Page 97 of Lady Gambit
“Dorian?” She frowned as she peered around the jamb. “What are you doing here? Have you found Mr Bertram? Has he confessed to killing my parents?”
“No, but I needed to know you were safe before I tore this place apart.” He reached for her, gripping her hand to quell his raging fear. “Lock the door. Don’t answer it again until I return.”
She nodded, her mouth drawn into a tense line. “Hurry back.”
He waited to hear the lock click, then raced to Meldrum’s room and thumped the door with his clenched fist.
Aaron Chance appeared on the landing. “Have you lost your mind? What the hell are you doing up here? You’ll ruin the plan.”
Though breathless, Dorian quickly explained his fears. “Meldrum must have sent a secret message when his coachman delivered the letter to Bertram.” They had read the letter before Meldrum sealed it. Everything seemed above board. “Or Bertram knew to expect a trap.”
Aaron’s head shot in the direction of Delphine’s room.
“She’s safe.” Dorian kicked Meldrum’s door this time. “But I’ll not stand helplessly and wait for the bastard to strike. I intend to hunt him down. Deal with him in a manner I see fit.”
“Agreed.” Aaron flexed his fingers as he scoured the darkness. “I’ll fetch my brothers. We’ll get justice for Delphine our way.”
Tired of getting no response from Meldrum and wondering if the lord might be dead, Dorian barged the rickety door with his shoulder.
Meldrum was asleep on the bed, holding an empty silver flask.
Dorian dragged the lord by the waistcoat, forcing him to stand. “Bertram knows we’re here. You told him of our plan. How, I cannot fathom. So if you want to live to see sunrise, start talking.”
Meldrum blinked sleep from his eyes. “Y-you saw the letter. I wrote exactly what you told me, not a word more.”
“What the devil did you say to your coachman? You gave him a message to relay to Bertie.”
Meldrum’s breathing quickened. “I told him to deliver the note, that’s all. I need Aaron Chance to clear my debts to Fortune’s Den. Why would I risk his wrath?”
“Because you’re in love with your beloved Bertie.”
Meldrum blanched. “I assure you, I am not.”
“I’ve been watching the entrance for threebloodyhours, and there’s been no sign of him.” Had Bertram donned a disguise and sauntered past them unnoticed? If so, where was he, and how did he mean to murder Delphine? “He knows I’m here because he sent a note to Boodle’s, alerting my father.”
“Bertie is an intelligent man. He will have anticipated your move. He’ll not risk his neck. Besides, I don’t believe he’s responsible for the things you claim. In barking up the wrong tree, you’ve let the real villain escape.”
Dorian took less than a second to consider the suggestion.
“Bertram killed Delphine’s parents.” He felt the truth of it to the marrow of his bones. “He cannot afford for her to regainher memory.” She had to know something about the man, something that would make him risk everything to silence her.
Meldrum refused to believe his friend was culpable. “Perhaps Bertie came here to wish me well. Perhaps he saw you and thought it odd.”
“I’d have seen him pass through the entrance.”
“Perhaps he was supping in the taproom and saw us arrive.”
Releasing the fop, Dorian exhaled in exasperation. If the lord had an ounce of sense, he would be dangerous. “It would have been impossible for Bertram to travel from Nelson Square and arrive before we did.”
“Nelson Square?” Meldrum looked confused.
“You said he was staying with you in Southwark.”
“Yes, but his mistress has a house in Warwick Square. He called there last night. I told my coachman to try that address before venturing to Southwark.”
Dorian’s blood froze in his veins. “Warwick Square is less than a five-minute walk from here.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. If Bertie was guilty, he would have been here by now.” Meldrum sat on the bed. “The fellow never stays in the same place for long. He certainly wouldn’t wait in the darkness for hours.”
