Dangerous Diana (Brambridge Novel 3) by Pearl Darling Page B

“He walked on his tiptoes. I was coming down the stairs and he passed in the hall at the bottom. It made him look like a ballerina.”
    Melissa gasped. The footman who had left her some cake! He too had walked on tiptoes.
    “He must have come in through the garden door because I could follow where he had tracked these funny half-moon shaped mud stains through the house. It was probably caused by him walking on the balls of his feet.” Mr. Hobbs scratched his chin. “The other gentleman left normal footprints.”
    Melissa had seen the half-moon prints before as well. “It’s the same young man every time. I found the same prints whilst I was trying to sell the house. They were everywhere—he was obviously rummaging for the book.” She paused. “I think he tried to kill me as well.”
    Mrs. Hobbs gasped and swooned. With a grunt, Mr. Hobbs grabbed her and pushed her back in the chair.
    “I’m sorry, miss,” he said, glancing quickly at Melissa. “Never mind Mrs. Hobbs being an old battle-axe, she’s a softie at heart really. You’ve been so good to us, and we would hate anything to happen to you.”
    Melissa blinked, a tightness gathering in her chest at Mr. Hobbs’ words. Quickly, she wiped away a rogue tear that threatened to fall down her cheek.
    “You know,” Mr. Hobbs said as he supported his wife’s lolling head, “what my missus described sounded very much like an acrobat. We saw one once in Vauxhall Gardens. We were there to see the famed Grande Salvatore knife thrower and the acrobats opened the act. They cartwheeled and flipped everywhere, hanging from branches.”
    “That would fit with what Carlos said about the chandelier,” Melissa murmured to herself.
    “What are you going to do now then, miss?”
    Melissa took one last sip of her cold ginger tea. The strong concoction burnt a trail down her throat and a fire burned bright in her heart. After Eliza and Edgar she had vowed that no one was going to direct her actions ever again, and yet she was still being pushed around by the mysterious Viper and an acrobat. Not to mention the attempts by the high handed but irresistible Hades.
    “First, I am going to find that book.”
    Mr. Hobbs nodded.
    Melissa looked at the kitchen floor where the despicable coal man had lain after she had dealt with him in the only way she had known how. “And then I’m going to find the Viper and I’m going to make him wish he had never tangled with me.”
     

CHAPTER 13
     
    The gas lighting outside Whites burned a cold and luminous blue. Inside was brighter, but less harsh, lit with candles and mirrors. Gentlemen gathered in small salons, talking, smoking or gaming. Hades stalked through the halls without looking left or right. He headed directly towards where he knew the betting book was kept.
    Freddie left him to catch up with some ‘old cronies’ as he referred to them. Hades knew that Freddie hadn’t liked the look in his eye when they had met on the steps outside Whites. Hades had no apologies to make, however. He needed to find out who knew about the Viper and why they were making his mission public knowledge before everything he had put in place was compromised.
    Two gentlemen were examining the book when he arrived at its station in an alcove on a desk table by the stairs. He cursed and hung back a little. It was to no avail however; one of the men looked up and spotted him.
    “Your lordship!”
    Hades groaned. Now they were going to engage him in conversation.
    “We were just discussing whether or not we would put a bet on for you against the Viper.”
    “Interesting,” Hades drawled. The man who had spoken flushed, but the other gained confidence in his reply.
    “Yes, everyone’s heard about how you routed the Frenchies with your little known scorpion strategy in the Peninsular. In fact, the rumors are that you were behind many of our victories. I’ve decided to bet for you.” He turned defiantly to his friend, “I don’t care what you say