Page 28 of A Little Bit Dangerous
“I don’t know why you’re pursuing this business with Daventry. There’s more than enough work here to keep you occupied.”
Because few things grew beneath an oak tree. Aaron was such a powerful force in their family, Christian had to find a means of stepping out of his brother’s shadow.
Thankfully, Sigmund’s arrival provided the perfect distraction. “Sorry for disturbing your meeting,” said their man-of-all-work, a frightening fellow in his own right, “but Daventry is here looking flustered. If that ain’t worrying, I don’t know what is.”
Aaron cursed. “That man is the bane of my bloody existence.”
Sigmund grimaced. “He’s come about Miss Lawton.”
“Miss Lawton?” Christian’s heart lurched. Daventry would not call unless there was a problem. But Mrs Maloney hadn’t sent a note. All seemed well when Christian spied on the bookshop last night. “Send him in.”
Aaron huffed but made no objection.
As he burst into the room, Daventry did indeed look panicked. He didn’t bother passing pleasantries. “Has Miss Lawton called here?”
“I imagine this is the last place she’d come,” Aaron replied.
Christian stood abruptly. “Why? Did Gibbs not collect her from the museum? She’s supposed to be working in Mrs Maloney’s bookshop this afternoon. As payment for food and lodgings.”
Aaron cast him a sidelong glance but did not ask how Christian was party to the information.
“A man accosted Miss Lawton outside the museum. Gibbs was about to intervene when the lady took to her heels and ran.” Daventry glanced at the mantel clock. “That was six hours ago, and no one has seen hide nor hair of her since.”
“What do you mean, accosted her?” Christian couldn’t catch his breath.
“Manhandled her and tried to prevent her leaving.”
Christian shot his brother an irate glare. This wouldn’t have happened had they not been forced to work alone. “Was it Captain Snell? The bastard as good as threatened her while we were at the wharf.”
“Based on Gibbs’ description, I suspect it was her father. To make matters worse, he has all the notes she dropped during the struggle. It will be nigh on impossible to crack the smuggling ring now they know we’re on to them.”
Christian wasn’t convinced the men were smugglers. Still, that was of no importance now. “How the devil did he know she was in London?”
Daventry reached into his coat pocket, withdrew a folded piece of paper and gave it to Christian. “This might explain how Lawton knew where to look. It was written a few days ago.”
It was an article torn from theScandal Sheet.
Gossip, which happened to be true.
“It would seem the most unlikely pair were spotted in Narrow Street yesterday. Miss Isabella Lawton was seen holding the arm of Mr Christian Chance. The pair looked to be on extremely friendly terms. A little bird tells me they’re regular visitors at the British Museum.”
“That’s absurd.” Christian had no choice but to give his brother the note. “No one saw us enter the museum, and I doubt dock workers write for theScandal Sheet.”
Was this some vile conspiracy?
Perhaps realising there was no case of fraud to answer, the curator had sold the story.
“Someone did!” Aaron roared. “Did I not say this friendship would cause no end of trouble? Lawton will think we’re using his daughter to conspire against him.”
“You are conspiring against him.”
“Yes, but when he’s found dead in a ditch, I’ll not have the authorities point the finger at us.” Aaron tossed the paper on the desk and dragged his hand through his hair. “We need to find Miss Lawton as a matter of urgency.”
“Damn right we do.”
Aaron thumped the desk with his clenched fist. “Lawton is capable of anything. He’d kill his own daughter to see one of us hang.”
“Miss Lawton isn’t dead.” Christian wasn’t sure how he knew, but the lady was too clever to fall into her father’s trap.
