Page 54 of A Lady Most Wayward
‘I don’t know. He has always been a man of habits. I think it’s likely.’
Edward reclaimed his snifter of brandy and sipped it, his gaze returning to Olivia, assessing her carefully. ‘If he is truly like the other men we investigated, then it’s more than likely. Many of them obsessed over their trophies. Some showed more grief from losing their mementoes than they did when facing the hangman’s noose.’
Millie stood and joined Ivy and Olivia. ‘Dear God. And this man has your daughter?’
‘He won’t hurt her. Not until he can use it to his advantage.’ Olivia knew him well enough to know this was true. It had to be, or she would go mad herself.
‘I think you’re right, Lady Smithwick.’ Reading dipped his quill in a small pot of ink precariously balanced on the corner of the ledger. His calm words created a well of relief in Olivia. She didn’t know the man, but to have any reassurance her daughter was safe was an invaluable gift. ‘One of the common traits we found amongst the men was a need to plan their, er, escapades, meticulously. He won’t make any moves until he is sure he can achieve his ultimate goal. Your daughter is safe, for now. I would bet Commissioner Worthington’s life on it.’
‘But not your own?’ Edward raised his brow at his assistant.
‘It’s a compliment, sir. My life is hardly worth that of Scotland Yard’s leader.’ The thin man ignored his employer’s glare.
Hannah tapped her muff pistol against her skirts with the same contemplative expression Reading held when tapping the feathered end of his quill against his cheek. ‘We need to act soon. I propose a two-pronged attack. We take away his leverage while simultaneously securing the evidence we need to prove his guilt, unequivocally.’
Olivia admired the economy of movement in the small woman and held no doubt about her ability to fight with the same fierceness as any seasoned warrior.
‘Of course. Brilliant plan. Why didn’t I think of that? Take away his leverage and find irrefutable proof of his guilt, all in time for afternoon tea,’ Drake muttered darkly. Millie elbowed him in his belly.
Killian sent his friend a withering glare before softening his features when he looked at his wife. ‘What do you have in mind, darling?’
Hannah narrowed her eyes at Drake then turned back to the group. ‘We need to draw him out. Once he is away from his house, we can search there for Hyacinth and stage a rescue. Surely that is where he keeps her.’
Olivia nodded. ‘It makes the most sense. But he won’t just allow us to come waltzing up to his house while he is away. He has access to the Queen’s guard. I’m sure there will be men all over the grounds and in the house. He’ll tell the Queen and Hyacinth it’s for her protection, but it’s to ensure he doesn’t lose his prize.’
‘What if he brings Hyacinth to us?’ Millie’s wide smile exposed a dimple.
Drake exhaled through his nose. ‘Why do I get the feeling I know where this is going, and I am not going to like it?’
‘Because you know where it’s going, and you aren’t going to like it,’ Liam quipped, earning a black glare from Drake.
‘How do you propose we get the Lord High Chancellor to do that, Lady Drake?’ Reading asked, his brows lifted in innocent inquiry.
‘I’d wager I know.’ Ivy shared a conspiratory smile with Millie. ‘A ball.’
Drake groaned loudly.
‘But Cedric doesn’t attend balls. He only came to Worthington’s gala because he was ensuring Percival didn’t botch the plans to abduct the orphans. Thanks to Ivy’s courage, he didn’t succeed.’ Guilt washed through Olivia at the memory of her part in Cedric’s horrifying plans. ‘Ivy, I can never express my true regret for not finding another way.’ Olivia bowed her head, shame making it impossible to meet the eyes of anyone in the room.
Ivy’s warm hand rubbed up and down her arm. ‘Not another word, Olivia. We’ve already resolved this. In a similar situation, with no allies and no choices, any one of us would have done the same thing.’
Philippa lifted her chin a fraction. ‘And now you have all of us, Olivia.’
I don’t have you in any of the ways I want you, Philippa.
Because looking at the duchess in all her glory, Olivia could no longer deny the depths of her feelings. She wanted Philippa for more than just a moment. She wanted her forever.
Impossible.
But it didn’t stop the yearning in her heart. Nor a small voice almost lost in the much louder self-doubt.
Why is it impossible? I survived the madhouse. I escaped the clutches of my brother. I convinced the entire beau monde to hold me in their capricious regard despite my reputation as a harlot. Why can’t I woo the duchess?
She had no real answer. Because she could. And she bloody well would. She would save her daughter, destroy her brother, and win Philippa’s heart. Damn anyone who tried to stop her. Including Philippa.
With that decided, she lifted her head and finally let her gaze meet the one pair of eyes she had been avoiding all night.
‘All right. We’re going to throw a ball that Cedric can’t possibly refuse. Because it will be hosted by the Queen herself. And you are going to convince her to do it.’ Olivia smiled triumphantly as Philippa blinked.
