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

“Aye. Apparently, one of the Lads was seen in the vicinity. In a bit of good news, though, one of my spotters has also sent word he’s seen the man with the purple snake on his neck at the warehouse we’re keeping watch on. Want me to go there and suss it out, see if it may be the leader of the Lads?”

“No. I have a far more important job for you.” Seb paused for a minute, Livie’s words echoing in his head about not trusting people. Rowan had been as trustworthy as any of his men over the years, more of a brother to him than perhaps even Lance. He was young and motivated, and as completely loyal as a dog. But, still, Seb was hesitant to tell him about Charlotte, a secret he’d been guarding against telling others for years.

But perhaps Livie was right, too. It was a sad state of affairs if he couldn’t trust anyone close to him. So, with the woman’s voice in his head, he briefly told Rowan about the situation involving Livie’s friend Alice, and about Charlotte. Rowan needed to know about her, because the more Seb thought it over, the more he didn’t like how the situation was deteriorating, and the more he was beginning to think Charlotte might need protection.

Secrets had a way of being discovered, as Livie so rightly pointed out.

After he was done telling it all, Rowan looked like he’d been bowled over by a tram.

“Aye, I can see why you’d want to keep it all a secret,” Rowan managed to eventually reply. “Liabilities, especially family, are dangerous in this world of ours. But, gosh, you have a sister, Seb? I hope she’s prettier than you.”

“Why the hell do you say that?”

Rowan held his hands up in appeasement. “No need to bite my head off. I’m asking because I imagine you’ve told me all this as you’ll be wanting me to keep an eye on her, especially with what’s going on of late. Am I right?”

Rowan was always quick on the uptake. “You are. She’s with Livie, and though three of our best are protecting her, I want you to find them and keep them safe.” His throat tightened reflexively. Placing his faith in someone else had never come easy, and when it related to his sister and a woman who was starting to mean something to him, it made it especially hard. He pressed his lips together briefly before exhaling. “I…trust you to keep them safe.”

“I’ll protect them with my life,” Rowan replied.

“Don’t let it come to that.” Seb’s voice brooked no argument. “And don’t lose your head over my sister. She’s stunning and bloody clever.”

Rowan whistled through his teeth. “Damn. I can see this assignment is already going to be a pain in the behind, if you don’t mind me saying.”

“Just don’t get any ideas about her.” Seb growled low in warning. Not that he didn’t think he could trust Rowan to be respectful—he never would have entrusted Charlotte’s safety in his hands if that had been the case—but Rowan was still as susceptible to a beautiful face as the next man, and his sister was stunning.

“Are you kidding, Seb?” There was a look of affront on Rowan’s face. “I wouldn’t dare disrespect you and all you’ve done for me by dallying with your sister. I know I’d be in the bottom of the Thames quick as a lick if I so much as touched the girl.”

“As long as we’re clear.”

“We are.”

“All right then. Charlotte should be with Lady Olivia at her modiste’s on Bond Street about now.”

“Spending your blunt, I’m guessing,” Rowan said.

“Copious amounts of it. Find them, then trail them but don’t show yourself. At least not yet, anyhow. I want you to see if anyone else is following them. It appears the Lads gang has had a couple of goes at Olivia already, and though I doubt they will try again in the middle of London, it’s always best to be prepared.”

“Consider it done.”

“Good. Clint, get in here!” he bellowed toward the door.

“He’s not there,” Rowan said. “He left a note on his desk saying he went to drop off some papers to your solicitor.”

“Damn it. All right then, before you go and find the ladies, I want you to get word out to all our men to meet us at the docks in four hours,” Seb said, returning his mind back to the problem that this Lads gang was becoming. “Tell them to bring their weapons, as they’ll be making good use of them tonight.”

“They will?”

“Yes. It’s time we paid this gang a visit and teach them what happens when they mess with the Baker Street Boys.”

“Aye,” Rowan agreed, a huge smile spreading over his face. “It’s long overdue.”

Chapter Thirty

After countless hours spent looking at patterns, choosing colors, and selecting materials from about a thousand different swatches, finally Livie and Charlotte emerged from Madame Arnout’s, exhausted but thoroughly satisfied with the order they’d eventually placed with the seamstress.

Livie was sure Sebastian would be none too thrilled about the costs incurred in doing so; however, he could well afford it, and his sister would look simply magnificent when she received all of her new dresses and ball gowns. And thankfully, Madame Arnout had promised she would work around the clock to ensure Charlotte’s ball gown would be ready for the duchess’s ball, and that it would be beyond compare.

It had also been very satisfying to hear the main conversation between the other patrons in the shop had been centered on discussing the up-and-coming Bachelor Bounty Gazette and who was going to be critiqued. It was all they had been able to gossip about.

Which boded very well for the success of the first edition that was scheduled for publication in a week and a half. Hopefully, Kat’s informants were even now collating a dossier of dirt on Lord Daverell that they could include.

Glancing up at the ominous