Mary worried the inside of her cheek as she leaned against the cool brick of the dockside building. She turned her gaze to Gabriel, whose jaw was clenched tight.
Was he well? Was he worried for his cousin? She wished she could ask him how he felt, but now was certainly not an appropriate time for such an interrogation.
A low fog tumbled its way over the cobblestones to seep through her boots to her feet, sending a chill through her.
Gabe leaned toward her. “Lady Kerr is handing over the documents.”
Indeed. Mary looked toward the frigate and the petite, womanly figure had an arm outstretched toward a tall, slender man that Mary assumed was their leader, the forged documents clutched within her hand.
The tall man, whose face Mary had yet to see, accepted the documents and began to examine them.
“Oh dear.” Mary cringed as the man began to shout, waving the pieces of parchment around.
He tossed the documents over the ship’s rail, their cream colour rippling like waving leaves as they fluttered to rest upon the surface of the water.
Lady Kerr cowered from the man, and from her waving hand gestures, Mary assumed that she was giving excuses and spouting her innocence.
The apparent leader of their group withdrew a pistol and aimed it at Lady Kerr. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger. An echoing boom reached their ears and rippling far beyond.
Both Colin and Gabe cursed soundly under their breath, and Mary gasped, one hand covering her mouth as Lady Kerr crumpled.
A loud shout carried its way to them, drawing Mary’s attention.
“Frederick, ye demmed fool!” Gabe muttered. “Leave well enough alone and keep yer mouth shut!”
Mary was riveted on the scene unfolding on the frigate. An incensed Lord Winning charged at the tall, slender man as another of the traitors lifted Lady Kerr bodily and tossed her into the Thames. A scuffle ensued. The leader stood calm and collected as Gabe’s cousin threw punches and curses at the man.
“Leave off, Frederick, leave off, Frederick!” Gabe chanted, apparently trying to will his cousin to halt this foolishness.
Boom!
“Nae!” Gabe shouted hoarsely.
Gabe rose, but Mary gripped his sleeve. Frederick’s lifeless body followed Lady Kerr’s into the Thames, the hollow splash loud as a death knoll. As sorry as she was for the death of Lord Winning, she feared Gabe’s reaction most.
“Nae,” Gabe whispered, his voice rough as gravel.
Colin shifted beside her. “My sincerest condolences on the loss of your cousin, my lord.”
Gabe cut a sharp glance at Colin. “I donnae wish te be a Baron. Donnae call me lord.”
“Hush.” Mary’s stomach clenched with worry. “They are returning.”
Indeed, their boat crossed the channel and was approaching the dock.
Mary watched with her heart in her throat as the traitors—once seven turned five—clambered from the small rowboat.
They could hear the traitors’ voices now.
“Your men have yet to find him?” one man asked.
“Not the man, no. Quite tricky to get their hands on, eh wot?” Mr. Piper replied. “But they discovered that he is to take passage on a ship bound for the Americas, set to sail tomorrow at first light.”
“Have a man on it. Do not let Spencer out of your man’s sight while aboard. Have him follow the devil home to his uncle and kill the both of them.”
Mary glanced at Gabe’s taut features. She could not let his cousin’s murder go without a suspect, and she knew that the witnesses would not speak of it to anyone. There must be something Mary could do…
An idea began to form in her mind. She did not have the luxury of time to plot it out fully, but she knew she must act.
Leaving Colin and Gabe’s side, she staggered forward.
“Mary!” Gabe called in an undertone.
She ignored him and fell onto the cobblestones in the path of the traitors.
* * *
Gabe’s heart stopped.
Turning to Colin, Gabe muttered, “Donnae move.”
He rushed toward Mary. His very skin was hurting from his fear for her safety. That man was a ruthless killer as was so very plain from what they just witnessed. And now Mary would throw herself at the mercy of that villain’s compassion? Inconceivable!
Please, God, donnae let anything happen te Mary.
“Could ye spare a shilling?” he heard Mary say in a masculine tone.
“Don’t give him anything, my lord,” one of the unknown men said. “He’s drunk and will only spend it on more liquor.”
“I willnae, I swear! I’m hungry, I am…” she pleaded with them on her knees.
Their leader recoiled from her.
“Beat some sense into ‘im your lordship,” the other man jeered.
Staggering nearer, Gabe’s breath caught in his throat as the man lifted his leg to kick her. Nae! He would not see her beaten.
