Page 19 of A Scoundrel in the Making

“You know Lord John,” she said.

“Aye. We played cards last week.”

“Did he lose?”

“Only a hundred pounds,” he replied.

“Still a tidy sum,” she said. “Though nothing compared to what you won at Lady Bingley’s party.”

“Fortune favored me that night,” he said.

“I suspect it had little do with fortune.”

He looked sharply at her.

“A man doesn’t win that consistently at cards unless he is skilled,” she said.

He returned his attention forward. “I am a fair player.”

“More than fair, I wager.”

“Did you discover anything of interest in s

“The door leading into the passageway was in good working order, and I detected little dust on the stairs.”

“Any idea who occupies the two rooms connected to the passageway?”

She shook her head. “But I will find out.”

“Is your plan to simply search the entire castle?” he asked. “That seems rather daunting.”

“I will try to glean clues from Mr. Russell first.”

“He isn’t likely to tell you outright that he stole the crown jewels of Scotland. That’s treason.”

She laughed. He liked the sound. “You would be surprised at what people will do and say,” she said. “If I get him drunk enough, he might tell me anything.”

Reade would wager they would have to be in bed for that to be the case. Even drunk, unless Russell was distracted by her beautiful body, he wasn’t likely to give away a secret that could land him in prison for life.

They rounded the keep wall on the south side of the building where the balcony was located. Half a dozen guests came into view walking from the lawn toward the balcony. They neared the first two men and Reade caught the knowing glances the men sent their way.

Lady Buchman must have seen them, as well, for she angled her head gracefully and said, “Gentlemen.”

“You’re encouraging them,” Reade whispered as they ascended the stairs to the balcony.”

“That is the idea,” she replied.

It was. Oddly, that bothered him.