A Thin Line (5 page)

“Oh?”

“I have even heard asinine talk about the Holy Grail being sought after.”

“What?” Derek and Gabe asked in unison.

“Damn fools,” the director muttered under his breath.
 
“The important thing is to find the person or persons behind this and bring them in as quickly and quietly as possible.
 
No need to arouse a panic in the government.”

“Anything else?”

“Not in regards to this.
 
Use any means necessary to find who is responsible.”

“I will,” he turned to leave the office.

“I’m not done.”
 
Gabe turned and raised an arrogant brow.
 
“You are slipping.
 
Miss Simmons questioned me on our outing about you and your loyalty to the Crown.”

“Dammit, I apologize, Director,” Derek colored angrily at the thought of his sister doing something so forward.

“This is not Miss Simmons fault, Blackburn.
 
This is about someone who acted carelessly and found themselves overheard in a particularly compromising situation,” McKenzie countered, arching an equally arrogant brow back at Gabe.

“I will take care of it,” Gabe replied stiffly.
 

“That had better not mean taking your incompetence out on Miss Simmons.”

“I said I will take care of it,” he bit out.
 
“Now, it seems I have an assignment to begin, if I have your
permission
to leave.”
 
The director nodded and Gabe slammed the door shut behind him, rattling the glass.

Chapter 4

Gabe left the room, his mind spinning.
 
He didn’t know whom he wanted to strangle more at that moment, McKenzie or Mikala.
 
Knowing that he had to do something to dispel the anger he felt, he walked out of the building and requested Diablo be brought around.
 
After waiting a few minutes, he mounted his black stallion and headed towards Gentleman Jackson’s.
 

Gabe spent some time taking out his anger on others before making his way to White’s.
 
As much as he hated to admit it, the men of the
ton
were usually bigger gossips than their wives, they were just selective where they indulged in it.
 
Gabe felt certain that if there were any grumblings of treasure hunters, they would be talked about at the club.
 
He dismounted gingerly already feeling sore from his time in the ring.
 
As he walked in he nodded at several members before walking to a corner.

Listening carefully, he only heard talk floating about the latest society
on dit
.
 
Finding the peace of the club preferable to what he might find at home, he signaled a footman for a copy of
The Times
and a glass of whisky.
 
Gabe found himself engrossed in the business section of the paper always seeking new investments.
 
The paper romanticized the war with Napoleon.
 
He knew that it was anything but romantic and attempted to ignore those articles.
 
A loud commotion in the corner aroused his attention.
 
Southerby and Dewhurst stood nose to nose and Southerby looked as if he would pummel the other man at any moment.
 
Gabe calmly folded the paper before laying it on the table.
 
He picked up his glass and took a sip, watching the two men.
 

“You best watch yourself, man,” Southerby said through gritted lips.

“Oh, I’ll watch myself all right.
 
I’ll watch as I tup that fiery wench.”
 
Southerby threw a fist that landed squarely in Dewhurst’s abdomen.
 
He doubled over gasping for air.

“I know that she allowed you the right to escort her tonight, you bastard, but you just keep this in mind.
 
I’ll be watching you.
 
You’ll not move two feet with her that I won’t be watching.
 
And if I were her father or brother you would be meeting me on the dueling field come morning and the undertaker would be taking you away shortly after.
 
Do you understand?”
 
When there was no response, he lifted Dewhurst up by his lapels and shook the man.
 
His Scottish brogue became more pronounced the angrier he became.
 
He started to lift his knee, when the man before him began to whimper.

“I understand,” he cried covering his crotch.

“I’m glad we’ve come to an understandin’.”
 
He threw Dewhurst to the floor.
 
Silence permeated the room as Southerby left, leaving Dewhurst to endure the embarrassment of the very public confrontation.
 
Gabe watched Dewhurst straighten his waistcoat and cravat before stomping out of the club.
 
A tide of whispering followed the men.
 

Gabe shook his head predicting that the books would be full of bets within the hour.
 
That Scots temper would get Southerby into a great deal of trouble if he did not learn to control it.
 
However, Gabe really couldn’t blame him.
 
He didn’t know what happened between the two men, but something about Dewhurst just seemed wrong.
 
He had a title, but no one knew much about him.
 
Most of the time, he spouted a lot of information no one could corroborate.
 
The clock in the foyer of the club began to chime and Gabe decided perhaps he should go home and get ready for the evening.

He waited outside for a footman to bring Diablo around when a sudden thought occurred to him.
 
Gabe had seen Dewhurst several times lately around the War Office.
 
He had seen both Southerby and Dewhurst at the War Office over the last few months, in fact.
 
He made a mental note to ask exactly in what manner they served.
 
Gabe decided it could wait until morning and climbed up on Diablo after tipping the footman.
 
Traffic already clogged the streets of London and it took longer than necessary to reach his house in Grosvenor Square.
 
He dismounted and entered the front door that his butler held open.

“Good evening, Your Grace.”

“Hamlin.”

“Your mother and grandmother are waiting to speak to you.”

“Now?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

He let out a sigh, raking the fingers of his right hand through his dark hair, leaving it tousled.
 
