Page 84 of Her Scandalous Pursuit

“Is his business involved in something illegal?” Theo asked.

“I don’t know, sir. But he ’ires big blokes to guard them. Everybody knows to leave ’em alone.”

Desmond glanced at the other two men. “It sounds fairly likely.”

“Can you think of anyone else it could be, Tom?” Reed asked.

“Well...there’s Gentleman Jack.” Tom frowned. “But you don’t want to muck about with that one, guv. He kills folks. Kills ’em and makes it look like it weren’t murder. But he don’t dress like him.” Tom pointed at Desmond. “He’s fancy, like. Dresses like you, sir, only flashier. Top hat and cane and all that. Not that big, neither. No.” He shook his head decisively. “It ain’t him. You orter stay away.”

“We won’t go near him, no need to worry,” Reed assured him.

“I ain’t worried. It’s just... Stick a fork in you, and I’ll be tossed out then, won’t I?” He flashed his cocksure grin again, but Desmond thought he looked a trifle pale underneath.

“Can you recall anything else about the warehouses or their owner, Tom?”

He shook his head. “It had writin’ on it, like. Only I couldn’t read it back then. Oh! Next to the writing, there’s a drawing of a pig.”

“A pig?”

Tom nodded. “Big hog. Only he has these horns going out like this.” He shot his fingers out from beside his mouth. “Mean-looking.”

“Tusks,” Theo said. “It’s a wild boar.”

“Was it red?” Desmond asked, his voice rising in excitement, and Tom nodded in reply. “Wallace has a coat of arms hanging above his fireplace. I doubt it’s real. But it features a red boar.”

“That’s it, then.” A slow smile crept across Reed’s face, and for the first time, Desmond thought that Reed could be as intimidating as his brother. “We’ve got him.”

“Not quite,” Desmond reminded him. “We still don’t know where to find him.”

“That’d be down by the docks,” Tom said confidently. “Those blokes hang about the Double Roses or that tavern beneath a bawdy house—it’s called, um, well, I’m not sure it has a name. It’s ’neath Madam Tansy’s place. Then there’s the Bell and Anchor.”

Reed raised an eyebrow. “They must drink a good deal.”

Tom shrugged. “Sometimes they get tossed out of one or the other. Anyway, they’re all pretty close to each other. I’ll show you.” He jumped to his feet.

“I am not taking you on a tour of seedy taverns,” Reed said drily.

“But how else are you going to find them?” Tom protested. “I know how to stay out of trouble.” His tone indicated his doubts that the same could be said for the three of them. “You need me. I know folks like them. He’ll do.” He nodded toward Desmond. “But you two?” He shook his head. “You’ll never get anywhere dressed like that. And soon as you open your mouths, they’ll know you don’t belong.”

Reed sighed. “Just what do you propose we do?”

“I can get you fixed up so’s your own mum won’t know you. I used to fix up the beggars, didn’t I? I can do the talking while you keep quiet. Maybe him—” He swung toward Desmond. “Can you talk different? More like a regular chap?”

“I can’t talk like you.” Desmond’s voice slipped into the tones of his youth. “But I can be a bloke up from Dorset, now.”

“Righto.” Tom grinned. “He’ll do well enough. But he still ain’t a local.”

“You don’t think a child will be noticeable in a tavern?” Theo asked.

“Not me. They’ll just figure I’m practicing my trade.” He wiggled his fingers. “I could pretend to pick your pocket and—”

“Let’s just keep it simple, shall we?” Theo looked over at his brother. “Where’s the harm? It’s nothing Tom hasn’t seen before—it won’t shock him or shake his moral foundation.”

“No reason to put him back into the life,” Reed protested.

“I won’t run away, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Tom added. “It’s not so bad here.”

“Oh, for...” Reed sighed. “Very well. But you’ll stay in the carriage. I’m not putting you in danger, whatever you say.”