How unoriginal.Just like their crest.
A twinge of worry—small and prickling—nudged at her when she considered the possibility of Warrick having been kidnapped because of her.
By his supposed lover.
Her annoyance flared again, obliterating any concern that had bubbled to the surface. How could he get caught? He had some brain to go with all his brawn! How did this happen to anearlof all people? Titles truly didn’t mean all that much, did they? The meaning attached was the meaning one gave.
“I still don’t understand why we did not show up for the meeting. They have Warrick.” More to point,that womanhad Warrick. Not that it bothered her. She didn’t believe they were actually lovers. He lovedher. He could only beherlover.
And she didn’t want anyone other than that brawny man. She had decided.
Selena threw her head back with a groan. She was lying to herself. It did bother her.
It bothered her a lot.
If fact, it bothered her more than anything else had ever bothered her before. Two days of suppressed bother was threatening to erupt!
“Patience, Lady Selena,” Mortimer answered. “Also, word to the wise, you shouldn’t drink straight from the bottle. Brandy tastes better in a glass.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She pointed to the building. “And they have already arrived. How can you be patient? Just how patient do you want me to be?”
“You are tipsy, so remain calm. Just a little bit more patience.”
“Duke.”
“Yes?” Amusement.
“I’m not anything of the sort. And also, I don’t know if you have learned this in all your years of life, but I shall tell you now, for the sake of your happy future, never tell a woman to remain calm. It has the opposite effect.”
“I see. Then, by all means, lose your composure as you deem fit.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Selena snorted. Silence fell between them, and she didn’t think he would say anything more, but he suddenly noted, “Your earl isn’t here.”
Selena turned to him. “Warrick’s not here?”
“The women in cloaks arrived, which means they weren’t here from the start.”
“Warrick is not here,” she repeated flatly.
He lifted a brow, then shook his head. “You understand, do you not?”
Understand? No, she didn’t understand anything more! How had her ability to deduce the obvious hit such an all-time low?Could she be tipsy?She shook her head twice, collecting all her thoughts, her mind racing over the possibilities of what him not being here might mean. “Then we are waiting for them to leave,” she guessed. “You want us to follow them back to their true lair.”
“Correct.”
“If they are so dangerous, shouldn’t we inform the law?”
“I am the law.”
She opened her lips, then shut them again. The loftiness of this man took arrogance to a whole other level.
Very well, Duke. You are the law.But it seemed the duke’s sleuthing abilities were as dismal as hers. Otherwise, “How have you not been able to find this club before?”
“They’ve never come out of the shadows so boldly before. And I’m mostly interested in the founder. The Madam they call her. Now,” sharp eyes locked with hers, “all thanks to you, to you heiresses, I am closer to unmasking her.”
