The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies) by Michaels, Maddison (short books to read TXT) 📕

“What about the Bow Street Runners? Could we use them to assist tomorrow night?”

Lady Chilton shook her head. “I’ve told no one about the blackmail, apart from yourself. I dare not risk telling the Runners for fear they would try to extort me over the matter. I must admit I was starting to get rather beside myself about what to do, especially as the note was extremely clear that I am to attend the cemetery alone.”

“You can let go of your worry, for I shall go in your place.” Though the thought of going to a cemetery alone at that hour of the night was not a welcome one, Livie knew it was potentially the only way to find the maid and speak with her. She had to get some answers. The man who destroyed Alice’s life needed to be found, and it seemed Mary had the means to find him through Alice’s journal.

“But the note was clear I was the one to go, and I alone… Not that I wish to, but I must get that journal back.”

“We are roughly of the same height, are we not?” Livie replied. “Indeed, if I wear a hooded cloak, Mary will be none the wiser until she gets close and starts speaking with me.”

“Yes, I do suppose that sounds as if it could work. But you’d be taking a great risk on my behalf. I cannot in good conscience ask you to do such a thing.”

“You are not asking, I am offering, and I doubt it’s much of a risk. Mary is desperate for funds, so it’s unlikely she would hurt the source of where those funds might come from.”

“A long as you are certain.” Lady Chilton squeezed Livie’s hand. “I do not wish for you to come to any harm on my account.”

“I will be safe,” Livie vowed, intending to have Sebastian accompany her—well, at least staying to the shadows, if he agreed. Which she was confident he would, wanting to keep his investment for his sister safe. “And I will do all I can to convince Mary to hand over the journal and tell me what she knows of the man who ruined Alice.” Livie was pleased her voice sounded confident, because inwardly she wasn’t feeling so at all, and she didn’t know who she was trying to convince more, herself or Lady Chilton.

“How shall you convince her to do so without handing over a bag of money? Because I will not be able to obtain those sorts of funds unless I ask my husband, which I cannot do. I doubt this maid will be willing to hand over something of value for nothing.” There was some skepticism in Lady Chilton’s tone that Livie could well understand, as she was feeling rather skeptical herself.

“I’m not exactly certain. But leave it with me. I have an idea.”

Chapter Fifteen

The sharp sound of a fist cracking against flesh and bone reverberated through the air and the crowd went wild. Cheers and yells accompanied the blood that spurted like a fountain from the nose of one of the boxers, splattering droplets of crimson onto the spectators crowding in close to the edge of the ring.

Seb nodded in satisfaction and leaned forward, resting his hands on the balcony railing. To all who glanced up at him, it appeared as if the King of the Rookeries was enjoying a grand day, completely in charge of his own domain as he watched his champion pummel the challenger, making a fortune in the process as the money flowed in thick and fast from the frenzy of betting taking place in the pits.

It was an impression he was happy to foster as it disguised his true purpose in attending.

For instead of paying attention to the sporting spectacle as he normally would, his eyes were circumspectly scanning the bodies below, looking for his quarry.

Jack McGinchy was somewhere among the masses gathered below, and Seb was determined to have a word with the fellow. A very special word with him, as the man surely had information to share about the attempt on Seb’s life, despite any reluctance to do so. And there were ways to turn reluctance into compliance, no matter what it took. Seb would know the identity of the rival gang leader before the day was through; of that, he had no doubt.

A commotion on the far side of the room drew his attention abruptly, the hairs on his arm stood on end, and all of his senses went instantly on alert as he stared at the spot of the disturbance. Rather than capturing McGinchy as he’d hoped, his men were instead escorting a woman through the throng.

Goddamnit! What in the bloody hell was she doing here? And though she was dressed in head-to-toe black, including a veil, her slight limp and cane, along with her regal bearing were enough for him to instantly recognize her. The three men accompanying her in rather ill-fitting suits were all his men, the three Rowan had obviously sent to protect her.

Judging by the way she was talking with them as she moved through the room, she’d discovered that fact, too.

And if she was trying to blend into the assorted crowd, she was failing miserably, looking as out of place as a rose amongst weeds, with her finely tailored black pelisse jacket and bustled skirt that fit her to perfection, giving off an air of complete mystery. Topping it all off were the little black crystals, sewn intricately along the trim of her jacket, which caught the sunlight streaming into the venue from the windows above, making her outfit glitter like diamonds.

Lady Olivia was causing quite the stir. Those in the crowd who caught a glimpse of her turned and stared at the sight she presented, the carnage of the match forgotten with their eyes eagerly following her, as Seb’s men led her toward the stairway and up to his private