James glanced at his surroundings, the pedestrians moving along the pavement and the traffic filling the street.All appeared oblivious to the man who’d just shouted at him.
Jaw set, James strode to the alley and approached the man who waited inside.It was indeed one of the guards he’d encountered just moments before.“Yes?”
Hunched over, one hand in his jacket pocket and the other holding a lit cheroot to his lips, the man peered at James from beneath the brim of a brown woolen cap.He exhaled a cloud of smoke, then said, “Is this Grover fellow you’re lookin’ for in his early thirties?Roughly yay high and with light brown hair?”
James moved a bit closer and raised his chin.“He is.”
“A man of that description did show up here a while back.Wanted to purchase supplies.Struck a deal with my boss and left with ten ounces of opium.”
“Why are you telling me this?”While James was immensely grateful, he was also curious to know the man’s reason for choosing to betray his employer.
The man shrugged one shoulder and took another drag from his cheroot.“For starters, Mr.Croft helped me out of a bind once, so I reckon I owe him.More than that, I’d rather a woman doesn’t suffer if I can prevent it.”
James nodded his appreciation.“Any idea where Grover went from here?”
“Not a clue.”
“Did he happen to mention an auction, by any chance?”Given the opium den’s appearance, the clientele was upper-class and might include the exact sort of people for whom the chance to bid on a duke’s sister would seem exciting.When the man responded with a blank gaze James pressed, “What about some detail or name that could help me figure out where he’s currently lodging?”
A thoughtful look preceded the comment, “He said he was makin’ the purchase on behalf of his employer.Mr.Henshaw was the name he provided.”
James stilled.Henshaw was a wealthy business man.He owned Henshaw & Co.Mercantile Company and was often mentioned in the papers.“Is he a client here?”
“Yes.He visits regularly but plans to travel.Hence Grover’s need for supplies.Or at least that was the explanation he gave my employer.”
“That’s…thank you.You’ve been very helpful.”James retrieved a few coins and offered them to the man.“I wish I could give you more.”
“There’s no need to give me anythin’ at all.Like I said, I owe Mr.Croft.”
“I’ll make sure he knows the debt has been paid,” James promised.He shook the man’s hand, thanked him again, and returned to the street where he hailed a hackney.
It took him a good half hour to get back to Portman Square with all the evening traffic blocking the way.When he finally arrived at Number 5, he entered the house and sought out Croft, who was leafing through some papers in his study.
James gave the door a quick knock to draw Croft’s attention, then said, “I think I’ve made progress.”
Croft stood, his expression on instant alert.“Tell me.”
James summed up the information he had acquired since they’d last spoken, then asked, “Any chance you know where Henshaw lives?”
Croft’s nod eased some of the tension in James’s muscles.Good.There was finally hope.If they tackled this the right way, they would soon figure out where Lady Edwina was being held.
11
Adrian informed Samantha that he would be stepping out for a while, then grabbed his hat and gloves.The details Murry had shared with him since his return were shocking to say the least.Henshaw had worked so hard to obtain the position he currently held.He’d fought against the social shame of being in trade in order to win a spot for himself at the highest-ranking tables in England.
To think he’d risk all of that by involving himself in the kidnapping of a duke’s sister seemed absurd.And yet, Viscount Stanton’s youngest son had murdered several young women, including Adrian’s sister.The Marquess of Avernail’s son had brutally killed the Earl of Orendel’s daughter.
In other words, crime wasn’t limited to the lower classes or even to the sort of people one might suspect.Hell, even the well-liked Mrs.Hillford had turned out to be responsible for a nefarious kidnapping scheme.
No one could be trusted, and no suspect should be dismissed, no matter how unlikely they might seem.
“Since we’re headed to Welbeck Street,” Adrian said to Murry as they left the house, “we’ll probably get there faster if we walk.”
They set off at once, their urgent strides producing a heavy tread that accompanied them for the next five hundred yards, until they arrived outside the handsome townhouse where Henshaw resided.
Adrian climbed the front steps and gave the knocker a few loud raps.Murry remained behind him on the pavement.
It took a moment before the butler opened the door.He wore the typical dispassionate expression reserved for his profession.“Yes?”
