Page 52 of A Duke for Adela
“Then they must have chased after him. How shall we find your runners? Runyon must have the book in hand as we speak. Do you think he’ll go back to the place he retrieved it and hide it again? No, he couldn’t. He’d be too afraid we are onto him. I wonder where he’ll hide it next? But it might help to know where he stashed it the first time. We’ll have to ask your Bow Street men for a detailed account of Runyon’s movements.”
Ambrose folded his arms across his chest. “Adela, do you ever intend to come up for air?”
“In a moment,” she said before continuing. “Wasn’t the Duke of Lotheil going to warn us if the Royal Society intended to deny Runyon’s proposal? Do you think it was denied? Why didn’t they tell us? Or do you think Runyon just got greedy and decided not to wait for a decision? I think we must find your Bow Street men and also talk to the Duke of Lotheil.”
“We? Don’t you think you have meddled enough?” His voice was a soft rumble, and she could not tell whether he was merely speaking to her gently because he cared for her and would never shout at her, or whether he was seething with anger and about to erupt.
“Um…” She knew better than to answer that loaded question.
“I am going to put you, Marigold, and your friends in my carriage and return you to Lady Dayne’s home. Your friends may remain with you or be dropped off at their homes. It is their choice. But if I see any of your faces here again today, I shall have you bodily ejected.”
Adela was dismayed.
She wanted to help bring Runyon to heel, but Ambrose would never allow her to do so now. She pinched her lips in order to keep her mouth shut, knowing she had likely pushed Ambrose to the extremities of his patience.
She understood he was worried for her safety.
But hadn’t she proved she could take care of herself?
Well, perhaps not.
That awful man would have kicked her unconscious had Ambrose not arrived in time to stop that fiend.
Ambrose and his brothers escorted them to the ducal carriage and assisted them inside.
She peered back to watch the three of them standing like giant gargoyles, their arms crossed over their massive chests. “Oh, dear. I think he is going to send Octavian to follow us,” she grumbled. “How dare he not trust me?”
“Should he?” Gory asked. “Where did you think to order the driver to take us instead of back to Lady Dayne’s house?”
She sank back against the squabs and sighed. “What does it matter? The driver isn’t going to obey me.”
“His Grace did say to let Gory and me off at our homes,” Syd mused. “But how is he to know where we live? Why don’t you let us do a little snooping? Tell us where you think we ought to search and we can pretend to live close by. The coachman won’t know the difference. We’ll join you at Lady Dayne’s once we are through.”
Adela’s eyes lit up. “You would do this for me?”
“Of course,” Gory said, holding out her hand and waiting for her and Syd to place theirs on top of hers in a sign of their bond of friendship. “We know how much the loss of that book has upset you.”
Adela set her hand atop Gory’s, and then Syd did the same.
“May I join, too?” Marigold asked.
“Yes, of course. Friends forever,” Syd muttered once Marigold had added hers.
“Forever,” Marigold added with glee.
Adela nodded. “But you must promise me you’ll do nothing foolish. Runyon is desperate and dangerous. All you are to do is find out if he showed up at The Red Drake earlier today and whether he later returned. Can you do this without attracting unwanted attention?”
Gory laughed. “I’m sure we can outsmart a few drunk men.”
“No,” Adela said. “Do not get overly confident or you will run into trouble. You must be clever about it. Although this tavern is close to the Royal Society, it does not mean it attracts a better class of people. We all know how nefarious these Fellows can be. Many of them are desperate to seek acclaim for themselves and will not hesitate to tread on anyone who dares get in their way on their climb to fame and fortune.”
“We will be careful,” Syd assured. “We’ll meet you at Lady Dayne’s within the hour.”
Gory also appeared eager to investigate. “This is so much more fun than those tedious Society balls. I wish my uncle would just leave me in peace and stop being so eager to push me out of the house. Fortunately, his wife is a pinch-penny and will not allow him to spend on my clothes. So I’ve had to wear these hideous hand-me-downs and who knows where she got them from? They are five years out of style and the colors could not possibly be more unflattering to my complexion.”
“But if Lady Dayne and Lady Withnall take you on as their protégé, then you will have a beautiful new wardrobe,” Adela assured her.
Gory groaned. “Oh, that will never do. Let them take on Syd first. By the time they get around to me, I will be in my fourth Season and an utter joke.”
