Earl of Exile (Lords of Scandal 3)

“Hurry,” Exile said.

They headed back out onto the veranda, breaking into a run.

Exile looked at Diana. “What do ye want to ask?”

“I beg your-—” Daring started, but Exile held up his hand. Now was not the time for his friend to pull the Duke rank.

Diana stepped up and rather than lean over Sin, she sat next to him. “Tell us everything.”

“Like what?” Sin gave her a wary eye, his shoulders slumping.

“When did your daughter disappear?”

Sin looked at the floor. “Four days ago. But that isn’t the beginning.” He closed his eyes. “I owed Lady Abernath money.”

Diana grimaced and Exile surely looked the same. Bad stories often started with such a statement. “She came to me because she needed the funds repaid. I didn’t have them.” He shook his head. “My reasons for wanting to join the club are my own, I needed that money for an investment.”

Diana touched Sin’s arm. Exile felt another niggle of jealousy. Why did she need to give this man sympathy? Then again, Sin also had a large egg forming on his head. “And when you couldn’t repay her?”

“The driver is her most trusted servant. I can’t prove it, but I believe he stole my daughter from our home even as Lady Abernath and I were talking.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Daring mumbled.

Sin squeezed his eyes shut. “I realized moments after Abernath had left. My nanny hurtled into my office, crying that she couldn’t find Anne. We searched for hours until we got a note.” He raised his eyes. “Abernath was clear. You for her. It was after midnight and the missive said you were at the club. When I failed, she told me to try and join the ranks to get close to you, Diana. Please. I know what I did was wrong but I just wanted Anne back. My daughter is all I have in this world. She’s everything.”

Diana nodded her thoughts turning over a plan. “And tonight? What were you to do with me?”

Sin scrubbed his face, pain and worry pinching his features. “I was to meet her by the Crowing Cock in the west end of the Docklands at eleven.” He shook his head.

Diana looked at the clock. It was only nine. “Good.” Then she stood. “I propose that Sin keeps his meeting.”

Minnie crinkled her brow. “What do you mean? You mean he goes and claim

s he failed?”

“No, precisely the opposite.”

Exile’s insides dropped to his toes. “Absolutely not.”

“What does she mean?” Daring asked crinkling his brow.

“We’ve got the carriage, the captor, and the captive,” Diana said, spreading her hands along her dress. “All we’re missing is the driver.”

Daring scratched his temple. “But the driver would never help us.”

Diana shrugged. “I think Vice could pass. He’s the right height.”

“Dear God, Diana, ye’re no’ actually thinking what I think ye’re thinking?” His insides turned with a sick dread.

“What’s she thinking?” Daring demanded.

Exile stepped closer. His fingers itched to pull her close and never let her go. “She’s going to use herself as bait.”

Diana’s own stomach clenched. She didn’t love the plan, didn’t even like it. But she couldn’t think of another. How else was she going to get Anne back and capture, as Exile said, Lady Abernath?

Diana straightened her spine. She needed to do this. “I’d like to think of myself as more of a carrot. Draw her out.”

Sin leaned forward. “And Anne? You’ll keep her safe won’t you? Bring her back?”