Never Love a Scoundrel

by Darcy Burke

  “I still can’t believe Ethan would do this. He has to have changed.” Her mind struggled to make sense of this. “Why would a criminal want to learn to waltz?”

  “Lydia, Bow Street has proof—testimony from a man who works for Ethan. He directed Lady Aldridge’s death.” His eyes were sad. “I’m sorry to have to share such details with you, but you need to know what sort of man he is.

  “I need to go.” His gaze raked her from crown to toe, turning a bit wistful when he finished. “Do you need someone to help you?”

  “No, thank you.” Her hair undoubtedly looked a fright, but she’d manage.

  He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I’ll call on you tomorrow.”

  Lydia nodded and watched him leave.

  With a heavy sigh, she found her slippers and slid them onto her feet. She still couldn’t fathom Ethan stealing from her, let alone being responsible for Lady Aldridge’s death. Good heavens, what would Audrey say when Lydia told her? She’d be just as shocked as Lydia. Perhaps even more so; Audrey had actually flirted with him.

  After what seemed a least a quarter hour, there was a rap on the door. Lydia cracked it open to reveal a stocky footman she’d never seen before.

  “I’m here to see you home, my lady,” he said with a helpful smile. His face was kind and genuine, and he immediately set her at ease. “I’m Jimmy.”

  “Jimmy?” she asked, as he gestured for her to precede him. “You don’t go by a surname?”

  “No, my lady. I’m just Jimmy.” He hastened beside her. “We must hurry. His lordship wants you on your way as soon as possible.”

  “Of course.” She quickened her pace, and they were halfway down the stairs to the foyer when she realized she wasn’t wearing a mask. If anyone saw her she’d be ruined—but did that really matter? Cheerfully, she acknowledged it didn’t.

  Jimmy hurried even faster when they stepped into the foyer, and ushered her out the door before anyone caught sight of her, but then they hadn’t seen a soul. Which was odd. Shouldn’t someone have been stationed in the foyer? Or were they all involved with the dead footman? Lydia grew a bit queasy as she realized death was very nearby.

  She slowed as they walked toward the street, which was lined with a handful of coaches, none of which belonged to Jason. What vehicle was she to take? Confused, she turned to Jimmy, but he wasn’t paying attention to her. He was turning his head this way and that.

  “What is it?” she asked, alarm beginning to wind its way through her.

  Jimmy took her arm and pulled her to the street. “We need to be hailin’ a hack.”

  His voice subtly changed, triggering her alarm to erupt into full-blown fear. She tried to pull away from the footman’s grasp. “I think I’d rather go back inside.”

  His grip tightened and after glancing up and down the street, he tugged her across, though she pointlessly tried to dig her feet into the stones.

  “Let me go!” Her voice climbed, but the flash of steel silenced her immediately.

  He’d pulled a knife from his boot and brought it to within an inch of her face. “Unless ye fancy a scar to match the one on yer lordship’s cheek, keep yer mouth shut. Do as I say, and ye won’t bleed.” His crisp servant’s diction had been completely replaced with the language of someone from a far lower class.

  Lydia bit her cheek to keep from screaming and prayed Jason would find her. But he thought she’d gone home. He wouldn’t realize she hadn’t actually arrived there until tomorrow morning. By then, who knew what would have happened to her?

  Fear iced her body as her captor pulled her along to God-only-knew-what fate.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  JASON RUSHED down to the foyer and met North. “Has anyone found Ethan yet?”

  “No, my lord. It’s possible he hasn’t arrived, or that he saw the Bow Street Runners stationed about and left.” North clasped his hands behind his back in his usual stance, but there was a current of energy coursing through him, as though he were ready to spring into action at any moment.

  Jason had been angry when Teague had shown up with four other Runners earlier in the evening. Ethan was far too smart, and if he sensed this was a trap, he’d leave and they might never find him.

  Scot came through the foyer at that moment. He paused upon seeing Jason. “There’s one Runner still here. He’s out in the alley with Kerr.” Scot’s expression was grim, but carried a hint of fury. “I’d like to get my hands around the neck of whoever did that to him.”

  Jason felt the same, perhaps even more so since he suspected his half brother, who’d utterly and successfully duped him. “Still no sign of Ethan?”

