Page 100 of Dukes Are Forever
"Byrnes and Ingrid, think you can track our erstwhile earl?" Malloryn asked.
"Consider it done," Byrnes replied.
"We'll handle the metaljackets plot. Sir George is awaiting a final piece of information they need to get this scheme off the ground, though their informant is withholding it until a certain payment comes through. Apparently, Sir George is furious. Doesn't want to look the fool in front of Balfour. The informant's supposed to be in attendance at Lady Haynes's ball tomorrow night, where the transfer is intended to take place. He and Sir George had some sort of falling out years ago, and Mowbray doesn't trust him to hold up his end of the deal."
"Mowbray?" Adele lifted her head from her hands. "There was a letter to a Mr. Thomas Mowbray on my father's secret desk. He was an old business partner who part-owned one of the factories Father had invested in."
"The one and the same," Malloryn confirmed. "We need to attend Lady Haynes's ball, to see if we can get some eyes and ears on this transfer. Think you're up to it, Duchess? I believe we were both invited, were we not?"
Adele looked like she had a little color back in her cheeks. "I'm not the one who's going to turn heads. Lady Haynes is going to think it the coup of the year to have your illustrious presence in her ballroom."
"As well as my cousin, Lady Beechworth, and her husband, Dmitri Grigoriev, a Russian prince," he replied, gesturing to Gemma and Obsidian. "Think you can get them past the door?"
"Oh, please," Adele replied. "Give me a challenge, Malloryn. You may all be lethal in dark alleyways and gambling dens, but the Echelon and its ballrooms are my territory. I can get them in. Just don't kill anyone, or I'll never be able to show my face in society again."
* * *
"I'm sorry, my lord."SirGeorge bowed his head as Balfour lashed out, kicking the desk in his study over.
"Sorry?" Balfour snarled. "Sorry?I told you not to commitanythingto paper."
"They didn't take anything," he growled out, "except for my bloody paperweight."
"And you're certain they were inside yourprivatestudy?" Balfour demanded.
"Yes. The floorboard is rigged to alert me should anyone break in."
Balfour strode to the fireplace and depressed the sun symbol. This was what he got for relying upon others.
"Do you think they found the map?" Jelena murmured to him as they ducked inside.
"They couldn't have. I burned it yesterday."
Balfour made Sir George examine the room. "Nothing else's been touched?"
"Nothing. I've checked everything."
Jelena knelt in front of the desk, examining the lock. "Someone's picked it. There's a faint scratch on the lock."
His fingers curled into fists. "Then we need to move the explosives. Tonight."
"But they couldn't know what the—"
"They'll know," he snarled. "Move every stockpile tonight, or I'll remove your throat. And make sure all of those bloody automatons are in place. We're so close to completing our plans. I will not suffer any more incompetence." He turned on Jelena. "I want the Duke of Malloryn distracted. Keep him away from rest of the Rising Sons. I don't care how."
"Trust me," she purred. "I know exactly how to do it."
Chapter 21
There was another body that night.
Malloryn made his way through the evening fog of Brompton Cemetery, his steps slowing as he saw the gathering around a familiar headstone.
Garrett Reed awaited him, the entire area cordoned off by Nighthawks. "Another message from your friend."
Malloryn flicked a glance toward the girl's body. White gown, bloodied gore spattered all over her chest, her body draped in front of the headstone like an offering.
Like a reminder.