Gabe deliberately tripped over his own feet, falling in front of her and taking the hard blow to his ribs. He was absurdly grateful for the extra padding of his bandages, though his wounds from Lady Kerr’s whipping stung.
“Why’d ye hurt me, sirrah?” Gabe whimpered. “I only fell, is all!”
The leader scoffed. “Get out of my sight.”
Gabe gripped Mary under one arm and stumbled away, the group of traitors continuing along the street, their shoes and boots clicking along the stones.
He waited until they were out of earshot and he wheeled on Mary. “How could ye do tha’, Mary? Ye scared the devil out of me! Are ye hurt? Are ye well?”
She shook her head.
“Nae?” Gabe said, dismayed.
“No, no.” She pressed a placating hand to his sleeve. “I am just displeased that I did not see his face.”
With a cautious glance behind them, Gabe ushered Mary quickly back to where Colin stood waiting for them.
“Holy hell,” Colin muttered. “When I said that my assignment was waning and I needed some excitement, I certainly didn’t anticipate so much. Are you well, Gabe?”
“Well enough,” Gabe grunted, his ribs paining him.
“Did you see the—”
“No,” Mary cut over Colin’s question. “I did not see the leader’s face. His hat kept his features in shadow. But we now know he is a lord of the realm, at least.”
“Aye.”
Mary’s grey gaze met his. “I did see the other man, though, Gabe.”
His eyebrows lifted and anticipation began to replace his gut-wrenching fear. “Aye?”
“It was Sir Wycliff.”
* * *
“Oh, but we wouldn’t wish to impose.” Mary worried her bonnet’s burgundy ribbons as she stood gazing at Hydra in his foyer. The early morning sun shone through the opened door and glinted off the marble floor.
They had gone directly from their spot in hiding at the docks to the safe house to swiftly clean themselves up and change, then rode hell-bent for Hydra’s town house.
“Nonsense!” Hydra urged them further into the foyer. “It is no imposition at all, Mary. I was to have my family over to break their fast and Cook always prepares far too much. My sister, Anna, my wife, Bridget, and her sister, Kat, would be pleased to see you. Emaline, as you know, cannot return to London or there would be uproar among the ton, but I know she would have been pleased to see you, as well.”
Mary felt a warmth flow through her at Hydra’s words. She had been in residence with his family during much of the past year but did not know that his sisters and wife had taken much notice of her.
She smiled at her superior. “In that case, I would be honoured.”
“Gabe, Greene, please do hand Tim your outerwear and join us in breaking your fast.”
Mary removed her gloves and handed them with her bonnet to Hydra’s butler, then followed him to his morning room.
“I presume that all of you have information for me?” Charles asked in an undertone as a downstairs maid scurried past them.
“Yes, sir.”
“Excellent.” He stopped, spinning around with one arm directing her into the room on the left. “After you, Mary.”
She entered the empty morning room and sat at the grand oak table.
“I had my staff arrange for a larger table in this room, as I find I am always hosting the morning meal.” He smiled at them as he took his own seat at the head of the table. “I also had to find a house in town that suited all of our needs, including a very large morning room.” Raking his fingers through his hair, he settled in his seat. He filled a large mug with coffee, mixing in a healthy amount of sugar, and took a sip.
Mary helped herself to a cup of tea, then poured for Colin and Gabe, who had chosen the seats on either side of her.
“Tell me,” Hydra said, swallowing a gulp of his steaming brew. “How did everything play out last night?” His eyes lowered to Mary’s bruised neck and bandaged shoulder, which she had attempted to hide with a scarf, and his gaze softened with concern. “Mary, you have been injured…”
Gabe growled. “Damned Boxton.”
Hydra sat straighter in his seat. “Anthony Walstone, Viscount Boxton?”
“Aye. One in the same.”
“By damn!” Hydra pounded his fist on the table in outrage, causing the teacups to rattle in their saucers. “Where is he? Where is the bastard? I shall have him shipped to the Americas!” He pointed a finger at them, his eyes alight with fury. “After what he did to my sister and then this to you, the blighter deserves to be hung!”
“Here, here!” Colin lifted his cup of tea.
Gabe cleared his throat. “I have been informed tha’ Stevens has taken care of the matter.”
Awareness dawned in Hydra’s dark blue eyes. “Ah. Stevens was there, was he? He witnessed what occurred with Mary?”
“He was, sir, and I believe he did,” Mary said.
