Jackal (Regency Refuge Book 2) by Heather Gray

Author:Heather Gray
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Astraea Press Publishing
Published: 2014-06-15T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Juliana, her sisters, and their cane-and-fork-wielding chaperone were abed, and two of the footmen were armed and stationed in the hallway outside their room. The rest of the staff continued working to get the house put to rights. Rupert stayed up, assuming Tobias would make an appearance sometime in the wee hours of the morning He was not disappointed.

Barrows showed Tobias into the study a whisper past three in the morning. Tobias' colorful language at the sight of the mess made Rupert grateful the man hadn't come earlier, before the worst of it had been put to rights. Tobias threw himself into a chair near the fire. "I don't know what to say."

"You chose this staff for what purpose? To keep an eye on us? Or to protect?"

His shoulders slumped, Tobias answered, "A little of both, but mostly for protection."

"Did you doubt me? Or are you aware of something about the Clairmont sisters which I'm not?"

Looking uncomfortable, Tobias picked at imaginary lint on his breeches for a minute before answering. "This whole thing with your uncle and cousin dying, and the betrothal contracts – it all came about so suddenly."

"And sudden is suspicious." It wasn't a question. Rupert grasped the rules of the game, and he likely would have taken precautions as well, had he been in Tobias' shoes.

"The Bowstreet Runners chased down two of the men from tonight. One of them refuses to talk, but the other one's been a veritable fount of information." Rupert lifted a brow in question. "It was a six man crew, and they were supposed to subdue the staff and you and then take the two youngest girls. They found none of the family home and became agitated. The situation only got worse from there, leading to the mess you discovered when you arrived."

"Can it be traced back to the brothers?"

"He's given up locations on two more men in the crew. We're hoping one of them will lead us to the Stanwich brothers."

"Are you in charge of the search? Or the constabulary?"

Tobias waggled his hand. "The lead constable is keeping me informed. He owes me a favor or two."

"Must be a big favor."

The tension in Tobias' face eased. "I allowed him to marry my daughter. I'm pretty sure he'll owe me for the rest of his life."

"Lucien delivered a note to me at the Wentworth Ball."

Tobias paled. "Surely he wouldn't…?"

Rupert was heartened by Tobias' shock. "This isn't just me he's toying with. I've got an entire family to protect now."

"You want out."

"Can you blame me? The minister is attempting to shine a light on the parts of my job that, by necessity, need to be kept in the dark. Either that, or he's lost his mind. Either way, my secrets are no longer safe."

"There have been rumors of insanity…"

Rupert stilled. "Say that again."

Tobias waved his hand. "Not the minister, exactly."

"Out with it." Rupert had no patience left for protocol or decorum.

"Lysander hasn't been seen in polite society in years. He shows up now and then at the minister's home, but never in public.

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