Page 32 of Her Heart's Rightful Earl
“I diverted all over the city to ensure nobody was on my tail,” Alexander confirmed and gestured to the room, where the heavy drapes were pulled shut. “Will your household staff not enter this room?”
“I have given explicit instructions that I am currently executing a highly confidential shipping deal and that any correspondence is strictly to be through me directly. This includes me answering my own door and a ban on entering this drawing room, where communications related to the deal will be carried out.”
“Very wise,” Alexander nodded. “Thank you.”
“You look troubled.” Thomas frowned. “Has some matter occurred?”
“I have vacated my room in Whitechapel and shall not return. I received a visitor.”
“Avisitor?” Thomas looked horrified.
“Somebody lingered outside my room and slid this under my door …” Alexander took the playing card from his pocket, where it had sat with heavy profundity during his walk.
Thomas dutifully took the card and gasped as he saw the ace of spades.
“No! You understand the relevance of this particular card?”
“I understand that it symbolizes death–” Alexander confirmed.
“You are correct. Gambling syndicates and criminal organizations use this card as a threat.”
Alexander frowned. “Whilst I did not dare suspect anybody within my family or friendship group of the murder of my father and cousin, I did rather assume it would be somebody linked in some way with the Wellwood estate.”
“I confess I did, also. However, this development suggests the involvement of the criminal underworld.”
Alexander narrowed his eyes, breathing heavily as he tried to think of anyone who may be connected to the darker side of London, but up until his father’s murder, his life had always been blessed with good fortune and trustworthy characters.
“Somebody knows you are alive, Alexander, and they are investigating. The ace of spades holds an unmistakable message: stop now or die.”
Alexander held his friend’s gaze, processing this disquieting development.
“I will not stop investigating this,” Alexander told him assertively. “If anything, this card has only fuelled my determination that the person who killed my father shall be held accountable.
“Up until now, we have assumed it to be one person, but if it is associated with the criminal underworld, it may even be a syndicate of people who are the guilty party …”
“All the more reason for us to proceed with utmost caution. There may be a group of people aware of my presence here in London and who stand at risk of persecution, should we be successful in our mission of exposing them.”
Thomas nodded thoughtfully.
“You will stay here with me. As I mentioned, my staff will not be entering this room.”
“I cannot,” Alexander declined. “I am already placing you in danger. I will not risk you further by making your home vulnerable.”
“Where will you go?”
“I will seek out a room in Seven Dials tonight–”
“Ghastly place–”
“Ironically, the more ghastly, the safer I may perhaps be. The people following me would perhaps expect me to seek finer lodgings.”
“You must only stay in a place one night and relocate every day,” Thomas advised. “It is too high-risk to stand still in one place.”
Alexander nodded in agreement, though he considered securing lodgings afresh every day meant speaking to more people, which in itself felt like a risk.
“I will send word to Captain Morrison that we have some evidence—I will give him this card and hopefully he may be able to investigate who left it,” Thomas advised.
“I will go to Seven Dials now, before London is fully awake for the day. Tonight I meet with Arabella.”
