Page 56 of The Rogue's Last Scandal
“Carvelle is a cagey one,” Kincaid said. “We’ve knocked on every inn door and brothel and gin mill in a twenty-mile radius. We’ve traced every place he’s known to frequent. Kingsley, however—”
A tap on the library door stopped him. One of Kincaid’s men, a brawny dark-haired Scotsman, ushered in Penderbrook and another man.
Charley glanced from Bink, sprawled in an armchair near the cold fireplace, to Bakeley, his elbows resting on the desk. Both men sat up at the intrusion.
He set down his glass and rubbed his hands together. “How did it go, Laughlin?”
A smile crinkled the other man’s lips. “It was all I could do to keep from laughing, old man.” He brought a package from under his arm and nodded at the glass on the table. “We’ve earned one of those at least, have we not, Pender?”
Penderbrook smiled. His brothers frowned.
Charley went to the sideboard and poured out two more glasses. “You know Penderbrook. The other fellow is my old chum, Henry Laughlin.”
“Sir Henry Laughlin.” Bakeley tapped the desk. “Newly appointed magistrate?”
Bakeleydidhave his finger at the pulse of London.
“That is correct, Lord Bakeley.” He bowed. “At your service.”
“What have you done, Charley?” Bink said. “I thought we weren’t going to involve the authorities.”
“I’m afraid this was more my doing than Everly’s,” Laughlin said. “Well, mine and Penderbrook’s. That broadsheet and the rumors abounding could not go unremarked.” He laughed again. “Great fun to see the look on Kingsley’s face. Though I’ve muddied my new boots, so Kingsley’s had his revenge. I’ve never seen a garden quite like that. It didn’t take my men long to find the treasure, though.”
Bakeley help up a hand. “Back up.”
“Laughlin visited Kingsley’s townhouse on a tip,” Charley said. “He found a bloody dress belonging to Miss Kingsley buried in the garden.”
“Here.” Laughlin set the package on the desk. “I thought perhaps her servants could identify it.”
Bakeley straightened in his chair. “That’s damned devious.”
Charley flashed his brother a grin. “Thank you. And now let’s hear it. How were you received, Laughlin?”
“Kingsley arrived after the discovery, already in a snit from some bad news or other. His lady had taken to her bed and refused to come down. All but threw me out of the house, the pompous bastard.”
First his disappointment at the bank and then the appearance of a magistrate. Kingsley should be good and rattled. He might even lead them to his accomplice. That was the hope anyway.
He saw Kincaid’s expression draw in and shutter. “Laughlin can be trusted in this matter,” Charley said. This did not involve the safety of the kingdom, only the life of one precious woman. And perhaps a little girl.
“You’ll be lucky to have your position by dinner,” Bink said. “Kingsley has powerful friends.”
Laughlin shrugged. “What a pity. I’d just begun to enjoy it.”
“We have a few friends of our own, Bink, do we not?” Charley handed the glasses around.
Voices in the hall silenced the men. The door opened and three ladies entered.
But he only saw Gracie.
Charley experienced that mysterious lack of oxygen again, as if he were struggling up several flights of stairs after a night of drinking. The dots in his vision were there also, outlining her sweet startled face. Even Sirena’s voice had stilled.
Bakeley broke the hushed silence with a round of introductions, and when Charley saw Laughlin bend over Gracie’s hand and the gleam in his eyes, he roused.
He took her hand away from Laughlin and tucked it into his arm. She’d donned a blue dress, and curls were scattered over her forehead and cheeks. Breathless, it made him. Like a girl. That would not do.
“What is this? The ladies could not find a black gown for you?”
She turned a scowl up to him and grimaced. The faint shadowed bruise still lurked on her cheek, reminding him of the seriousness of the threat posed by her guardian.
