CHAPTER NINE
The interior was as unassuming as the exterior. A narrow hallway led to a half wall behind which a man scribbled into a small book. He looked up as they approached, and rose with a polite smile on his face. Dev let Lilly go first, and stood at her back as she spoke.
“Good day to you, sir. My name is Miss Braithwaite, and I came here a week ago for my fifth visit and spoke with Sergeant Blacklock, yet again, about the matter of missing boys. I wish to follow up and see what is being done about this problem, as one more child was taken just last night.”
It wasn't a position he was used to, yet Dev did not intervene as she addressed the man. His siblings usually let him deal with things; it had just always been that way, yet not this woman. He had a feeling she had dealt with a great many things in her life, and wondered again at the relationship she had with her brother.
His thoughts returned to the driver of that carriage. He had seen his features clearly, and was sure he had directed his horses deliberately at Lilly. But why?
“Well, I can honestly say I know nothing about the matter, Miss Braithwaite. Where have these boys disappeared from? Are they in your service perhaps?”
“They are children who earn their living on the streets of London, sir. Young, helpless children who have fallen prey to some sort of—of foul play.”
Dev watched the man lower his eyes before once again lifting them. He was sure there had been an eye roll in there somewhere.
“As I'm sure the previous officer told you, Miss Braithwaite, the young street urchins are transient. They've probably just moved on to fleece someone else.”
“Fleece?”
There was little doubting to anyone present that Lilly was not pleased with the term. Ice had formed on the word as she said it. Dev noted her elevated chin and rigid shoulders. Small and perfectly formed, she almost quivered with indignation.
He wondered again how he'd been so foolish as to not see the woman beneath the exterior she portrayed to society. Possibly because most evenings she was hiding in the corners of the room and he never cared to look for her.
“Ahhh, well, as I see it, Miss Braithwaite, there is little we can do to find these boys, as in all honesty them disappearing is nothing new.”
“Six boys have simply vanished and this is nothing new to you?”
If her spine became any more rigid it would snap. Fearing she was about to launch a stronger attack on the helpless man, Dev stepped forward.
“My name is Lord Sinclair. My uncle, the Earl of Wynburg, is a man most interested in the workings of the Watch, as is my brother-in-law, the Duke of Raven. They are both eager to hear the outcome of today's enquiry, as the children who are forced to make an existence on our streets are a particular concern to both.”
Dev felt Lilly's eyes on him. She didn't glare precisely, but he thought it inferred. The man looked from her to him, and then nodded. His demeanor had changed at the names Dev had dropped into the conversation. He sat up straight, and the pitying look on his face had vanished.
“If you will wait through here, my lord,” he said, opening a door behind him. “I will speak with one of my colleagues over the matter.”
“Excellent. Take a seat, Bee. We shall return shortly.” Dev waved the maid to a seat and then placed a hand to Lilly's back and urged her forward. Her muscles tensed, as if to stop him, but he used enough force to propel her forward or end up on her face.
“I should have my maid with me.”
“She is just outside the door, which is open.”
The room was gray and stark, one table and two chairs. A small window high in the wall afforded dull light and Dev thought that perhaps enough time spent in here under interrogation and he would tell them his secrets too.
“Why do you hide behind that facade in the evenings, when it is clearly not who you are?”
“Pardon?”
The hands that were fussing with her skirts stopped as she looked at him.
Dev positioned his chair close to hers before lowering himself to sit. She attempted to shuffle sideways, but he wasn't allowing that. Leaning close, he braced a hand on the back.
“I cannot work out why you are trying so hard to stop society seeing how beautiful you truly are. And that inside that lovely head is an intelligence to rival many.”
She trilled out a little laugh.
“La, Lord Sinclair, I do declare it is wondrous to hear you speak of my intelligence.”
“It's too late to take a step backward, Lilly. I have seen through you.” Dev cupped her chin, then brushed a finger gently over her lip.
“Stop touching me,” she hissed, trying to remove his hand.
“Tell me the truth.”
She pushed his hand aside.
“You have no right to speak to me so intimately. No right to demand answers from me. We are strangers.”
She was scared, and he knew how she felt, as he was too. This, what lay between them, had sprung to life too quickly, and they were both reeling.
“I have no wish to hurt you, Lilly.”
“If that is indeed true, then being here alone with you will harm my reputation irreparably. Plus, were anyone to hear you speaking to me so intimately, word would spread with haste, and I have no wish for my reputation to be compromised.”
“All true, and yet your activities already do that regularly. Walking about talking to your urchins with only a servant at your side on seedy London streets after dark. Having that house in Temple Street, and what goes on there. So I think my being in this room alone with you is of little concern when the rest is taken into consideration, don't you?”
“I must insist you keep that information to yourself. Were it to get about that I have Temple Street, and have done the things you say, many will not be pleased.”
“I will keep your secrets.”
Their eyes held, and he was suddenly aware of every breath she drew.
“God, you are a beautiful woman.” Dev closed the distance between them.
“Please don't kiss me again.” Her words were a frantic whisper.
