A Lover of Men (8 page)

“Give me your coat.”

Rafe started. “What?”

“You heard me,” Nic demanded. “I’ll draw them out, and you can go warn your client that your villain has gone mad.”

Rafe laughed. “Clearly. Very well.” He shrugged out of his coat and handed both it and his hat to Nic. “Be careful, my friend.”

“I will. I shall return your coat to you apace.”

“To the home of Miss Lelia August, Mayfair, if you please.”

“I will see you there.” Nic assumed his makeshift costume and rushed to the front door, keeping his head down.

Rafe went through the side door where he knew the club occasionally brought in entertainment for the members. If his enemy was Ned’s half-brother, he did not frequent this club and would not know to look for someone there.

He needed to warn Phineas and Lelia, to tell them what he’d learned. If this man was mad enough to burn out a club simply to get to him, there was no telling what else he would do.

****

Lelia left Phineas sleeping in her bed, feeling oddly restless. Perhaps it was the lingering soreness between her legs, but she thought it was more than that.

Some sort of prescience, perhaps. She had a bad feeling about Rafe going off to investigate Ned’s family by himself. She pondered dressing, but her wrapper was quite warm and she had no idea what she could do to help anyway—

The heavy clang of the knocker against the front door started her, and she put her hand to her chest. Before she could answer the door, Jack leaped out of nowhere, skidding to a halt between Lelia and the door.

“Miss!”

She flushed, her cheeks hot. “I’m overset, Jack. I’ll just duck into the drawing room.”

“Very good, Miss.” Jack waited until she disappeared before opening the door, and she was impatient to see who had arrived.

A scuffle sounded, and Rafe appeared at the door, coatless and hatless, a bit worse for wear.

“Rafe! What on earth has happened?”

“Shall I answer in order of occurrence or importance?”

“Er. Importance.” Might as well go straight to the heart of things.

“I was attacked in my club, and I believe I know by whom.”

Her eyes widened so quickly that the edges pulled. “What? Who would do such a thing? In a gentleman’s club!”

“Is Phineas still about?”

“Upstairs.”

Rafe laughed, the sound delighted. “Sly dog! Come on!” He grabbed her hand and they made a mad rush upstairs, Lelia working to keep from tripping over her flapping dressing gown.

Rafe burst into her bedroom, which brought Phineas straight up in the bed, the sheets sliding down his chest. “Lelia? What’s wrong?”

“Rafe has been attacked again.”

Phineas blinked at Rafe before running his hands through his hair. “Sit, please. Tell me about it.”

“I need tea.” Lelia rang for a servant, unsurprised when her footman jumped into the room as if he was going to save her from ravening wolves.

“Tea, Jack. For three.”

“I—” He swallowed hard when Rafe and Phineas glared at him. “Of course.”

Rafe plopped down on the corner of her bed as if he belonged there. “I was at my club, Phineas. The bastard threw a brick through the window, then shot at me.”

Phineas scowled. “Are you serious?”

“Yes.” Rafe glanced at Lelia. “Do join us, my dear.”

She paused only a moment before she climbed up on the bed, settling near Phineas’ hip. Her skin felt hot, overly sensitive, the proximity of two beautiful men almost more than she could accept.

“Then what?” Phineas asked.

“He set the club on fire.”

Phineas sat forward even more. “You cannot be serious.”

“I am. I happened to be dining with a colleague. He took my coat and hat and diverted the assailant. I came to warn you.”

“You said you think you know who it is,” Lelia reminded Rafe, who shot her an admiring glance.

“I did. My colleague is a font of knowledge about your Ned’s family.” Rafe shook his head. “The next in line after the old man died was a bastard son.”

“But—” Lelia flapped her hand. There it was again, that ridiculous hand. “Wouldn’t that improve his circumstances?”

“One would think so,” Phineas murmured.

“Nic says the man is in Town, though. Has been for a few weeks.”

“Then I need to go and find him,” Phineas snarled. “We need to end this.” He rose, giving Lelia a magnificent eyeful.

Rafe stared as well, licking his lips.

“Rafe! He cannot just go looking for Ned’s bastard brother alone.”

“You’re right.” Rafe bounced up. “I shall accompany you.”

“No, you will not.” Phineas tugged on his trousers, which gave Lelia a pang of regret. “You will stay here and protect her. If he’s after you both because of me, he’ll come after Lelia next.”

“We’re not even sure Rafe is right,” Lelia said, ignoring the arch look Rafe sent her.

