Alone with Anteros and his man in the gloomy darkness of the stairwell leading downward into the shadowed depths of the cellars, the meager light from a lamp all that shimmered, Sophia shivered from the cold chill sweeping up from below, the dampness of the gritty walls clogging her nose and mouth.

“Ensure all remains secure,” Anteros instructed Giovani and after his man disappeared downstairs to check the cellars, the captain swung his superfine black jacket off and eased it around her shoulders. Once he’d encased her within its warmth, he said, “You told me you’ve uncovered something of great import in your brother’s study. There is no one who will interrupt us here. Speak freely, Sophia.”

“The book that contained the drawing of the jade mask was titled Peculiar Warnings, and I uncovered the same novel on the bookshelves in my brother’s study. After reading the first few lines I was taken aback by the rather ominous similarities between what was written and what had happened to Donnelly’s father.”

“What were those similarities?” Interest flared in his eyes.

“The novel spoke of the death of Count Clement, his clay-cold body being discovered in his library by his eldest son. The son, quite distressed at seeing his father on the floor, located a particular tome on one of the bookshelves, thrust it free and uncovered a secret cabinet. Within the cabinet, he removed his late father’s papers, those of great consequence.”

“There are huge similarities. Continue, please.” He gripped her arms. “Leave nothing out.”

“The passage stirred my memories. Only a day before the old earl’s death, I visited him in his library. He’d been sitting in front of the latticed windows as he’d held a burgundy leather-bound ledger in hand and when I joined him, he set that ledger aside. We chatted, and he showed me some of his favorite books and philosophical essays on his shelves. He stood right next to a series of Minerva novels and tapped the spine of one slightly out of position. It seemed a rather purposeful tap, and that was the exact tome which held the drawing. I can’t help but wonder if the old earl was trying to convey some kind of secret message to me. He would have read that book, as he’d read each one in his library.”

“

“Mr. Taylor arrived to speak to him, and since I hadn’t wished to hold up his meeting with his man of affairs, I excused myself and returned to the drawing room where I joined Lady Maria.”

“Is Donnelly aware of this?”

“He’s aware I spoke to his father the day before his passing, that we sat together in his library, but I’d completely forgotten about his father tapping the spine of the Minerva novel, or that Taylor arrived to speak to him, so no, he’s not aware of everything.” She searched Anteros’s gaze. “Now Captain Lewiston is missing and Donnelly has gone to Geoffrey Lewiston’s tavern to track him down. What are your thoughts? Are we getting closer to uncovering the killer?”

“It isn’t possible for Captain Lewiston to have killed Donnelly’s father and brother, not when he set sail on the Fortune Maria before the murders took place, but with his disappearance I’d surmise he’s our thief, which means the thief and killer aren’t one and the same as I’d first suspected. As Donnelly suspects too.”

“Do you have any inkling who the murderer is?”

“Not as yet, but I won’t halt my investigations until I uncover the killer’s identity.” He gestured down the stairs into the darkened depths. “A tunnel leads from this cellar below into the rear gardens. My coach awaits me in the rear alleyway.”

“You’ve come prepared for a swift departure?”

“Yes, I’ve always found it rather advantageous to have a secondary exit point, even from a lavish ball. I’m also leaving now, and considering the seer’s grave warning, I must take you with me until all is uncovered.”

“Is that the grave warning you didn’t yet wish to tell me?”

“Yes, but the time has now come to speak of it. Shira told me that danger awaits on the high tide, that only the lady who wears glittering gold can keep death from coming for the one her heart desires.” He motioned to her gown. “That is you, Sophia. Are you prepared to leave?”

“Of course.” She had no intention of allowing James to fall into danger, not now, not ever.

“Captain?” Giovani strode up the stairs, appearing out of the dark as he joined them under the flickering lamplight.

“Does all remain secure?”

“Yes.”

“Good. We’re leaving, along with Lady Sophia.” He plucked the glittering diamond from his ear and passed it to his man. “Find Lady Olivia Trentbury in the ballroom and hand this to her, along with this message. Inform her that her sister is joining me on a mission of great importance to the eastern docks, and that she must hide the truth. Give her my word that I shall keep her sister safe and return her as soon as possible.”

“Will do, Captain.” Giovani snuck out the door and disappeared back along the passageway toward the ballroom.

Anteros closed the door, lifted the lamp and caught her elbow.

Carefully, he steered her down the stairwell, the lamp’s glow guiding their way as he swung it before them. They passed rows of shelved wine then stepped through a doorway and down into the depths of a tunnel.

The cloying odor of dirt and grit strengthened, then a hundred feet on, a wash of fresh night air blew all around and she scrambled out the opening of the tunnel and emerged within the shadows of a clump of thick bushes. A low branch snagged the ribbon of her mask and she pulled it free. Moonlight shimmered over the rear gate of the property and footsteps crunched over fallen leaves.

Giovani appeared and gave Anteros a brief nod that surely meant all had gone well with Olivia, then he unclipped the gate and motioned them through.

“To the Boar Head Tavern, with all haste,” Anteros instructed his driver as he aided her directly into the confines of his awaiting coach. With the door closed, he flicked out his tails and sat.

