Scandalously Yours (Hellions of High Street 1)

“Oh, well done, sir!” she murmured.

“With all due modesty, I must say that my skill with the reins is not half shabby, so I managed to catch up with them just as they pulled to a halt in the coaching yard of The Dirty Duck Tavern. The boy—he was now trussed and gagged—was transferred to another vehicle.”

“And no one tried to stop them when clearly something havey-cavey was going on?” burst out Anna.

“It is a rough part of Town, Miss Anna. People tend to mind their own business.”

“Including you,” she snapped in reply.

“Unlike the Earl of Wrexham, I am no hero,” he shot back. “There were four men there, all armed. The noble sacrifice of my humble self seemed likely not only to ruin a rather expensive coat but also to prove useless in freeing the bantling.”

Olivia was suddenly aware that as he had been talking, the marquess had quickened his pace and was now guiding them into the central gardens of Berkeley Square. Edging off the pathway and into the secluded shelter of a grouping of holly bushes, he drew to a halt.

“I have no time to linger, so listen carefully, ladies. The important thing is that I recognized the waiting carriage. Though stripped of any identifying crest or decorative touches, it’s familiar to me because Lord Lumley uses it for making the rounds of his carousing spots in the stews of Southwark.

“Lumley—he is one of the leaders of the faction opposing Lord Wrexham’s reform bill,” interjected Olivia.

“Correct. Not only that, I recognized the viscount himself as he took the boy from the original abductors, despite his wearing an oversized hat and driving cloak.”

If Lumley were part of the plot, it was likely that the Duke of Sommers was also involved. Swallowing hard, she tried to keep the bitter taste of fear from tainting her tongue.

Ruthless—most men turn ruthless when their self-interest is threatened.

As Davenport gave them a detailed description of the carriage, he pulled a paper from his pocket. “And here’s another bit of information that may prove useful. Lumley has a hunting lodge in the wilds of Dartmoor, southwest of Exeter, near Tavistock. Very few people among Polite Society know of its existence, for he uses it mainly to entertain his dissolute cronies. I would think it’s a good bet that he will take the earl’s son there.”

“As a hostage?” said Olivia as she watched the marquess smooth the creases from a hand-drawn map.

“Yes. It stands to reason, don’t you think? The viscount and his friends wish to silence Wrexham’s voice in the upcoming Parliamentary debate, but the Perfect Hero cannot be bribed or bullied. So they must strike at the only spot where he is vulnerable.”

To give the Devil his due, allowed Olivia, his smirking show of indolent boredom appeared to mask a sharp-witted mind.

“The dastards!” she exclaimed, sure that he was right. “It’s imperative that the earl know all of this without delay! There is a good chance that he might catch up with the coach before it reaches the lodge.” Freeing Prescott would be a good deal easier on the road.

“That,” said Davenport, “is exactly why I stopped you two ladies. You see, it so happens that I have a very pressing engagement, and it would cause some rather unpleasant consequences if I were to be late.”

“An amorous encounter, I presume,” muttered her sister. “Or do you have several planned for the evening that depend on precise timing?”

“Presume what you wish, Miss Anna,” he answered evenly. “Suffice it to say, you two will be doing both the earl and me a great favor if you would consent to serve as messengers in my stead.” From inside his coat, the marquess withdrew a cylindrical package encased in a felt bag. “You might also give him these two items. One is a telescope fitted with special set of powerful lenses, and the other is a weapon that strikes silently but is just as effective as a pistol in putting an opponent ou

t of action. Wrexham might find both of them useful in his pursuit of the villains. Stealth and the element of surprise can be a distinct advantage in the line of battle.”

“Where did you get them?” asked Anna.

“Never mind,” he replied. “They are a trifle complicated, so let me show you how they work.”

“I accompanied my father on several of his expeditions,” said Olivia. “I am well acquainted with scientific instruments like telescopes.”

“Excellent.” Davenport quickly explained how to maneuver the dials and levers.

“Yes,” she murmured, “I understand. How ingenious.”

“Thank God you are clever, Miss Sloane. But I had a feeling you would be.”

“The weapon, however…” She stared at the hinged rods and the odd cording wrapped around them in consternation.”

“It’s not really as puzzling as it looks,” he said, unfolding two metal arms upward from the center shaft to form a ‘Y.’

Olivia was still mystified.