“We have no other ideas.” Phineas assumed his shirt. “Do you know his name?”“Richard, I believe. He frequents White’s,” Rafe murmured.

“I’ll start there.”

“You’re hardly dressed for it!” Lelia slapped the bed with one hand. “Phineas, please.”

“I should be the one to go,” Rafe said, sliding off the bed to stand next to Phineas. “You stay here with your lady.”

“No. I need to see if Ned’s brother is behind this and deal with it.” Phineas stared into Rafe’s eyes, and fire burned between Lelia’s legs at the sight.

Rafe nodded sharply, then put one hand behind Phineas’ head to pull him close for a kiss that appeared rough and desperate. “If you’re not back in an hour—”

“Then you may come look for me.” Phineas bent and grabbed his boots, then came to Lelia, pressing a kiss to her mouth as well. “Be safe. I’ll return soon.”

“Please.” She wanted to cling to him, but he needed to do this for himself, she thought. Perhaps for Ned.

Phineas turned and left them, and Lelia would have followed, but Rafe caught her. “He needs to do this.”

She whirled, hands clenched. “How can you say that? He’ll be killed.”

“No, he won’t. He’s a soldier, and this Richard is a coward. Phineas will find him in public and call him out.”

“Call him out? Are you mad? That’s illegal.” God, she had to catch Phineas.

“He will not need to stoop to a duel,” Rafe told her, holding her in place. “But you will never be rid of this man if Phineas does not confront him.”

“Let go.” She slapped Rafe’s chest. “I need to— mmph.”

He kissed her as he had kissed Phineas, deep and desperately. He held her tightly, until she couldn’t catch a breath, until she slumped against him.

“We will save him if we need to, woman,” Rafe told her. “For now we will wait for him.”

Lelia nodded slowly, then offered her mouth for another kiss, needing reassurance. She had no idea how this was meant to work between the three of them, but somehow there were three, and she thought that was important.

Rafe hugged her, and when Jack arrived with the tea, eyebrows as high as his hairline, they both dissolved into laughter.

Now all they could do was wait.

***

Phineas found Lord Richard Mattheson in a gambling hell. Oh, he’d tried White’s, but apparently the fellow was no longer welcome there. Something about him punching a young lordling in the nose.

He had only a few minutes left in his hour by the time he found Mattheson sitting in a room that reeked of smoke and alcohol, trying his hand at whist. Rafe wouldn’t come after him for another hour, at least, as the man was quite familiar with London. The time limit had to be a bluff for Lelia’s sake.

“May I sit in?” Phineas asked at Mattheson’s table, and was rewarded with a visible start from Ned’s brother. He paled, as well, and Phineas knew this had to be his man.

“Sit, sit!” A florid older man waved him to a chair. “Always happy to have a new player to fleece.”

Phineas pulled out a few notes. “I do not fall so easily, Sir.”

“We shall see. Henry Barnaby. That’s Mayhew, and that’s Mattheson. You are?”

“Sir Phineas Moore.” He nodded at the table at large. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet, lad.” Barnaby winked at him, then dealt a new hand.

“I understand you’re recently engaged, Sir Phineas,” Mattheson murmured. “Congratulations.”

“Indeed. She is a delight.” Now, what was this about? Was Mattheson going to play this out so publicly?

“I hope you will both have whatever you deserve.”

“What a ringing endorsement,” Barnaby exclaimed. “Ante, if you please.”

“Explain the stakes?” Phineas asked.

“Very dear,” Mattheson said.

“What now?” Bushy eyebrows drew together, and Barnaby glanced back and forth between them.

“I fear I’ve lost my taste for the company,” Mattheson said. “Goodnight, gentlemen.”

“Ah, but you were the opponent I was seeking.” Phineas stood. “I’ll walk you out.”

Mattheson rose, nodding shortly to his companions, then left the room without looking back. Phineas followed, ready for anything, but Mattheson truly ignored him as if he hadn’t been trying to kill Phineas’ lovers for days.

“Why do you hate me so?” he finally asked, lunging to grab Mattheson’s arm.

“You promised to keep Ned safe!” Mattheson turned on him, a knife glinting in his hand. “You killed him!”

Phineas knocked the wrist of the hand in which Mattheson held the knife, knowing the nerves would spasm and the hand would pop open. Sure enough, the knife went spinning away.

