Page 94 of Why Do Earls Fall in Love?
“It’s not your fault,Whiddon. You’ve got to pull yourself out of the doldrums. We have work to do.”
“Of course it’s my fault. We could have had him. I did it all wrong. Everything.”
Chester shrugged. “The man is slippery as a fish. We came close. We’ll get him next time.” His friend took a long swallow of his drink. “He clearly knew the back streets and alleys in that area better than we did. He won’t always be so lucky.”
Whiddon slid down further in his chair. They were at the club, tucked into a dark corner. He just wanted to drink and brood. And be left alone.
“I likely would have made the same choices. Without Charlotte, there would have been no chance at the man. She deserved to go with you—and no one would have expected him to be there right at that moment.” Chester waved to beckon a porter. “In any case, Charlotte was damned lucky. She was spotted shopping with you on Bond Street, which has put to rest some of the worst rumors about your marriage. And by some miracle, she wasnotspotted pelting down that same street like a mad woman.” He chuckled. “That girl is full of pluck, Whiddon.”
She was indeed, and worse than the crushing feeling of failure at letting Hurley slip through his fingers was the idea that he’d disappointed his wife. Add the thought that if he hadn’t been right behind the man, she might have been in considerable danger . . . He slammed his empty glass down on the table and barked at the porter that had answered Chester’s summons. “Just bring the bottle!”
“Enough sulking, man.” Chester leaned in. “Listen. I’ve had an idea—”
Whiddon looked up. The porter was back, without a bottle. The servant bent slightly and spoke low. “There is a message for you, Lord Whiddon.”
“Thank you. Bring it here, then.”
“The messenger insists he must speak with you.”
“Bringhimhere, then.”
“I’m sorry, sir. Only members may enter. You will have to meet him in the guest parlor at the front of the house.”
“Oh, for—” Whiddon heaved himself out of the chair and stalked the guest parlor, off the entry hall. He pulled up in the doorway. “Chapman!”
His valet looked agitated. “I was at my usual tavern tonight, sir. The one frequented by the higher Mayfair servants? It has proven to be a source of good information in the past.”
“Yes, yes. What happened?”
“This arrived with my first pint.” He pulled a letter from his coat. “It is addressed to you. The barman could not say who left it, but he knew that I work for you.”
Whiddon tore it open.
I givefull credit to your bitch of a wife. It took me a while to recall the exchange that included Mr. Timms. You nearly had me there, thanks to her.
But this dance has gone on long enough. I propose we end it now. I have the chest of jewels. You have informed many of the refugees against me, making it near impossible for me to sell them back. I could take them to the pawnbrokers, but even if I break them up into stones and metals, I won’t get their full worth.
A trade seems best. You have been prepared to restore the fair worth of the lost items to these pitiful Frenchmen. Pay me the same price and you can return their precious heirlooms.
I will keep the few coins your father did not already spend.
Let us begin with a show of good faith, between us both. I will bring one of the most elaborate pieces of jewelry. You bring fifty pounds. We’ll make the trade in Green Park. Tonight. At ten o’clock, at the north end of the reservoir.
Anger churning in his belly,he handed the note to Chester.
Chester blinked when he finished it. “What rubbish. You know this is a trap.”
“I know.”
“What should we do?” Chester looked thoughtful. “There are so many choices.”
“I’ll tell you what we are not going to do. We are not going to tell Charlotte.”
“Whiddon,” Chester chided. “You cannot blame her—”
“I don’t blame her. But I saw the look Hurley gave her after she knocked him to the pavement. He’s holding a hell of a grudge. For that, for firing him, for disrupting his scheme, all of it. He’ll strike back at her if he can.”
Whiddon could barely stomach the thought. His mind shied away from even the idea that Charlotte would come to harm, or worse. He could not entertain the smallest notion that she would not be in his life. Oh, how quickly he’d turned so completely about! But she’d crept her way into his very soul and the idea of her not being there, next to him, made him physically ill. He needed her soothing support, her care and concern, and he needed to give the same back to her.
No other option was supportable.
“And since we are not telling my wife, that means you need to keep it from yours.” He gave Chester a stern look. “You know Julia and Penelope will tell her, if they catch a hint of this.”
Chester’s mouth tightened with displeasure. “I hate it, but you are likely right. But I don’t even know what I’m hiding. How are we going to go about this?”
“First, let’s contact Stoneacre. He said if something else came up to let him know. He can find some experienced men to lend a hand.”
“Good. And second?”
Whiddon handed the note back to Chapman. “We spring the trap.”
