Page 119 of Rules for Ruin

A dull sense of horror overtook her.

She had shut it after leaving. She always shut it. One of the servants must have opened it in the course of their duties. Franc would have immediately availed himself of the opportunity. He couldn’t resist wandering.

Effie rushed inside. She cast about the room with increasing desperation. Just as she’d feared, Franc was gone. She told herself not to panic. He must be somewhere in the house. It wouldn’t be difficult to find him, providing no one had inadvertently let him outside.

She was turning to exit her room, intent on starting her search, when a scrap of white on her coverlet caught her eye. Something twinkled atop it—a glitter of glass sparkling in the sun from the window.

It was the dragonfly hairpin she’d left in Parker’s ear.

Someone had used it to stab a note to Effie’s bed. She tore the paper free. The blood drained from her face as she read it.

If you want to see your dog alive again, bring the book to the balloon ascension at Cremorne Gardens. You have until two o’clock.

• • •

Gabriel’s carriage stopped in front of the Belwoods’ house in Brook Street. He straightened his freshly starched black cravat. Effie wasn’t expecting him today. He’d told her they would talk after the Derby—tomorrow, at the earliest. But once he’d made up his mind, Gabriel had seen no reason to delay. Not even the business of the track had been sufficient to keep him at Epsom. Not when his whole future was hanging in the balance.

He’d traveled home this morning, shortly after speaking to Lord Haverford at the stables. On returning to London, Gabriel had first gone to Sloane Street, and then to Fleet Street to speak with Miles. After that…

Gabriel had made for a jeweler’s shop in Oxford Street.

Climbing out of the carriage, he patted the small, flat box in the pocket of his waistcoat, assuring himself his purchase was still there. Anxiety simmered in his chest. He was nervous, by God. A baffling sensation. He wasn’t a lad. He didn’t get nervous. But there was no mistaking the feeling.

He ascended the stone front steps of the house. He’d nearly reached the top when the door flew open and Effie charged out, hatless and disheveled, clutching a book. She ran straight into Gabriel’s arms.

“Oh!” she gasped. She looked up at him wildly as he steadied her with his hands. Her eyes were damp with the threat of tears. “Gabriel!”

His heart lurched. “What is it? What’s happened?”

“Is that your carriage?”

“Yes, but—”

“We must go.” She pulled free of him, bounding down the steps.

He followed her. “Go where?”

“The balloon ascent at Cremorne Gardens. I haven’t a moment to spare.”

Gabriel opened the carriage door for her, assisting her in without question. “Cremorne Gardens,” he called to his coachman. “Quick as you can.”

Effie looked at Gabriel gratefully as he climbed into the cab beside her. He shut the door. The carriage jolted forward, the driver springing the horses into an extended trot.

“What the devil is going on?” Gabriel asked her.

“Compton has taken Franc,” she said.

“What?”

“Or one of his servants did it. I’m not perfectly sure. Lady Belwood said he came with a footman. He must have sent the man to search my room while he was interrogating me. When he didn’t find the book there, he took Franc instead. Compton would have told him to do so. He knows what Franc means to me.”

Gabriel’s attention briefly fell to the aged, cord-bound book Effie was clutching to her bosom. He gave her a questioning look.

“I took it from Compton’s library,” she said. “Parker caught me red-handed. He chased me. We fought in an alleyway. I-I stabbed him with a hairpin.”

Gabriel’s blood went cold. His voice took on a dangerous edge. “Parker put his hands on you?”

“He tried to. I’d hid the book under my crinoline and he was attempting to take it back.” Effie’s fingers tightened on the book, her knuckles going white. “If he’s hurt Franc—”