A Dangerous Pursuit (Regency Spies & Secrets Book 1), Laura Beers [romantic books to read TXT] 📗

“By chance, do you have any idea who might have abducted Miss Hardy?” Madalene asked hopefully.

Meeting her gaze, Eddy said, “Women go missing around here all the time. I would just be grateful that it wasn’t you who was abducted.”

“But Miss Hardy is my friend.”

Eddy gave her a look that could be construed as compassion. “My advice is to get a new friend,” he stated. “Wherever Miss Hardy is, she is long gone.”

“I refuse to give up looking for her.”

Eddy shook his head. “It has been my experience that people don’t like when other people start asking too many questions,” he advised. “You don’t want to anger the wrong people.”

Before she could reply, Eddy snapped his fingers and the other man jumped up from his chair. He grabbed her arm, opened the door, and shoved her out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Madalene turned back and stared at the door in astonishment. Never before had she been treated in such a horrendous fashion. But what did I expect, she thought. She wasn’t exactly dealing with gentlemen here.

She had failed to find Edith, but at least she had paid off her father’s gambling debts. Now Mrs. Hardy wouldn’t live in such fear of her creditors.

Turning around, Madalene started walking between the tables as she headed back towards the main door. She had just passed a crowded table when a man’s hand reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Let me go,” Madalene cried out as she yanked back.

The man didn’t relinquish his hold as he turned in his seat to face her. To her surprise, she was staring into the eyes of Lord Hawthorne. And by the furious glint in his eyes, he didn’t look pleased to see her either.

He rose abruptly from his chair and led her towards the corner of the room. Once they arrived, he remained close and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“It is perfectly acceptable for a gentleman to be at a gambling hall,” he responded curtly. “Whereas, being seen at one could ruin a young lady’s reputation.”

“I am aware of that fact.”

Lord Hawthorne’s eyes wandered over her face. “So, I must beg the question, what are you truly doing here?”

“Gambling,” she lied.

“Yet I didn’t see you place any bets.”

Arching an eyebrow, she asked, “You were watching me?”

“I was,” he replied, unabashed, “and I can’t seem to figure out the game that you are playing.”

“As I have told you before, I am playing no game.”

“Then why are you here, Miss Dowding?” he asked again. “And I want the truth this time.”

Madalene jerked her arm back, successful in freeing it this time. “If you must know, my friend was abducted, and I was trying to buy her release.”

Lord Hawthorne’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were attempting to gauge her sincerity. “Why don’t you start from the beginning?”

“My friend went missing a few days ago, and her mother thought Eddy might have something to do with it since they owed him money.”

With a baffled look on his face, he asked, “Who is Eddy?”

Madalene tried to distance herself from Lord Hawthorne by taking a step back, but she was stopped by the wall behind her. “He is the man in charge of the gambling hall.”

“I see, and you just waltzed right into his office to accuse him of abducting your friend.”

Madalene winced slightly at the harshness of his words. “I did, but I ended up paying off her debts instead.”

“Why did your friend owe Eddy money?”

Clasping her hands in front of her, Madalene explained, “Edith’s father gambled all their money away and then died in debtor’s prison. Eddy refused to let the debt die and insisted that Edith’s mother pay back the money.”

“Was she able to?”

“Heavens, no,” Madalene replied with a shake of her head, “but Edith is working as the headmistress at my orphanage and has been paying Eddy back a bit at a time.”

“Pray tell, then what purpose would he have to abduct her?”

Madalene shrugged. “Mrs. Hardy thought it was a possibility, and I thought I should at least attempt to find Edith.”

“You are either incredibly brave or stupid, Miss Dowding,” Lord Hawthorne remarked. “And, frankly, I haven’t decided which one you are yet.”

“Do you intend to keep insulting me, or am I free to go?” Madalene asked dryly.

“You can’t keep going on the way you have been. You must think of your reputation.”

Madalene held his gaze in silent challenge for a long moment before saying, “I would rather risk my reputation than lose my friend entirely.”

Lord Hawthorne muttered something incoherent under his breath as he slowly shook his head. “I might regret saying this, but I am going to help you.”

“In what way?”

“I have a certain set of skills that will enable me to find your friend much more efficiently than you,” Lord Hawthorne answered.

“What kind of skills?”

“I am not at liberty to say.”

“And if I refuse your help?”

A cocky grin came to Lord Hawthorne’s lips. “That would be a rather foolish thing to do.”

Madalene considered the infuriating lord for a moment. She wanted to refuse his help, and wipe that smug smile off his face, but she was out of options. After all, she was no closer to finding Edith than she had been before. She needed help, but why did it have to come from him?

Forcing a smile to her lips, Madalene said, “I will accept your help.”

“Good.”

“But I have a condition.”

His grin dimmed. “Which is?”

She jutted out her chin. “I want to be involved in the investigation.”

“No.”

“Whyever not?”

Lord Hawthorne leaned closer, and she could feel the heat of his breath mingling with hers. “I work alone,” he stated firmly with a hint of coldness she’d not heard before.

“Will you at least keep me abreast of the investigation?”

“I would be willing to do that, assuming you do not become a nuisance.”

“Thank you.” Madalene worked hard to pretend that his nearness wasn’t affecting her. She had never been this close to