Sins of a Virgin (Sinners Trio)

by Anna Randol

  Madeline hoped the bastard tried. She knew a few tricks she’d like to show him.

  “I was too damned sure of myself this time. Perhaps Potts was right after all.”

  “Potts is a dolt.”

  That elicited a short bark of laughter from Gabriel. “You don’t even know what he said.”

  “If it wasn’t praising your incredible skill, he is a dolt.”

  Gabriel’s lips found the sensitive spot at the base of her neck.

  “You said the drawing was only a rough outline,” she said.

  Gabriel shifted as if to rise, then stilled. “The drawing is in my study at home. Otherwise I’d show you.” The arms around her were tense, the sated languor was gone.

  There was as little chance of his going to sleep now as there had ever been for her. “Your house isn’t far, is it?”

  His breath hitched for a moment.

  “It’s only, what, ten minutes?”

  Gabriel exhaled. “Don’t you mind me dragging you from your bed before dawn?”

  Madeline grinned, climbing from the bed. “Who is the first one up?”

  Gabriel groaned, his eyes swept her naked body with renewed hunger. “Remind me very quickly why we’re getting out of this bed.”

  “The sketch.” Positioning herself in the lone beam of moonlight filtering through the curtains, she slowly bent to retrieve her shift from the floor. While she might doubt her suitability as a wife, she knew her power as a woman. With Gabriel watching, the slide of satin going onto her skin was as sensual as it was coming off.

  Gabriel swore. “We’ll go in the morning.”

  Madeline peered at him from under her lashes. “We still have the entire carriage ride over.”

  Gabriel’s snort of laughter sounded remarkably anguished. “How long until we can have the coach here?”

  By the time they had dressed, Canterbury had roused her coachman and arranged for the vehicle to be brought around.

  Once inside, Gabriel settled her on his lap. He traced the bridge of her nose with his finger. “You look beautiful in this.” He grinned and fingered the lace barely covering her breasts. “But I like you even more without it.”

  A horseman cantered past the coach.

  Madeline had already straightened and slid from Gabriel’s lap before she remembered she no longer cared what other men thought.

  Gabriel studied her, his face suddenly serious. “No regrets about last night?”

  “I already said no.” Madeline shifted and yanked her twisted skirts free. “My reaction to the horseman was habit, nothing more.” Another remnant of her training she’d have to free herself from.

  His gaze searched hers. “We’ll work on that.”

  She was glad the darkness hid the embarrassment in her cheeks. How many more things about her would she need to change?

  Madeline peered out of the window with curiosity as the coach slowed. She’d expected Gabriel to have a bachelor’s flat somewhere. Instead, the coach stopped in front of a charming row house.

  The inside was decorated in dark woods and muted tones; the darkness hid the exact color. But despite the obvious care that had been taken by a housekeeper, the room managed to look unused.

  “You aren’t here much, are you?”

  “Not in the past.”

  Madeline trailed her hand up a carefully polished railing as she climbed the stairs. What would she do while Gabriel was out apprehending criminals? She would have been faced with excess time after finishing the auction as well, but this seemed much more real. More worrisome.

  What if she grew restless? Missed her life as a spy and the freedom she’d grown accustomed to? She loved Gabriel, but what if that wasn’t enough?

  She followed Gabriel into his study. He lit several candles, the flickering yellow glow revealing a desk covered in stacks of folders three-deep. But despite the number of files, the piles were neat and Gabriel showed no hesitation in selecting the one he wanted.

  Madeline stood at the window and checked the street while he opened the pasteboard folder. “This room has a nice view of the street.”

  “You should see the perspective from my bedroom.”

  “You could just ask me up there.”

  “It actually has a clear view of the entire block.”

  She eyed the massive amount of information. “Let’s start at the beginning.”

