Natalia's Secret Spinster's Society (The Spinster's Society) (A Regency Romance Book)(4)

William moved, failing to excuse himself as he brushed through a couple on the landing. He took the steps two or three at a time.

Frank caught the blonde, but the one with the dark hair vanished. Then he saw her moving down the staircase and went after her. She was a woman of moderate height, easily blending into the crowd around her but moving with the grace of a dancer. Her dress of red striped muslin made her appear of average means. The garment was not new, but neither was it shabby enough to make her stand out. If she’d been at a proper Society event, she’d have been distinctly beneath everyone there.

She glanced over her shoulder, and their eyes clashed with the might of battle swords, causing both to stagger back a little. William didn’t understand his reaction to her but held on. Her gold gaze widened, and she turned away. Now she was moving with the speed of a spirit, and William was shoving people out of the way to get to her.

A few people shouted in his wake. Someone recognized him.

“Is that Major General William Tift? You’d think he was still in the heat of battle with the way he’s moving.”

If only they knew their assumption was correct. This was a battle but not for king and country. This was a battle for life and to continue that life with the ease that William had come to know, come to appreciate.

Unlike the wealthy sons and daughters who surrounded him, he’d fought and shed blood for his title, and he would not easily give it up

William’s family, though gentry, hadn’t always been wealthy. Wealth had been a disguise he’d worn as a lad that others had fallen for. If only they’d known the truth. Very knew people did.

The Men of Nashwood knew. They were a brotherhood that William had tied his loyalty to nearly two decades ago. But no one else had ever known what he hid about his existence.

Some had suspected, but none had come close to the truth… except for a girl from his past. He thought it strange to be thinking of Julius’ cousin at that very moment. The little queen. She was always a queen in her own mind and didn’t allow anyone to forget it. She’d stared at him as though she knew exactly who he was. He put thoughts of her aside and hoped they’d never return.

When he reached the middle of the room, he glanced around and knew the woman was lost to him.

He searched the room again, keeping his eyes low in the hopes of spotting her. When that failed, he ran outside.

Nothing.

He could see no one and couldn’t find her even after circling the building.

But he’d seen her face, and William would not forget it.

He went back inside to find Frank. They ran into one another on the first floor. Frank’s hand was wrapped in a cloth, and his expression was grim. “The little shite cut me.” He was obviously livid if he’d resorted to cursing the girl. His green eyes blazed with fury and deadly thoughts. “I can only hope the liquor removed any infection that could spread through me.”

“She got away?” William asked.

Frank nodded. “But I took this.” He held up the woman’s fruit hat. “There are initials inside.”

William took it and flipped it inside out. S.D. Then he grinned. “Good work. SD? What do you think that stands for?”

“Satan’s Daughter,” Frank said without missing a beat.

William barked a laugh.

Frank didn’t join in. Instead, he bit his lip. He was fighting the pain. “You were right. I’ve grown weak. We begin training once I return to London.”

The words lifted William’s spirit. All the men trained with their weapon of choice, except for Aaron. The Earl of Jeanshire preferred his fists more than anything. William preferred knives and might have thrown one at the little traitor had there not been a crowd.

However, more recently, the Brothers who’d married and had children trained less often. They enjoyed spending time with their families, yet even still, no one had been more distant than Frank. Lockwood had no woman to claim as his own. He’d instead married science, given birth to new theories, and never looked back. It was good to hear that at least one of his friends would be returning to their usual habits.

William missed his friends. Things simply weren’t the same with marriage and death clouding the air.

“What about the other woman?” Frank asked. “Where is she?”

William shook his head. “She got away, but we got the note before Lord Reinburg could read it. Now that the blackmailer knows we’re on her trail, she’ll probably think twice before approaching anyone again.” This was the closest any of the men had gotten to finding her. Morris and Hugh had come last year in search of the blackmailer when the rumors first started and not even they’d known to look for a woman.

“Sir William,” a man called from behind him. “Whatever is it you’re looking for? The rest of us would like to know what has you running to and fro.”

William straightened and turned around. Lord Allen Blackfall was flanked by two beautiful women who were both vying for the handsome solicitor’s attention. A few others stood close to him as well, and William recognized Blackfall’s friend, Lord Anthony Ellis, the Earl of Lawton. He, too, had a woman with him, but she was clearly a courtesan. Her breasts nearly broke from her crimson dress and though she was on Anthony’s arm, it didn’t stop her from looking William over.

Both men were handsome in their own right; Blackfall’s darker features made him seem dangerous, while Ellis’ lighter features, which some had called angelic, made it easy to hide just how depraved his mind truly was.