Perhaps so, Rayne silently agreed. His experience with Will Stokes was his first encounter with the heartbreaking misery and poverty that afflicted much of London’s citizenry and the injustices they bore because of their less-than-genteel origins. It had made him keenly aware how fortunate he was to be a member of the privileged upper class. But even at age eleven, he’d realized it was his duty to help those in need.
In response to Madeline’s observation, however, Rayne merely shrugged.
“What happened to your friend?” she asked, then added when she noticed his fond smile, “What is so amusing?”
“The irony is that now he works as a thief-taker for Bow Street.”
“He is a Runner?”
“Yes, and quite a good one, since he knows all the tricks of the trade. Even more amusing is that he married a baker’s daughter and has two sons similar in age to my youngest nephews.”
Madeline digested that information in silence for the remainder of the drive. And upon arriving at his house on Bedford Avenue, she held her tongue when they were met in the entrance hall by his chief aide, Walters, who acted as part butler, secretary, valet, and henchman.
Madeline remained wide-eyed and curious, absorbing everything she saw, as Rayne escorted her through the large house, passing rooms adorned with furnishings designed more for masculine comfort than a display of wealth.
Her eyebrows rose, however, when he led her down the back servants’ stairs. Beyond the kitchens was a door to the wine cellar, and beyond that was a large chamber that resembled part storeroom and part dressing room such as the lead actors at Drury Lane commanded.
“I never considered it before,” Madeline murmured, “but I suppose spies need disguises when they play different roles.”
“Occasionally,” Rayne replied. “This room rarely gets used anymore. Now it mainly houses equipment I’ve needed at one time or another.”
As expected, Walters had carried out his orders to his exact specifications.
“The accoutrements for your role tonight are on that table,” Rayne said, pointing to one side of the room.
He watched as Madeline inspected the items laid out for her—a shawl of delicate silver lace, a bandeau with white ostrich plumes, and a pair of silver combs for her hair.
Moving behind her, Rayne helped her remove her cloak so she could don the shawl, then had her sit at a dressing table so he could arrange her hair and headdresses to his liking.
“How did you learn to devise disguises?” Madeline asked, peering at herself in an oval hand mirror as he worked.
“Various thespians taught me here and there.”
He didn’t add that one of the actresses in question had been a former mistress.
Reminded of their upcoming task, Rayne related some background information about their target to Madeline, the better to prepare her for what to expect. “Madame Sauville is not considered a courtesan in the usual sense, in that she doesn’t sell her wares overtly. But she has been the mistress of a number of notable figures in the government and elsewhere. I was surprised that she stooped to try her blackmail schemes on Freddie—and that he didn’t have the sense to steer clear of her. She must be getting desperate for funds to support her extravagant lifestyle.”
“What will you do if you are caught searching her private rooms?” Madeline asked.
“I won’t be caught.”
She hesitated but didn’t question his assertion. “Her bedchamber is where you will start searching?”
“Yes. There is always a chance she deceived Freddie when she boasted that she ‘slept with his letters,’ but odds are she was being truthful while taunting him. She wanted his peccadillo to sound even more scandalous to increase his fear of his father’s wrath.”
“I thought she told Freddie the letters were in her jewel case.”
Rayne smiled to himself, impressed with Madeline’s powers of recollection. “She did that also. Most likely she keeps the case in her bedchamber.”
“And if you find her jewel case locked, what will you do?”
“I will pick the lock.” Rayne directed her attention to the small leather bag lying on the dressing table in front of her. “That bag contains various-sized metal picks and special keys whose vanes turn on the shaft. You may see for yourself.”
Looking intrigued, Madeline opened the bag to examine the contents. “What happens when you do find the letters?”
“I will confiscate them and replace them with forgeries.”
“Forgeries? Why?”