  Systematically, she began to question everything they knew about the Simm murder, ensuring she wasn’t lacking any important details. Every person he’d spoken to. Every room he’d searched. Soon, Gabriel had dragged two chairs over to the desk so they could delve into the documents more easily. Finally, with the first light of dawn seeping in the window, she paused, rubbing ink-smudged fingers over her bleary eyes. “I’m not driving you mad, am I?” she asked.

  He surveyed her with bemused fascination. “No, you’re keeping me sane.”

  Madeline looked down at her notes again to hide the warm pleasure from his words.

  “You shouldn’t have carried Susan’s case on your own for so long.”

  “It is my responsibility.”

  Madeline traced her finger along the crease in his brow. “Now it is mine as well. Where is the drawing you found?”

  Gabriel pulled out a half sheet of paper.

  Something about it— “The coachman didn’t draw this.”

  Gabriel jerked forward. “What?”

  “The handwriting. This was written by the same man who left me the note.”

  “You are certain?” He swore. “The murderer intended for me to find it. And I was so damned desperate I didn’t even question it. I am too close.”

  “You aren’t desperate. You’re determined. Passionate. Thorough.”

  “Not thorough enough.”

  “I never showed you my note. Besides, if you hadn’t insisted on continuing to investigate this case, no one would have made the connection between this sketch and the note threatening me. It is only because you were so dedicated that we found the truth.”

  “But I wasted far too much time investigating the wrong man. While all that time one of your bidders might be— Bloody hell. Your bid book.”

  She stared at him.

  “All your bidders signed the book. We can compare the writing on your note and the drawing to the signatures in the book.”

  Thirty minutes later, they were huddled in the coach over the ledger. The first three pages of names didn’t look at all familiar.

  “He might have disguised his writing,” Gabriel said.

  Madeline nodded. “But there are usually traits they don’t think to hide, like how hard they press the quill. The spacing of their letters.”

  She turned the page. It had to be one of the men who had come to the auction late— She slammed her hand over the entry. Some wild impulse made her want to tear the page from the book so Gabriel would never see it.

  “My father?’” Both words were hoarse.

  “No!” She took a deep breath and moved her hand.

  Madeline stared at the writing that perfectly matched the letters in the drawing beside her.

  The Earl of Danbury.

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Everything about Gabriel was wrong, from his posture to the cold stillness of his hand as he took the ledger from her.

  “Danbury’s the killer,” she said. The odds someone had used his handwriting to forge the other notes was low. After all, the killer might have found out that Billingsgate was one of the suspects, but Danbury was never under the slightest suspicion. “His name wasn’t on the list of men who had children at the school.”

  “A few of the children are paid for anonymously. Or perhaps he’d met Miss Simm somewhere else. Bourne must have recognized him when I came to question him at the tavern. That’s why he fled. I led the killer right to my witness.” Gabriel was silent for a few moments, but when he spoke, his voice was harsh. “Hell, and I’ll bet he never saw Billingsgate near the school. That was just another mis
direction.”

  “How will we prove it was Danbury?” Only belatedly did she realize that her words should have been ones of comfort. Perhaps she should have offered a faint hope that they were mistaken. But the lie hadn’t occurred to her. Both of them had seen too much of life to believe it.

  Or should she have railed at Danbury, decrying his betrayal? Yet that wouldn’t have served a purpose, either. Her words would only be a pale mockery of Gabriel’s feelings.

  Instead, she took a silent breath and gave him the only thing she could. “I’m finishing the auction.”

  Gabriel’s gaze jerked to hers. “Like hell you are. I’m not letting you anywhere near him.”

  “The auction is the only reason he’s in London. If I end it now, he might get suspicious and leave for the West Indies where you cannot touch him.”

  The deep lines bracketing his mouth barely moved as he spoke. “I don’t have to arrest him to stop him.”

  She was too experienced to show her shock, but she couldn’t keep it from chilling her veins. “Or you can let me go through with the auction and use the time to find the proof to force the magistrate to order his arrest.” The thought of Danbury’s hands on her made her stomach clench until she couldn’t breathe, but she’d learned to tuck her preferences out of the way for the greater good.

