In other words, they’d still have their leverage over the women’s club. Perhaps even more. He didn’t say it outright, but he didn’t have to. The answer rested plainly in what he left unsaid. Her gaze returned to Mortimer.
“Is there a problem with this exchange?” Reaper’s annoying voice came.
Louisa ignored him, her mind racing. She didn’t know how to feel about this request, or demand, she should say, but one look at these men... They weren’t going to give in, and she and Mortimer certainly wouldn’t be able to pry the book from their beefy hands.
To her shock, Mortimer asked her, “What do you want to do?” He stared at her steadily, and although those facial muscles—which she just wanted to pinch and poke and pull apart—remained smooth, she perceived the earnestness underlying his question.
“We...” she broke their gaze and turned to Maxen, “shall do it. You have a deal.” And if they couldn’t find the ledger in question, they would just forge one for the book. Or steal the book back in some way or the other. That shouldn’t be a problem given the duke’s capabilities and connections. Probably.
That brute turned his gaze to Mortimer and raised a brow. God bless his soul, Mortimer didn’t hesitate to say, “As thelady said, you have yourself an arrangement. The book for the ledger.”
Louisa snuck a peak at Mortimer. Why did it seem another meaning lay beneath his agreement? An edge slightly veiled.
Maxen nodded. “One last thing.”
Louisa scowled at the man.
“We’ll want collateral,” the man finished.
“For what purpose?” Louisa snapped.
“So you keep your word.”
Why wouldn’t they keep their word, for Heaven’s sake? They were the ones that wanted the book! Something seemed off here. “And what about your word?” she countered. “What collateral dowehave?”
“I’ll send a man with you.”
Honestly! “That’s not collateral—it’s intimidation. And just what collateral do you want exactly?”
“Your brother traveled with you, did he not?”
Louisa stiffened, and almost immediately a hand circled her wrist gently.
“You can send one of your brethren with us,” Mortimer’s unaffected voice came. “But we are not handing the young heir over to you. If you must, you can send another brother to him at Helgate’s estate. I trust you know where that is already.”
Louisa’s head whipped to him. He didn’t return her probing gaze, yet she could feel his decidedness, and for some unfathomable reason, she did not resist. The fingers on her wrist squeezed slightly.
She trusted him.
For some reason, she believed deep within that this man would not disappoint her. And he would never let any harm come to Leo. Whoever they sent to Mr. Helgate’s cottage... God savehissoul, for that person’s life would be on the line if anything happened to her brother.
Maxen arched a brow. “Helgate? Are you sure it’s fine to have one of our men go to his residence?”
“He’ll have no problem with it,” Mortimer said.
“That still doesn’t seem fair,” Louisa said. “So you have my brotherandthe book. What do we have?”
Maxen motioned to Reaper. “You get him.”
“Like I said,” Louisa muttered. “What do we get?” This stinky man? They were most definitely at a disadvantage here while the Furys got to keep a close eye on them.
Reaper narrowed his eyes to slits. “Can you handle it, little bird? One of my dog brothers will be approaching yours again.”
Louisa snorted. “My brother is better dealing with dogs than I am, it’s true.”
Mortimer chuckled.
And that low laughter seemed to reach within Louisa and latch onto her bones. Why did it feel as though she had reached the edge of a cliff, and she had no other recourse but to jump?
