Deception (28 page)

“Mr. Fletcher is more honorable than you think. He received no payment for helping us.”

“He will hold you to your wager, Lilly. He only waits on opportunity. You are walking right into his hands by asking another favor.”

She shrugged. “We need his help.”

Drake laughed. “I have to admit I have never heard the words honorable and Fletcher in the same sentence before.”

“You disapprove of the idea?”

Drake straitened his waistcoat. “It is a fine idea. Adding Fletchers people to the few hunters we have on hand could tip the balance in our favor. I have my doubts that you can get him to help.”

She shrugged. “No harm in asking.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” Dorian’s words were more of a grumble.

Dorian’s jealousy should have annoyed her, but she found herself warmed by the idea that someone cared enough to worry about losing her. “I will deal with Mr. Fletcher this afternoon. I have another concern, which I have been meaning to talk about.”

She had the attention of all three men.

“The ‘greater trebox’ in Shafton’s journals. By his own account, these demons were stronger than anything we’ve seen. They died to open that gate. What happens when we reverse the spell?”

Drake rubbed his chin. “You believe we could be bringing those three back to this world?”

“I do not know. Everything we do has a consequence. Maybe Shafton thought ridding the earth of three enormous demons, mounted on a vicious beast, was a better choice than opening a gate to Hell. Maybe he was right. He had no means to destroy three such demons on his own. He had lost his colleagues. He was alone.”

“I never thought I would see the day when Lillian Dellacourt defended the Earl of Shafton.” Brice shook his head.

“I have thought about his situation. He was foolish. I don’t dispute that. But he was also young and did not have the resources of The Company. In fact, without him, there would be no Company and who knows what damage the demons might have reaped by now.”

“Agreed,” Drake said.

Dorian pounded his fist on the desk. “He should have told us about his mistake. His deception wasted valuable time. If not for the actions of his wife, he would still be keeping his secret.”

Drake raised an eyebrow. “That is also true. His lordship has made many mistakes based on pride. I will deal with him. Keep in mind, above all, he is loyal to this cause. He has dedicated his life and a great deal of his resources to it.”

“He should be banned from The Company.” Dorian’s jaw ticked with fury.

“Enough.” Drake cut the air with his hand. “I will deal with Shafton, and this conversation will remain in this room. Miss Dellacourt will attempt to gain the assistance of Fletcher, and we will shut down the original demon gate two days hence. Mrs. Higginbotham believes she will have the information we need completed by that time and there is a waxing moon. Apparently this is a good sign.”

Lillian admired the way Cullum commanded the room. “What about Holyrood?”

Dorian added, “And the tunnel leading directly to the heart of the city?”

“I don’t know. I have more hunters coming to guard the site, but something big is going to happen there, and we do not have the man-power to check every debunked holy place in the country.” Drake sat in the wingback chair and ran his hands through his hair.

It was the first sign she had ever seen that their leader worried about the eventual outcome of this war. Her stomach clenched, and a wave of worry passed over her. “We will find a way to destroy the cavern under Holyrood. It might be wise to set up barricades in the tunnel until we can devise a plan. Mrs. Higginbotham might be able to assist us.”

“You want me to send an untrained witch down in that place?”

“We will go with her,” Dorian said. “Perhaps if she saw the cavern first hand, she might identify what exactly is its purpose.”

“I will speak to her about it.” Drake stood up and straightened his waistcoat. “I’ll expect your report after you speak to Fletcher. I think it might be best if we met here to debrief until we discover who is leaking information to the master. If that is all right with you, Dorian?”

“Of course. Have you made any progress in discovering our spy?”

“I have questioned everyone working at the castle personally. I can detect no deception.”

Dorian raised his eyebrows. “Whoever it is must be an extremely adept liar.”

“Indeed. I will call on you tomorrow.” The hunter general bowed and left without another word.

Brice shook his head. “I will accompany you to Fletcher’s club today.

Lillian stiffened. “I do not require protection, Brice.”

He laughed. “I am aware of that, but we will go in as a family nonetheless.”