  Gabriel’s hand cupped her cheek. “You may have been forced to use your body on behalf of your country, but I refuse to let you do the same for me. You’re to be my wife. I won’t share you with another. Not ever.”

  Madeline’s throat burned. No one had ever hesitated to use her for his own ends. “I won’t go through with it, only make him think I am going to.”

  “It’s still too dangerous. We have to assume from his threats he plans to kill you after the auction.”

  “I’m used to risk.”

  “But I’m not used to risking you.”

  She blinked away the annoying tears in her eyes. “What will you do?”

  “I’ll shoot him.”

  “So you can hang for killing a peer?” Her voice rose more than she would have liked.

  Gabriel cupped her face. “That scares you more than facing a murderer who wants you dead?”

  Yes. She’d faced murderers before. She’d never faced losing the man she loved.

  The rage in Gabriel’s eyes dimmed as he stared into hers. “I’ll try to have him arrested before I attempt anything else.”

  He wasn’t promising not to kill Danbury. She couldn’t ignore the omission. “But if you cannot?”

  “I will do what needs to be done.” He loosened the pins in her hair and sifted it through his fingers. “I tortured myself for years for not listening to Susan when she wanted to tell me about her suitor. Now I find I introduced her to the bastard.” The muscles along his jaw bunched. “He’s killed at least four people already. I know my duty.”

  The trouble was, she understood. Her mind recognized his determination even if her heart did not.

  But Gabriel had spent most of his life seeking justice. To kill a man in cold blood—even if it was a man he hated, a man who deserved to die—wouldn’t be something he could hide. He’d turn himself in and walk without protest to the gallows.

  She’d kill Danbury herself before she’d let that happen.

  But it wouldn’t come to that. She wouldn’t let it. “He won’t have a chance to kill anyone else.” She couldn’t offer comfort, but she could give Gabriel something better. A plan to catch the monster. Slowly, her thoughts fell into place.

  The thoughts coursed through her, stirring uncertainty in her chest. She’d been so sure she needed to give up the characteristics she’d developed as a spy. But what if they weren’t the hindrance she thought? What if her life as a spy wasn’t something she had to reject but rather something she could build upon?

  She stared at his resolute face and then placed a kiss on the hand that still pressed possessively on her cheek.

  Gabriel would never approve of the plan.

  She was tempted not to tell him. To let him discover her plan only after it was in motion. After all, a spy didn’t reveal her intentions to anyone, let alone the person most likely to derail them.

  She was no longer a spy.

  But how brave was the woman without that façade?

  The question resonated deep within her. Could she trust him to believe in her?

  She was about to find out. “I have a plan.”

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Madeline lounged on the polished oak counter at Naughton’s, her crossed legs exposing a fair amount of silk-clad calf.

  With slow deliberation, she inched up her skirts to her knees. “My hem rises with the bids.”

  The crowd howled encouragement to where Danbury, Lenton, and Wethersly hunched next to the betting book. The ledger rested untouched for several minutes until the cheers of the crowd got the better of Wethersly. He snatched the ledger and increased his bid. That set off a flurry of movement as the other two fought over the right to outdo him.

  While everyone’s attention focused on the bidders, she scanned the room again, using her carefully selected vantage point to see over everyone’s heads to the entrance.

  Gabriel still wasn’t here.

  Madeline turned her attention back to the men overflowing the gaming hell. Sensible black coats rubbed against puce and lemon as men shouldered their way forward for a better view. Only Naughton’s burly footmen kept the crowd from sending her tumbling back over the edge of her wooden perch.

  Madeline tugged on her skirts again, this time to keeping her fingers from tensing and betraying her nerves. She’d only ever run one mission with Gabriel, so why did she so keenly feel the lack of him now?

  She glanced at the gold pocket watch that had been donated by one of the men standing near to her. Five minutes remained on the auction.

