Page 84 of One Wicked Secret
Rothley snorted. “I suppose Joanna has the ladies firing at targets in the garden. Next, they’ll be doing spurious duels on the common.”
“You may mock, my lord, but I doubt you’ve ever found yourself in a vulnerable position. Without the countess’ classes, Miss Woolf wouldn’t have had the courage to punch the burglar.”
Rothley raised a brow. “Miss Woolf hit the felon?”
“Yes, she broke his nose, though that didn’t stop the rogue from escaping.”
“Impressive. The lady has risen a notch in my estimation.”
“Only a notch? You approved of her performance at The Jade tonight.”
“Such was her sorrowful tone I believed every word.”
“Enough about Miss Woolf,” Daniel said, peering into the sinister lane where lantern light shone on the foul-smelling puddles. “We need to keep our wits.”
“Since when did you care about walking into a tavern full of lawless sailors?” Rothley said, giving Elsa a playful nudge. “I’ve seen your husband take down three men while bladdered.”
He had fought hard, as if bruised knuckles could ease the frustration of being kept from his wife’s bed. “I’m not concerned for myself.”
“I wouldn’t be concerned for your wife. I’ve come hoping to witness her skills with a blade.”
“It’s been some time since I practised,” Elsa said, being modest.
“I’d much rather it stayed firmly stuck to your thigh.”Daniel turned to her, panic making his heart flutter, and for the tenth time in as many minutes, said, “Promise me you’ll not leave my sight.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me.”
Although she spoke with conviction, a knot in his gut said he had everything to fear and more to lose. What if they’d been lured to this hellhole on purpose? If a fight broke out, a single jab with a blade could destroy their future.
The clip of slow, measured strides on the cobblestones stole his attention. A figure emerged from the mist, clad head to toe in black, his greatcoat billowing in the breeze. His hat sat low, obscuring the upper half of his face, but his air of quiet menace said it was Daventry.
He didn’t know Daventry well but felt a kinship in their shared struggles. Daventry had fallen in love with his wife but never expected to marry her. He had sworn an oath to protect her, a task more important than his own feelings. Fate had smiled on them, and few couples were said to be more in love than Lucius and Sybil Daventry.
Daniel glanced at Elsa, praying they might be that lucky.
“I see you brought reinforcements,” Daventry said, nodding to Rothley. “The more the merrier. You told your coachman to park near the churchyard as I requested?”
“Yes. Jarvis knows to stay alert.” Daniel mentioned the information he’d received about Charmers. “When we’re done here, we’re heading to Kingston upon Thames.”
Daventry narrowed his gaze. “Where in Kingston?”
“Shadowmere. An estate out of town.”
“The home of Dominic Hawke.” It wasn’t a question. “You’ll need my assistance. Hawke doesn’t tolerate uninvited guests.” He cast a wary glance at Elsa. “Shadowmere is no place for a lady. The manor would give Lucifer pause.”
Daniel wished he could lock Elsa in a tower, far from the fiend who meant to hurt her. “My wife is no stranger to threats and intimidation.”
Despite the risks, he could not leave her behind again.
Elsa smiled. “Rejection is closer to hell than anything I’ve known. A man’s debauched antics bears no comparison.”
Rothley was quick to agree. “Even when I’m alone at night, I still feel the burn of rejection’s flames.”
Daventry did not question the decision. “Let us deal with the landlord at The Salty Gull. I paid Grafton’s rent for a month. The room will be free for inspection should you think it necessary.”
Conversation inside The Salty Gull died within seconds of Daventry pushing open the creaking door. The smell of sweat and stale ale hit them, along with woodsmoke and the brackish stench of the Thames.
The men watched them like wary seagulls eyeing a storm. The tide shifted when their beady eyes found Elsa. Some combed their hands through their unkempt hair. Some smirked and nudged their friends. Others stared like they had spotted a mirage on the horizon.
