Moments later, Rayne glanced across the street to see a cadre of agents led by Will Stokes swarm three armed culprits, who seemed shocked to have their assassination plot foiled.
Meanwhile, Prinny lay beneath Rayne, gasping and cursing. However, upon realizing that only his dignity had suffered, the prince broke into a sheepish grin.
“By God, you were right, Haviland. They were out to kill me.”
“Fortunately they missed, Your Highness,” Rayne said, helping the corpulent prince to his feet to the tune of creaking corsets.
“My thanks to you, Haviland. How can I ever repay you?”
“There is no need, Highness. But you might recognize the efforts of Runner Will Stokes. Stokes put a great deal of time into vouchsafing your protection this past sennight.”
“That I will,” the Regent agreed. “And I will also mention your services to your grandmother. Mary raised a formidable grandson, if you ask me.”
“Thank you, sire,” Rayne said in a drier tone.
He stepped back as the Regent’s usual retinue came rushing toward him in alarm. Prinny himself did not seem overly upset, as a man who had just escaped death ought to be. Indeed, he appeared rather cheerful about the thwarted assault. Perhaps because although he was reviled in many quarters for his infamous extravagances, an attempt on his life might actually raise his stock in public opinion. While his subjects might not care for his policies or personal conduct, most did not want him dead.
Rayne turned Prinny over to his royal coterie with a bow and extricated himself. Then moving through the gawking crowds, he crossed the street to find Will supervising the arrest of the three main perpetrators. None of them bothered protesting their innocence, since they’d been caught red-handed after being carefully followed for days.
Happily, the extensive surveillance Rayne had arranged was paying off. These three plotters would be put on trial and their fellow conspirators rounded up. Rayne was confident that with the preponderance of evidence against them, they would likely be found guilty.
As the three were being bound and loaded into a wagon to be taken to the Old Bailey, Rayne reflected on the irony of having to deal with prisoners twice in as many days.
“Excellent job, my friend,” he said to Will. “His Highness sends his compliments, by the by.”
Will grinned more broadly than Prinny had. “You and I still work well as a team, old chap.”
“So we do,” Rayne agreed.
“Are you certain I cannot persuade you to join Bow Street?”
“Not at present—although I promise to give your suggestion due consideration. Pray excuse me now, however. I have some urgent personal business to attend to.”
“Your new bride,” Will commented with a slyly amused glance.
“Just so,” Rayne replied, inwardly grimacing.
He was anxious to return to Riverwood. He hadn’t liked sending Madeline home when they had so many critical issues to settle between them. And now that he’d done his duty by his country’s sovereign, impatience was gnawing at Rayne relentlessly, along with his guilty conscience. He owed Madeline a more abject apology than the unsatisfactory one he’d given her yesterday.
To make amends, Rayne intended to stop by his town house briefly on the way to collect the best pieces of the Haviland jewels. He would also order Walters to oversee his affairs until further notice, since he was planning an extended absence from London. Directly afterward, Rayne would hasten to Riverwood, where he hoped to spend some very private time with Madeline, attempting to resolve the turmoil he’d created in their marriage.
To his surprise, however, when he reached Bedford Avenue, his younger sister met him at his front door in place of Walters, and she was clearly distressed.
“Thank heavens you are here, Rayne,” Daphne declared, dragging him inside. “I must speak to you at once.”
“What is it, love?” Rayne asked, noting that Walters was hovering nearby.
Daphne allowed the servant to withdraw a circumspect distance before saying fretfully, “I came straightaway to warn you. I thought you should know what scheme Grandmama is plotting against your new wife.”
Rayne felt his stomach muscles clench. “What do you mean, plotting?”
“Grandmama went to Riverwood this afternoon, intending to offer Madeline a huge sum so that your marriage can be dissolved.”
“Dissolved?”
“As in annulled,” Daphne explained worriedly.
A dozen questions streaked through Rayne’s mind, but he settled for a simple one. “How did you learn of her scheme, Daphne?”