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“Thenwhy?”
“My guess would be that he entertains multiple visitors at once and requires reinforcements.” Or they could be for Rafe’s use—but he wasn’t going to mention such unmentionable subjects.
The sight of her staring at a row of hard, shiny phalluses was something he would never be able to unsee.
This was so far beyond inappropriate. The erotic accoutrements, the press of her palm against his heart, the desire to confess his buried secrets, share his pain... he had to lock it all tightly away.
She threw him off-balance and then, conversely, she seemed to be the only thing that could save him.
“Pardon me, Your Grace.” Crankshaw hovered outside the door.
Mina slammed the cabinet shut.
“Yes, what is it, Crankshaw?” Drew asked.
“I apprehended a raggedy urchin preparing to throw this through your window.” He held up a paper-wrapped brick. “Afraid the little rapscallion slipped through my fingers and made his escape before I had a chance to question him.”
“How old was he? What clothing was he wearing?” Mina asked.
“About ten, I’d wager. Proper little guttersnipe. All wrapped in tattered, greasy rags with his face covered in soot.”
“Well, give it here,” said Drew, holding out his hand.
“I caught only a glimpse of the words. I saw nothing. No details.” Crankshaw handed him the brick. “It’s an attempt at blackmail. Not that I would presume to give you any advice, but don’t hand over any cash, Your Grace. No good can come of it.”
Crankshaw left. Drew set the brick on a table, unwrapped the paper, and spread it out beside a lamp. Mina moved to stand beside him.
Your brother is engaged to marry a HARLOT. The price of her name is two hundred in silver. Meet me behind the orchestra when they light the lamps at VAUXHALL GARDENS tomorrow evening. Come ALONE.
“Lord Rafe is engaged.” Mina sat down in an armchair after checking to make certain that there were no visible gears.
“Troublesome, to be sure,” said Drew, “but I was expecting something worse. I don’t know, my mind ran away with me. Criminal activity, murder, I imagined it all.”
Mina had imagined many things, but marriage hadn’t been one of them. Lord Rafe had beenherescape route. Her future. Her claim to a life of adventure.
“This is extortion,” Drew said, pacing in front of the fireplace. “Plain and simple. Now I know what Rafe’s about to do—make an injudicious match. Someone, the woman’s servant, or possibly a relative, found out about their plans and thought they’d extract some money from me. Once I have the name of the woman, I can stop the marriage. It’s worth the price.”
“Extortionists are never satisfied with only one payment when they think they can force another. And something else is troubling me. Why did Lord Rafe leave London?”
“Maybe he left to escape his fiancée,” said Drew.
“Then why did he say he’s going after the real threat? I think we’ll find answers when we crack the code in his journal.” She still believed that Lord Rafe was pursuing Le Triton. Capturing Sir Malcolm’s mortal enemy would be the perfect way for Lord Rafe to restore himself to the inner ranks of her uncle’s elite spy force.
It was likely that Lord Rafe’s betrothal was only one piece of the puzzle. He’d become engaged to someone useful to his spy work in order to wheedle information from her.
“The author of this note is the one threatening to kidnap my sister,” said Drew, his voice hard and merciless. “I need answers about Rafe but I also need to know that Beatrice will be safe.”
Mina nodded. “I don’t think the author intends any actual harm. The venue was chosen carefully. Vauxhall Gardens. It’s a public gathering place where the high and low classes mingle without raising any eyebrows. I would be surprised if the extortionist revealed himself—he will probably send a trusted messenger. And so should you.”
“Send someone else to make the exchange? I don’t think so. I want to contain the knowledge of this affair.”
“Send me,” she said, the idea striking her as the perfect way for her to gather more information about Lord Rafe’s motivations for leaving.
The shock on Drew’s face was almost comical. “You must be joking.”
“If I give them the money and accept the information, you can be watching from the shadows. You’ll trail the person as they leave—find out where they go, whom they speak with.”
“I can have my manservant do that.”