“Where are they?”

“The parlor, Your Grace.”

“Thank you, Hamlin.”
 
He walked down the marble corridor to the parlor on the right.
 
His mother had it painted a light blue and he found it tolerable as far as parlors went.
 
The furniture lacked sturdiness, but he didn’t spend much time in this room.
 
“How are my two favorite ladies?”

“Good evening, love.
 
How are you?”

“Fine Grandmother.
 
You?” He placed a kiss on her wrinkled cheek.

“I ache.”

“Poor thing,” he winked at her.
 
“Mother,” he placed a kiss on her still smooth cheek.

“Not asking how I am?” She huffed.

“How are you, Mother?” He asked patiently.

“I am fine, thank you for asking.
 
Leticia came by this afternoon.”
 
Gabe bit back a groan as his mother referenced one of his grandmother’s dearest friends, who also happened to be one of the greatest gossips in London.
 

“And how is Lady Byrd?”

“Full of information.
 
Are you courting Clarissa Blackerby?”

If nothing else, his mother did not waste time trying to extract information.
 
“We are becoming acquainted.”

“She comes from good stock, she knows her place, and comes with quite a bank account.”

“I am well aware of that Mother.”
 
He watched her rise and swish her skirts before crossing the room. She turned back to study him when she reached the door.
 

“If only you did not have that grotesque scar.
 
It makes you look quite beastly.
 
Do be on your best behavior.
 
Perhaps your manners will sway her to overlook your hideousness.
 
I had such plans for you,” she sighed theatrically before leaving the room.

Gabe ground his teeth and fisted his hands behind his back.
 
He stared blindly at the empty doorway and did not realize his grandmother stood beside him until he felt her hand on his arm.

“I wish I could say she doesn’t mean it,” the older woman said sadly.
 
She had not lost her beauty over the years.
 
Her chestnut colored hair had streaks of gray shot through it, which did not in any way make her look old, but rather refined.
 
Today she wore a sapphire walking dress that set off her blue eyes, causing them to sparkle.
 
She had a regal bearing, but could also be kind and gentle.
 
“Your father chose poorly with that one.
 
You were the only good thing that came of that union.”

“Gabriel, do you care for Lady Blackerby?”

“She is a nice girl, Grandmother.”

“Nice?
 
Gabriel, do not settle.
 
I know that we have financial difficulties to face, but don’t sell yourself for a lukewarm marriage.”

“We are only just now becoming acquainted with one another.
 
I have made no overtures.”

“Come sit with me,” she patted the settee next to her.
 
“I need to say this and for you to hear it and then I will speak no more on the topic and trust your decision,” she waited until she saw that he acquiesced to her request before continuing.
 
“Your grandfather and I were forced into a typical
ton
marriage.
 
I don’t know that we ever loved each other, but we cared for one another.
 
We felt it best to continue that manner with your father and denied him marrying the woman he truly loved, and look what that did to five lives--it ruined them.
 
Even more lives were ruined if you include yourself and McKenzie.
 
Perhaps you should look at breaking tradition and marry for love.”

“I don’t love anyone, Grandmother.”

“Not even Mikala Simmons?”

“Definitely not her!
 
Did you know she believes I am selling government secrets and has made it her goal to see me crucified for it?”

“That is what I am talking about, Gabriel!
 
You need a woman who will bring spice to your life.
 
A woman who won’t let you walk all over her or push her aside.”

“I wouldn’t do that to Clarissa,” he denied.
 

“Perhaps not intentionally, but you would Gabriel.
 
What happened between you and Mikala besides that ridiculous treason business?”

“She’s not titled.”
 
He watched his grandmother shake her head sadly.

“There is more to life than marrying for money and a title.
 
Are either you or Clarissa truly happy with this courtship?”

“I believe we are both content.”

“I do believe those are the saddest words I ever heard.”

“Grandmother...,” Gabe began, looking slightly taken aback.

“Promise me you won’t do anything rash.
 
Remember where this came from and why before you completely write Kala out of the story,” she softly kissed his scarred cheek.
 
“By the way, I think the scar makes you look like a pirate,” she said as she rose from the settee and walked across the room.
 
“Did you know that I knew a pirate?
 
He was quite handsome and I was quite smitten,” she said before leaving the room, looking like she floated on air.
 
Gabriel stared after her feeling bemused and bereft.

Chapter 5

Kala came down the stairs and met Richard and Drucilla at the bottom.
 
She wore a rose colored gown and had a matching ribbon tied around her neck.
 
Jet beads dangled from her ears and black gloves covered almost her entire arm.
 
A black beaded reticule dangled from her right wrist.

“Kala, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you.
 
I will be the talk of all the women for not dressing in pastels,” she told Drucilla who wore a sapphire blue gown.

“It is time someone defied that rule.”

“You look quite the thing as well.”
 

“I look fat.”

“Not yet, love, but you will,” Richard said as he walked up and placed a kiss on his wife’s neck.
 
Drucilla swatted Richard’s shoulder and they moved toward the door held open by the butler.
 
The town coach stood ready and waiting to take them to the Chatham’s.