Page 41 of Dangerous Games of a Broken Lady
Well, you would still be in a rather large amount of debt through foolish speculation, but at least you would know Adelaide was in safe hands. Who knows, perhaps you would have listened to your wife’s advice if things had been different.
“My Lord?” Jasper was staring at him.
“What?”
“You just stopped in the middle of the staircase.”
Ephraim frowned. “Did I?”
“Yes. If we stay here too long, I fear we may begin to draw suspicion.”
“Of course. Quite right.” Shaking his head, Ephraim carried on up the staircase to the first-floor landing. He moved along the richly furnished hallway, admiring the tapestries and red velvet drapes, before stopping short of the main gallery. A single door stood to the right-hand side. The very door Ephraim needed.
He delved into his satchel and took out a flat-cap, stowing his top-hat in the bag as he placed the alternative on his head. Jasper did the same. A moment later, Ephraim pulled out a handkerchief and tied it around his face, making sure it covered the bottom half. Again, Jasper followed suit. They turned to one another uncertainly.
No going back now.
Ephraim did not bother to knock. Gripping the handle tight, he pushed the door wide open and strode inside. A short, stout gentleman sat behind a desk. Two startled blue eyes stared back as the man sprang to his feet, skirting around the bureau with surprising agility. However, Jasper was quicker. The door clicked shut before the stout gentleman could reach it, with Jasper blocking any hope of an exit.
I knew he would be useful,Ephraim thought. Indeed, he looked rather imposing.
“What is the meaning of this?” the man rasped, his eyes bulging. “I demand you release me!”
“First of all, you will lower your voice, or I will be forced to take drastic action,” Ephraim warned. “Now, sit down before you cause yourself an injury.” He had no idea if he sounded authoritative, but he hoped the message was clear.
The stout gentleman gulped. “Who are you?”
“We are friends of your dear acquaintance, Lord Rowntree.”
The man’s cheeks reddened to a worrying scarlet. “L-Lord R-Rowntree?” he stammered.
“Yes. Now sit, before you keel over.”
This time, he did as he was told. “What does Lord Rowntree want?” he asked, as he returned to his chair.
“A favor or two, nothing more.”
The man trembled violently, to the point where Ephraim wished he could walk from the room and say no more about it.
“There is no such thing.”
“Come now, Mr. Sawyer, there is nothing to fear from us.”
He gaped. “How do you know my name?”
“Lord Rowntree,” Ephraim replied, struggling not to roll his eyes. The man might have been frightened, but there was no excuse for idiocy—especially not in parliament. Although, he reasoned many would argue that the place was filled with similar stupidity.
“Ah yes, of course…”
“Now, shall we get straight to business?” Ephraim suggested, taking a seat opposite.
“What does Lord Rowntree want?”
“Two favors, to be exact.”
Mr. Sawyer gulped. “What are they?”
“First of all, I will require all the details you hold for Mr. Palmer, the Right Honorable Member of Parliament for Bath. I mean absolutely everything,” Ephraim began. He could only begin to imagine what Lord Rowntree wanted to do with that information. Thus far, the villain had not let him in on the rest of the plan. “Secondly, I will require every scrap of information that you have on the Marquess of Tavistock. I trust that will not be too troublesome for you?”
