Page 70 of Her Wicked Highwayman
Andrew couldn’t afford to lose much more of his income. Forcing most of the businesses and families in the district to pay for his protection as a magistrate was risky enough, but he’d be damned if he’d let some blasted thieves ruin his plans.
And he had grand plans indeed.
Once he had enough money, he would start investing in the loyalties of influential men in business—and politics. It was time that the power dynamics in London changed. The blue-blooded aristocratic families of old had failed to make themselves useful. They’d grown too dependent on the people who lived on their lands. Andrew had seen to the banishment of his tenants a long time ago. They were a waste of space and a waste of land.
True power lay in a lord’s ability to do whatever he pleased, towhomeverhe pleased.
Andrew realized that Phelps had been silent just a little too long. Rarely a good sign. “Well? What is it? You’ve been gone for two bloody days. I expect you to show results for your absence.”
Phelps smiled without humor. “I assure you, it is very good news. I know who your thieves are.”
Andrew shoved his ledgers aside and leaned forward. “Who is it?”
“First, you should know you have been robbed not by just one set of thieves buttwo.”
“Two? What the devil do you mean?”
“I mean, there is a second band of thieves, using the identity of Tyburn and his men. I believe most of your earlier robberies were conducted by the first band of three thieves. These men were clearly knowledgeable. The last two robberies seem to be the work of a second group of three people. Most of the reports about them match, but there were enough differences that I became suspicious. Two nights ago, it was the second group that attacked your coach first. Tyburn and his men came to their aid once the armed guards made their presence known. I wasn’t able to rescue your money because I was outnumbered. The more knowledgeable group of men handled the theft of the money, while the less experienced trio of thieves fled. I chose to follow those three to see what I could learn.”
“And where did they go?” Andrew demanded.
“To an old priest hole, which led to a tunnel that took them straight to Foxglove Hall.”
“Foxglove—” Andrew’s eyes narrowed. “You mean these men work for Diana Fox?”
It had taken him a moment to recall the shabby estate he’d visited when investigating the robberies. That woman who’d lived there had most likely lied to him that day when he’d gone to question her about her supposed abduction. Either she was working directly with him, or they were competitors of sorts. No matter. Now he had another piece of this strange puzzle.
His manservant was still smiling as he took a moment to relish delivering his news. “Better. Miss Fox isoneof the thieves. I have learned she was shot two nights ago, a simple flesh wound. She’ll live.”
“A pity,” Andrew snorted. He didn’t like women and their simpering and lying. They were useless to him.
“Not a pity, as it turns out,” Phelps said, far too smugly.
“If you have something relevant to tell me, you’d best spit it out.”
Phelps narrowed his eyes, the only hint of rebellion he had ever seen in his loyal servant. That was because Phelps knew just how dangerous Andrew was when he was angry.
“The woman’s injury drew the leader of the other band of thieves right to her. I saw him go in through her window. I believe they might be secret lovers, which would explain why he snuck into her home rather than simply going through the main entrance.”
“And who is this other man?” Andrew said impatiently.
“That I learned later. When this man left Foxglove, I followed him back to his home.” Phelps paused, seeming to relish his next words. “Lennox House.”
“Lennox House? Lord Lennox is harboring these thieves?”
Phelps’s eyes glowed with triumph. “No.”
“You cannot expect me to believe Lennoxhimselfis the leader of the highwaymen.”
His manservant was grinning wickedly now. “Not him...”
Andrew’s breath caught as a sudden, delicious, dangerous excitement filled his veins with the need to cause pain.
“You mean . . . ?”
“Yes,” Phelps said. “You finally have the means to catch the one you’ve wanted.”
The web he’d spun to trap a group of bothersome highwaymen had, by good fortune, caught the one man who had eluded him so long ago.
