It Takes a Spy...: A Secrets and Seduction book (11 page)

“No,” he said, a little too quickly. “I left abruptly. The club isn’t at fault. If you’ll excuse me, I’d prefer to take care of this myself. I’m in a bit of a hurry, and this will only take a moment.” He moved past the man toward the cloakroom.

The attendant looked relieved to learn that the club wouldn’t be held accountable. A wave of guilt washed over Devin for what he was about to do. He steeled himself. He had no other option.

He glanced inside the room and quickly identified the item he was searching for. He plucked the silver-handled cane from the tall umbrella stand and made sure it was the one he wanted. Yes, indeed.

He glanced regretfully at the hats on the rack. A man might believe that he’d mislaid his cane and left it at home, but he’d never go to his club without wearing his hat. The theft of one from the cloakroom would be noticed as soon as its owner left for the evening. Devin decided to forgo taking one.

Fortunately, the attendant wasn’t at the desk when he left.

Just before he stepped out the door, he checked the cane one more time. He released the small spring latch integrated into the silver handle, gave a twist to the cane, and then pulled. A length of steel emerged.

This was a fine sword. He was ready to confront LeCompte.

CHAPTER SIX

From her perch inside the hansom cab, Cecilia kept careful watch on the doors of the Ambridge Club. When she finally spied Devin trotting down the steps, she relaxed her grip on the edge of the seat. Five minutes had never seemed so long. “There he is,” she said to her sister.

As Cecilia watched him, Evangeline prodded her in the ribs. “Get out so he can get in.”

With a start of embarrassment, Cecilia clambered out of the carriage so Devin could enter it first. A moment later, she was back on his lap and the carriage was pulling away.

Cecilia glanced down at the cane he held. “Why was that so important?”

“We needed a weapon,” he replied.

“Do you plan to hit him with the cane?” she asked.

Devin grinned. “A few of the gentlemen at my club have taken to carrying canes that contain concealed items. Hidden swords are quite popular.”

She glanced back down at it in surprise. “I had no idea. Is a sword-cane commonplace?”

Devin shrugged. “They aren’t uncommon. I’ve also seen canes with hidden knives or guns. I even saw one that concealed a whiskey flask.”

Evangeline grimaced. “I’ll never look at a gentleman’s cane the same way again. To think I looked down on the men who carried them because I believed they were an affectation. It just proves that people aren’t to be trusted.”

“Or it proves that gentlemen prefer to be armed when they go out,” Cecilia said. “The world is not a safe place.”

They moved along at a good pace, but Cecilia noticed a few delivery wagons beginning to make their morning rounds. They passed a cart filled with milk jugs she assumed would soon be left at nearby homes.

“It will be morning soon,” she said. “The night has flown by.”

“Are you tired?” Devin asked.

Cecilia shifted her weight on his lap, taking note of the tightness in her back. She’d been wearing her corset since yesterday morning, and it was beginning to dig into her ribs like some medieval torture device. “I can tolerate a lack of sleep if it means clearing your name.”

He tightened the arm he’d draped around her waist and pulled her closer to his chest. “You know you don’t need to come with me,” he said. But she could tell he liked having her there by the way he held her close.

“It should come as no surprise. If the situation were reversed, you’d be loyal to me as well.”

The muscle along Devin’s jaw tightened. “Of course I would,” he said. “Once we have this resolved, I hope that neither of us is ever tested in such a way again.” He gazed at her, their faces only inches apart. “You mean everything to me.” His words came out in a whisper that washed over her like a benediction.

Cecilia leaned closer to him, a smile spreading across her face. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Evangeline asked in an overly loud voice, “How did you know where M LeCompte lives?”

Devin jerked his head back, bumping it against the rear of the carriage. “He consulted me regarding some legal work,” Devin said. “It was nothing significant. Just a minor claim regarding some property.”

Cecilia briefly considered kicking her sister in retaliation for the interruption, but decided against it. Instead, she focused her attention on Devin. “I didn’t realize you knew the Frenchman so well.”

“I wouldn’t say I know him
well
. He hasn’t been in England long enough for anyone to make that claim. At the time I assumed he’d asked for my legal assistance because he didn’t know anyone else to approach.”

Evangeline nodded sagely. “He probably had you do the work so he could learn more about you.”

“I’m beginning to think the same thing. Drawing up the papers was a simple matter that I passed off to a friend who is a solicitor. As a barrister, it wasn’t the type of work I’d normally be involved with, but LeCompte insisted he’d only deal with me. Initially, he said he wanted my help because he was certain the case would need to be argued in court. I agreed as a favor to him, but after our initial discussion, I recommended a simpler course of action.”

“What was that?” Cecilia asked.

Devin paused for a moment. “I don’t think I can say anything more without breaching his privacy.”

“But he’s a thief!” Evangeline said. “I would think he’s lost any claim to privacy.”

“We don’t know that for certain,” Cecilia said. “I still don’t believe he’s capable of assaulting someone, let alone stealing Mother’s jewels.”

“Maybe he was surprised by the guard. It might have been an accident,” Evangeline said, obviously trying to placate Cecilia. “What if he was in the middle of stealing the jewels and the guard interrupted him? Anyone caught red-handed might lash out.”

“But I also don’t believe he’s a thief,” Cecilia said. “Why can’t I convince you that LeCompte isn’t that sort of man? He might be hiding something, but I can tell he’s fundamentally an honorable man. It isn’t in his character to steal.” Cecilia let out a sigh. “At the very least, please don’t confront him as though you believe he’s the thief.”

“That’s ludicrous,” Evangeline said. “What if LeCompte shoots him?”

