Page 94 of To Bed the Bride
“If you have something dark, Logan, now’s the time to wear it. Or red. That shows up as black at night, too.”
He didn’t have either, but he’d be wearing the jacket to one of his suits. In addition, he had a dark-colored sweater that he would loan the stable boy accompanying Pete. At least that way they wouldn’t be seen by an alert neighbor.
That wasn’t enough, according to Pete. They needed dark cloth to make into masks. Mrs. Campbell helped there, providing a bolt of dark blue cloth used for the maids’ uniforms.
Just when Logan thought they were prepared, Pete opened the satchel again. Inside were two curious tools, each consisting of an iron ball connected to a rope.
“For if someone comes after you,” he said, demonstrating that the rope was to be wound around Logan’s hand. With a certain movement the iron ball became a controlled projectile.
“Have you ever used it?” Logan wasn’t about to kill anyone on this adventure. He’d leave the weapon behind and claim forgetfulness.
“Once,” Pete said, but thankfully didn’t furnish any details.
There were a dozen picklocks in the bottom of the bag, a crowbar to remove iron bars, two chisels, a long knife, a rope ladder, and something Pete identified as a cutter.
“If I can’t get through the lock, I can usually get through the door.”
The last item was a small square lantern with a hole on one side no larger than a shilling. It was designed to illuminate the way without being seen by the Watch.
“I didn’t think about the Watch,” Logan said. He had a great deal to learn about breaking the law.
“I did.” Pete grinned at him. “Places like this think they’re too big to be burgled what with all the maids and footmen roaming around. I’ll admit, it does set me back a bit, but there’s no place that’s safe. No place.”
Logan tucked that information away for later.
“The Watch normally patrols on the half hour,” Pete said. “As long as we’re quiet then we should be all right. They’re not as alert as you think.”
Logan would remember that, too.
Mrs. Campbell entered the room again and placed a bowl filled with ashes on the table. Pete thanked her with a grin, but Logan only glanced at his housekeeper.
“You’ll be smearing that on your face,” she said, pointing to the bowl. “Even with a mask. It’s a full moon out, which isn’t going to help us.”
As if she heard his unspoken question she smiled. “Me da was a bit of a smuggler. Border raids they were. He always said that the old ways should be remembered, just in case they were ever needed again.”
“You went with him, didn’t you? On more than one raid, I’d bet.” He was certain of it when she only smiled at him again and left the room.
The door opened once more and Bruce raced into the study, bumping into the leg of the table before colliding with Logan. He hadn’t spared time for play or training today and the dog was feeling the lack.
There was an hour to go before they would leave. He’d use it to tire Bruce out a little, so that he wouldn’t be so excited about a carriage ride and entering the Richardses’ home.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Before they left his house, Logan took William into his confidence. His driver had been with him for years and must’ve known that something unusual was going on. Now he told William the entire story.
“Be prepared to get out of there quickly,” Logan said. “I have no idea what we’re going to face, only that I need to get Miss Craig to safety.”
“Aye, sir. I’ll stand at the ready.”
Once they were dressed in black, their faces covered in soot, and their masks in hand, the four of them piled into the carriage. Bruce settled down on the floor on top of Logan’s feet. He didn’t whine and he hadn’t barked since Logan opened the door and encouraged him inside. Hopefully his lessons had taken and he would remain silent once they were inside the Richardses’ house.
He hoped his constituents didn’t find out about tonight’s activities. Then again, Eleanor was a Scot being held in an English house. He had the feeling that the men who’d voted for him would understand his actions completely.
The order of interrogators changed. Instead of Daphne arriving around noon, Hamilton appeared. Of late her aunt’s husband looked more and more reluctant to be here. Eleanor wondered why. It certainly wasn’t pity for her condition or her imprisonment. Hamilton could put an end to it with just a word. Why didn’t he? Either it was love for Deborah or his own greed.
Eleanor was leaning toward greed.
Family is everything.No, Papa. It wasn’t. Not this family. Not this collection of people. Not her aunt and her cousins. Not Hamilton. Certainly not Michael.
