Page 45 of The Devil Himself
Harris broke out laughing. “Good God, man. You’ve put a target on his back.”
“I think he can take care of himself.”
He got a remembering sort of smile. “If anyone can, it is Julian.”
That was quite the statement for Harris. He had not realized his second in command knew Warrington so well. “At any rate, Hannah is at his aunt’s, just so you know in case something happens. I want them cared for.”
“Of course.” Harris sat across from his desk. “What of their creditors?”
“Deacon Collingsworth is the biggest one. He’s already offered to let me buy the vowels.” But did he want to holdDaffyd’s IOUs? Would it be necessary? “Arthur is far more fond of the copper hells and jewelry for his mistress.”
“Hmm.” Harris nodded. “Do we know the mistress’s name?”
“Yes.” He pulled out the sheets of foolscap he’d used to note down all the information. He handed them over to Harris.
“Has she been watched?”
“She has, but beyond saying Arthur has been talking about the money he’ll get, she’s said nothing to the men who questioned her.”
“I can get more than that.” Harris nodded, mouth set. “I need you back here all of the time, dammit. So we need to get this mess cleaned.”
“Good man. This is all coming to a head. Just be safe. I don’t need to be nursing you back to health and running the club among all the other nonsense.” Rys slapped his hand on the desk. “This is why I do not associate with my family.”
“They do seem to be more trouble than they warrant.” Harris rolled his eyes, but he was laughing.
They were trouble, indeed. Luc was the one who was worth all of his worry and fighting with his feelings.
“What of the club?” Rys said, needing to work. To have some normalcy.
Harris chuckled. “The usual. Lord Jameson’s son ran up a very large note two nights ago, which will be handy when it comes to pushing his vote in the House of Lords.”
“Ah good. Good man.” Contrary to what many thought of him, Rys did not often call in markers for favors. But there were a few things he felt strongly enough about that when they came up for vote in the house, he wanted people on his side. The rookeries deserved better than they got, as far as cleanliness and care for women and children, as well as education.
He’d seen what poverty did on a dearly personal level when his family had sent him away.
“What else?”
Harris began an account of the last week or so, and they settled in so that they could work.
The rest could wait while their plan was pushed into motion.
Luc loungedin the study at Rys’s townhome, reviewing his accounts. He’d just met with his man of affairs, who had caught him up on his business, and had brought him letters from his son.
He’d made sure his son was under heavy guard, just in case, though Damien didn’t truly know it. Still, it hardly hurt to check in and make sure.
Of course, he knew that at some point this, whatever it was, between he and Rys would most likely end, and he would wind up home alone once more, but right now, he was luxuriating in being here. He wanted this thing between them to continue just as it was, although, if it did, they would have to find a way to split their time between his home, Rys’s townhome, and the club, he supposed.
Luc was just about to see what might be about for luncheon when a furious pounding set up at the front door. He hadn’t even realized that Rys had a knocker on the front door at the moment; he didn’t think the man was open to guests, but Jarvis, the butler, glided serenely across the floor to open it as Luc watched from the doorway of the parlor.
“I want to see him now!” The shout came from Rys’s brother, Daffyd, who was red in the face, his cravat askew. And he was possibly drunk, although Luc wasn’t sure. It was more something he saw than something he smelled.
“I’m sorry, sir. Lord Rys is from home,” Jarvis drawled out.
“I went to his damnable club, and they said he was not there, so he must be here. I demand to see him immediately.”
Jarvis drew himself up, his back incredibly stiff, practically vibrating with disapproval. “I cannot help you. He is from home.”
Daffyd tried to push past Jarvis but was rebuffed easily, which was surprising considering how old the butler looked. Daffyd did happen to see Luc standing there watching him, and he knew that he had a slight smile on his face, perhaps even a smirk because Daffyd was being ever so carefully handled by Rys’s butler.
