Page 74 of To Hunt the Hunter

“Him what owns Hunter’s?” he asked with obvious awe.

“Matilda?” Nate said faintly, clearly beyond astonished at her and the Marquess of Montagu keeping such company. “What the hell have you been up to?”

“You must forgive me,” Lucian said coolly, setting Phoebe down, though he kept hold of her hand, his icy gaze settling on Nate. “But this must wait until later. Mr Hunt, if you wish to call me out, that is your right, but you must get in line. My uncle is about to discover I’m not as dead as he had hoped, and I’m afraid he will be rather disappointed. If you will excuse me.”

“Lucian, no!” Matilda exclaimed, running to him. “Listen to me. You need witnesses. You need to get your uncle to confess to his crimes.”

Lucian snorted. “He’s not a fool, love. He never has been, more’s the pity.”

“No, but if he doesn’t know anyone is listening, he won’t be so careful,” she said impatiently. “Have someone tell him I will meet him in the assembly rooms, and then you meet him there, if you must take my place. There are curtained balconies that overlook the floor. If a duke, an earl, a viscount, and all of us could confirm we had heard his confession….”

“He’s not done anything, though, Matilda,” Lucian said in frustration. “I’m still alive.”

“But he paid to have you murdered! Flash Jack could testify to that.”

Jack promptly turned as white as a milk pudding and shook his head.

“Don’t worry, Jack,” Lucian said, smiling a little. “I would not ask it of you.”

“I would!” Matilda said furiously. “We could say we asked Jack to pretend to agree to it, not that he ever had any intention of going through with it. We could say he was already in your employ. You saved Galloping whatever his name was from the gallows, did you not?” Matilda turned to Jack and glared at him. “You owe him!”

Jack shifted from foot to foot, one large hand rubbing the back of his neck uneasily.

“What the devil is going on?” the earl’s brother, Jerome, grumbled, clearly dissatisfied by the explanation so far. “Are you saying Theo Barrington paid this villain to murder Montagu?”

“Yes!” Matilda said furiously.

Everyone stared at Jack with wide-eyed alarm and Matilda watched, a little surprised as colour rose in Jack’s cheeks.

“It were only business,” he protested. “Nothin’ personal.”

“Oh, well, that’s all right, then,” the earl drawled, earning himself an elbow in the ribs from Harriet.

“Jack!” Matilda shouted, on the verge of stamping her foot.

“All right!” the fellow bellowed back at her. “All right, but only if you promise me, word of honour, I’ll not get me neck stretched for me troubles.”

“I swear it, Jack,” Lucian said, holding out his hand.

Jack stared at it in surprise as the shock of the gesture rippled through the room. The nobility did not shake hands with anyone unless they were of equal rank. Montagu certainly didn’t. Ever. It was a gesture of commitment, and even Jack seemed to realise it.

He took Lucian’s hand, and the deal was made.

“And now I must go,” Lucian said. “If you will excuse me.” He took Phoebe over to Matilda, his silver eyes meeting hers. “Look after her for me.”

Matilda heard the meaning in his words. Look after her, not just for now, but if anything goes wrong. Her heart clenched.

“You know I will.”

He nodded, a look in his eyes that spoke more than anything he might have said before the present company.

“The assembly rooms, Lucian.”

Lucian sighed, his lips quirking.

“Yes, love,” he said obediently. “Jack, keep them safe.”

“Aye, lord,” Jack said, his expression grave.