Page 145 of The Viscount's Seduction
Chapter 27
Kincaid was already reportingwhen Bakeley entered the study. Farnsworth was there also.
“Dunchatel,” Kincaid said.
Farnsworth nodded to Bakeley. “The brigand’s true name. Not Irish at all.”
Father’s face was grim. “Swiss. Had an English mother.”
A chill went through him. “You know him.”
“Yes.”
“A cagey, traitorous weasel who’d go to the highest bidder,” Kincaid said. “Worked with the Royalists in France until he started working against them. Ran off to Ireland when things got too hot.”
“A wizard with explosives,” Shaldon said. “Cadoudel employed him to build a bomb, a barrel packed with gunpowder and metal fragments that almost killed Napoleon.” His mouth firmed. “And didn’t.”
He let out a breath. “The Infernal Machine.”
“Yes,” Kincaid answered. “And didn’t kill us tonight, either, thanks to Bakeley’s attention to the sewers. Nice and clean for the boys who crawled in there to remove Dunchatel’s barrels.”
“Where is he now?” he asked.
Kincaid frowned. “Still missing. We have men down at the—”
A sharp knock at the door silenced him. Bakeley opened it and recognized the footman they’d seen in the hall downstairs.
“Yes,” Bakeley barked.
“It’s Lady Bakeley, my lord.”
Fear slithered up his spine. “What then, Phillip? I told you to stay with her.”
“I’m sorry. She…she ran off to the mews with the groom who found the brooch.”
He swiped a hand through his hair. “Go and see that she’s all right.”
“Yes, my lord, but she was going to see a horse just brought up from Kent. Pooka.”
Pooka?
Pooka was in Kent. He hadn’t sent for her. “Father, did you—”
“No.”
He grabbed the man’s arm, startling him, hauling him into the study.
Close set eyes, and a spark of fear.
His heart pounded inside his chest. He pulled the man up by his neck cloth. “How many years have you served us? That horse is in Kent.” He shoved him to Farnsworth. “Find out what he knows. Kincaid, bring your pistol. Dunchatel is in the stables, and this traitor is one of his men.”
He took the pistol Shaldon passed him and ran.
Sirena heldher breath as she passed the place where Sterling Hollister had held her, heart buzzing, feet dragging, as if walking through a sucking bog, all of her lightness gone.
Something was wrong.
The groom came up beside her. “M-my lady?”
