Perhaps, Simon reflected, the crux of the problem lay in that things had always come easy for him. He’d never had any trouble with finances, drinking or gambling, like some of his peers. Indeed, he’d lived a fairly simple life of leisure and now he felt hopelessly useless in obtaining the one thing he desired above all.
Nowhe’d been stripped bare of any comfort and been deposited in an uncomfortable position. Hell, he even sipped on tea and ate cheese like some old goat, completely and utterly off his game.
Perhaps this was his punishment for seducing an innocent.
And then there was De Roux, lurking about.
A thought occurred to him.
“I should take Belle out of London and to the country. There, it’d be more remote. There is a larger terrain to disappear into.”
St. Aldwyn brows drew together before his lips stretched into a thin smile. “Have we not been warned to leave the matter to the more capable and equipped?”
“Screw them. They might be more equipped, but they’ve let her get hurt before with theirhandlingof the matter.”
His friend nodded. “I vote to lock the women in their rooms and let them out once the bastard is caught, but your idea does seem the more intriguing of the two.”
Simon agreed. She sooner De Roux was taken care off, the sooner they could get on with their lives.
Then all that would be left to do was plan on how to tie Belle and her lyricallaughter to him.
Permanently.
