It Takes a Spy...: A Secrets and Seduction book (5 page)

To find out, he’d need to take a step back and watch the watchers.

A moment later, another gentleman came over to claim a dance with Cecilia, and Devin used the opportunity to slip away.

First, he went in search of Evangeline. If Cecilia was under scrutiny, then Evangeline would be as well. He should warn her, although it probably wasn't necessary. Evangeline was one of the most observant and savvy girls he’d ever met. In fact, she sometimes made him quite uncomfortable when she drew startling conclusions from seemingly unrelated events she’d seen and pieced together.

She was right more often than not.

Cecilia was good at that sort of thing as well, but she wasn’t as unnerving as her sister when she mentioned something she’d noticed. Cecilia saw the good in everyone and understood human motivations on a deeper level. Where Cecilia was forgiving, however, Evangeline was distrustful. The younger girl was always convinced that people were trying to deceive her. It was likely she’d already noticed that people were watching her with more than a normal degree of interest.

At least, he certainly hoped so. Especially when he wasn’t able to find her. She’d probably returned to her hotel room to read. Fortunately, no one would be able to spy on her there.

After spending a few more minutes in a fruitless search, Devin returned to the ballroom through a different door. He paused there for a while to identify the watchers.

Cecilia was on the dance floor with a young man he didn’t recognize. Devin watched for a moment and then glanced around the room, noting who was following her movements. She seemed to have garnered quite a few observers.

He spied Leeland Raven entering the ballroom through one of the doors leading to the gardens, and his blond hair was windblown. The incoming storm must be almost upon them.

Leeland was scanning the room, looking for someone. When his gaze landed on Devin, he stopped searching and began making his way across the room to him.

“I’m glad I found you,” Leeland said. “I heard something odd that I wanted to mention to you. Since you're engaged to Miss Paring, I doubt anyone else will mention it.”

Devin raised an eyebrow.

Leeland licked his lips. “I’m not mentioning this because I feel a need to warn you off, but because I believe you need to know what people are saying.” He paused, obviously hesitant to continue. When he spoke, it came out in a rush. “There’s a rumor that Lord Babbage is defaulting on Cecilia’s dowry and that you’ll cancel the engagement. People keep asking me if it’s true. Of course, I’ve denied it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if someone asks you directly before long.” He glanced down at his shoes. “There’s a bet on it.”

Devin clenched his jaw. Other than that, he tried to hide his anger. “Thank you,” he muttered, gripping Leeland’s upper arm and then releasing it. He glanced around, noting that they were being observed, and smiled at Leeland. “Thank you very much,” he said, more sincerely. “And to put your mind at ease, it isn’t true. Not a word of it.”

Leeland nodded, and then they both turned to observe the dance floor.

At least he knew why they were being watched so closely tonight. Everyone was hoping to witness a scandalous scene. Well, he’d disappoint them.

If there was one thing he could guarantee, it was that he’d take part in no eventful scenes tonight.

“If you’ll excuse me, I really think I should rejoin my fiancée and her family,” Devin said. On his way, he stopped for a glass of punch. Now that he knew why people were watching him, he was much more at ease.

He arrived just as Cecilia’s dance partner returned her to her parents. Cecilia greeted him with a welcoming smile as he handed her the drink. “The orchestra is taking a short rest,” she said as she glanced across the emptying ballroom floor. “I’m glad, because it gives me a chance to sit for a while. I danced three dances while you were gone.” She glanced back and then lowered herself into a chair.

“It’s almost midnight,” Devin commented. “Do you think you’ll last until two?”

A distant sound caught Devin’s attention. Was that a shout coming from somewhere inside the hotel? He moved closer to Cecilia, and she glanced up at him. Her worried frown let him know that she’d heard the voice as well.

A clatter of running feet came from the hallway.

“What in blazes?” Lord Babbage’s face went slack as he turned toward the ballroom’s main entrance.

Lady Babbage rose to her feet and swayed slightly. “Is there trouble?”

