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“To a coffeehouse.”
“A coffeehouse?” Olivia’s brows creased in confusion. “Are women allowed there?”
“Well, technically, we are not prohibited, but it is mainly a gentlemen’s domain, yes,” Annalise answered. “However, the place we are going, they are expecting us.”
“It’s a place Ford Gunning, the thief-taker and his associates, work from,” Lord Payne clarified.
“Oh!” Olivia perked up instantly. “The thief-taker. He found Jarvis, didn’t he?”
“I do not know. I just got a message saying to meet him there at this hour. That’s all I know. I didn’t want to bother you until I knew more, but my lovely wife insisted on accompanying me and dragging you with us,” Payne grumbled.
Annalise flashed him a sunny smile. She linked her arm with his and leaned her head on his shoulder. Payne smiled down at his wife, evidently unable to stay upset with her for longer than a moment. Olivia smiled in reaction. They were such a tender couple.
The carriage drew to a halt, and they all alighted in front of a dark, imposing building not far from Covent Garden.
A sign above the door saidLion’s Head Coffeehouse.
Olivia paused, looking over the building. “Why would anyone want to drink coffee inside a lion’s head?”
“A coffeehouse is a perfect place for thief-takers’ business,” Payne said. “It doesn’t discriminate by social class, although their proximity to the grand theater does guarantee that most of their clientele are upper crust.”
“Still doesn’t explain the lion’s head,” Olivia muttered under her breath.
“Shall we?” Payne opened the door and waved for Olivia and Annalise to come inside.
As soon as they entered, the room, which was buzzing with banter and laughter, died into silence. Every head turned their way.
“Jamison,” Payne barked from behind them. “Ford asked me to meet him here.”
One of the men stood from the farthest table in the right corner. “This ain’t a place for ladies. But if Ford said so… Follow me.”
He slowly walked toward them, then tipped his head toward Olivia and Annalise, turned, and led them away. Another man followed them closely behind.
They passed through the side entrance, down the staircase, and into the basement.
“Where are we going?” Annalise asked. Olivia heard a note of apprehension in her voice.
“A dungeon,” the man by the name of Jamison answered.
“Blake?” Annalise’s voice was still worried.
“I am all right, darling,” Payne answered, though his voice sounded hoarse. “Why are we here and not upstairs like normal people?” he asked the men leading them.
“Hades is not ‘normal people.’ Ford doesn’t want our customers to see him. Neither does he want him sitting comfortably drinking coffee. He goes in and is brought straight to the dungeon.”
Payne halted, and his voice was almost a hiss. “Hades is here? I brought my wife, you fools!”
Jamison halted beside one of the doors and opened it. “It’s you who brought your wife. Not I. So who’s the fool?”
Olivia looked from one man to another, not understanding what the quarrel was about. Then, deciding she wouldn’t understand the undercurrents between two men, she stepped inside the room. It was a small, dark room illuminated by a couple of lanterns hanging on either side of the door. A weak light emanated from the tiny window in the corner. A tall, dark man stood by the window, his arms crossed across his chest.
Annalise followed after Olivia and then Payne walked in, took out his handkerchief, and wiped his forehead.
“Ford, why didn’t you tell me Hades was going to be here?” he barked.
The man by the window moved and stepped into the light. “Good morning, ladies.” He tipped his hat. “Payne, good to see you. I didn’t think you’d bring your wife and…” He looked at Olivia with a frown.
“Miss Olivia,” Annalise supplied.
