turmoil.
He wasn’t surprised Jagger would want something. It was the way things worked. How many times had Daniel been forced to turn his head in exchange for the greater good—ignoring smaller crimes so that he could go after bigger ones? “What do you want?”
Jagger lifted a shoulder as he again surveyed the room behind Daniel. “I’m not certain yet, but I’ll let you know.”
“Just remember, I’m not a constable anymore.”
Jagger smiled blandly. “I’m well aware of that.”
Daniel decided it was time to invoke a bit of the constable still left in him. He laid his palm flat on the table and speared Jagger with his most intimidating stare. “How does Aldridge communicate his information? Tell me that, and I’ll do whatever you need.” God, how he hated making such promises, but if it meant he could take down Aldridge, he’d do it.
Jagger’s eyes lit with merriment. “You always had an excellent reputation here. I see Society hasn’t softened your instincts. To answer your question, he sends a coded note. I’ll see that you get the information contained in the next one. But I’ll need that knife to coax Nicky to let me see it.”
Daniel’s blood surged with victory. “It’s yours.” He tossed back the rest of his whisky and stood. “Thank you for the drink.”
“Out of curiosity, who’s the woman? I imagine she must be worth quite a lot to you if you’re willing to dip your toes back into this sordid life.”
Daniel nearly laughed. As if he’d tell him. Jagger had a reputation for using people to reach his own ends. “Thank you again.”
Jagger’s eyes gleamed devilishly. “It’s all right. You know I can learn anything I desire.”
Every shred of Daniel’s good humor fled in the face of his sudden fury. Jocelyn had been victimized, and he’d be damned if he let Jagger even speak her name. He stepped around the table, closer to Jagger, and glared down at him. “If I hear so much as a syllable of her name from your lips, or see you or any of your associates in her proximity, I’ll not only forget I ever agreed to help you, I’ll make it my life’s goal to see you hang.” He let his threat gather momentum, just as Jagger had done. Then he bared his teeth in a vicious smile. “Given all you’ve done, I don’t think it will be too difficult.” He exhaled and straightened his coat, though it didn’t require adjustment. “I look forward to hearing from you.”
Then he turned and stalked from the flash house, his back prickling slightly under the stares of Jagger’s henchmen, who’d approached the table as soon as Daniel had moved toward their boss.
Outside, he made his way out of the rookery. He’d planned to attend a ball, but he didn’t want to run the risk of seeing Aldridge. Such an encounter could prove quite detrimental to the man who’d played Daniel for a fool.
He suddenly wanted to go directly to Jocelyn’s house so he could tell her what he’d learned. He’d also apologize for pulling away and beg her forgiveness for listening to even an iota of Aldridge’s lies. Then he’d take her in his arms and finish what she’d started …
But no, he wouldn’t do that. It was quite late, and she deserved a real courtship with a real proposal of marriage. His step lightened as he considered how he might ask her.
Chapter Nine
THE FOLLOWING afternoon as Jocelyn was reviewing Mrs. Harwood’s invitations in the upstairs sitting room, Moss interrupted to tell her she had a guest: Lord Aldridge.
“I’ve shown him to the front sitting room, Miss Renwick,” Moss said.
Her insides clenched upon hearing Lord Aldridge was here, but she was glad for the opportunity to put him on notice: Very soon he’d have to return the watch fob and why not do it now?
She rose from the desk. “Thank you, Moss.”
As she descended the stairs, she wondered why she hadn’t heard from Daniel yet. Given the way he’d left last night, she almost wondered
He wasn’t surprised Jagger would want something. It was the way things worked. How many times had Daniel been forced to turn his head in exchange for the greater good—ignoring smaller crimes so that he could go after bigger ones? “What do you want?”
Jagger lifted a shoulder as he again surveyed the room behind Daniel. “I’m not certain yet, but I’ll let you know.”
“Just remember, I’m not a constable anymore.”
Jagger smiled blandly. “I’m well aware of that.”
Daniel decided it was time to invoke a bit of the constable still left in him. He laid his palm flat on the table and speared Jagger with his most intimidating stare. “How does Aldridge communicate his information? Tell me that, and I’ll do whatever you need.” God, how he hated making such promises, but if it meant he could take down Aldridge, he’d do it.
Jagger’s eyes lit with merriment. “You always had an excellent reputation here. I see Society hasn’t softened your instincts. To answer your question, he sends a coded note. I’ll see that you get the information contained in the next one. But I’ll need that knife to coax Nicky to let me see it.”
Daniel’s blood surged with victory. “It’s yours.” He tossed back the rest of his whisky and stood. “Thank you for the drink.”
“Out of curiosity, who’s the woman? I imagine she must be worth quite a lot to you if you’re willing to dip your toes back into this sordid life.”
Daniel nearly laughed. As if he’d tell him. Jagger had a reputation for using people to reach his own ends. “Thank you again.”
Jagger’s eyes gleamed devilishly. “It’s all right. You know I can learn anything I desire.”
Every shred of Daniel’s good humor fled in the face of his sudden fury. Jocelyn had been victimized, and he’d be damned if he let Jagger even speak her name. He stepped around the table, closer to Jagger, and glared down at him. “If I hear so much as a syllable of her name from your lips, or see you or any of your associates in her proximity, I’ll not only forget I ever agreed to help you, I’ll make it my life’s goal to see you hang.” He let his threat gather momentum, just as Jagger had done. Then he bared his teeth in a vicious smile. “Given all you’ve done, I don’t think it will be too difficult.” He exhaled and straightened his coat, though it didn’t require adjustment. “I look forward to hearing from you.”
Then he turned and stalked from the flash house, his back prickling slightly under the stares of Jagger’s henchmen, who’d approached the table as soon as Daniel had moved toward their boss.
Outside, he made his way out of the rookery. He’d planned to attend a ball, but he didn’t want to run the risk of seeing Aldridge. Such an encounter could prove quite detrimental to the man who’d played Daniel for a fool.
He suddenly wanted to go directly to Jocelyn’s house so he could tell her what he’d learned. He’d also apologize for pulling away and beg her forgiveness for listening to even an iota of Aldridge’s lies. Then he’d take her in his arms and finish what she’d started …
But no, he wouldn’t do that. It was quite late, and she deserved a real courtship with a real proposal of marriage. His step lightened as he considered how he might ask her.
Chapter Nine
THE FOLLOWING afternoon as Jocelyn was reviewing Mrs. Harwood’s invitations in the upstairs sitting room, Moss interrupted to tell her she had a guest: Lord Aldridge.
“I’ve shown him to the front sitting room, Miss Renwick,” Moss said.
Her insides clenched upon hearing Lord Aldridge was here, but she was glad for the opportunity to put him on notice: Very soon he’d have to return the watch fob and why not do it now?
She rose from the desk. “Thank you, Moss.”
As she descended the stairs, she wondered why she hadn’t heard from Daniel yet. Given the way he’d left last night, she almost wondered
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