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He was pleasantly surprised to see Arabella and Annette there.
“Come in,” he said. “Lord Dunsmore was just telling me what he’s found out.”
“Lord Dunsmore!” Lady Arabella said as she entered the office. “I didn’t know that you knew Mr. Conolly.”
“I do,” Lord Dunsmore replied. “Mr. Conolly has been my client for some time now.”
Arabella’s eyebrows raised. “Well, then, do tell us.”
“My Lady, I don’t mean to be indelicate, but some of the details that I have are…rather unsavory.”
“I can stomach them,” Arabella replied, sitting down. “Mr. Conolly and I are all but engaged, after all.”
“We are now at five victims,” Lord Dunsmore explained. “All of them are members of the ton, married or planning to be married. Two things which stand out are that they were members of the Millgate Club as well as that they shared a passion for a specific brothel.”
“Oh dear,” Arabella said.
“Mr. Conolly and I have already investigated the Millgate Club connection. We have both successfully eliminated it.”
“Which leaves the brothel,” Charles said. “Madam Christina’s.”
“Indeed. It is the same brothel where the Duke of Longmire was murdered, as well as the supposed destination that Lord Mowbray was on his way to when he was killed in the street.”
“I have done this part of the investigation on my own,” Lord Dunsmore said, “As it is rare for gentlemen to travel to brothels in pairs.”
He pulled out his notes, which were on rather tired looking pages. Long lists of names. Arabella and Charles both leaned forward in their chairs, to have a look at them.
“There are fifteen women working there. I will continue my investigation into them. I am insinuating myself into the place. I am keeping it a secret, so if the two of you could keep it to yourselves, I would much appreciate it.”
* * *
Arabella had listened, all of the clues adding up. It had to be someone involved with Madame Christina’s. She wasn’t sure who. She’d never heard the brothel mentioned before.
“Of course, I can keep it a secret,” Arabella said. “By the way, I wanted to point out that my father has been receiving letters just like the others.”
Neither one of them seem surprised. Perhaps Pappa’s told them.
“We’ve been looking into it,” Lord Dunsmore replied. He looked, suddenly, nervous. “Perhaps, Mr. Conolly, you should be the one to say?”
“Your father is a procurer of sorts at the Millgate Club,” Charles told her. “He goes by the name of Mr. Bones.”
She frowned. “I’ve been in his secret room,” she said. “There’s a pirate flag, kept on the shelf. As well as his ledger.”
“Perhaps you could take a look at it?” Charles asked. “See if any of these names are in it?”
“I could,” she offered, happy to be of use to the investigation.
“That would be a great help, My Lady,” Lord Dunsmore said.
“Of course,” she replied. “Can I borrow that paper?”
“Certainly. I have another,” Lord Dunsmore replied, as he handed her the list, so she could cross-reference the names. She folded it up and put it inside of her reticule.
“Let me know if you need me to do anything,” Charles offered. He felt uneasy about having Lord Dunsmore go there alone.
“Not to worry,” Lord Dunsmore said. “I have my footman come to keep watch outside of the door while I acquire information.”
“Is there anything else?” Charles asked.
