Page 28 of The Last Chance
Joanna met his gaze. “As you often consider yourself a beast, I’m in good company. Perhaps you should begin the meeting. I promise to eat like a nun bound by a vow of silence.”
She realised Mr Chance hadn’t informed his brothers of Lord Howard’s murder. Judging by their playful manner, they must presume she had other reasons for staying the night.
“Well?” Aramis said, prompting his brother to confess. “Whycancel the meeting yesterday? Why close the club last night?” He glanced at Joanna. “If it’s because you needed personal time, you don’t need to explain to?—”
“When have I ever needed personal time?” Mr Chance countered, rousing a vision of him working alone in his office until dawn. “When have I ever put my own needs before opening the club?”
“Why did you not explain the problem when I called last night?”
Aramis had arrived a little after eleven, his concern turning to frustration when Mr Chance informed him they would discuss it at the family meeting tomorrow. Joanna had listened from the landing and heard them argue as Mr Chance ushered his brother out. He’d had Sigmund follow discreetly behind to confirm Aramis made it home safely.
“Because he wants you to listen and heed his advice,” Joanna said, surprising everyone by speaking for their brother. “He wants to ensure you do not embroil yourselves in our problem.”
Mr Chance’s dark eyes rose to meet hers, a lingering look that caused an odd ache in her chest, a look she could not define.
“Miss Lovelace asked for my help because she found a dead man on her premises,” Mr Chance said calmly. “I summoned Daventry because I publicly threatened to kill the victim. As you all know, Lord Howard owed me a great deal of money. Someone drove a Mughal dagger into his back.”
There was a collective gasp.
They all looked at Joanna as if she were to blame.
“I assure you, I am innocent,” she said.
“I have a motive for murder,” Mr Chance said, before describing his altercation with Lord Howard. “I found our father’s gold hunter in Howard’s pocket. A watch sold sixteen years ago.” He gave a brief account of what happened at the pawnbroker’s shop. “We have a week to solve the crime before we’re taken in for questioning. We have Daventry to thank forthat, or we would be eating bread and gruel in Newgate this morning.”
“I’ll kill Berridge for this,” Aramis growled, thumping the table.
“Which is exactly what I’m instructing you not to do.” Mr Chance spoke in the masterful tone of someone who expected to be obeyed. “What I want you to do is be vigilant. If Berridge hopes to ruin me, he’ll be hoping to ruin us all.”
“Should Eleanor cancel her clients?” Theodore said, reaching for his wife’s hand. “Should she close the shop while the murderer is at large?”
Christian was equally concerned for his wife. “Isabella is giving a lecture at the library today. There’s no telling who will be in the audience.”
“Then take Sigmund. He will observe the crowd and help keep Isabella safe.” Mr Chance raised a hand of reassurance when his siblings voiced other concerns. “Go about your business, but take precautions. Keep a loaded weapon. Remain at home when possible. I’ve written to Mrs Maloney. She’ll be in Oxford with Delphine and Flynn until next week, but they, too, must be on their guard.”
Mr Chance lived to protect his family.
And yet he could not be in five homes at once.
His sangfroid was something to be admired. His complete self-possession did not reflect the panic that must be rioting in his veins.
“I think it wise to restrict your movements,” she said, wanting to support him because she knew what it felt like to live in constant fear. “Until we know who and what we’re dealing with.”
Mr Chance gave a curt nod of approval. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for this family,” he said, worrying her slightly because he would give his life to save theirs. “I’ll not rest until we can all breathe easily again.”
A heaviness fell over the room, the family’s happiness replaced with a dread of the unknown.
“Would it be better if everyone came to live here?” Joanna suggested, despite a pang of reluctance. Mr Chance would have every excuse to avoid her then. “Would it be easier if we all lived under one roof?”
Mr Chance surprised her by saying, “No. It’s more difficult to attack five targets than one. Until we gather more evidence, it’s better for all of us if we live separately.”
“It was just a thought.”
“A considerate one,” he said, keeping his mask in place. His gaze moved to his brothers. “I need to question Two-Teeth O’Toole. There’ll be a price for information. He’ll want me to fight for him out on the heath. I fight for no one but this family.”
Aramis misunderstood his brother’s meaning. “I shall fight.”
“No. You’ll find me something to use as leverage.”