A deep, wicked laugh escaped her superior before he took another healthy gulp of his coffee. “The bastard deserved what came to him, then. Stevens cannot abide by men who abuse women… One can only imagine what he did to the blighter.” His gaze rested on Mary once more. “I have summoned Simon—that is, Dr. Claridge—to see my wife. I’m certain that he would see to your injuries, should you wish him to perform an examination, Mary.”
“That is kind of you, Hydra, but I believe I am fine.”
“All the same,” Gabe cut in, “ye should let him examine ye, Mary.”
She nodded in reluctant acceptance. “Very well.”
Gabe leaned forward in his seat beside Mary. “Hydra, have you by chance received any news on Hugh?”
The man shook his head regretfully. “I am afraid not, Gabe. I will let you know the moment I hear anything.”
Colin cursed.
“Ta.” Gabe nodded.
They fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.
Hydra clapped his hands together, the loud crack reverberating off the walls of the morning room.
“Tell me what news you have.” Hydra leaned back in his chair, his coffee in his hands. “Did you learn the identity of any other traitors? Did the rendezvous go as planned?”
“Not precisely…” Mary began, and Colin and Gabe joined in, the three of them recounting the events of the previous night and early that morning.
Hydra listened with an attentive ear, seemingly absorbing every bit of information they imparted upon him.
When they concluded, Hydra sat, tapping his chin, his lips pursed. “Sir Wycliff, you say? Damn. The man’s been knighted for God’s sake. Whatever would possess a man to turn traitor?”
“Money? Greed? Any number of things, I suppose,” Mary said. “But I am absolutely certain it was him. I would recognize his voice anywhere and I saw his face clear as day. He was introduced to me at the ball, but I’ve seen him several times before, visiting the other actresses backstage.”
Hydra nodded. “Very well. Thank you. You have done an excellent job. Truly superior. I received notice from our man, Callum, this morning that he had concluded his recent assignment. I will put him on it right away.”
“I could follow him, sir,” Colin offered.
Hydra shook his head. “I have an assignment in mind for you once your current one is complete.”
“Of course, sir.”
Hydra cleared his throat and turned a solemn gaze on Gabriel. “My sincerest condolences to you in the loss of your cousin. And to have been there but not able to intervene…” he shook his head. “I cannot fathom…”
“Ta,” Gabe grunted, sorrow touching his beautiful blue eyes. “I didnae like the man, but he was still my cousin. It…pains me tha’ he is gone, most particularly because of a bloody foolish mistake.”
They sat in silence for another moment while they sipped at their steaming drinks.
“‘Mr. Spencer’ boarded the ship to the Americas this morning,” Hydra spoke into the silence.
Apparently grateful for the distraction, Gabe leaned forward eagerly. “Who did you put in my place?”
Hydra swallowed a mouthful of his coffee. “As a matter of fact, Gabe, I found a man bound for the hangman’s noose that has a startling resemblance to you. I offered him freedom with a very large stipend and one stipulation—that he take your name upon boarding—and he gratefully accepted.”
“Good morning, my darling.” A very pregnant Lady Bridget Bradley entered the morning room and greeted her husband in a warm embrace.
Gabe, Colin, and Mary stood to greet her.
Before she could be seated, the rest of Hydra’s family members and the doctor entered behind Lady Bradley and the group jovially greeting one another, as well as Mary, Gabe, and Colin, before taking their seats around the table.
Soon they were settled with plates of food, cups of tea, and pleased expressions upon their faces.
Bridget sat across from Colin and smiled at Mary. “It has been some time since I last saw you, Mary. You look well.”
“You gaze upon her with happiness clouding your sight, Bridget,” Dr. Simon Claridge, the Earl of Merrington, said. “Not that anyone could blame you, in your own happy state.” He turned his sky-blue gaze on Mary with a note of concern. “Once you have broken your fast, if you should like me to perform an examination, I would gladly do so.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
He smiled broadly, and Mary could not help but return it with one of her own.
The conversation turned to the warming weather, plays, Kat’s tailoring and modiste shops, and all of their newly adopted animals.
Colin leaned close to Mary’s ear and whispered, “Might I speak privately with you later about Isobel?”
“Of course,” she whispered back. “Is your sister well?”
His lips thinned. “Not particularly.”
Mary nodded. “I would be happy to help in any way that I can.”
With a small grin, Colin said in a low voice, “I never congratulated you on your happiness with Gabe. You two make a charming couple.”
Mary caught Gabe’s eye and a pleasing quiver fluttered low in her stomach. “Thank you. You are right, Colin,” she said quietly, turning back to Colin. “He is my Prince Sebastian.”