  “Not yet. Your guests sense something is wrong, but we’ve kept Kerr’s death quiet. Though I don’t know how much longer that will last.”

  Jason nodded. “I need someone to see Lydia home. I want her out of here as soon as possible.”

  North inclined his head. “I’ll send someone to take care of it.” He turned and departed with long strides.

  Jason pivoted toward Scot, whose expression still hovered somewhere between anger and sadness. “Where have you searched for Ethan?”

  “I was about to go upstairs.”

  Jason’s memory went back to his last vice party. Ethan had snuck into the billiards room undetected. He could very well have done the same thing tonight. “I’m going to the gaming room.”

  Scot shook his head. “I looked there.”

  “It’s possible you didn’t know what you were looking for.” Jason hastened to the billiards room and quickly scanned everyone present as he moved through it. There were only a few men wearing masks, and none of them were Ethan. And whereas Jason hadn’t been able to easily recognize him at the last vice party, he felt certain he’d know him anywhere now.

  He reached the back of the room and stood near the terrace doors, one of which was open partway, presumably to allow the cool air inside. But what if it wasn’t? Cautiously, Jason pushed the door wider and stepped outside.

  A sconce on the exterior wall illuminated this area of the terrace. Jason stopped short at the sight of Ethan bent over a body. Ethan’s eyes met Jason’s. Slowly, he stood. A circle of blood was spreading from the body—it was Wolverton. Jason’s gaze landed on a blood-covered knife dangling from Ethan’s hand.

  Jason moved forward haltingly, looking between the surely dead Wolverton and Ethan. “What have you done?”

  Ethan turned toward him and stepped away from Wolverton. “I didn’t do this.”

  Revulsion turned Jason’s stomach. “It looks to me like you did.” Jason turned his head and registered the arrival of Teague.

  The Runner stepped out onto the terrace and moved next to Jason. “Put the knife down, Jagger.”

  “Teague, I thought you left,” Jason said, returning his attention to Ethan.

  “I did, but I’ve just returned, and not a moment too late, I see.”

  Ethan held up his hands. Blood dripped from the knife and landed on the stone like a scarlet raindrop. “I know this looks bad, but I didn’t kill Wolverton.”

  Jason stared at him. “I defended you. I foolishly believed you’d changed. And you stole from my fiancée.” He clenched his fists, hoping he’d finally have the opportunity to break the bastard’s nose.

  Ethan fixed him with an earnest stare. “I didn’t steal from Lydia. It was Wolverton. I told you there was someone else involved.”

  And that someone was a marquess? It shouldn’t have been impossible to believe since the Earl of Aldridge had been running a gang, but how many bloody noblemen were working for Gin Jimmy? Or was Ethan lying again? “Forgive me for not trusting you, but you’ve made that goddamned difficult. Do you have proof?”

  “We do,” Teague interjected. “I left earlier because I’d received a message directing me to Wolverton House. We found several stolen objects, including a necklace that belongs to Lady Lydia.”

  Jason exhaled. He was relieved to learn Ethan hadn’t lied—
at least about stealing from Lydia.

  Teague took a step toward Ethan. “Did you kill Wolverton to eliminate your competition?”

  “Why would I do that when I expected you to arrest him?” Ethan glared at the Runner with equal parts contempt and arrogance, neither of which was going to help his cause. “Who do you think sent the note directing you to Wolverton House?”

  Jason tried to make sense of everything and wished to hell his brother had trusted him with whatever plan he’d been executing. “Why are you standing here with a bloody knife?”

  Ethan glanced at the weapon, and Jason caught the flicker of disgust in his eyes. “I’m telling you I didn’t do this. I don’t expect them to believe me, but I hope you do.”

  Jason didn’t know what to believe. He’d spent far longer hating this man than he had liking him. And how did you have faith in someone who didn’t have faith in you?

  “Ethan, I’m going to have to arrest you for the murder of Wolverton and possibly the murder of Lord Lockwood’s footman.” Teague took another step. “And for organizing the death of Lady Aldridge.”

  Ethan backed up. “I didn’t do that. It was Oak—he was following Gin Jimmy’s orders. And Gin Jimmy killed Wolverton.” He glanced at Jason. “One of your footmen is dead?”

