Page 77 of A Story of Love

“If you were to accept the countess’s invitation—”

“I rejected it already.”

Gregg grinned. “You know she would be delighted if you were to change your mind.”

“Probably,” Fast accepted. “But why would I?”

“How many properties does Moreland own?”

Fast shrugged. “Lord, I don’t know. He still has a bit of acreage near my grandfather’s estate. And his wife, Louisa, brought at least one property to the marriage. I’m guessing there are several minor estates that came with the earldom. Why?”

“Because if he is holding Ellie, certainly it would be at one of those places.”

Fast nodded slowly.

“And if you went to Lady Mansfield’s party you could sneak over one or two nights and look around his estate, couldn’t you? Perhaps drop some blunt to see if anyone who lives around there knows anything.”

“I could.”

“You could also tell Moreland that you had some investment opportunity for a dear old friend—bait a trap for him, as it were. I can throw something together before you go, just enough to whet his appetite.”

“That is all assuming I can look at him and talk to him without killing him, which I’m not entirely sure I could do. And keep in mind that he won’t be at Meg’s party—not when he lives so close.”

“But aren’t the Pascoes going to be there?”

“Yes, that is true,” Fast admitted, suddenly recalling a conversation he’d had with Meg about her inviting the industrialist and his daughter to her party. “I have lowered my standards and invited an obnoxious Cit because it is the only way I’ll be able to lure you to attend,” she had retorted. “Everyone knows you have your sights set on Miss Pascoe for the position of Viscountess Severn. If you don’t come, Moreland might very well steal a march on you.”

Fast looked up at Gregg and nodded. “Yes, Bevil will make sure to join in the festivities if the Pascoes are there.”

“Well, there you have it. A perfect opportunity to take care of several problems at once.”

Fast heaved a sigh. “Christ. Am I really considering going to a party to be near my brother’s murderer?”

“Think of the goal, my lord. And also think of Ellie.”

“Damn you, Gregg; you are right. I shall need to get going today as that bloody party starts the day after tomorrow.” He snorted and then met his friend’s curious gaze. “If I leave then you will be in charge of Miss Fontenot in my absence.” Fast felt a pang at the thought of leaving her, which was only more proof that the less time he spent with that far-too-appealing young lady, the better.

Gregg gave Fast a pained look. “Why, thank you, sir.”

“I suppose there is nothing in London that cannot wait until my return.”

“I can hold down the fort here until the Blue Devil returns in ten days—two weeks at the most.”

“I’ll bloody well be back by then,” Fast assured him.

The Blue Devil was the ship Jensen was supposed to take to England. If the man was still alive, of course. Fast would have felt guilty asking the Blue Devil’s captain to transport a mutineer if the man hadn’t already been delivering a hold full of contraband.

He would have brought Jensen over on the Vixen if the ship wasn’t under so much scrutiny thanks to David Parker.

And Lorelei Fontenot.

He snorted softly. Yes, and her.

Fast turned to Gregg, who’d paused and was staring at him strangely. “Out with it,” he ordered.

Gregg smiled wryly and said, “Even if spending time with Moreland this coming week makes you decide that destroying him piece-by-piece is too difficult, you’ve waited nine months to avenge your brother. Perhaps you might remind yourself—when your temper begins to fray—that it would be advisable to wait until after the Blue Devil arrives to kill him.”

Fast gave an unamused bark of laughter. “Damn you and your cool, calculating mind, Gregg. But you are right. I will wait for the Blue Devil before I do any killing. Satisfied?”