Cecilia’s jaw dropped. “Evangeline! I can’t believe you think he’d do such a thing.” She stiffened her spine and sat up a bit straighter. “But since you’re both certain he’s a criminal, the three of us should speak to him together. Even if he’s as evil as you both seem to think he is, he can’t very well kill us all. We can tell our coachman that if he suspects any foul play, he should summon the police immediately.” She gave her sister a disapproving look. “Honestly, I think you’re being ridiculous.”

Evangeline crossed her arms. “In that case, why did you come with us?”

“Because I care about you. Both of you. I want to help.” She pressed her hand against Devin’s where it rested on her waist. “But also because even though I don’t believe M LeCompte is a thief, I believe you saw him there. I want to know why he was in that part of the hotel. Perhaps he knows something that could help us.”

“You’re wrong about LeCompte,” Evangeline said. “But I’m glad you’re with us.”

Devin remained quiet during their conversation, but he spoke up now. “I don’t want you there when I confront LeCompte. I couldn’t bear it if either of you were injured.”

“It isn’t your decision,” Cecilia said, “it’s mine. And I’m coming with you. I insist.”

“Me, too,” Evangeline said.

Every inch of Devin’s body that was in contact with her tensed. “And if I forbid it?” he asked.

“Forbid it? Don’t be tedious, Devin. You know I’ll win this argument.” She shot him a beguiling smile.

“We’re both coming,” Evangeline said. “We’re Paring women. We know our own minds, and not even our husbands can order us about.”

Cecilia met Evangeline’s gaze. “That’s right. Before all else, we’re Paring women and nothing, not even marriage, can ever change that fact.”

Devin let out a loud groan. “Is this what I’ll face as your husband? Will you ignore all my requests?”

“Of course not,” Cecilia said primly. “Only the ones that make no sense.”

“Fine,” he said. His voice sounded strained. “You can come inside with me. But when we face LeCompte, I insist that you both stay behind me and out of his reach.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Cecilia said.

“I refuse to compromise on this point. What if he grabbed you and threatened to hurt you to force me to comply?” He gazed intently at her, as though trying to communicate how important this was to him. “Please, Cecilia. I couldn’t bear to see you harmed.”

Cecilia could see the fear in his eyes. What if she was wrong? What if LeCompte
had
attacked that man? Was she willing to gamble everything on her intuition? Of course not. “All right. I’ll stay behind you.”

His smile of relief erased some of the tension on his face, but she could tell he was still worried.

A moment later, the carriage pulled to a halt in front of a brick townhouse with a bright blue door. “We’re here,” Devin said.

As they all climbed out, Devin gave the coachman explicit instructions to wait for them and to call for the police if he suspected they might be in danger.

Cecilia focused her gaze on the brass turnkey-style door chime mounted in the center of LeCompte’s front door. Devin reached out and gave it a quick twist, causing a flurry of bells to sound.

That should wake everyone in the house.

They didn’t have long to wait before the butler came to the door. He gave them an irritated look. “Monsieur LeCompte is not currently accepting visitors. If you’d like to leave a card, I’ll let him know you called.”

“I’m afraid I must insist,” Devin said. “This is a matter of some urgency.”

The butler stood there for a moment, obviously trying to decide whether he should wake his master or send them packing. Finally, he opened the door far enough for them to enter, and with a frown, he waved them inside.

He led them into the sitting room just off the foyer, used a taper he lit from his candle to ignite the gas wall sconces and then left, presumably to deliver Devin’s calling card.

Even in Cecilia’s exhausted state, she noticed that every detail in the room was perfect, including the oil painting of a French park, the gilt-framed mirrors, and the elaborate arrangement of purple and cream flowers on the side table. Despite the perfection of the ecru room, or perhaps because of it, the decor revealed little about the owner. There were no books or any items that might have personal significance. There were no mementos, no portraits—in fact, there was nothing that gave her an insight into M LeCompte.

Exhaustion was etched into every line of Devin’s face, but so was his determination. Evangeline, on the other hand, was busily exploring every corner of the drawing room. The girl seemed to have a limitless supply of energy.

The drawing room door opened with a rattle and Cecilia whirled to face it. LeCompte stood framed in the opening dressed only in trousers, a partially unbuttoned white shirt, and a glower of intense displeasure.

“You have exactly two minutes to tell me why you’re here, or my servants will summon the police,” LeCompte said.

Right now, LeCompte didn’t look like the supercilious man Cecilia had come to know over the past few weeks. Anger swept away his veil of pretense, and she could see the keen intelligence she’d always suspected.

At LeCompte’s words, Devin glanced at Cecilia and raised one brow, as though he believed that the angry outburst supported Evangeline’s theory that LeCompte was the culprit.

Cecilia stepped forward to explain, but Devin moved in front of her, shooting her a quelling look. She remembered her promise to stay away from LeCompte and paused.

“Go right ahead,” Devin said. “Having the police join us seems like a wise idea. We’re here because you were seen tonight at the hotel just outside the room where the jewels were being held.” He tightened his grip on the silver handle of the cane and gave the shaft a sharp twist. It clicked as the blade released, but he didn’t pull it free. Not yet.

LeCompte became very still, yet he continued to radiate power and energy, much like a cocked and loaded pistol.

“Who saw me there? You?” He stared thoughtfully at Devin but then shook his head. “No, or you would have said something at the ball.” He glanced at Cecilia and Evangeline, but narrowed his gaze at the younger girl. “It must have been you, Miss Evangeline Paring. Am I right?”

Evangeline lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes. “You came to that conclusion rather quickly for a man who pretends to be nothing more than a gossip.”

“It’s the only explanation for your presence here,” he said. “Tell me what you think you saw.”

“Think? I
know
what I saw, M LeCompte,” Evangeline said. “I saw you, approaching the door of the room where my mother’s jewels were being stored.”

“Did you see me enter the room?”