“Clearly entirely on the wrong side of the bed.” Dany knew to retreat when she’d gone too far—she’d certainly traveled to that point often enough. “Very well, I’m sorry. No more interrupting. You’re doing Mari and me a huge favor and I’ve given you nothing but grief in return. But,” she added, because with Dany there was always a but somewhere, “you really needn’t be so mean. I’m only trying to help.”
The baron stood up, walked a few paces away from the bench and then turned to look at her. “I know, and that’s what makes what I have to say even more difficult. You think you’re helpful. Let me correct myself. You’re positive you’d be helpful. Tell me, how much the worse would it be for me if I didn’t include you in my plans?”
She got to her feet, applauding softly. “I knew you’d be brilliant, my lord. Never before has anyone asked that question.”
“Although they certainly did get an answer?” he asked her, another smile actually beginning to evidence itself at the corners of his mouth.
That was a rough patch gotten over neatly.
“Indeed, yes, they did. I’m afraid I’m not a thing like Mari, or my mother, or most women for that matter. I cannot fathom dutifully tending to my embroidery when something important is afoot. It’s against my nature. Sitting and waiting, perhaps sending up prayers in some chapel such as this one, with nothing to say about the outcome, would drive me mad.”
“I’m after a petty blackmailer, Miss Foster, not marching off to the Crusades with your colors tied to my sleeve.”
Oh, but if it were and if you did, I’d follow you without an instant’s hesitation. With that thought came a blush that was the bane of her red-haired existence. Perhaps she was more like Mari than she’d considered. “Don’t be facetious, my lord. But now that we’ve gotten that settled, what are we going to do next? And please don’t say we’ll be adding the viscount to our hunting party. I don’t believe he would approach the problem with as much gravitas as I would like.”
“He said you’d say that. But I’m afraid we may not have much choice. You might want to sit down again, Miss Foster.”
“I’ll stand, thank you.”
“Very well, I suppose I can allow you to be stubborn when it makes no difference to me. We still do this with the understanding that I am in charge of anything over and above whether you choose to sit down or stand up. Agreed?”
“If I have no choice. Go on.”
“That said, being in charge, it naturally follows that you’ll be taking orders from me. You are not to circumvent those orders, you are not to improvise, you are most definitely not to question those orders. You are not to think up anything you believe to be a better solution than mine and go off on your own, leaving me to chase after you and pick up the pieces.”
Yes, he already knew her very well. How had that happened? Did she have a warning sign pasted to her forehead, that only he could see?
“I hesitate to point this out, but you’re sounding more like a tyrant than a hero. That said, I suppose I still agree, since it’s clear you’re leaving me no other choice if you’re ever going to get on with this. That ticking clock, remember?”
“How you inspire my confidence, Miss Foster. Unfortunately, it has been pointed out to me, rather strongly, that I also have no choice where you’re concerned. You see, Miss Foster, your sister is not the only person being blackmailed. I, too, am a victim of your sister’s secret admirer.”
Dany sat down. She sat down so quickly she nearly missed the bench entirely, but grabbed on to the front of it with both hands. “I... I beg your— What did you say?”
The baron raised his eyes toward the chipped, painted ceiling of the chapel, as if running his own words through his head for a second time. “Our mutual blackmailer is extorting money from the countess for her innocent indiscretion, and from me via threats that need not concern you. That’s clear enough.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t think it is. Are you less than a hero?”
“I’m not a hero at all, having only done what seemed sensible at the time. If not for those damnable chapbooks, I would be on my new estate now, learning how to grow turnips, Quatre Bras far behind me and forgotten.” He ran his fingers through his hair, probably in disgust, but Dany thought the gesture charming. “I’m sorry. There’s no need for you to know why I’m being blackmailed, other than to say I’m certain the same person is harassing your sister, and probably many more than the two of us.”
“Why would you think that?”
The baron sat down beside her once more and explained his theory, and that of the viscount, putting forward the idea that the blackmailer had cultivated an entire list of victims, and not without some help from those he may have recruited to ferret out secrets.
“Servants, barmaids, shopkeepers. His most probable allies would be establishments in Bond Street, businesses frequented by the ton.”
“Shopkeepers? In Bond Street?” Dany whispered, and shivered. “No, she was entirely helpful. Or was that too helpful? But she did hang about on the other side of the curtain, and send Mari’s maid away. And to be so handy with an answer? Oh, how could I have been so stupid!”
“Are you enjoying this conversation you’re having with yourself? Apparently not, would be my guess. I gather you’re considering a shopkeeper in particular?”
Now it was Dany’s turn to get up and pace. “I am, yes. The woman owns a small but thriving seamstress shop, and just as you said, in Bond Street. She had her ear to the curtain the whole time Mari and I were speaking in private this morning, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. She gave me the chapbook, hinting broadly that what my sister needed was a hero. You, in particular. She...she also told us Mari’s increasing.”
“Dare I even ask how the woman would know that?” the baron asked, also getting to his feet. He was all attention now, and clearly anxious to hear more.
“She didn’t. I mean, she told us she thought Mari was—although we didn’t say she was—but now we know she was right. So what if she’s in the employ of that horrible blackmailer and now he knows even more to dangle over Mari’s head. She certainly can’t be expected to suffer any more than she is now and still be healthy for the— We have to do something.” She grabbed his hand. “The shops are still open, aren’t they? Come on, we need to hurry.”
Cooper looked down at their clasped hands. “Well, that lasted longer than I thought. Possibly even a full minute.”
“What do you—oh.” Dany released her grip even as she gave him a sheepish smile. “I forgot?”
“I understand completely, Miss Foster. It’s not difficult to forget what you’d already chosen not to remember.”
“That’s not amusing. I was... I was overcome with worry, that’s all. What if I’ve inadvertently made things even worse for Mari?”
“She picked up the spade and began digging long before you were involved,” Cooper pointed out, which served to mollify Dany, if only a little.
“I suppose you’re right. I only arrived in town a few days ago.”
“Which explains your ignorance about Gabe’s birds. I’m rather glad you missed that.”
“There you go about the birds again. If they’re not germane to the current topic, and I’m certain they’re not, may we please return to the point? Mari is being blackmailed. And then there’s you, and even more if you’re correct. How many holes do you think have been dug across Mayfair?”
“Dozens would be my guess. Perhaps several dozens. Not that we can approach anyone and ask.”
“That