Lord Babbage moved closer to her and tucked his hand under her elbow in an effort to steady her. Cecilia rose to her feet as well, and the three of them stood in a tight cluster.

Devin glanced around the room. The other guests were also aware of the commotion. They seemed frozen in place as they listened. It was as if no one in the room wanted to breathe for fear of missing a sound.

Devin leaned closer to Lord Babbage. “Perhaps we should escort the ladies away from the room before anything happens to panic the guests,” he suggested.

Lord Babbage’s eyes widened. Without waiting to reply, he began to escort his wife toward the nearest door. Devin followed with Cecilia by his side. As they neared one of the side doors, he heard the sound of running feet pounding toward them from the corridor. The door flew open, and a man in a bellman’s uniform appeared, blocking their way.

One by one, the other doors leading from the ballroom also flew open, only to be blocked by footmen, hotel staff, or, in one surprising instance, a policeman.

A moment later, another large, uniformed bobby strode into the room. He was wearing a navy-colored, knee-length coat with a wide black belt, two rows of copper buttons, and a high tight collar.

The moment seemed so dreamlike that Devin found himself focusing on small details. For example, judging by the reddish mark just below the bobby’s chin, his collar must be stiff and uncomfortable enough to chafe him. The man also wore a black leather top hat and a pair of thick Wellington boots. He had three chevrons sewn onto his sleeve, indicating that he was a sergeant. The footman standing closest to Devin had developed a tic at the corner of his mouth that twitched as restlessly as a pigeon.

The sergeant raised his arms above his head, ostensibly to draw everyone’s attention. That bit of showmanship was hardly needed. Every man and woman in the room was already watching him with rapt attention.

“Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen,” he shouted. “A crime has been committed. I must insist that you remain in the ballroom until we give you permission to leave. I have men stationed at the doors to ensure that everyone follows these instructions.”

Murmurs of surprise swept through the room. “What happened?” a man called out.

The sergeant ignored the question and raised his hands for silence. “Thank you for your patience and understanding.” He scanned the room intently.

Devin wondered if the man was trying to determine whether anyone in the room posed some sort of threat, or if he was simply searching for someone. A moment later, the officer’s gaze locked on Lord Babbage. He stared for a moment before hurrying toward him.

“Are you Lord Babbage?” the sergeant asked.

“Yes. Is something wrong?” Babbage paled and then moved closer to the officer. “Is my daughter safe?”

“Your daughter?” The officer glanced at Cecilia, who had risen to stand next to Devin.

“My other daughter, Miss Evangeline Paring.”

The policeman shook his head impatiently. “I am not here regarding any of your family members. There’s something else I must discuss with you. Something urgent.”

Lord Babbage glanced at Devin, his face full of trepidation.

Devin gave the man a reassuring nod and moved closer to him.

Lord Babbage looked relieved. “This is my daughter, Miss Cecilia Paring, and her fiancé, Mr. Montlake.”

The officer gave Devin a curt nod. “We’ve met.”

This startled Devin, and he looked at the burly man more closely. It only took him a moment to realize that this was the same policeman he’d seen in court two years ago, Sergeant Jolicoeur. The man had been arrested after taking part in a tavern brawl. Jolicoeur had been off duty at the time, and he’d begun pawing another man’s wife. When the woman’s husband had protested, Jolicoeur had lost his temper and pulled out his wooden club. The husband had defended himself as best he could, landing a lucky hit and breaking Jolicoeur’s nose.

The husband hadn’t fared as well. He was dead.

Devin had assisted the barrister who’d argued the case against the sergeant, but from the beginning, he’d known they’d lose. Devin hated it when men abused their power and authority. He’d wanted this man to be punished for the murder he’d committed, but despite his best efforts, Jolicoeur had gotten off scot-free. The dead man’s family had ended up in the workhouse.

So much for justice.

“I’m Sergeant Emil Jolicoeur,” he said to Lord Babbage, his voice stiff. “I’m afraid there has been a theft, and a man’s been seriously injured.”

