Page 56 of Seduced By a Scoundrel

Derrek managed a short grin at that news. He was inclined to believe that Lord Albert had buggered off, since he’d warned the man to go back to his father personally.

“Can I have your reassurance that this matter will be taken no farther?” Conroy asked, appealing first to Jeremy, then looking at Derrek directly.

Derrek knew when a man was begging him to leave him alone when he saw it.

“I think, Sir John,” Jeremy said carefully, “that I require the same assurances from you. Can I have your reassurance that my life is no longer in danger because of things I have accidentally heard?”

Conroy shifted and swayed, his jaw clenched, like he wanted to force Jeremy to admit he had nothing to do with it. He was savvy enough to know when he was beaten, though. He let out a breath, sagged, and said, “You have my reassurance.”

“And you have mine,” Jeremy said with a nod.

Derrek took a step toward Conroy. “If you ever show your face anywhere near Mr. Wilkes or his friends again, I cannot guarantee you will not meet with an accident. Now go.”

Conroy shivered, perhaps in indignation, perhaps in fear, then turned without saying another word, snatched his hat up from the counter where he’d left it and marched swiftly out of the shop.

Derrek glared after him for a moment, but as soon as Conroy was no longer visible through the shop window, he let out his breath and burst into a smile. He turned back to Jeremy and Miss Jones and said, “Well, that appears to be the end of that.”

The mood in the shop changed in an instant. Every bit of tension that had been there melted away, and the walls themselves seemed to sing in relief.

“Goodness!” Miss Jones exclaimed. “I have not been in London for more than a handful of hours and already I have been a part of a deadly drama. I think this town will suit me just fine.”

Jeremy laughed. The sound was pure relief. He went so far as to close the distance between himself and Miss Jones so that he could throw his arms around her in a friendly embrace.

Derrek attempted not to be jealous.

“I cannot believe that is truly the end of the threat,” Jeremy said, his entire countenance changed to one of joy. “I genuinely believe Conroy will not pursue me. It is like I can breathe again for the first time in months.”

“I am glad,” Derrek said, leaning his hip against one of the counters. It surprised him how much the situation had exhausted him.

“We should celebrate,” Miss Jones said, clapping her hands together. “All of us and the lads, too.” She turned to the workroom doorway, where Jeremy’s assistants all stood with smiles as if they’d just witnessed a stage drama and believed they should be applauding. “How does one celebrate in London?”

“We could go to the pub?” the lad Artie suggested. “Or to a public dance hall?”

“We could have a feast,” the handsome one, Jonty, suggested. “My mother could cook for us and bring everything here.”

“Before we celebrate,” Jeremy said, laughing once more, “there are a few things that need settling.” He glanced directly at Derrek with fire and affection in his eyes. Instead of making any sort of declaration of love or suggestions about other ways just the two of them could celebrate, he turned to Miss Jones and said, “Have you settled on accommodations while you are in London?”

“Er, no,” Miss Jones said, her cheeks turning an amusing shade of pink. “I thought perhaps you might have a spare room?” Her expression turned hopeful.

“I might,” Jeremy said. “Though that would require two of the boys rooming together and one of them giving up their patch to you.”

“I don’t mind,” Timothy said. “I would be happy to have Miss Jones take my room. I can bunk with Jonty.” He sent Jonty a look that was a bit too sweet and that made Derrek wonder if more mischief was happening under Jeremy’s roof than his dove knew about.

Then again, if he proceeded with the plans he had, even more wickedness would take place on the premises, on a nightly basis, if he had his way.

“If you are giving out rooms,” Derrek said, pushing away from the counter to join the rest of the discussion, “you may as well give one to me.”

“To you?” Jeremy asked, turning to him with starlight in his eyes. “Do you not have rooms of your own?”

Derrek shrugged one shoulder. “Like Anderson, my landlord did not take kindly to me abandoning my post for two months without sufficient notice. When I returned there the other day, he had given my rooms to someone else and was about to throw all my things out.”

“You saved them, though, I hope,” Jeremy said, kindness and caring in his expression.

“I did,” Derrek nodded. “Everything I own is currently at The Chameleon Club.”

“Then you must bring it here at once,” Jeremy said, smiling. His look turned cheeky as he mimicked Timothy to say, “I wouldn’t mind bunking with you.”

Derrek laughed and stepped closer still to Jeremy. He went as far as grasping his dove’s face in both hands and almost leaned in to kiss him before Miss Jones cleared her throat and nodded to the large windows fronting the shop and the pair of young gentlemen who were looking in at the drawings and haberdashery samples on display.

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