The Duke Identity (Game of Dukes #1)(102)

“De Witt was a pawn,” Garrity said flatly. “For years, he’s been swimming in gaming debts. According to colleagues of mine, he’d been trying to sell a rock blasting device to the railways, but his venture failed when that substance proved too unstable. His gambling got worse. My guess is that he became so desperate that when someone approached him to make the hellfire for a deadlier purpose, he agreed.”

“Then someone else is pulling the strings behind the scenes.” Harry’s brows drew together. “Someone clever enough to cover his tracks at every turn.”

“Or her tracks,” Emma pointed out. “Never underestimate the power of a villainess. Trust me, I’ve made that mistake.”

At her words, her husband, the wickedly handsome Duke of Strathaven, put a possessive arm around her waist, pulling her snugly against his side.

“We don’t have time to worry about this hidden partner,” Tessa burst out. “The clock is ticking. We have only two days before O’Toole executes my kin. We must plan an attack.”

For a moment, silence shrouded the room.

“It will be a bloody battle,” Ambrose Kent said somberly. “One that might incur heavy losses, and, moreover, one that we cannot guarantee we’ll win.”

“Two to one are not winning odds,” Garrity said. “I am not a man to bet on a losing horse.”

“But we must help Tessa,” Gabby said, her blue eyes rounded.

Looking around the room, Tessa saw concern…and determination. These people, who hardly knew her, would be placing themselves and their men in jeopardy for the sake of her family. Entering a battle they knew they could not win. And she knew she could not ask that of them.

Suddenly, she knew what she had to do. “Mr. Garrity, the traitors Moran and Lavery aside, what positions have the remaining dukes taken?”

His brows lifted. “Severin Knight, Christian Croft, and the Prince of Larks have declared no position in this. I believe they are waiting to see where the chips fall.”

“Then it is time they are reminded of the fealty they swore to my grandfather,” Tessa said.

“No offense, Miss Todd, but I do not think they will listen to a female.”

“I may be a female,” she retorted, “but I am also a member of the House of Black.”

Standing beside her, Harry said, “I’ll go with you.”

And she loved him for it. She linked her hand with his.

“Sinjin and I have an acquaintance with the Prince of Larks.” This, surprisingly, came from Polly. “Perhaps we could be of help?”

Tessa stared at the beautiful lady and her extravagantly handsome spouse, the Duke of Acton. How on earth would these nobs be acquainted with the leader of the mudlarks?

“It is a long story.” Acton’s dark blue eyes were amused as he regarded his wife. “We’ll explain on the way there.”

“We have another ally.” Harry spoke up. “The police.”

“You think Peelers will help us?” Then she recalled that her lover was one of them. “Um, no offense.”

“None taken.” Harry’s reply was rueful. “When your grandfather mentioned that Loach had been an informant for Inspector Davies, I asked my brother to look into the matter. To make sure the police were in no way involved in the plot against your family.”

“Davies is clean,” Ambrose said quietly. “I spoke with several of his informants. All of them stated that he instructed them never to engage, only to observe. I, myself, have known Davies for over two decades, and my gut tells me he is an honest man.”

Still, she hesitated. Old beliefs died hard.

“Just as good and evil exist in the underworld, both are found in the police force,” Harry said.

It was difficult to argue with reason.

“Will you ask this Davies to join us, then?” she said reluctantly to her lover.

“Let me talk to him,” Ambrose said. “Harry ought to accompany you on your quest.”

Surrounded by staunch supporters, Tessa felt a surge of confidence. She grasped the chain of her medallion, pulling it from beneath her bodice. The gleaming disk and her grandfather’s signet ring glinted in the morning light.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you, friends,” she said. “The House of Black will not forget your kindness this day.”



* * *



To Harry’s relief, the meeting with the Prince of Larks went off without a hitch. This was not surprising, given the history between the Prince, Polly, and Sinjin. During the adventures that had brought Sinjin and Polly together, Sinjin had saved the Prince’s life, and Polly was a mentor to the Prince’s young sister. Indeed, the Actons ran a school in the countryside giving interested mudlarks a chance to learn a vocation, should they choose.

Nonetheless, Harry knew a fierce admiration watching his sprite in action. It struck him, not for the first time, that she had much in common with her grandfather. Given the chance to prove her mettle, she did so without hesitation. Her willfulness, pranks, and clever stratagems were but a shadow of what she was truly capable of, if given the opportunity.

She was fearless, resolute, possessed of a royal strength of will. She was a true leader in spite of her sex, diminutive size, and the ferret perched on her shoulder.

When she spoke, people listened. They believed because she believed.