The Mark of a Rogue by Adele Clee

Author:Adele Clee
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2019-09-12T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

The walk to St Clement’s was not without its hardship. All amorous thoughts of Mr Trent left Verity’s mind the moment they came within a hundred yards of the lane. The disgusting scent of filth and rotten meat permeated the air, clawed at the back of her throat. It was so foul she covered her nose and mouth with her hand for fear of retching.

Mr Trent cast her a sidelong glance when she gripped his arm more firmly. “It’s the smell of the dead. The stench from the slaughterhouses and burial grounds. Here, the living reside amongst decaying corpses. Rats spread disease.”

A sense of dread tightened her nerves.

This area was so far removed from the sprawling green fields of Shepperton, from the likes of Mr Bradley’s extravagant townhouse in Mayfair. The houses were packed as tightly as the poor souls buried in a pauper’s grave. A sinister mist swirled from the gloom like death’s beckoning finger. The hour had long past midnight, yet the constant groan of dissatisfaction echoed from every dirty window and grimy street corner.

Verity lowered her hand. “What business would a man of Mr Wincote’s breeding have here?” Was it naive of her to think that the aristocracy kept to their own part of town?

“Nefarious business, I’m sure.”

Mr Cavanagh pointed to the shadowy outline of a vehicle parked to the left of Clement’s Lane. The entrance to the narrow street might be wide enough for carts and barrows but not a carriage or hackney.

Sleeth climbed down from his box and hurried to greet his master. “Both men left five minutes ago, sir. They carried a package to Portugal Street and climbed into a hackney.”

“A package?” Mr Trent stiffened at her side. “What sort of package?”

“It was hard to tell in the dark, but somethin’ long and thin like a rug.”

Mr Cavanagh sucked in a breath. “This area is a common hunting ground for resurrectionists. You don’t think they’re in the business of selling cadavers?”

A darkness passed over Mr Trent’s handsome features. He rubbed the cleft in his chin. “The words atrocious murderer springs to mind. Some scoundrels have been known to kill in order to provide medical men with fresh bodies. But not men of Layton’s and Wincote’s standing. The price paid hardly warrants the effort.”

“Unless they chose their victims wisely,” Mr Cavanagh countered. “There are many wealthy merchants visiting town, and we’re close to the docks.”

The theory hit Verity like a sharp slap. “Do you think my cousin assisted in such a venture?” Robbing rich foreigners, killing them and selling their bodies? Surely not. Sebastian did not have Mr Trent’s intelligence, but he would not risk swinging from the gallows.

Mr Trent exhaled a heavy sigh. “If he was, then my brother played a part, too. Perhaps once a man is part of the Brethren, he must abide by the wishes of the group.”

Sebastian was foolish enough to befriend immoral men. And had Mr Bradley not confessed to his brother’s poor judgement?

The thought of sinful men drew her gaze to Mr Trent’s lips.

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.