“You were the bastard heir. I would think you’d be pleased to move up.” It tore Phineas’ heart to dismiss Ned so, but he had to rattle Mattheson.

“I loved Ned! I loved my father. You don’t deserve happiness any more than you deserved Ned.” That face that was so like Ned’s, twisted with hatred.

Phineas held both of Mattheson’s hands, trying to decide what to do next. His hesitation was his mistake, because that was when pain exploded across the back of his head, the world going dark.

When Phineas did not return in an hour, Rafe pulled aside Lelia’s footman, Jack. “I need to send a message to Miss August’s cousin, please.”

“Yes, sir. She keeps her foolscap here.”

Lelia was napping, mostly thanks to a tiny bit of laudanum in her tea. Only enough to keep her from charging out the door.

Rafe would summon Eustace, then go and find Phineas.

He dashed off a message, then commissioned Jack’s younger brother to carry it to Eustace. In the meantime, he searched Lelia’s house for weapons.

When the knock came at the front door, Rafe leaped for it, hoping Phineas would eliminate the need for action. Disappointment flooded him, however, when his friend Nicolas stood at the door.

“Returning your coat…” Nic frowned. “Let me in, Rafe. Tell me what’s happening.”

“Phineas went in search of Lord Mattheson. I fear something has happened.”

Nic took in Lelia’s entryway and drawing room at a glance. “And the lady?”

“I drugged her.”

“Good man. What may I do?”

“Stay here. Watch the lady until her cousin arrives.”

“What will you do?” Nic asked, as though he had to know.

“I’m going to go and rescue my soldier.” Rafe gave Nic a rakish grin. “Even if just to hand him over to another.”

“Try the hells,
amigo.
Mattheson likes to gamble.”

He clapped Nic on the shoulder, then nodded and took back his coat. “I will see you soon.”

“You will. Return safely.”

Rafe felt as though Lelia was safe, so he ran out the door, intent on saving Phineas any way he could. Now Rafe just had to find him.

****

Lelia woke feeling groggy, her mouth coated with a woolen sock.

Damn Rafe’s eyes, anyway.

She crawled out of the bed, making it to the chamber pot behind the screen before she voided her stomach. The violence of it left her shaking, but she felt immediately more clearheaded. She dressed quickly, forgoing stays and layers of pelisse and so on. Then she marched downstairs intent upon fishwifery. She would be shrill and make Rafe take her with him to find Phineas.

She found a tall, broad man in the men’s lounge, but this golden god was neither Rafe nor Phineas. Lelia stopped, her heart lurching. Was this their villain?

“Who are you, sir?” Lelia demanded.

The man leaped to his feet and turned to present her a leg. “Baron Nicolas Marner, Miss August. A friend of Rafael Gaudi.”

“The friend with the coat,” she hazarded.

“Indeed. Are you well? You’re quite pale.” His gray eyes assessed her shrewdly.

“Rafael doctored my drink.” She sighed. “He’s gone, isn’t he?”

“Yes. I am to keep you safe.” Nic smiled, which was a devastating thing. So beautiful it made her blink as if she’s stared directly into the sun.

“I see. Well, I hope you are prepared to follow me about. I intend to go and find Phineas and Rafe immediately.”

Alarm slid across his face. “Now, Miss August—”

“Lelia, please. Since you’re in my house and have availed yourself of my brandy.”

Nicolas arched a brow. “Well, I did get shot at on your behalf.”

“There, you see? We might as well be the best of friends.” Lelia smiled tightly. “Off we go, then.” She stomped to the entryway, shouting for Jack to bring her coat.

“Miss Lelia.” Jack skidded to a halt in front of her. “If I may voice my opinion.”

“No, you may not. My coat.” The knocker slammed against the door once more, and Lelia shrieked softly. “Oh, damn my nerves.”

Jack leaped to open the door, and Lelia thought he was as overset as she was by all the comings and goings. The door had barely opened when Eustace and Amelie pushed inside, alarm clear in their expressions.

“Lelia! We had a message that you were in grave danger. What on earth has happened now?” Eustace came to her, taking both of her hands in his.

“I am in no danger save that of my head exploding! I need to find Phineas and Rafe.”

“Who are you, sir?” Amelie asked, reminding Lelia Nicolas stood there, smiling.

“Nicolas Marner. A friend of Mr. Gaudi’s.”

Amelie clapped her hands with apparent delight. “Are you a spy, too?”

“Er—” Nicolas looked to Amelie with wide eyes, appealing to her.