Page 55 of Seduced By a Scoundrel

They all descended the stairs into the workshop, Jeremy in the lead, then as they crossed to the front of the shop, Derrek shifted their places, stepping in front of Jeremy and into the front of the shop ahead of the others.

Conroy was waiting near a display of fashion plates and sketches for the latest styles coming out of the Continent. His shoulders were bunched and he had not yet removed his coat, but he did not look like a man who was anticipating an ambush.

That changed moments later, when he turned, casually at first, then gasped and jumped as if he would leave his skin and tumbled backward.

“You!” he managed to get out the single, hoarse word.

“Yes, me,” Derrek said, coming to stand halfway into the room, his arms crossed, glowering at the man. Jeremy stepped up behind him, and Miss Jones shifted so she could see Conroy around Derrek’s other side.

“Wh-what are you doing here?” Conroy asked. “I’ve come to see Mr. Wilkes about the suit of clothing I had commissioned from him.”

“Is that truly why you have come?” Derrek asked.

Jeremy appeared to recover enough from his initial shock at the situation to take a step in front of Derrek, facing Conroy directly. “I had only begun to take your measurements before we wereinterrupted,” he said. “I did not discuss designs or styles with you. I barely spoke to you. And after I overheard you and your co-conspirator, you attempted to have me killed. More than once.”

“I have no idea what you are on about,” Conroy said, shifting and twitching like a man who knew everyone was aware of his lies. “We were interrupted by a…a business matter.”

“You were meeting with Lord Albert Howard about poisoning the king,” Jeremy said, raising his voice slightly.

“Nonsense,” Conroy snapped, looking quickly at Miss Jones and the lads who worked for Jeremy, who had slipped into the doorway separating the front of the shop from the workshop so that they might witness whatever was about to take place. “I would never even think to raise a finger in harm against our king.”

“Lord Albert mentioned poison,” Jeremy said flatly. “Poison which may very well have ended up in coffee that Detective Talboys and I nearly drank the day after our meeting.”

“Coincidence,” Conroy said, making a jerky gesture as if to brush the entire thing away.

“It was not coincidence,” Derrek said, narrowing his eyes at the man. “Lord Albert confessed to being your accomplice.”

“Lies,” Conroy laughed nervously. “I am not even certain who this Lord Albert you speak about is. I would never do anything to harm our king or the princess.”

“So you’re plotting against Princess Victoria now, are you?” Miss Jones asked, dripping with indignation.

“I did not say—” Conroy huffed in frustration. “I am a friend and secretary to the Duchess of Kent. She and I both have nothing but Victoria’s best interests at heart. The Duchess has gone to great lengths in the last few years to ensure that the princess is cared for and safe at all times. I would never seek to harm her.”

“Of course not,” Derrek said. “For to harm her would mean removing your pawn from the board in your attempt to supplant the rightful ruler of this great kingdom with a regency you control.”

“I would never—” Conroy’s indignation seemed to reach a boiling point. He huffed out a breath, then pinched the bridge of his nose as though he were the one who had suffered for too long.

He paused for a moment, then dropped his arms and shoulders to appeal to Jeremy directly. “I am well aware of the rumors that now circulate London about my intention to rule England as a proxy of the Duchess via a regency, should William die before Victoria reaches maturity. Such rumors have plagued me with increasing intensity for weeks and months. They have made it nearly impossible for me to conduct my life and protect my family. Surely, Detective Talboys, you understand the urge to protect one’s family.”

Derrek tightened his stance and narrowed his eyes at Conroy. He was not entirely certain what the man was implying, but he recognized defeat when he saw it.

“Please,” Conroy said. “The princess’s birthday is in a matter of days. While ill, the king is not on death’s door quite yet. Whatever game you believe me to be playing and whatever plots you think I am guilty of, the game is all but over. I have lost.”

“How do we know that you will not continue to pursue Mr. Wilkes with the intent of silencing whatever else he might say against you?” Derrek asked.

Conroy gave a hopeless shrug. “What purpose would that serve? Mr. Wilkes is not the only one spreading these rumors and lies.”

“I never?—”

Derrek held up a hand to silence Jeremy, sensing that Conroy truly was defeated. The quicker the man could say his piece and be gone, the sooner they would be able to move on with their lives. And Derrek was deeply ready to move on.

“I will not bother you any further, Mr. Wilkes,” Conroy said, more defeated than ever. “That is what I came here to tell you. I know you have no commissions for me. I wanted you to know that I want nothing to do with you from this point forward and that I should like for you not to mention my name at all to your clientele going forward.”

“That’s rich, after everything you put him through,” Miss Jones jumped to defend Jeremy.

“What about Lord Albert?” Jeremy asked, his body tense but his expression growing more relieved by the moment. “Will you tell him to keep his distance as well?”

“As I have told you,” Conroy said with pretend impatience, “I do not know the man.” He paused, then continued with, “But I have heard rumors through mutual associates that he was seen boarding a boat in Dover to return him to the Continent.”

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