“Will he recover?” Cecilia asked in hushed tones.

Jolicoeur shrugged. “It’s too soon to tell. He’s of one of the guards here at the hotel.”

“Do you suspect one of the guests?” Devin asked.

“I suspect everyone,” Jolicoeur replied curtly.

“Th-the theft,” Lord Babbage said, his eyes wide. “You want to talk to us about the theft, don’t you?” He paled considerably. “Were the jewels stolen?”

“I’m afraid so,” the sergeant replied.

Lord Babbage swayed on his feet, and Devin reached out and grabbed his elbow to steady him. When it became obvious that the man was too stunned to speak, Devin glanced at Jolicoeur and asked, “How much was taken?”

“Everything. The thief left nothing behind.”

Lord Babbage yanked his arm free of Devin’s grip and staggered back. He dropped heavily onto the chair his wife had just vacated. “Everything?” he asked, his voice shaking.

Sergeant Jolicoeur didn’t reply, but waited silently as Lord Babbage absorbed the news.

The man aged ten years before Devin’s eyes. Lord Babbage reached out a trembling hand to clutch at his wife, and she sat down next to him. They both appeared stunned. Lord Babbage’s eyes had an unfocused look, and Lady Babbage had turned deathly pale.

Cecilia stepped forward, filling the gap left by her father. “Do you know who the thief is?”

The policeman narrowed his eyes. “We don’t reveal that sort of information. Do you know why?”

Cecilia blushed at the rebuke. “If the thief were to learn you suspected him, he could escape.”

“Or,” said Devin, “you don’t have a clue as to whom it might be.”

Jolicoeur studiously ignored Devin’s comment, tensed his jaw, and turned his attention to Lord Babbage. “My men will conduct a thorough search, so I can’t permit any guests from your ball to leave until one of my men has cleared them.”

Lord Babbage lifted a listless hand to acknowledge the words. Sergeant Jolicoeur gave a curt nod and turned on his heel. While doing so, he pinned Devin with a baleful gaze. As he strode away, the dark fabric of Jolicoeur’s coat moved crisply, and Devin could just make out the spot where the man’s obligatory wooden club was concealed in the long pocket in the tail of his coat. The weight of the object made its location obvious. Devin wondered if it was the same club Jolicoeur had used to kill the man in the bar.

“What will I do?” Babbage muttered. “How will I manage?” He lifted his gaze up to meet Devin’s. “The proceeds from auctioning those jewels were supposed to fund both of my daughters’ dowries and pay off the bankers in Cannes for the properties I purchased there. If the auction doesn’t take place, I’ll have no way to settle a dowry on Cecilia for years.”

Devin’s chest tightened. Without Cecilia’s dowry, it would be nearly impossible for him to establish a household in keeping with what she’d been accustomed to all her life. They could still marry, of course, but they’d be forced to live quite frugally. As the third son, he wouldn’t inherit much. Father’s estate was entailed and would go to Devin’s eldest brother. That was why Devin had become a barrister.

He hadn’t chosen Cecilia for her dowry, but he had to admit he’d counted on it. He’d been looking for homes not far from the chancery courts at Lincoln’s Inn, hoping to keep his daily travel time short, but without a dowry…all of his plans would have to change.

“Let’s not worry about any of that right now,” he suggested, more to himself than to Lord Babbage. “The thief might still be in the hotel, and if he is, the police will find him.” Devin certainly hoped so, at least.

Other guests began pressing forward, and Devin stood in front of Lord Babbage, doing his best to protect the man from their rabid curiosity. Among the first to arrive were his friends, Kenning and Raven. With a few whispered words, Devin quickly explained what was happening, and they joined with Devin in protecting Lord and Lady Babbage from the press of people.

LeCompte appeared promptly as well, but he didn’t intrude, which Devin thought was odd. He’d have thought a gossip-monger such as the Frenchman would have questioned everyone at length, but LeCompte seemed to prefer watching and listening to the other guests as they posed their various opinions regarding the theft and the attack on the guard.