She slipped a hand into the folds of her cloak and produced a pistol.
His reflexes kicked in, and Stephen quickly seized her by the wrist, snatching the weapon from her fingers. “Where the devil did you get a double-barreled flintlock from?”
“Rupert had quite a collection of guns. He was always out hunting. My job was to patch him and his friends up when they accidentally shot one another. And while I didn’t get to shoot all that often, I can still fire a pistol and hit the mark.”
There was clearly no dissuading Bridget from her goal. A difficult choice now lay before him. He either let her go and cause whatever havoc she intended, or he took her along with him. A reluctant Stephen handed the pistol back to Bridget.
“You can come with me but keep that damn thing out of sight. Firing off a weapon should be the last thing you do. Is that clear?”
“Crystal,” she replied.
His height and bulk were Stephen’s usual tools for instilling fear in his prey. Only hardened criminals required the added threat of being shot to make them obey his command.
“I cannot believe you are doing this,” he grumbled.
Somewhere along the way he had seriously misjudged Bridget.
So much for the wallflower widow.
“Stop complaining. You will still get paid. Now let’s go and finally put an end to this farce.”
Stephen was relieved when Bridget let him take the lead, and they headed back to the doorway and up the stairs to Lionel Hosey’s apartment. He rapped sharply on the door.
Hosey had just opened it when Stephen put a hand in the middle of his chest and pushed him firmly back, following him into the room. Bridget remained out of sight in the hallway.
“What the devil?” cried Hosey. As he staggered back, he reached into his jacket pocket, producing a knife.
Bloody hell, why is everyone armed to the teeth this evening?
“If you think to rob me, you have the wrong person. I can and will defend myself,” he said.
Stephen was a man usually able to keep his temper well under control, but after having observed Lionel Hosey’s sly behavior this evening, his fists were eager to do the man great harm. The threat of a knife held little fear for him. “You are able to protect yourself. Unlike those whom you seek to blackmail and ruin,” said Stephen.
Hosey’s eyes narrowed. “I saw you arrive at the party this evening with Lady Bridget Dyson. Who the hell are you?”
Stephen placed his left hand over his right and cracked the knuckles. It echoed loudly in the small of the room, and he smiled. “You didn’t really think Lady Linton was just going to quietly pay up, did you? She may be a naughty girl, but she isn’t stupid.”
Bridget stepped across the threshold and closed the door behind her. “This gentleman is the man whom I hired to deal with the problem of a dirty, disgusting blackmailer,” she said.
A look crossed Hosey’s face, and for a minute, it appeared as if he was going to try to deny everything. Then his shoulders slumped. “I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I just needed money. It was foolish of me to send that note, and I regret it.”
Stephen clapped his hands together loudly, and Hosey jumped.
“Ah! That’s more like it. You are not a well-built chap, and to be honest, the thought of pummeling you with my fists really didn’t appeal. I’m not one for mismatched bouts. Especially not in front of a lady.” He held out his hand, and Hosey placed the knife in Stephen’s palm. The weapon instantly disappeared into the folds of Stephen’s great coat.
“And the notebook,” said Bridget.
With a resigned sigh, Lionel reached into his pocket and withdrew the book Stephen had observed him making notes in.
“Is that all the wicked scribblings you have?” asked Stephen.
He raised an eyebrow when Hosey frowned. The cheeky beggar had the gall to look affronted. He wasn’t the least surprised. In his experience, cheats and liars didn’t like their honesty being questioned.
“Yes, that is the only book. You can see that it covers quite a few weeks of the social season,” Hosey replied.
“Good. You should be pleased that you are dealing with someone like me. Another gentleman would likely have summoned the authorities and had you placed in irons.”
“I have given you my notes. What else can I do to make you leave?”
