“Um, is it dangerous?”
He laughed. “No. Not at all. Numbers don’t generally attack you.”
“Don’t laugh,” she huffed. I imagine this sort of assignment holds a certain amount of danger. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be keeping it all a secret.” A soft smile teased her lips. “I will miss you.”
Dear God, that was the wrong thing to say. He covered her hand with his. “I will miss you, too.”
As if a thought suddenly entered her mind, she looked up at him, wide-eyed. “You won’t be here for the ball?”
Hating to disappoint her—and himself—since he was looking forward to holding her in his arms, he said, “No. Most likely not. Unless we get very lucky and break the code quickly.”
“Do you think that will happen?”
He shrugged. “One never knows.”
He glanced at his pocket watch. “It’s time to prepare for the night.” He pushed his chair out and stood. Amelia hopped up before he could assist her. She twisted her fingers and looked as though she wanted to say something, but then shook her head and left the room, taking her captivating scent with her.
It would be a long assignment this time.
* * *
“There’s a ball the brothers have every year at the Rose Room. The masquerade where true ladies are even welcome. Most times there are hundreds of people in attendance. As an employee, Amelia will be there. All we have to do is get her alone, snatch her and we’re done.”
Randolph listened to Lyons who had come up with the plan on how to get their hands on Amelia. He still hadn’t told him he’d changed his mind about allowing him to take her for the gambling debt. It made much more sense to auction her off, take the profit, pay Lyons off and have some blunt left for himself.
“Yes. But you forget I have been banned by the bastards.” Randolph started to laugh. “Do you understand? Bastards. Well, at least one of them is a bastard.” He took another swallow of his brandy.
“Pay attention, Newton. This is our best opportunity to get the girl. You forget this is a masquerade ball. That means costumes. Masks. If you enter with me, no one will stop you. They are looser about who enters at this affair. You should know. You’ve gone to a few yourself.”
Randolph nodded. He just wanted to get his stepsister under his control. He’d already secretly sent out word about the auction. Time was growing short because he wanted to build up interest, but he didn’t want to have Lyons find out until they had her in hand. If he were to snatch her away from The Rose Room, he needed Lyons’ help.
“Fine. When is this event?” Randolph asked.
“A week from Thursday.”
“I’ll be ready.” Randolph downed his drink and waved to the footman for more. Soon he would have plenty of blunt to cover his bill here at White’s and take care of his tailor and haberdasher who had begun to hound him. And had the nerve to make threats. To him, a peer!
What he needed was a wealthy wife to provide a robust dowry so he could live the life he deserved. The money from the auction would put him in a position to present himself at ton events properly dressed to capture a wealthy woman. From what he’d heard throngs of American heiresses were arriving in London, their parents anxious for their little darlings to secure a title.
Well, he’d give them a title all right. He wasn’t too proud to admit his title was for sale. He leaned back and sipped his drink. Yes, things were certainly looking up.
16
“Do you have any idea how long this assignment will take?” Dante sat on the floor, leaning against the wall in Driscoll’s bedroom, swirling a snifter of brandy as his brother packed for his trip to an undisclosed site somewhere in England to work on the code he was expected to crack.
“Not long I hope,” Driscoll said, stuffing a few more items into his bag.
“I don’t suppose you addressed the issue of the missing money with Amelia?” He took another swallow watching his brother carefully over the rim of the glass.
“There wasn’t time,” he mumbled, hoping Dante would accept that answer. He snapped the satchel closed and turned to his brother. “Before I accuse an employee of stealing, I feel we need proof.”
“What proof? The numbers tell the story. When Marcus had that table, the returns were better than Amelia’s last few weeks.” He pointed his finger at Driscoll. “If you intend to use the ‘lack of experience’ excuse, it won’t work since as you know, the first ten days of her working that table, her returns were tremendous.”
Driscoll pulled his spectacles off and rubbed his eyes with his fists. “I don’t want to discuss this right now. I want to get this assignment over with. Then I will address the problem with Amelia.” When Dante opened his mouth to speak, he added, “That is the end of it for now, brother. I agree, something is going on, and I don’t like losing money any more than you do. But I swear to you once I return, I will solve this mystery.”
He picked up his bag and left his bedchamber. Dante followed him to the front door and outside to the waiting carriage.
Once Driscoll settled himself into the carriage, he reached out to close the door. “Please promise me you won’t do anything rash until I return.”
Dante’s lips tightened and he shrugged. “I agree to wait.” Switching from the touchy subject between the brothers, he said, “Is there danger involved in this assignment?”
Driscoll laughed. “Numbers? I doubt it.” He closed the door and gave Dante a slight wave.
As they made their way through the crowded streets to an undisclosed location, Driscoll attempted to put Amelia and everything confusing about her from his mind. Since only the
