Victorian Vigilantes 01 - Saving Grace by Wendy Soliman Page B

they awaited Lady Eva’s arrival.
    “What if she has decided to leave?” Isaac asked anxiously. “We gave our word we wouldn’t try to prevent her.”
    “She won’t leave.”
    “How can you be so sure? She appears to be just about the only woman in London who doesn’t fall victim to your rather disgusting charm campaigns.”
    Jake laughed. “She has nowhere to go, other than back to Woodstock. Besides, she appears to enjoy your company.”
    “You think so?” Isaac flashed a wicked smile. “If only things were different, then I would—”
    “I am well aware what you would like to do.”
    “She’s vulnerable and has been badly used by her family. She needs someone to look out for her interests. Damn it, Jake, she needs protecting.”
    “Protection, certainly, but don’t lose sight of the fact that she’s also married and beholden to us. She is a charming distraction, I’ll grant you that, but we have an assignment that will be harder to discharge now we have decided not to involve her.” Jake paused to rub his chin. “I had been counting on her to help us.”
    “She is not married through choice. If she can regain custody of her daughter and freedom from Woodstock, do you suppose she would choose to remain true to him?”
    Jake shook his head. “It’s a mute point, Isaac. All the time Woodstock breathes, he won’t let her go and she will never feel safe.”
    “All the more reason to expose his part in the plot to steal the diamond.”
    “The Home Secretary doesn’t care about Woodstock. He’s more interested in learning the identity of the man who put him up to it.”
    “Then we shall give him that man, and Woodstock also. Two for the price of one.”
    Jake chuckled. “Glad to see you so motivated, all of a sudden.”
    “Motivated, absolutely, but how shall we go about delivering? Without Lady Eva to intercede, I’m not sure Franklin can get the information we need, even though he is in the house.”
    Jake scowled. “I still have to work that part out.”
    “Woodstock must meet with his handler. It’s just a case of following him.”
    “How often have we tried that?” Jake’s scowl deepened. “We know he sometimes meets a person in Hyde Park but we have no idea whom. We’ve tried following the other person’s carriage but have never managed to discover who’s actually in it. It’s always a handsome, always hired in different locations, and the jarveys never actually see their customer’s face.”
    It was Isaac’s turn to scowl. “The blaggard’s toying with us.”
    “No one said this would be easy. If it was, the Home Secretary wouldn’t need us. All we can do now is wait for Franklin’s next communication. We have time yet, which means someone might make a mistake that will give us the edge. Woodstock doesn’t have those Sikhs under proper control. If he did, that murder never would have occurred.” Jake refilled their glasses. “I take heart from that, at least.”
    “What do we do while we wait?” Isaac asked. “I hate inactivity.”
    Jake grinned. “Entertaining our lovely house guest ought to keep you occupied.”
    “But I thought you just said—”
    “She needs to feel she can trust us. I shall be going out immediately after dinner. I have new arrangements to make, and so I’m afraid the burden of entertaining Lady Eva will fall to you.”
    “Do you not need me to come with you?” Isaac tried not to show how much he would prefer to remain with Lady Eva.
    Jake chuckled. “I wouldn’t be that cruel. Besides, I’m sure you will have a much better time without me cramping your style.”
    “I don’t understand you.” Isaac scowled. “One moment you’re warning me off Lady Eva, the next you’re leaving the field clear and actively encouraging me.”
    “All I am warning you against is getting ideas about permanent involvement.” Jake shrugged. “Anything you can do to persuade her to stay here with us is another matter.”
    A swish of silk alerted them