep the upper hand, he’ll have the orphanage condemned, despite the support Anwen was able to garner for the boys. Had I an alternative that allowed me to preserve my honor, I’d take it.”
Rosecroft tried the “get out” whistle and the dog dutifully moved a few yards away.
“Your situation has all the earmarks of a Windham courtship,” Rosecroft said. “Complicated, full of drama, and undoubtedly a case of true love. Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re determined to stick your neck in a noose to retrieve this money?”
“Aye, unless you have other ideas?”
The dog sniffed its way back to the earl’s side, and as Rosecroft absently scratched canine ears, he shared a few ideas that made Colin glad he’d dropped by for a wee chat with a prospective family member.
“I’ll show you more of the sheep-dog signals when this is over,” Colin said, rising. “My thanks for your time. I’ve a housebreaking to plan.”
Rosecroft stood as well. “You’re not planning on effecting this larceny tonight, are you?”
“I have only until Monday morning to avoid the magistrate’s men,” Colin said. “And Winthrop will be out with his friends until all hours, toasting Mrs. Bellingham’s ankles.”
Which meant Win’s valet would probably be napping in the dressing room. Ye gods.
“I doubt Montague will be out until all hours. His father is hosting a dinner party tonight, and I can’t imagine Montague would be allowed to beg off. If you make the attempt tonight, the house will be crawling with guests, family, and extra staff.”
“Bollocks.”
* * *
“It ain’t stealing if you’re just takin’ back what’s yours in the first place,” John explained from his place at the head of the study room table.
Tom didn’t think that logic would convince Lord Colin, who slouched by the window in the rays of a weak setting sun.
“I’m not concerned with the morality of reasserting dominion over the funds,” Lord Colin replied. “I’m unwilling to let you boys come with me. The risk is too great.”
“I’d like to assert some dominion over Mr. Montague’s head,” Dickie said, smacking one fist into the other palm. “The nervy bastard.”
Lord Colin smiled slightly as he gazed down onto the alley.
“Your lordship means well,” Tom said, “but if we don’t go with you, it would be like letting one of the little boys go down the drainpipe on his own the first time. We can’t do it. They go piggyback until they’ve seen the way of it, and then we watch them the next few times. You going on your own isn’t right.”
“Miss Anwen would want us to go with you,” John said, tipping his chair back on two legs. “Or she should want us to go with you. Proper gent like you trying to toss a whole house on his own?”
John shook his head, looking like old Hitchings at his most despairing.
Joe got up to water the fern, then resumed his place at John’s right hand.
“I want your advice,” Lord Colin said. “I don’t want your deaths or transportation on my conscience. The task will be deuced difficult.”
“Now see,” John said, “there’s a problem right there. You don’t go into a job expecting to fail. You do your planning and considering and discussing, and then you march out smartly like you own that house already. If you’re skulking along the mews, you’ll draw a lot more attention than if you’re merely strolling around looking for a private place to piss.”
