Dauntless (Gentlemen of the Order 1)

“You can have the run of the house. I’ll stay out of your way.”

“And yet I want to spend every waking minute with you.” She exhaled deeply. “Oh, I’m a muddled mess of contradictions.”

“A beautiful mess.”

As their gazes locked, he saw his own confusion staring back. He understood her anxiety. Distrust was a hard thing to conquer. More so, when one had been abandoned by the one person meant to provide support.

Then it occurred to him that he could give her a gift. Another gem to raise a smile. He would need to keep his wits. There would be no room for errors.

“What if you stayed in Wigmore Street so we might work together on the case? You would be there in a professional capacity, not because you need protection.”

Her eyes widened as she absorbed his words. “Work with you?”

“Indeed.”

“Won’t Mr Daventry object?”

Damn right, he would. “I shall smooth things with Lucius Daventry.” The row would be unpleasant.

“You’d take me with you to The Compass Inn?”

Inwardly, he groaned. “If we both deem it necessary, yes.”

Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that.

“And to Mr Flannery’s establishment?”

“Yes,” he said, fearing he may live to regret his decision. “It may provide creative inspiration.”

A rush of excitement had her jigging about on her knees. “Then I agree. I shall stay in Wigmore Street until my problems are resolved.” Her gaze drifted to his bare chest, and he heard his own hunger reflected in her soft sigh.

“You have something to show me?” he said, assuming she wished to reveal the contents of the penny boy’s note she clutched in her hand.

“Oh, yes!” She thrust the letter at him. “It’s another threat.”

Noah took the paper and scanned the missive.

This time the blackmailer included a brief sample of the article he intended to publish in the broadsheets. The wording was meant to incite public outrage. A woman living so close to the Lying-In Hospital—a place where the vulnerable were open to scandal and corruption—was obsessed with penning tales of murder. Was that not grounds to have her committed to an asylum?

Noah glanced at Eva. “The bla

ckmailer has grown desperate.”

“Yes, but you know there are men in society who will cause uproar. Seek to have me committed.”

“And yet you seem unafraid.”

“There’s little point worrying about something that is unlikely to occur.” She touched his arm. “Tell me we will find the devil before he rouses a storm.”

“We will find him and hold him accountable for his actions. You have my word.”

“It shouldn’t be too difficult now he’s told us where he will be.” She motioned to the letter. “Although clearly he has no clue how resourceful you are.”

Intrigued, Noah continued reading.

The villain asked for a thousand pounds to be packed into a valise and taken to Temple Gardens. They were to arrive at the stroke of midnight, two days hence, and leave the valise at Fountain Court, near the ancient oak tree in Middle Temple.

“He’s chosen the court because there are at least five points of entry.”