Page 46 of One Night of Scandal
He still kept his voice low, but Viola really didn’t want to discuss this here. “Can we save this conversation for another time?”
“Yes, yes. I’m just delighted for you, that’s all. I sincerely hope you and he will be as happy as Isabelle and I are.”
“Colehaven!”
Val glanced toward the door. “Will you excuse me? I need to speak with Cole.”
“Absolutely.” She was more than happy to be rid of him.
Giles Langford and Hugh Tarleton came in a few minutes later and joined her. She liked both of them and realized she was going to miss being one of the denizens of the Wicked Duke. She would miss the collegiality, the billiards, and the blessed independence of it all.
“Caldwell! Sir Humphrey!”
Viola’s ears pricked up, and her pulse sped. She watched as the two men entered, and plotted how she would approach them. Only she never got a chance.
Val and Cole blocked them from coming farther into the pub. A moment later, they’d ushered the pair outside, and when they returned, Cole made an announcement.
“Caldwell and Sir Humphrey are no longer welcome at the Wicked Duke. They insulted our good friend Jack Barrett this afternoon, and generally behaved in a reprehensible manner with regard to Eastleigh’s sister. For that reason, we have tossed them out.”
“If they insulted Barrett, good!” Giles called.
There was resounding agreement, and Viola couldn’t help but feel a burst of pride even while she was annoyed at being deprived of her quarry. She excused herself from the table and managed to sneak away into the private salon and then out through the rear entrance. Hastening her stride, she rushed around to the Haymarket in the hope that she could catch Caldwell and Sir Humphrey.
Luck was on her side as she saw them farther down the street. Thinking it would be best to have a “chance encounter,” she saw an opening in the traffic and dashed across the street. Then she ran up the opposite side and crossed back over so she could run into them.
She fought to catch her breath before she spoke. “Caldwell, Sir Humphrey, pleasant evening to you both.”
“It is not,” Sir Humphrey complained.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “I’m just headed to the Wicked Duke. Why don’t you join me for an ale, unless you’ve just come from there?” She acted as though she hadn’t witnessed their expulsion.
“Wehavejust come from there. For the last time,” Caldwell said with considerable acid. “I might recommend you stay away. Eastleigh and Colehaven have gone mad and sided with that radical, Barrett.”
The perfect segue to see what they would tell her… “I heard about what happened in the park today. Was he really at that Spencean meeting?”
Caldwell nodded firmly. “Without question.”
“And yet ithasbeen questioned,” Viola prodded.
Sir Humphrey curled his lip. “By that stupid chit—Eastleigh’s sister.”
Viola bit her tongue lest she show them how she wasn’t remotely stupid. Instead, she went along with them to encourage their continued sharing of information. “You think she was lying for him?”
“Of course she was. Barrett is a known radical sympathizer, as are several other members of Parliament. He was undoubtedly at that meeting last night.”
“You sound awfully confident,” Viola said, desperate to know how they could be.
Sir Humphrey leaned forward and, looking quite smug, lowered his voice. “Because we have a man on the inside.”
Viola froze.Thatwas the story. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing,” Caldwell snapped. “Sir Humphrey has had too much to drink tonight. I need to see him home. Evening, Tavistock.” Caldwell grabbed Sir Humphrey’s elbow and dragged him along the pavement.
Viola turned and watched them walk away, Caldwell furiously talking into Sir Humphrey’s ear. Clearly, he’d spoken out of turn.
Oh, she couldn’t wait to tell Jack what she’d learned!
Pivoting, she practically skipped back to the Wicked Duke. And then, because luck was really with her that evening, she ran into Jack just as he arrived outside the tavern.