“Because you want it as much as I and that scares you.”
She placed a hand on his chest and pushed.
“I am scared of nothing, and most especially not an arrogant nobleman with far too high an opinion of himself.”
“Liar.” Dev kissed her cheek, then sat upright as he heard the door squeak.
“That”—she waved her hand about—”is improper behavior, and I wish you to stop it at once.”
Before Dev could reply, in walked a man.
“Lord Sinclair, I am Sergeant Gavell.”
“Sergeant.” He rose to shake the man's hand.
“Miss Braithwaite.”
“Sergeant.” Lilly nodded.
The man made a lot of fuss about placing his chair on the other side of the desk. Short and round with a bald head, the inspector had a bushy mustache that took up a great deal of his face.
“I understand that you are concerned over the disappearance of six boys who make their living on the streets of London?”
He didn't look at Lilly as he spoke, eyes firmly fixed on Dev, and this, he knew, would not please her.
“As this is my sixth visit here, I wonder you do not know more about this matter. I can also hear the disbelief in your voice, Sergeant Gavell. Do you believe I am making this story up?”
Dev didn't sigh, but he thought about it. The woman had no idea how to deal with a man like the sergeant, who had absolutely no respect for women, even ones of noble birth.
“Sergeant Gavell,” Dev began after shooting her a look that he hoped she interpreted to mean be quiet. “As you are aware, my uncle, brother-in-law, and I are actively involved in helping those less fortunate than ourselves, and we believe these children fall into that category.”
“I hardly think that—”
“And as such when it was brought to my attention that the boys were suddenly disappearing, I decided to accompany Miss Braithwaite on this visit to this Watch House, to lend my weight behind her enquiries. Not of course that I needed to add any weight; after all, a woman's word is equally as strong as a man’s, don't you think, Sergeant?”
Sergeant Gavell didn't see his argument at all. His mustache was now quivering with indignation.
“My men have very important work to undertake, my lord, and running around looking for those little... little feral creatures is, I am afraid, not a high priority for us.”
Dev felt Lilly tense, no doubt getting ready to fire a volley of insults at the sergeant’s head. He placed his hand over hers where it gripped the edges of the seat. Giving it a warning squeeze, he hoped she understood his need for her to keep quiet.
“Of course, if you are unable to spare the manpower for such an important task, I could hire several Runners. I'm sure they will do a thorough job. Understandably, my brother-in-law, the Duke of Raven, and uncle, the Earl of Wynburg, will be very disappointed not to have the Watch behind this investigation, however....”
“That will not be necessary, my lord! I am sure we can spare a few men to investigate the matter.”
Sergeant Gavell's color had deepened and Dev could tell he was not happy that he had used his connections to apply the pressure.
Minutes later Dev escorted Lilly outside the building. She reluctantly took his arm as they walked back to where the carriage waited.
“I'm sure you could have used the Earl of Wynburg and the Duke of Raven's names at least twice more in that conversation, had you tried harder.”
“I do believe that was sarcasm, Lilly.”
“How astute of you.”
“A simple thank-you will suffice.”
“Thank you,” she muttered. “Loath as I am to admit it, I see now that I would not have achieved the same result had I come alone.”
“I accept your apology.”
“I did not apologize!”
“Foolish me, I had believed that was exactly what you just did.”
She huffed out a loud breath.
“I am going to rethink my earlier thoughts about you and your family, my lord.”
Reaching the carriage, Dev opened the door and assisted her inside. “How so?”
“I had rather envied the close relationship you and your siblings appear to share,” she said, settling herself on the seat and then making those small, elegant, ladylike gestures all woman did when you seated them in a carriage. “However, having been the recipient of your taunts and dominating behavior, I realize now that I had a lucky escape.”
“I do not taunt, I tease, and surely you must allow me some defense against the barrage of insults and abuse I receive daily from my family.”
He was subjected to a very thorough look and Dev felt suddenly exposed, as if she were really seeing him, the man beneath the façade, the man who had very real fears and insecurities. The man who had struggled with the weight of supporting his family for so long. It was disconcerting to be inspected by those eyes, unwavering in their intensity.
“You would lay down your life for your family, wouldn't you, my lord?”
“In a heartbeat,” he answered her soft words.
“Then they are indeed lucky to have you as their protector.”
He heard the longing in her voice and wondered again if she had anyone at her back, and the uncomfortable thought followed that he wanted to be that person.
“I am sure your brother feels the same about you, Lilly.”
“No, he does not.”
She looked away from him then, and as her maid was seated across from him, he did not do as he wished and pick her up and hold her on his lap, to soothe away the sorrow that lay behind those words.
Dev studied the lines of her body and sent up a silent prayer that she had not shown herself to any other men. Had anyone truly looked and seen what lay beneath the surface of Miss Braithwaite, she would have been inundated with suitors. And the idea of another man anywhere near her made him want to roar.
He didn't think about that anymore, as what lay between them was new for them both. But he would, Dev reasoned. He would think about it long and hard, and the end result would surely be that she was his.