  She could wait no longer to put her plan into action.

  Madeline slid off the counter and glided toward Lenton. She rolled her shoulders, drawing his attention to her barely contained bosom, then dragged her finger down the valley between her breasts. Lenton’s lips slackened and his eyes took on that slightly protruding look.

  Yet rather than approaching him, she wandered toward Wethersly, letting her backside brush across his thigh. Breath wheezed out of the older gentleman, and if she hadn’t known his reputation, she would have feared he was suffering an apoplexy.

  “Sweet heavens, I cannot wait to get out of this dress.” Tugging on the fabric of her bodice, she provided both gentlemen an unobstructed view down her dress.

  Lenton nearly knocked the ink to the floor in his haste to grab the book. The crowd shouted encouragement. Wethersly puffed in outrage and reached for the book at the same time as Danbury.

  Madeline flounced directly into Danbury’s path, blocking him. “Do say you are about to bid again.” She placed her hand on his cheek. Her first three fingers aligned with the scars on his cheek, the pale marks suddenly infinitely more ominous than they’d been the week before.

  She trapped the fear lacing through her veins and twisted it into anger. Yet she kept both emotions from her face as Danbury’s hands slid down her arms and lifted her from his path. “Of course I’ll bid. I planned to win all along.”

  As Danbury moved past her, she felt the humming awareness of Gabriel’s eyes on her. Silly, when a hundred men fixated on her like starving dogs, but the sensation tingled down her spine.

  He was here.

  In response to her beseeching smile, one of the footmen placed her back onto the counter. She searched the crowd until she found Gabriel. He stood by the main entrance, speaking with a dark-haired Runner.

  After the other man hurried outside, Gabriel strode to her side and pulled the watch from her fingers. His hand slid over hers in a gentle contact that was far too brief.

  “Where were you?” Madeline asked.

  “There was something I had to take care of.” He turned to the crowd. “Five seconds remain.”r />
  “There’s—” Madeline stopped. It hardly mattered if he ended the auction ten seconds early.

  She started the count. “Five . . . four . . .”

  Lenton tried to wrest the book from Danbury, but Danbury blocked him with his forearm.

  Danbury grinned. “Trust me. It’s for your own good.”

  Wethersly stood back, the wrinkles on his face rearranged into angry slashes, but he didn’t try to fight the book from the younger, larger man.

  The crowd joined in on cue. “Three . . . two . . . one!” They surged forward, straining to see the unassuming black leather book.

  Gabriel held out his hand and Danbury passed him the book. After a quick jotted note at the bottom, Gabriel tore the page free and held it high. “Earl of Danbury wins.”

  The gathered men erupted into cheers, pounding congratulatory fists on Danbury’s back and onto the bar. The wooden planks under Madeline vibrated with the celebration. Wethersly stomped away, his lips clearly forming a few choice blasphemies. Lenton, on the other hand, blindly accepted a tankard of half-finished ale and gulped it without pause.

  Danbury’s arm snaked around Madeline’s waist, the weight of his embrace tight and controlling. “Well, gentlemen, I’ll take this creature off your hands.”

  The crowd shouted its approval, peppering it with ribald suggestions for deflowering her.

  “You’re free, too, Huntford,” Danbury said.

  Gabriel folded the page with crisp lines, then tucked it in his waistcoat. The muscle at his jaw twitched, but when he looked up, his gaze was empty. “Actually, I’m required to see to the matter of payment first.”

  Madeline had to raise her voice to be heard. “Shall we go somewhere a little more private?” She tipped her head toward the door leading outside.

  Thirty minutes later, Gabriel and Danbury stood around a desk in her study.

  Danbury wrote his bank draft with a flourish. Gabriel examined it, then nodded. “I will see this delivered to your bank, Madeline. Good day.” With a bow, and without a glance back, he left. His step echoed through the front hall and down the front stair.