Caillen looked as if she didn’t truly believe he’d just suggested that, but it calmed the little termagant in front of him down. He breathed a sigh of relief as Robbi tucked her blade back in a sheath under her jacket.
“Where did you acquire that blade?” He asked.
“A friend.”
“What sort of friend?”
“One who didn’t want to see me get another black eye from a bloke like Crookes.”
“Did he teach you how to use it?”
“I didn’t say my friend was a man.”
Simon closed his eyes, suddenly tired of this line of questioning. “I’m afraid to ask more questions.”
“Why?”
“Because it will only end up in more questions.”
She grinned that gamine smile that only made her look more delicate than what she was, more vulnerable, too. Bloody hell…He was definitely going to have to have a discussion with Ross.
“I have more information in regard to Crookes, but I’m not going to spill my guts in front of him.” Robbi pointed to the former Bow Street Runner who remained stoic as he took his seat ever-so gently.
“We need his help. My household is too large with too few servants on staff to keep everyone safe.” He hoped his plea for her to view the situation logistically worked.
“Foine.” She said in the best Cockney accent he’d heard her use. “I believe Crookes may have a warehouse in the East End. But before you ask for the direction of the warehouse, know that I’m not going to give it to you. I will give it to the driver who takes us there.”
Caillen raised both of her hands to her face as if she could hide from the trouble her sisters had found. Just when he thought he might have to comfort her, she rose to her feet, clenched her fists, and let out a low sound of frustration. “It’s as if every one of my sisters has lost her bloody mind since I’ve been gone.” She turned on Robbi. “Do any of you have an ounce of common sense or self-preservation in your entire bodies?”
“You were the voice of common sense, and then you eloped,” Robbi fired back.
He would have thought Robbi would have learned when to keep quiet, since she lived in a house full of women. More the pity for all of them.
“And look how that turned out! I married a ‘whoreson, dim-witted cur’who only wanted my dowry and was attempting to murder me when Astley killed him and his accomplice!”
Robbi’s head whipped around so quickly to look at him, he was surprised she didn’t hurt her neck in the process.
Caillen then turned on Payne. “Not one word of that is to get back to Sir Williamson or you will rue my wrath, is that understood?”
Payne nodded as if he didn’t have a problem with that particular instruction. “As you wish, my lady.”
She eyed him a moment longer then said, “You will take Robbi home and stand guard at my sister’s home until tomorrow morning, when you will escort Robbi and Edeen back here. You are to say nothing to the Duke and Duchess of Ross. The duchess is due to have a baby any day, and I will not have them upset by this matter. Is that understood?” She looked around the room to obtain everyone’s agreement.
Ailsa stepped into the doorway, capturing everyone’s attention. “I’m afraid your plan has been thwarted by the impending birth of Iseabail’s child, and the fact that she has sent notice for Edeen to return home as quickly as possible to assist her.”
Robbi hopped to her feet. “The baby is coming?”
“Edeen is here?” Caillen asked.
“Yes, the baby is coming, and no, Edeen is not here. It seems she and her friend, Violet, are both missing since Lady Violet told her brother she would be home late from shopping.”
A little blonde head peeked in the door long enough to say, “She lied.”
“Millie Griffith, you are to march upstairs to your bed,” Caillen ordered.
“That was Lillie,” another blonde curly mop added.
“So it was,” Caillen added as she walked over to the door and sternly turned them around with a hand on top of each of their heads. “But the fact remains, it is past both your bedtimes and you are to be in bed. Now.”
