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Chapter Six
Dracott allowed no one to intimidate him. However, he desired Maggie like no other woman before, and he couldn’t allow Worthington to withdraw his approval. So he parted ways with the Worthingtons and continued to the office. He would bide his time until tomorrow evening. At the theatre, he would find a way for them to be alone together.
Too caught up in his musings, he almost missed seeing Ravencroft stepping into an unmarked carriage in the alley before he reached the office. When the carriage never departed, Dracott snuck closer. Who did his brother meet with? Ravencroft had yet to contact him about a new plan.
Dracott pressed himself against the building, ducking behind some discarded crates. Two men were standing guard on both sides of the carriage. He recognized one of them as Lady L’s henchmen. Which meant another guard stood at the front of the carriage, covering both directions. It appeared as if she had gained some new recruits. The one he recognized was a brutal bastard. The brute had beaten Dracott at every opportunity while he grew up.
He gritted his teeth, tightening his fists. Dracott longed to retaliate by knocking the bloke around with a few punches of his own. But he held back, not wanting to give himself away. As far as Lady L knew, he stayed hidden at Ravencroft’s estate in southern England. Nor did he want to interfere with whatever dangerous game of deceit Ravencroft played. It would ruin any chance of a future he may hold with the Worthingtons. Lady L would ruin Ravencroft and make an enemy of Reese Worthington with his involvement. Dracott had much to lose, too.
Ravencroft didn’t stay inside the carriage for long before disembarking, which only meant he had received his next order.
After the carriage left, Dracott stepped out from behind the crates, blocking Ravencroft’s path. “Why in the hell are you meeting with her in broad daylight?”
Ravencroft looked around before answering. “She did not leave me much choice.”
Dracott spotted the bruise forming on his brother’s cheek. Ravencroft kept looking over his shoulder. Lady L didn’t play nicely. That meant her plan wasn’t coming together like she wanted. She usually ordered brute force to make everyone follow her orders when she became desperate.
“What does she want you to do?” Dracott asked.
“Nothing,” Ravencroft denied.
“The swelling on your cheek speaks otherwise.”
Ravencroft brought his hand to his cheek, wincing. “Damn.”
A group of gentlemen strolled past them. Dracott pulled Ravencroft behind the crates to hide their meeting.
When no one called attention to them, Dracott tried once again to get answers. “Why have you not made contact?”
Ravencroft leaned his head back against the building. “Because I have yet to formulate a plan that will protect your identity and also destroy that bitch.”
“Why did she stick her brutes on you to manhandle today?”
“Because I have ignored her other messages to meet. When you sent me the warning that you witnessed our exchange at the Kendrick Ball, I feared she discovered you were in London. Then, when I saw Lady Margaret with you after I parted from Lady L, I realized how I risked the Worthington ladies with my deceit.”
“I kept Maggie away. I do not believe anyone saw her.”
Ravencroft scoffed. “You cannot be that naïve. Lady L had eyes watching our exchange. They might not have known it was you, but they knew Lady Margaret stood nearby watching.”
“How?” Dracott snarled.
“Because Lady L has made it her mission to know everything there is about Lady Margaret. Even down to her behavior to wander away at balls. She is no longer safe. I fear her life might be at stake for witnessing our meeting.”
Dracott advanced on Ravencroft, yanking him by his cravat. “Did she threaten Maggie?”
Ravencroft nodded. He didn’t pull away and allowed Dracott his frustration. “If I do not get her the blueprints for the Worthingtons’ townhome in a fortnight, then she plans to kidnap Maggie.”
Dracott stepped back, running his hand through his hair. “We must confess our involvement to the Worthingtons this instant.”
Ravencroft shook his head. “We cannot.”
“There must be a way.”
“Give me more time. I promise to figure a way out of this mess. In the meantime, Lady Margaret needs protected at all times. Especially at the entertainments the family accepts invitations to. I will try my best to guard her when I can and send word to you of the functions the family plan to attend. You can meet us there. I am owed a few favors that will guarantee your acceptance.”
Dracott sighed. “One slight problem with your plan already.”
Ravencroft frowned. “What is that?”
