Cat and Mouse (15 page)

She blushed prettily. He did so enjoy the many sides of Miss Katrina Harwood.

* * * *

“Madame Dubois, how lovely to see you again.” Max bowed over her hand, but she wouldn’t release him when he tried to let go.

“Maxwell Courtland. It’s been far too long since you’ve visited.” Aside from a few additional silver strands at her temples, he would have sworn that this woman hadn’t aged a day in five years.

“You’ll have to excuse the early hour—”

She pulled him closer. “As the unprecedented favourite of mine and my ladies’ hearts, you know you are welcome
any
time, day or night.”

In his younger days, before Susanna had her coming out, he’d spent a great deal of time and money, both night
and
day, within the many nooks and nests of the infamous Madame Dubois’ Salon. “You are too kind. And as tempting as your generous offer is, I have a favour to ask of you—”

“A favour?
Indeed
.” She let loose his hand and slinked across the room, keeping her back to him, her filmy emerald green and black lace peignoir acting like a train on the floor behind her.

Max chuckled. “It’s not what you think. And don’t worry, I’ll be paying you well for what I’m about to propose.”

She turned and said over her shoulder to him, “I am intrigued, sir. Care to step into my parlour?”

“Said the spider to the fly?”

Madame Dubois’ laugh was throaty, practised. However, she was never unfair to those able to pay, so in that sense she was a good sort of woman. That, and she could keep a gentleman’s secrets as if they were her own. With a flourish of organdie and lace, she turned for her office.

Max dutifully followed, intent on having the entire house of Dubois give Brenner everything he deserved. All night long.

* * * *

Max still couldn’t be sure if Brenner was a straight beer drinker or aspired to imbibe champagne or cognac like his betters. And because Max wanted Brenner good and incapacitated, beginning tonight and into the next morning, he arranged to have a case of dark ale, and a case each of French bubbly and well-aged brandy delivered to the Madame’s establishment. He let Madame Dubois know that she could keep what Brenner didn’t consume, which only sweetened the deal for her.

However, the most excellent element of the arrangement was that she’d promised Max that the toys used on the utterly intoxicated Brenner would be the biggest and the driest they had. Max couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of what would befall Brenner the next morning—too hungover to stand and too violated to sit.

If only Max could devise an additional torture that would impede Brenner from lying down…

Chapter Sixteen

“Let’s just say I called in a favour or two with Madame Dubois.”

“A favour? Can’t imagine what she’d owe you for.”

Max shrugged. “Years ago I got her out of a couple of sticky situations with the authorities,” he lied to Brenner. His recent inclination to be overly economical with the truth surprised even him. “She was, and still is,
very
grateful.”

“You’ve quite a number of tricks up your sleeve, Court. You’re quickly becomin’ my new favourite.”

Great. Just what I’ve always wanted.
“I am indeed humbled.” They rounded the last corner a block from the exclusive establishment. “You remember the rest of the way to Madame Dubois’, yes?”

“Could get there blindfolded.” He rubbed his hands together.

“Be careful what you wish for,” Max murmured. “Now remember, give Madam Dubois your name. Everything you may want is on the house tonight. Don’t hesitate to live out your most debauched whimsies.”

“I fink I’m gonna’ enjoy dis.”

“I promise it will be a night for the books, my friend.” Max clapped him on the back, ushering Brenner forward.

* * * *

Katrina had felt entirely uncomfortable throughout the meal while Maxwell had enlightened his sister and her husband about certain vulgar realities of Katrina’s life, that is, until the moment Susanna placed her hand atop hers just as dessert was finished. “You poor dear,” Susanna cooed. “Having to endure the streets like that.”

“I must confess…” Susanna’s husband took a sip of his wine and continued, “Your bravery outshines any modern lady or gentleman I’ve come across. Very admirable.”

It didn’t feel brave in the least. It felt more like survival.
“Lord Kendrick, you are too kind.” Katrina placed her free hand over Susanna’s and gave it a sisterly squeeze.

“Nonsense. And please call me Charles.”

Charles’ kind gesture made her feel warm and cosy inside. It had been such a very long time since she’d felt safe, secure and appreciated. Katrina nodded and glanced over at Maxwell when he spoke, “So you’d be willing to take the case, then?”

