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Ian crossed his arms over his chest. “You don’t like my new perfume?”

Gunning let out a bark of laughter. “I quite enjoy it, I have to say.”

Ian narrowed his eyes. “What brings you here at this early hour, Mr. Gunning?”

Gunning shrugged. “You know what I find rather curious? It’s that you are hanging around St. John’s house all of a sudden.”

How did you know that? Ian raised a brow, feeling the shallow waters beneath his ship. “Is that a crime?”

“It could be.” Gunning rummaged through his coat pocket, then slapped several visiting cards onto the table. “But what I find most curious is that three lords who have been murdered in the past year have all been frequenters of the house of pain and pleasure. The house that made you notorious.”

Three? Ian had heard of only two. In the past year, anyhow. Was Gunning counting Bradshaw as well? That man died long before the house had even been established. “What does that have to do with my frequenting the St. John’s house?”

“Ah, so you admit.”

Ian sat up and leaned toward the thief-taker. “I am not admitting anything except for the fact that you’re mixing up two completely unrelated events which probably aren’t even true at all.”

“Well, the three dead men would disagree with you.”

“Not if they’re truly dead.” Ian shrugged. “Then they wouldn’t be able to disagree with anything. Thank you for the warning, but I don’t frequent the house of pain and pleasure anymore. So I don’t think I am in any kind of danger.”

“So you haven’t been there since that article about you came out?”

“Not once.” Ian glanced toward the bell pull. The urge to call for his butler and kick the arrogant thief-taker out was undeniable. But he seemed to know something about the murders. Perhaps Ian could learn a thing or two. “Would you like a drink? I have no alcohol to offer. I’ve given up drinking after that incident. I am sure you can understand.”

“Sure, sure.” Gunning drummed his fingers against the desk. “I am not much of a drinker myself.”

“So you think someone is targeting the unholy pleasure seekers?” Ian offered after a prolonged pause. “If so, I would recommend looking at the preacher who made me notorious.”

Gunning shrugged. “Already did.”

Interesting. “Or perhaps it’s the wives who are fed up with their disloyal spouses. Perhaps they decided to take matters into their own hands. You know there was a woman in Rome in the 1600s. She made poison for the unfaithful and abusive husbands. Killed dozens upon dozens of men. Well, the wives were technically the killers. She just provided them with the means.”

Gunning gave him a long look. “So you think it’s the women.”

Ian shrugged. “I don’t think anything. That’s your job, isn’t it? I am just conjecturing about the possibilities. Is that why you came here? To hear my perspective?”

“Actually, I came here to warn you.” Gunning stood abruptly. “I don’t know what you’re about. But I’d stay away from Mrs. St. John if I was you.”

Ian stilled, his features sobering. “Why? Do you have your eye on her?” Jealousy started boiling up inside him. How dare this man tell him to stay away from his Helen?

“No. But St. John is a…”—he hesitated—“friend. Or something close to it anyway.” More interesting.

Ian scoffed. “And what am I, an enemy?”

“To be honest? I don’t know what the devil you are. I just know that you and the deceased have all been tied to the house of pain and pleasure. Which means you are a possible target.”

Ian placed his hand over his heart in a theatrical manner. “I am touched by your concern.”

“My concern is not for you,” Gunning said easily. “My concern is for anyone near you.”

The thief-taker’s remark set Ian’s teeth on edge. How dare he imply that Ian would put Helen in danger! How dare he try to protect her from Ian. She wasn’t his.

She’s mine.

The feral possessiveness caught Ian by surprise. He forced himself to relax and shrugged easily. “I don’t believe I’ve ever put anyone in danger, unlike you. I am not a thief-taker, and neither am I a thief. I am an average lord with nothing to hide.”

Gunning didn’t say anything, just watched him in silence, and Ian did the same thing.