She held onto her seat as the carriage jerked forward, the velvet pads plush and thick, her destination not one she was currently dressed for. “I don’t suppose you have a change of clothes on hand?”

“I never leave home without being prepared.” From underneath his seat, he pulled a satchel free and opened it between them. . “These items belong to Wills, a lad in my employ. Wills won’t mind if you borrow what you need.”

“Thank you.”

“Allow me to give you some privacy, or as much as I currently can.” He turned and kept his gaze on the scenery out his window, where the moon shimmered down over private driveways leading to stately homes.

“How did you come to employ a lad?” she asked as she removed the jacket he’d slung around her shoulders and not allowing herself a second thought, removed her gown of glittering golden gauze and the pale silk lining. The cooler air washed over her bare skin, but only for a mere moment before she donned the snug trousers and tugged on the coarse shirt.

“Wills wished to escape his former employer, so he stole a skiff and when a storm passed through he ended up adrift. Pirates plucked him from the sea and sold him to my cousin in Tangier, whom I happened to be visiting at the time. Wills might be savvy with a thick skin, but he also has a heart of gold that will never harden. Since he wouldn’t have survived a single month with my cousin, who is unfortunately far too ruthless, I took him with me. Wills is now family to me. Giovani and I watch out for him.”

“I see, and is it true that Tangier is a safe haven for spies? Those are the rumors I’ve heard bandied about here and there.” She donned the jacket and stuffed the gray woolen cap over her upswept do, then swapped her slippers for the scuffed leather boots at the bottom of the satchel. “I’m presentable.”

“The rumors are very true, which is why I have a home along the Maghreb Coast. A spymaster thrives on being among his fellow spies.” The captain faced her, inspected her from head to toe and nodded firmly. “Clearly, I can now no longer sell you for a fortune at the souk in Tangier.”

She smiled, his teasing tone breaking the tension. “You honestly would have tried?”

“Yes, even though your sister might never have spoken to me again.” Smirking, he plucked weapons out from under the seat, strapped a sword belt on and slotted the curved blade of a saber at his hip. A pistol got pocketed next, then he slid a dagger into his boot.

“You seem to have quite the arsenal on hand. Do you have a spare pistol by chance?” She wouldn’t mind some protection herself, even though she’d never touched a weapon in her life.

“Do you know how to use one?” He quirked a brow.

“No, but I’m a quick learner.” She folded her gown and tucked it away in the satchel.

“I see, but a smaller, more discreet weapon is what you need.” He removed more weaponry from under the bench and opened a slot in the roof before handing them up to Giovani. With the final remaining dagger in hand, he slid the sheathed blade into her boot and tucked her trouser hem over it. “You’re now armed, but you must allow Giovani and I to guard and protect you. I give you my word no harm shall come to you.”

“Thank you.” She patted the dagger, the cold steel reassuring against her skin.

Onward, they rode, while out the window drizzle slicked the cobbled streets and fog rolled in. Brick buildings, blackened with soot, held broken front steps and uneven doors. Shouts and curses mingled with the pounding of their horses’ hooves.

When they finally slowed and halted before an inn with a wooden sign swinging above the front door reading Boar Head Tavern, she clenched the edge of the window, her fingers frozen.

Two rowdy, drunk men staggered out, one falling onto his face in a mucky puddle. Another man stepped clear of those two, his attire immaculate, a man she’d met before at various balls. She whispered his name, “Blackburne.”

“Where?” Anteros slid in front of the window and growled under his breath. “I see him, and his presence here at the Boar Head Tavern is far too coincidental for my liking.”

“Isn’t he the man you recovered the jade mask from?”

“Yes, of which he bought for a large sum from a contact of his at the eastern docks. Devil take it. He must have purchased it from Geoffrey Lewiston who owns this tavern.” He snorted, his gaze narrowing. “I’ve spoken with Geoffrey Lewiston before, although not recently. Captain Lewiston and his brother are clearly working together.”

Blackburne walked past their coach and another man with an eye patch caught up to him. The two men rounded the corner and Anteros scowled.

“Do you know the other man?” she asked him.

“The man with the eye patch is Geoffrey Lewiston.” He rapped the ceiling and when Giovani popped his head through the upper slot, he instructed his man, “Tell the driver to discreetly follow both the solicitor and the tavern owner.”

They followed the two men to the corner, where Blackburne and Lewiston shook hands and suddenly separated. Blackburne alighted into a carriage and Lewiston strode on toward the docks.

“Who do we follow now?” Giovani asked Bourbon through the slot.

“We know where Blackburne lives and has his offices, so we can catch up with him later. For now, we need to follow Geoffrey Lewiston since he is headed toward the ships moored at berth.” Anteros nodded at his man. “That is a jade pin glinting from his shirt.”

“I noticed it too,” Giovani muttered.

So had Sophia.

She held tight to her seat as they bumped along. Geoffrey strode directly along a walkway toward a three-mast ship at berth, while their coach came to a rocking halt when they could go no farther.

Anteros bounded out, reached back and swung her down beside him.

Giovani, heavily armed, jumped down and joined them.

Anteros tugged the brim of her cap lower over her face and leaned into her ear. “Stay behind me where I know you’re safe. That’s an order.”

“Yes, sir.”