Page 52 of Avenging the Earl's Lady
Chapter 12
Shaldon’s valet had just finished shaving him when Kincaid appeared in his doorway.With one look from Shaldon’s old friend, the servant left, closing the door on the two men.
“Charley and Grace arrived in the wee hours,” Kincaid said.“You weren’t here to receive them, but I was.”
Shaldon ignored the dig.“I’ve been informed.”Graciela was anxious to see her father as soon as possible when the man stepped onto English soil.
“And?”Kincaid tossed him the shirt spread out on the bed.
What did you learn last night?Shaldon heard the implied question and dropped the shirt over his head, hiding his annoyance.Kincaid was an insistent bastard at times.
But they had long ago learned to put aside their irritations with each other.“Lady Jane and Jenny are staying at Lady Hackwell’s old home on Gerrard Street.She has the painting, or rather she took it andhadit.”Kincaid threw back his head and roared out a laugh that made him wince.
“And did I not say that she would bolt?”Kincaid’s gaze narrowed.“Placid and proper, and you were missing all the night.Have you found a way to take charge of the lady and that painting?”
He tucked his shirt in and reached for his waistcoat.“It wasn’t amongst her things when I searched.Did you check La Fanelles’s?”
“Did I go into the lioness’s den?No.And I don’t believe it’s there.My best guess is it’s with Henri Guignard.”
Shaldon frowned.“He’s still alive?”
Guignard had been gray-haired some twenty-odd years earlier when he’d slipped out of Paris before Robespierre could nab him.
“Living quietly, plying his trade on the outskirts of London.He was at the shop yesterday.He’s Marie’s cousin.”
His head snapped up.They had worked with Guignard on a few occasions, and Kincaid had never shared the connection to Marie.“Where would he keep it?”
“I don’t know.”Kincaid rubbed his chin.“He’s old, but he’s no fool.It will be in a safe place.He’ll know the value of it.Besides which, the newspaper had a visit from a mustachioed gent wearing a sword who meets the description of our Major.After that, the paper was broken in to, files tossed.Read today’s notices—the publisher is withdrawing from receiving the bids for the painting.”
He found a fresh linen cloth and twisted it around his neck.Jane had snatched the painting away not only from him, but from someone else who wanted it desperately.That could only be the Duque.
“Did we have a traitor in our ranks?”he mused.Upon hearing the news that their men carrying the painting to Cransdall had been set upon, he and Kincaid had discussed the question at length.“Have you thought more upon the subject?”
“I’ve talked to our men here.The painting’s discovery was no secret.Word spread quickly and any one of the locals—or even the soldiers—could have passed the news.It was a small step to watch the departures from Gorse Point Cottage and notice three men going north with a package.”
Dear God—Jane and the maid might have also been targeted on the road.
“Did the newspaper office have Guignard’s name?”
“Possibly, though Henri would be clever enough to give them a false address.”
“He may be in danger.La Fanelle—and her partner and seamstresses—might be as well,” Shaldon said.
“And Lady Jane.Can you convince her to move back here?”
After tupping her?He’d awoken with renewed desire and a sure conviction that he must leave her bed immediately or else risk spending the whole day there.
She’d been firm in her refusal to wed him.That would change.He would see to it.
He hadn’t felt so unsettled about a woman since Bink’s mother, when he himself had been a mere pup.
He shook off the sensation.It was his duty to protect Jane, and he’d find a way.
He picked up his coat.“Help me with this.”The tight-fitting coats so in vogue were hard to get into without assistance.
Kincaid sighed, but obliged.He had more than once played the role of valet, most recently when they were arranging Paulette and Bink’s marriage.
“There you go, your noble lordship,” Kincaid said.“I’ll snoop around, find out where Henri is lodging, send word to you, and then I’ll go face my nemesis and assess the degree of danger to her and her girls.Pray that she doesn’t gut me with her sewing shears this time.And where will you be?”