Her heart swelled in her chest. It had been so long since she’d been anyone’s family she couldn’t remember how it felt. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. She had to force the emotion down and smile. “Then we will go together.”

Dorian rounded the desk and put his arm around her.

Brice chuckled. “Do you think we might get some luncheon? I’m famished.”

“I will speak to cook.” Dorian gave Stuart a message to have cook prepare something light for luncheon. He took her hand, and they entered a small parlor near the front of the house.

They were alone. Dorian kissed the top of her head. “You were surprised my brother thinks of you as family?”

She drew a deep breath to suppress a bout of tears. “I was surprised.”

“You will be his sister.”

It sounded very nice to be someone’s sister. “I had thought about it, but did not realize he had as well.”

“But you are pleased, are you not, Lilly?”

“More than I can say and much more than I expected. A family was not something I have needed in a long time.”

“And now?”

“It is a lovely notion.”

“I wish my mother could have lived to see all of this.”

“As do I.” She rested her head on his shoulder.

“I was thinking we could marry as soon as all of this is over.”

“You mean, if we live.” She chuckled.

He laughed as well. “Yes. We can consider living through the next few days as a wedding gift.”

“I think that will be the finest gift we could ask for.”

“No jewels or a trousseau for you, Lilly?”

She kissed his chin. “I will settle for a good knife and you at my side.”

“I will do my best.”

“See that you do.”

The club was at the edge of a nice part of town. Across the street, the dodgier part of Edinburgh began. Perfect that Fletcher’s establishment straddled the city’s lower and upper class neighborhoods. The windows were all lit in the well maintained building, and the small garden bloomed with roses.

“This is lovely,” Lillian said.

“Fletch likes to put on a show.” Dorian banged the huge lion-faced knocker.

Dugan MacGregor opened the door. His eyes widened before he relaxed. “We didna’ expect you so soon, Miss Dellacourt.

He led them through a gaming hall. Several card games were underway in spite of the early hour. The clientele was diverse, and Dorian expected richer men to arrive after the dinner hour.

Dugan brought them to a small, very well appointed parlor. The dark reds and greens accented the high polish of the wood. Here there were riches only found in the finest homes. “If you will wait in the parlor, I will tell Fletch you are here.”

Lillian sat on a chair that cost what many people earned in a year. “This is far nicer than I expected.”

“He has found a niche here and does quite well.” Dorian stood over Lillian’s left shoulder.

Brice took a position against the wall at the back of the room.

Angus Fletcher stepped inside the parlor. He smiled at Lillian, then looked from Dorian to Brice.

“My brother, Brice Lambert.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lambert. I am very sorry about your mother. She was a remarkable woman.”

Brice had been leaning against the wall, but he stood up and crossed his arms over his chest. “Did you know the marchioness?”

Dorian cocked his head, trying to recall a situation where his mother and Fletcher might have crossed paths. Nothing came to mind.

Fletcher’s jaw moved from side to side and he took an awkward pause. “I know everyone in Edinburgh.”

Dorian clenched his fists. “Are you suggesting my mother set foot in this club?”

“Of course not.”

Dorian relaxed.

Fletcher looked away and walked to a chair across from Lillian. “But she might have once taken pity on a young man starving in the streets of London.”

Dorian’s chest tightened. “I did not know you lived in London.”

Sitting forward, Fletcher clasped his hands together and placed his elbows on his knees. “I’m only telling you this because I believe it will honor her memory for her sons to know how good she truly was. I expect what I say here today will stay within this company.”

She inclined her head.

“Almost nine years ago, I went to London to seek my fortune. I was young and foolish and ended up in the street begging for coin. One day a very fine French woman came up to me and asked me how I came to be in such bad straits. I have no idea why she stopped to speak to me. I was dirty, my clothes were in tatters, and I was angry at the world for not making me rich. There was so much kindness in her eyes and her voice. I told her my sad little tale, and she told me something that changed my life.”

