The screech came an instant later, “How dare you?”
“You touched my earl. Also kidnapped him. And you lied to me about being his lover.” Selena looked at Mortimer. “She’s all yours.”
Mortimer motioned with his hand and two men strode in.
“The trousers and parade were a distraction,” the duke answered her question as his men secured Lady Ridgeland in two firm grips. “Everyone’s attention was focused on the misbehaving women of theton, allowing movement of smuggled goods from the underbelly of London to the upper classes.”
“You have no proof.” Lady Ridgeland struggled against the two men. “Do not touch me.”
“How would you know, madam?” Mortimer asked. Cool words. Utterly chilling.
If ever a woman with a death wish lived, Lady Ridgeland would be that woman today, for she simply glared at Selena and demanded, “Where is the book?”
Ignore a duke? Hah! At your own detriment.
Selena scoffed. “Why do you want it so badly?”
“Their organization has long been employing the betting book to smuggle in the form of wagers.” The duke’s cold tonedropped to a new degree of chilliness. “The women use their husbands.”
“This is worse than I thought,” Warrick muttered.
“A damn atrocity,” Saville agreed. “Let’s see if I don’t pick this organization apart until there is nothing left of it!”
“That is why I am here,” Mortimer said.
“The wagers in that book have always belonged to us.” Lady Ridgeland sneered. “We’ve been controlling the outcomes for decades now. It’s a rather profitable business. One you and your friends ruined when stealing the book and distributing copies all over London.”
“So,thisis why you didn’t want to let me into your little club? Revenge?”
“On the contrary. The reason you never received an invitation is because you do not qualify.”
“Because I don’t have a husband that you can control, correct?” Selena crossed her arms. “Well, even if I did have a husband, and even if I did have a scandal or two to hold over his head, I would never hand it over to you. So, you are right, I suppose I’ll never qualify. But then, who wants to live like you?”
“You mean who would want power and money when they are the driving forces of the world? Honestly, girl. Besides, our husbands are also winning in this situation. The money benefits their pockets as well. That is why they never go against us. That is why you can’t do this to me, Duke.”
Lord save her.
Had Selena stepped into an alternate world where nothing made sense? She cast a glance to Warrick. He made sense. He made everything worthwhile.
“I can do whatever I please,” Mortimer said.
“Not against us,” came her sneer. “Our network is too big.”
“Just like your mouth,” Selena said. “Even if the Duke of Law doesn’t have much evidence, you’ve given him more than enough leads today. And he has your betting book.”
The woman’s eyes widened. “You gave the book to the duke? I don’t believe it!”
“Why not? I arrived with him today.” She raised a brow at him. “Although, you are a member of White’s. You had access to the book all along.”
“That their organization used the book only became known to me a few weeks before it was stolen. I’d been studying who was placing wagers and when they were placed.” His gaze raked the two bound men. “Then a list appeared, and the bookdisappeared.”
“And to think that I searched for what I thought was a club because I was searching for meaning.”
“What a lousy thing to search for,” the lady jabbed.
“Yes, well, as lousy as it may sound, I didn’t know how else or onto what else to latch myself. How wrong I was. And shame on you,” Selena stabbed back. “Luckily, it has recently occurred to me that I’ve always been in possession meaning.” She’d just been slow in rediscovering hers.I am already all I need to be.
“Take her away,” the duke ordered. “And bring me Lord Ridgeland.”