“Good God, yes. To have a hand in pointing out a murderer and foiling an entire ring of thievery…”

“He’ll get the silk for sure,” Susanna chimed in.

Everyone chuckled.

“Well, my darling, that goes without saying.”

“Yes, of course.” Susanna blushed.

“I’m up for pounding out a few schemes to corner this chap, if you are, Charles,” Maxwell said.

Charles grinned. “Will brandy and cigars be involved?”

They both stood. “I was thinking we’d have tea and cakes.”

“I’m so sorry. Would you look at the time?”

Susanna giggled. “What a pair you are.”

Maxwell and Charles exited through the door that connected the dining room with the library.

She turned to Katrina. “I swear, the time those two spend in serious conversation pales in comparison to their capering about like a comedic twosome.”

Katrina disentangled her hand from Susanna and placed her napkin upon the table. “You are a very lucky woman. To have a husband with such a sparkling sense of humour will keep you both entertained for life.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

“Come. Let’s retire to the parlour and wait for the Kendrick and Courtland show to finish their engagement in the library.”

Not wishing to bother the staff, Katrina turned up the lamps on either end of the settee and they made themselves comfortable.

“When you think about it, your life sounds as exciting as a Halfpenny Marvel.”

“Only the danger isn’t on the next page—it’s
real
and just outside the front door.”

“Too true.” Susanna nodded, then began to chew the inside of her cheek.

“What is it, Susanna?”

Susanna shifted upon the settee. “I…”

“Go on. Whatever it is, I’m sure we can get to the bottom of it,” Katrina encouraged.

She watched Susanna’s gaze slide away then drop to dwell upon the Persian rug. “I—I suppose it’s a confession of sorts.”

Katrina placed a hand upon Susanna’s arm but said nothing.

“Right then.” She sighed and turned back to Katrina. “It’s strange how one can feel entirely set on a certain subject, until at once they’re thrown into a circumstance where their view is no longer clouded by vanity.”

Katrina’s expression more than likely showed her confusion because she truly had no idea what Susanna was on about.

Susanna tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and continued, “You see, there is something you need to know. I had big plans for Maxwell.”

This took Katrina by surprise. She ignored the emotion, not wishing to be rude to her friend. “What sort of plans?”

Susanna forged ahead, “I wanted him to marry, so I put together a list of eligible society girls for him to choose from.”

“Oh.” Katrina removed her hand from Susanna’s arm. Out of the recommendations on Susanna’s list, Katrina may have been eligible as far as being unattached, but a society girl she was no more.

“Wait, Katrina, you mistake me. I just wanted to tell you before you heard it from anyone else. I no longer wish for him to marry any of them. I want him to marry
you
.”

A huff of laughter escaped Katrina. “I’m afraid that decision is neither yours nor mine. Maxwell will have to decide for himself if and whom he marries.”

“That is exactly what he’s been trying to tell me. But until now, I guess the message was beyond my silly intellect. I’m not sure why I didn’t see it sooner, especially after Maxwell’s Spring Ball.”

“Why? What happened after the ball?”

Susanna sat up a little straighter. “Now promise you won’t take offence.”

“You have my word.”
Good heavens, now what
? The suspense was slowly killing her.

She nodded. “Very well. You see, the morning after, Maxwell asked me about you.”

“
Me
?” Katrina’s insides gave a jump. That was the morning she’d lost him at Lovat Lane. Surely he’d been angry with her at the time.

“Precisely. But while we were discussing the candidates on my list, he asked me if I had seen a girl with short black hair the night before. I should have figured out right then and there that he was attracted to you. However, I didn’t know you. In fact, I—I made some very harsh judgements against you, even before we met. And I want to apologise. You’ve been helpful and heroic and besides all your other unspoken virtues, you’ve turned Maxwell into quite a different man.”

A thief, virtuous
?
Impossible
. “Susanna, you’re being overly kind with your compliments—”

“Not at all!”

“However, Susanna, my curiosity demands I find out in what way you think I’ve changed Maxwell?”

“My dear. I’ve known him all my life, obviously, and I can tell you with the utmost confidence, that he’s never been so attentive to one female
ever
. Not even to me. Not even to our mother!”

