Marquess of Menace by Tammy Andresen

Author:Tammy Andresen [Andresen, Tammy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The next evening, Eliza stood on the outskirts of the Applegates’ ballroom, surveying the crowd.

By all accounts, she and her family shouldn’t be here. However, they’d decided it was less suspicious if they continued to socialize. They’d declined half their invitations but had decided to attend the other half, mostly smaller venues.

But this party they’d already agreed to, so here they were in a throng of dancers.

Dylan had attended with them. Even now, he stood several paces away, talking with Bash and Isabella.

She’d wanted to talk to him too, but she wasn’t certain what to say. I’m sorry I declined. Would you ask again? Can we clarify several points?

None of the words seemed quite right and so she’d said nothing at all and neither had he. Still, he was here and that counted for something. Whether out of allegiance to her or Bash she wasn’t certain, but before the night was over, she’d find a way to talk with him.

Eliza had watched all evening for anyone suspicious. Not that she’d been successful.

The men all looked like the usual suspects. Well dressed, slightly bleary in the eye.

She had seen neither her uncle nor Mr. Taber, which was a relief.

Her toe tapped but not to the music. Instead, it was a rhythm in her own head. How was she going to solve this mystery and discover who was endangering her family?

She huffed a breath as she pushed away from the wall. Mr. Taber was part of the crime ring and his interest in her had been clearly stated. Perhaps she should allow him to court her after all.

But the very idea made her shiver in revulsion.

Swiveling her head, she saw her sister, Abigail, with Aunt Mildred while Emily danced with the major they’d met a few nights ago. Eliza’s eyes narrowed. Was he one of the thieves?

Then another figure caught her notice out of the corner of her eye. Mr. Taber.

His normally hunched shoulders were drawn down even lower as he talked with another man that Eliza didn’t know.

Then the two, still deep in conversation, began making their way out to the terrace.

Eliza watched them for a moment, unsure of what to do. Their conversation could be about nothing. Then again, they could be discussing the very topic on which she was searching for answers.

Without another thought, she started after the two men. She slipped out of the ballroom, just in time to see the two men start down a path. Here in the quiet night a few words filtered toward her ears. “I’ve found the warehouse. Cheapside.”

More whispers she couldn’t hear.

“Fennington Street.”

She slipped down the path, following them. They left the terrace and started down a tree-lined path, bushes closing off the lights and noise of the party. She could hear better but could hardly see. “He knows about us. He’s shut down several of our lines. But if we can get the goods at the source, from his warehouses, it doesn’t matter how many lines he eliminates.”

“We could drive him out of business.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.