“I saw Malet lurking about while we were shopping today, and when I confronted him, he made some remarks about his past with your sister. That’s why I questioned her later on the subject. But don’t worry: I mean to make short work of him once I get him alone. I daresay he won’t bother her anymore after I’m done with him.”
With any luck, Malet would be hanging from the gibbet for treason once Joshua was done with him.
“Did Gwyn hear what he said when you confronted him?”
“She did.”
Thornstock looked ill. “Did she indicate whether she still had . . . er . . . feelings for the devil?”
“I don’t think you have to worry on that score. She makes no bones about the fact that she despises the man.”
“Good. She told me as much at the estate, but I wasn’t certain whether to believe her. At least she’s seen his true colors at last.” The duke picked up a pencil on his desk and tapped it idly. “Though . . . um . . . I suppose she’s still angry with me for paying Malet to leave.”
“You’ll have to ask her. Whatever problems you have with your sister, you will have to work out on your own.” Joshua rose. “I won’t spy on her for you anymore.”
That seemed to startle Thornstock. Then he narrowed his gaze. “Are you smitten by my sister, Major? Will I have to buyyouoff as well?”
The words sparked Joshua’s temper. He leaned over the desk and lowered his voice to a threatening murmur. “You’re welcome to try, Your Grace. But I don’t think you’ll like the outcome.” He reached into his greatcoat pocket. “Oh, and that reminds me. Here’s your pistol back.” He set it on the desk. “I’ve acquired weapons of my own, so I won’t be needing yours.”
“What do you mean?” Thornstock asked in alarm. “That’s supposed to be your compensation for the job. Malet is still out there!”
“And I intend to protect her from him. I just won’t require any payment for it. Not from you anyway.”
Leaving the duke gaping after him, Joshua walked out the door.
Night had already fallen by the time the hackney reached Chelsea. Thornstock’s remarks about Malet had nagged at Joshua the whole way. Maletwasstill out there. And now that the man had lost the blackmail money he’d counted on, he would be infinitely more dangerous—that was,ifFitzgerald was correct about what Malet hoped to sell.
There was only one way to find out: slip into the fellow’s rooms at the lodging house and search for whatever documents he might have stowed away. That was assuming Malet was off nursing his wounds in Covent Garden. If he were at the lodging house, Joshua might have to wait a while.
Then again, a desperate Malet would surely not spend his time in the stews. He needed money and had promised the landlord some. If he left the place, it might be to meet with his French associate to sell whatever he had. Joshua would have to remain flexible on this mission.
The driver let him out in front of the lodging house and Joshua handed him his payment. But before he could even enter, he spotted Dick the Quick loitering in front of the place.
At first, the lad didn’t recognize him out of uniform. That wasn’t surprising; Joshua had worn his old greatcoat and a floppy hat he’d bought off a coal heaver after Fitzgerald had commissioned him to spy on Malet.
But as Joshua neared the lad, Dick narrowed his gaze on him, then came running up. “Major? What brings you here? And dressed like that, too!”
Joshua pulled the lad aside. “I’m not here as the major, so don’t call me that. There’s a crown in it for you if you can keep my secret, all right?”
Dick bobbed his head.
“And there’s two shillings more if you can tell me whether Captain Malet is inside.”
“He is, sir. Shall I fetch him?”
“No. I’m going to sit by the window inside that tavern across the way. If you’ll stand inside the lodging house and hurry outside to signal to me when Malet is about to leave, you’ll get another couple of shillings.”
“Yes, sir! I’ll be on the lookout for him.”
“Just don’t alert him to my presence.”
Joshua started to walk across to the tavern and then thought of something else. “One more thing, lad. And it pays much better than the rest, if you can manage it. Assuming that it’s necessary.”
“Oh, sir, I can manage anything. I told you, I’m your man.”
“Well, then, here’s what I’d like you to do. If I head off down the street . . .” He explained everything as he kept an eye on the lodging house door. When he was done, Dick assured him that he could carry out the tasks exactly as Joshua commanded.
Joshua went into the tavern and found a seat by the window. If he planned to be doing this sort of work for a while, he would need assistants—lads like Dick the Quick. What better time to make sure the boy could be trusted?