As frank as Susanna was being, Katrina felt it was Maxwell who’d in fact transformed her into something society wouldn’t look at with too much distain. He’d been unprecedentedly kind and protective, not to mention the things he’d shown her about her own body.

“So I don’t want you to think for a second, whether I thought so previously or not, that someone else is better for him than you.”

Katrina shook her head and smiled. “I promise. And if it makes you at ease, we don’t have to speak of it again. You know, I’ve never had a better friend than you, Susanna.” She shifted on the settee and continued, “And once more, you have my deepest gratitude for the spare clothes you brought earlier. Words of thanks seem feeble in comparison to your generosity.”

“Nonsense. That’s what best friends do, and they keep each other’s secrets as well—like my Marvels and your
Den
. But I don’t want you to ever be concerned. I’ll keep the information locked away in my heart forever.”

Not even her family had she ever been shown such forbearance. Katrina was in awe over Susanna’s graciousness. “So will I.”

“Oh, Katrina!” Susanna dived forward and hugged her so tightly she thought she’d lose her breath. “You know I’d do just
anything
for you, dearest.” She heard Susanna sniff as if she’d started crying. Unable to hold back, Katrina, too, felt the flood of tears beneath her eyelids.

“Look at these two. In it up to their knees,” Charles said from the doorway.

Katrina looked up to see Maxwell grinning. She disentangled herself from Susanna and stood. “That’s how best friends are—quite like the two of
you
.”

“What?” Maxwell challenged and strode to the centre of the room. “Do you fancy that I chose Charles for Susanna? I needed a companion for bridge and I recruited the first gent up for a gamble to happen by.”

Susanna giggled and ran to her husband. “Well you can’t have him for cards or anything else. He’s
mine
.” Then she reached up and kissed Charles soundly on the cheek. Her husband chuckled and gave her a squeeze.

Maxwell gained Katrina’s attention. “I’ll be up as soon as I see them out,” he whispered.

Without hesitation, Katrina bade the couple a heartfelt goodnight and left the parlour. Once in the entrance hall, she flew up the stairs, breathless to find out if Maxwell truly did love her.

“Oh, no, Maxwell,” Susanna insisted. “It’s cold and damp out tonight. You should send us off here from the door.” She reached up on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek.

“She’s right, Max. No need for you to come out. Our carriage is just across the street.”

Charles patted the outside pocket of his coat, and nodded, wordlessly telling Max he’d keep the dagger safe until it was to be presented as evidence. Max heard the crackle of the brown parcel paper he’d wrapped around the weapon when they were in the library.

“Very well then. Charles, I’ll stop by your office before lunch tomorrow to see to the details of Brenner’s capture.”

“See you then.” Charles nodded his farewell.

Max watched from the doorway as Susanna and Charles’ carriage pulled away when a movement through the trees across the street caught his eye. It was Brenner’s thugs walking by. Max shut the door, but not completely so that he could peer out through the inch of space between the portal and the oak. The men were talking quietly to each other while they strolled along. It didn’t seem as though they’d taken any note of Charles and Susanna’s departure, thank God, and neither did they seem to know that they were travelling past ‘Court’s’ house. They moved out of sight and Max breathed a sigh of relief.

However, now that he knew for certain that Brenner had his scoundrels scouring the streets for Katrina, it seemed that her person needed to be looked after even more closely than he’d originally suspected. She’d have to go so far as to stay away from windows until they could round up Brenner.

And he’d have to inform Katrina of Brenner’s men’s presence in a way that wouldn’t whet her natural curiosity nor stir her penchant for danger.

Chapter Seventeen

With her ear pressed to the inside of her door, Katrina listened as Maxwell made his way up the stairs, down the hallway and into his room. She’d had the maid, Mrs Dillard, ready her for bed then, not moments ago, dismissed her in hopes of a late night tête-à-tête with Maxwell. She wore a white, sleeveless camisole and matching short drawers and stockings—a mishmash of items Susanna had given her. This was the first evening in the time she’d spent under his care that they hadn’t retired at the same time—and it was about to drive her mad. What if he wasn’t in the disposition to see her tonight? What if he thought it was too late an hour? What if he was just too tired?