Page 92 of Lady Gambit
“Why would I run when you promised to remain beside me forever?” Doubt slithered into her heart. Danger loomed. She felt the coldness of it in her blood. “Let us deal with the devil whowould tear us asunder. I’m Delphine Chance. I shall fight to the death to protect what we have.”
Aaron hammered on the bedchamber door. “I need you both downstairs. The show is about to begin.”
With the hour nearing seven, they hurried to the study and took their seats with Aaron and Mr Daventry.
Sigmund hung a sign on the front door confirming the club was closed. Aramis, Christian and Theo were waiting in a carriage at the end of the street, keen to ensure Lord Meldrum came alone.
Aaron settled into his throne. He cracked his knuckles and cricked his neck, though this was to be a battle of words, not fists. Thankfully, he didn’t ask what they’d been doing upstairs.
Lord Meldrum arrived five minutes later. He wore a green coat with excessive padding and an ugly blue waistcoat that clung to his narrow waist like a strangling vine.
He handed Sigmund his hat as he strode into the room but came skidding to a halt when he noticed the crowd. “What the blazes? Your letter said this would be a private affair.”
Aaron kept calm. “It is a private affair.” He gestured to the other men in the room. “Flynn is conducting a criminal investigation, and the Home Secretary placed Daventry in charge of the case. Before I agree to anything, I need to know you’re not a murderer.”
“A murderer?” Lord Meldrum looked aghast.
Aaron’s nod prompted Sigmund to close the door and turn the key in the lock, which only added to the lord’s agitation.
“What the devil is going on here?”
“Who knows I summoned you to Fortune’s Den?” Aaron barked.
“What? No one.”
“Who knows?” Aaron yelled.
“No one.” The lord spun on his heel and met Dorian’s gaze. “What’s this about, Flynn? Did you find the blackmailer, is that it? Has the devil accused me of a crime? If so, it’s a ploy to make me look like the villain.”
Delphine stood and urged the men to remain seated. The lord would likely expire of heart failure if he didn’t calm down. She gripped Lord Meldrum’s arm and led him to a seat.
“We know the identity of your blackmailer.” She kept a pacifying hand on his shoulder. “The person no longer has a reason to demand Nora Adkins remains at Bethlem and releases you from any obligation.”
Lord Meldrum was not appeased. His face twisted in anger as he captured her hand. “Who is it? That swine almost drove me to the brink of insanity. I demand to know my tormentor’s name.”
The blind rage in his eyes made her falter. “I?—”
“Your father stole money meant for the hospital’s relocation,” Dorian said, his gaze meeting hers in silent reassurance. “If you want to draw attention to that fact, then we’ll prosecute the blackmailer, and you can have your day in court.”
Lord Meldrum paled.
“While you’re considering your position,” Dorian continued, his furious glare fixed on their joined hands, “you will release Miss Chance before I break your fingers.”
Noting Dorian’s vehemence, the lord turned to Aaron. “If you’ve caught the blackmailer, then why the hostility? I had nothing to do with the attack on your family. What else can I do to persuade you I’m innocent?”
Aaron’s dark gaze sent a chill through the room. “You can answer Flynn’s questions. The mounting evidence suggests you’ve plotted to have my sister killed. If you want to leave here alive, cease with the bravado and tell the damn truth.”
Silence descended.
The lord sat, shaking his head in confusion.
Dorian rose and perched on the corner of Aaron’s imposing desk. “Who knows you’re being blackmailed?”
The lord swallowed. “No one. Well, perhaps my butler, though he wouldn’t dare disgrace the household.”
“And Bertie,” Delphine said.
“Yes, and Bertie, but I trust him implicitly.”
