“Here…now?” He turned. What did Malice want at this time of night? “See him in.”
A few minutes later, Malice strode through the door with his usual swagger about his shoulders, but his face was drawn and tense. He tossed himself into a chair next to Tag. “Well. I knew when your old lady friend cornered Emily and told her about the club, it wasn’t a good sign. We should have been watching Lady Abernath instead of the Chase women.”
“What’s happened?” Darlington sat up straighter, dread making his legs heavy.
“I went to the party. The one I’d secured an invitation for. I mentioned it last week.”
Tag rolled his hand, wanting Malice to tell the story already. “Yes. Yes. You’re a marquess. Invitations are not difficult for you.”
Malice raised his brows. “You’re as prickly as that little chit, Minnie.”
“She is Miss Chase to you,” Tag snapped.
Malice sat back in his chair, his gaze piercing as his mouth thinned. “It’s good that I’ve come.”
“Why is that?” Tag sat forward, growing more impatient by the second. It was near midnight and his friend was talking but saying nothing.
Malice frowned as he tented his hands in front of his face as though he were making a profound statement. “You’re sweet on her.”
The words pushed him back in his chair. Was it that obvious? His heart raced in his chest as he considered his feelings. “What does Minnie have to do with you arriving here in the middle of the night?”
“I attended that ball—”
“You’ve said,” he bit out.
“And Lady,” he drew out the word, his lip curling, “Minerva was there. As was the Countess of Abernath.”
“Bloody effing bullocks,” Tag roared, pushing out of his chair, then pacing over to the fire. “Did they meet?” The countess was a woman who hurt people. If she hurt Minnie, he’d make her pay the way he should have years ago.
“Oh, they met.” Malice sneered around the words. “Looked chummy even. They chatted for a while. Laughed and talked.”
“You…you’re joking.” Sick dread filled his stomach. Perhaps the countess hurting Minnie was not the problem at all. “Did they seem to know each other?”
“I couldn’t say. But they talked for a long time. And then Abernath approached me with a message to you.”
“A message?” Dread formed deep in his gut.
“The countess said, and I quote, ‘Tell Daring that Lady Minerva is going to help me make him pay for what he’s done.’”
Chapter Ten
Minnie sat for her calling hours the next morning, tapping her chin, wondering how she was going to speak to Tag. If only Emily were here, she’d be able to help. Then again, if Emily were here, she wouldn’t need to unravel this mystery.
Of course, a tiny voice whispered that she just wanted to see Tag again. But she pushed that annoying suggestion aside. This wasn’t about him and the way he filled her with breathless excitement. Or the way she seemed to crave his touch.
She turned her head to stare out the window down to the street. She needed to focus on Emily. Why would she and Jack have decided to run away?
But she caught a familiar crest as a carriage rumbled to a stop in front of their town house.
She stood as Tag exited the vehicle, making for their front stairs. She caught her breath as she stared down at his broad shoulders, his long stride carrying him quickly to the door.
Her chaperone looked up at her. Mary was an older, unmarried cousin who’d come to visit for the wedding. She referred to herself as a spinster but Minnie liked to think that Mary could still have any man she chose. At five and twenty, she was a beauty to be certain. “What is it?”
“His Grace,” she said, her hand fluttering somewhere between her face and her waist. “How is my hair?”
Mary smiled. “Red.”
Minnie wrinkled her nose then stuck out her tongue. “Very funny.”