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“Investigating Lord Hartford,” Browne said as Jones answered at the same time.
“Requesting Rex’s help.” Exasperated, Jones turned to glare at Browne. “Elijah and Ibothtold you, Rex has nothing to do with this.” Cormack’s jaw dropped open in shock.
“I am glad to hear the two of you vouched for me,” Rex murmured. He gestured. “Follow me, gentlemen, and we can talk. Cormack, you should come, too.” If for no other reason than Rex wanted to know more about this Captain Browne.
Mary
Being out with her friends rather than with her large and impossible-to-ignore husband by her side felt almost odd. She had become so used to him looming over her shoulder, the missing presence made her a touch anxious. Doing her best to ignore the unsettling reaction, Mary did her best to be distracted by her friends.
“Elijah? Truly?” Josie whispered, sounding scandalized, horrified, and perhaps a bit intrigued. “I know Rex said he had joined the club, but I cannot imagine him…” Her eyes unfocused for a moment as she made the attempt to imagine him in the position Mary had described.
“What do you think of this bonnet?” Lily asked. Unlike Josie, she was not particularly interested in Elijah’s exploits. She had listened agog to Mary’s description but did not dwell.
“The orange ribbon against the cream is very fetching,” Mary said, leaning forward to inspect the fashionable construction. Beside her, Josie made a noise of aggravation.
“How can you two talk bonnets when—” She was loud enough, Lily shushed her as the shopkeeper looked in their direction, thankfully prompting Josie to lower her voice to a more discreet whisper. “When Elijah did…that… last night with a woman.” Color rose in her cheeks.
“Why should I care what Elijah does?” Lily asked, appearing confused. She was still holding the bonnet. “We came in here so I could buy a hat.”
Mary stifled a giggle when Josie scowled. Grumbling under her breath, Josie swung away, looking at the other offerings in the store while Mary and Lily discussed the benefits of the cream bonnet with its orange ribbon on Lily’s coloring. Once Lily had decided to purchase the bonnet and made her way to the shop keeper, Josie came back around to where Mary was standing, looking perturbed.
“Do you… do you think Joseph is like Elijah?” Josie whispered. Mary blinked. She had not even considered…
“I cannot picture that,” she said, shaking her head.
“Well, that is what I thought about Elijah.” Josie frowned. Mary thought Josie might be hoping Joseph’s inclinations ran along the same lines as his brothers’. Even more than Lily, Josie had been fascinated by Mary’s descriptions of the Society’s perversities. Mary had the sneaking suspicion they appealed as much to her friend as they did to her. With Lily, it was harder to tell, but she didn’t ask Mary tostopany of her descriptions, and she listened with interest.
“I have more trouble picturing Joseph,” Mary murmured. In truth, there was something about Elijah that reminded her of Rex. Not just his bossiness, but his general demeanor. In many ways, they were two peas in a pod. Joseph, on the other hand, did not have that same air of command. Mary had always attributed it to Elijah being the heir, but perhaps there was more to it than that.
There was a small commotion as a boy burst into the hat shop, startling several ladies near the entrance. Mary’s eyes widened in surprise when he looked right at her, hurrying forward before the shopkeeper or her assistants could halt him. The urchin grinned widely, shoving a piece of paper at her.
“Message m’lady,” he said. “Urgent like.”
“What are you doing in here? Out!” The shopkeeper was clearly outraged at having a street urchin in her shop, but she cut herself off when Mary stepped forward, shooting the woman a sharp look of censure.
“He is here with a message for me, and I have some questions for him.” Her voice was sharp. The woman had heard him say so, yet she had been ready to toss him out. Pressing her lips together, the shopkeeper looked as though she wanted to say something, but she managed to hold herself back in the face of Mary’s disapproval. Turning back to the boy, Mary let Josie’s glare take the place of hers. While Josie did not have Mary’s rank, she could glare with the best of them. Taking the piece of paper, Mary focused on the message-bearer. “Who sent you with this?”
“The toff outside.” The boy shifted on his feet uncertainly, eyes flicking between Mary and the shopkeeper. Likely he had come in on a lark, planning to make quick his escape. Mary lifted her head, glancing out the front window. Sure enough, there was a carriage out there and a man standing beside its door, watching her through the window. It took her a moment to place him—Collins. That was what Rex had called him last night. “Said it needed deliverin’ right away.”
Reaching into her reticule, Mary pulled out a coin and handed it to the boy.
“Thank you, you may be on your way.”
Grabbing it, the boy sprinted back out the way he had come. The shopkeeper sniffed but hastily turned and walked away when Mary met her gaze again.
“What is it?” Josie murmured, looking over Mary’s shoulder. Lily was walking up to them, wanting to know what was going on, her new bonnet already tucked away in a box.
Rather than answering, Mary quickly opened the note.
Please come quickly. I must speak with you alone. I have done something terrible and believe Rex might be in danger by my actions. Only you can help me.
Lucas, Earl of Devon.
“Oh, my…” Mary breathed out the words, quickly folding the note when Lily and Josie sucked in identical shocked gasps.
“Mary, you cannot,” Lily whispered. “It is too dangerous!”
“Do you think he’s the…” Josie cut herself off just in time. Though she was whispering, saying the word ‘traitor’ in such a public space was too much of a risk, especially since they had already drawn the attention of most of the shop when Mary accepted the message in the first place.
