Page 30 of Lady Gambit
“Agreed,” he said, knowing they should plan for every eventuality before venturing into the hen house. “We’ll need a bargaining tool. Something to appease Mrs Haggert.”
Mischief twinkled in Daventry’s eye. “I know just the thing. Meet me in Hart Street at noon tomorrow, and we’ll travel to St Giles together.”
Aaron Chance stood slowly. “I’m taking my sister home to Fortune’s Den. She’ll have no part in your scheme.”
“You cannot protect her while trying to solve the case,” Daventry urged. “I would trust Flynn with my life. No harm shall come to her while in his care. Who wouldn’t want their sister left in the hands of such a capable man?”
“Let me remain here with Theo.” Miss Chance spoke as if it were a simple solution, not a damnable inconvenience. “With his help, I can make a sketch of the man who shot him. I can help with the case while tending my brother.”
Dorian might have argued against such folly but they were going round in circles. The sooner he solved the case, the sooner he would be rid of them all.
“I shall have my coachman Gibbs act as her personal guard,” Daventry said by way of an incentive. Upon hearing a light knock on the door, and Miss Darrow’s faint call, he frowned. “Who else is here?”
Dorian explained before inviting the lady to enter. He made the introductions. “Miss Darrow has spent the last hour making a healing broth. She is quite the nurse.” A blind man could see the modiste held some affection for the patient.
Miss Darrow smiled. “Forgive me for snooping, but I was passing and heard raised voices. I should like to offer my services. I shall tend to Mr Chance and act as Delphine’s companion.”
“What about your clients?” The last thing Dorian needed was another guest at his dining table. On a positive note, it meant he would have no cause to be alone with Delphine Chance.
The modiste paled. “I won’t feel safe until the thugs are in custody.”
It made sense, but he suspected the lady was not being entirely honest. “Perhaps you fear they came foryou,” he said, testing a theory. “They didn’t mention Miss Chance by name.”
The lady shrugged. “What would they want with a simple modiste?”
Somehow, he suspected the lady knew.
Determined to have his way, Aaron Chance said, “I’ll agree, but only if Gibbs and Mrs Maloney remain here with my sister. The woman is like a mother to me. I trust her implicitly. She took us into her home when we were mere street urchins and is firm of mind and opinion.”
“This isn’t Mivart’s Hotel,” Dorian countered.
“Those are my terms.”
He might have dug his heels in and refused the King of Clubs’ request, but Miss Chance looked at him through large brown eyes, her soothing voice like a siren’s song as she said, “I pray you agree, Mr Flynn. I know you were coerced into taking this case, but I cannot help feeling this is fated.”
He should have disputed the claim. Put paid to any notions of a mysterious force at play. But he could feel the hands of destiny guiding him on this treacherous journey. And though he longed for peace and solitude, an inner voice told him to hunker down and prepare for one hell of a storm.
Chapter Seven
Mr Flynn had dined alone in his study last night. He’d taken his breakfast a little after dawn before riding to Walworth to collect a tincture from Dr Skinner. He strode briskly through the corridors this morning, barely stopping to exchange pleasantries. While Delphine couldn’t help but admire how splendid he looked in his dark blue coat, he stared at the gilt-framed paintings and wall sconces, too preoccupied to hold her gaze.
Was he avoiding her?
One might think so.
He had sent a note saying he was leaving to meet Mr Daventry in Hart Street. That he would return with Mrs Maloney and Gibbs but had other affairs to attend to this evening.
Perhaps Mr Flynn was used to dealing with timid women.
Perhaps he had forgotten she’d been raised by Aaron Chance.
The gentleman had one foot inside the carriage when he noticed her sitting demurely in the seat. “Miss Chance?” He froze, his shock evident.
“Good morning, Mr Flynn.” Had she been wearing gloves, she would have tugged them firmly to show she would not be intimidated. But Mrs James was attempting to remove the bloodstains, and Aaron had failed to bring a clean change of clothes, believing she was returning to Fortune’s Den. “I wasn’t sure what time we were leaving and thought it best to wait in the carriage.”
He inhaled deeply but said nothing.
“Ordinarily, I wouldn’t dare make a house call without gloves and a bonnet.” She had lost her hat in the scuffle with the blackguards outside Miss Darrow’s shop and hoped someone in need had found it. “Though I don’t suppose Mrs Haggert cares about etiquette.”
