Page 35 of The Gift of Patience
Ashley donnedhis uniform for the dinner because that was what was expected. He never minded formal dinners in London where people knew how to play the game, where the matchmaking mamas went after the bigger prey not the second sons. But there was always more expectation in the country where they were content to marry their daughters to a family name instead.
Not only did he have to suffer through this dinner, he would miss the signalling which he was keen to be a part of. He was certain something was going to happen tonight, and he’d be stuck doing the pretty to simpering upstarts.
When he could no longer delay the fact that he was ready, he made his way downstairs. Fielding was there eyeing him knowingly.
“Do not say a word,” he warned.
“That’s hardly fair when you would rub it in our noses were the positions reversed.”
Ashley glared mockingly.
“Besides, our man could very well be at that dinner.”
“I don’t know.” He picked at an imaginary piece of lint from his jacket. “I do think something will happen tonight, but my money says it will be here.”
“Do you think Devil will betray us?”
“It is a possibility. They must know something is afoot. Devil has not signalled and no messages have been received with him in the stables.”
“Devil hasn’t cracked again?”
“Not since I asked an hour ago.”
“I feel like we are missing something obvious.” Which was normally how he felt during investigations until they were solved.
“If it was obvious, we would not still be here,” Fielding drawled.
“Manners and Cholmely are still following the others?”
“Yes, they tracked them to a warehouse near the East India docks. They seem to be squatting in the area at night.” That explained the petty crimes and vandalism that had brought them here in the first place.
“So they are looking for opportunities, it seems.”
“Or waiting to be told when to act. None of them strikes me as overly initiative in nature.”
“Members of gangs usually aren’t. They follow the leader.”
“Which is Devil. I must admit he’s proven to be quite resistant to Baines’ and my charms. He would have made a good soldier.”
“We need to think like he does. Why is he resistant to giving up his leader? He must know he will not be able to walk free.”
“Unless he thinks he will be able to escape.”
“He’s more afraid of the leader than us.”
“I hope Renforth’s contact is able to uncover something. If they are playing that deep, there must be some reason.”
Fielding looked at his watch. “It’s time to go.”
“Perhaps I will join you and be fashionably late to the dinner,” Ashley pondered. “I feel like that is too important to miss.”
“We are not in Town, Ash.”
“Yes, but Lady Fagge will be so grateful to have a bachelor there that she will forgive me.”
“Suit yourself.” Fielding shrugged.
He told Armstrong to inform Westwood that he would join them late. “I will be but a few minutes behind them.”