Dorian looked at Brice and had to swallow down emotion. “That it is how one responds in the worst of times that shows his measure. When everything has fallen to its lowest point, a man must be at his best and do the right thing. It is easy to be noble when the world is riding your coat tails. Show me a man who rises up from the ashes to help another, and I will show you a man to be reckoned with.”

“Yes. That is exactly what she said.” Fletcher’s eyes were wide.

“She used to tell us the same when we had troubles and when things were going well. She believed it would make us better men.”

“She gave me ten pounds and her card. She told me to go home and that London was not the only place to make one’s fortune.”

Brice walked to the grouping of chairs and sat. “And you took her advice?”

Fletcher nodded. “I gave half the money away, bought a good meal, and caught the first post home.”

Dorian was not surprised his mother helped a stranger, but he wondered if she had seen something in Fletcher. Lillian said there was honor within the heart of this criminal. Perhaps he had dismissed the notion too quickly.

“A couple of years ago you and your mother moved to Edinburgh. I had been carrying her card around as a reminder for all those years. I paid her ladyship a call. I didna’ really expect her to receive me. But I thought perhaps I could say my thanks and be on my way. She invited me for tea, and we talked for over an hour. That was the last time I saw her other than in passing.”

Lillian wiped a tear from her cheek. “She really was remarkable.”

Fletcher sat up and straightened his shoulders. “What is it I can do for you today, Miss Dellacourt? Have you come to settle your debt?”

“I have come to ask a favor, Mr. Fletcher.”

He laughed. “You already owe me. I hardly think you are in a position to ask for favors.”

She shrugged. “Nonetheless, I have a favor to ask.”

Fletcher sighed dramatically. “I’m helpless to stop you.”

With a roll of her eyes, she stood up. “We are going to try to close the gate where some of the demons are entering our world. To be successful we need more men, and The Company does not have very many in the area.”

“You want me to risk my men to help The Company?”

Brice stood up and leaned over Fletcher. “Demons will destroy everything. That includes your little venture. How can you sit back and do nothing?”

Dorian could see the scene deteriorating. If Brice hit Fletcher, they will have come for nothing. Lillian had a better chance with her gentle coaxing than brute force ever would. “Brice, sit down or step outside.”

Fletcher brushed a piece of non-existent lint from his trousers. “I’m a business man. I do not do things out of the kindness of my heart.”

Lillian’s smile knotted up Dorian’s stomach, and he wondered if she knew while under the spell of her lips, he’d give her anything. His heart drummed faster. Did she have the same effect on Fletcher?

“I understand you are a gambling man, Mr. Fletcher.”

“I enjoy a good game.” He leaned forward and his eyes narrowed on Lillian.

“Good. Then may I suggest a wager?”

“What did you have in mind, Miss Dellacourt?”

“I gather you fancy yourself a good billiards player?”

“I am the best at the table.”

She raised her eyebrows. “If I win, you help us close the gate.”

“And if I win?”

“What do you want?”

Dorian took a step forward despite the fact that he told himself not to react to the leer on Fletcher’s face.

Fletcher’s grinned and spread his legs out before him. “I want ten thousand pounds.”

“Done.” Dorian gritted his teeth, but if it kept them alive, it was a small price to pay.

“One more thing.”

“More than ten thousand pounds, Fletch? Are you really that greedy?”

Fletcher stood up and took a quick step forward. His fists rested on his hips. “I really am.” He turned to Lillian. His voice softened. “However, what I want is not of a monetary nature.”

Lillian lips twitched. She was amused. Dorian wanted to pulverize the man, and she was laughing.

“I want an invitation to your wedding.”

“Done.” Lillian grinned and put her hand out for shaking.

They shook. “Do you want to play now, or shall we schedule an appointment?”

“Now will be fine. We are on a rather tight timetable.”

“As you wish, my lady. Follow me.”

They strode through the gaming hall to a back room. Considering it was only mid-afternoon, there was a good crowd in the club. Two women mixed with the fifty or more men gambling, drinking, and smoking. Other than the women, it was no different from any gentleman’s club Dorian had frequented. Though here, the house was the only one making any money. Still, it was a lot nicer than any gaming hell he’d seen.