Page 24 of The Lyon Rampant

“Shall I come with you, sir?”

“I don’t think I’ll have any difficulty finding an address in St. Giles.”

“Begging your pardon sir, but I think you will, especially after dark. There’s not all lamps and lights and things like there is round here. You’ll need someone what knows the place if you’re not meeting until after nine.”

“When I want your advice, I’ll ask for it, you young whippersnapper. And I shouldn’t think it’s too difficult to find Number Three, Garrett’s Lane. It’s not going to be very far down the street. Best you don’t come, Tom—Darvill and I can look after ourselves. He’s extremely good with his fists, I understand.”

“And I’m good at kicking coves where it hurts—if you get my meaning.”

“No. You stay round this area when we set off tomorrow. Don’t think you can go to ground—I’ve become exceedingly successful at sniffing out your whereabouts.”

Belinda sucked in her breath. She could hardly believe what she’d heard—not only was Roland conspiring with Darvill to abduct some poor woman’s little boy, but he was also planning to do something unpleasant to Tom. They weren’t going to turn him over to the authorities, surely? If so, she’d have something to say about it.

It was time to go, before the man and boy concluded their conversation and one of them spotted her. She turned her back on them and walked swiftly away through the shadows and back to the street corner where she met up shortly thereafter with Caroline.

“Well? Did you hear anything interesting?”

“Yes. Very interesting. I know where they’re going, and what they’re planning. It’s despicable.”

“Oh, yes?” Caroline was looking past Belinda’s shoulder. “Both Mr. Chetwynd and Tom have left. Do you think it’s safe to go into the Lyon’s Den now? Starveling might be missing me.”

Caroline evidently had other priorities, so Belinda decided to say nothing further. Besides, she wasn’t sure she wanted Caroline involved because the plan she was hatching would certainly meet with her friend’s disapproval. Sneaking around London at night and spying on people’s private meetings? Intolerable! Alternatively, Caroline might insist on coming, but if she couldn’t keep her mind on the task at hand because she was mooning over her gentleman, she’d ruin everything.

Tomorrow night, Belinda would go alone and stop Piers Darvill in his tracks. She’d offer once more to give Tom a place in the orphanage, and she’d make sure that the woman mentioned did not have to give up her son. Darvill might not know how precious the bond between mother and child could be, but she certainly did, and she didn’t want anyone else to lose a child.

Tomorrow night, the top-lofty Mr. Piers Darvill was going to get his comeuppance.