  Before Jason could answer, Teague asked, “You expect me to believe Gin Jimmy came out of his rookery to personally kill someone?” Teague’s tone clearly indicated he believed no such thing.

  Ethan’s nostrils flared, and his gray eyes flashed with anger. “Yes, goddammit, he’s in the house. He’s wearing Lockwood livery. But you need to hurry, he may have slipped out by now.”

  Jason began to understand what may have happened. “Why did Gin Jimmy come here tonight?”

  “To kill Wolverton.” Ethan gave a subtle nod, as if he were trying to communicate something additional to Jason. “Gin Jimmy thought he’d turned against him.”

  Jason thought he began to understand Ethan’s plan. He had been trying to change after all. He’d turned against Gin Jimmy, not Wolverton. “And he killed my footman to obtain my livery because he wanted to blend in and escape more easily?”

  “We need to find him,” Ethan said. “It’s good that he’s wearing livery, so you’ll know what to look for. I’m sure Teague doesn’t know what he looks like.”

  “No.” Teague looked conflicted. He glanced toward the house, but his stance was angled toward Ethan, his feet wide apart and his arms tensed. He was ready to fight. But he couldn’t hold Ethan and go after Gin Jimmy. “Lord Lockwood, where is the Runner who stayed behind?”

  “In the alley.”

  “I hate to ask you, but would you mind fetching him? I’m afraid I’m in need of another pair of hands with so many criminals about.” He threw Ethan a dark glare. “Describe Gin Jimmy.”

  “He looks like your grandfather.” Ethan held up his hand and indicated a height near his mouth. “Shorter, maybe five foot eight, a bit thick around the middle. White hair, clean-shaven, and he has a gold tooth. And of course, he now looks like another one of Jason’s footmen.”

  Footman. A cold sensation raced up Jason’s neck. North had sent someone to see Lydia home. He would’ve immediately recognized that Gin Jimmy wasn’t one of their retainers, but Jason felt uneasy nonetheless. “I’ll go get your Runner,” he said a bit absently as he turned toward the house, intending to check on Lydia first.

  The sound of a scuffle spun him back around. Ethan was standing over an unconscious Teague, still clutching the bloody knife.

  Jason glanced at the weapon. “Christ, Ethan! You didn’t kill him too?”

  Ethan glared at him then dropped the knife beside Teague. “I haven’t killed anyone. Tonight, anyway.”

  Jason didn’t have time to be shocked by this revelation. He turned, needing to ensure Lydia had left safely. He rushed inside with Ethan on his heels. He nearly tripped over North, who was standing just inside the billiards room.

  “The guests were becoming curious,” North said. “I explained you were conducting business on the terrace and didn’t wish to be disturbed.”

  Several men looked up from their games, but Jason didn’t bother to send any of them reassuring looks. He doubted he’d be able to keep two murders quiet. It seemed Lockwood House really was an awful place.

  “North, who took Lydia home?”

  “I directed Pemley to send someone up to fetch her ladyship and see her home.”

  The cold that had settled into Jason’s spine turned frigid. “Pemley’s new.”

  “Which is why I didn’t ask him to see her home,” North said, his forehead creasing. “What’s wrong?”

  Ethan grabbed Jason’s arm. “You think because this Pemley is new that he could’ve asked Gin Jimmy to take her home?”

  Jason was certain the blood had drained from his face. Ethan was already moving.

  They rushed into the foyer where—miraculously—Pemley was at the door.

  “Pemley!” Jason called. “Who took Lady Lydia home?”

  The footman’s cheeks reddened. “I don’t remember his name, my lord. I beg your pardon.”

  “Was he older? About this tall?” Ethan gestured to his jawline. “His livery probably seemed a bit long for him.”

  Pemley nodded. “That’s him. But he did as he was told. I saw him leave with Lady Lydia a few minutes ago.”

  Goddammit. Furious energy surged through Jason just as his muscles felt as though they were made of jelly.

  “Come on.” Ethan ran out the door and surveyed the street.

  “Where would he go?” Jason’s heart threatened to beat a hole in his chest. “Why would he take her?”

  “To ensure he got away.” Ethan turned and ran north. “He’ll head back toward St. Giles. If he can get there, he’ll be untouchable—it’s why he never leaves. Do you know how fucking hard it was for me to get him out of there? And goddamned Bow Street couldn’t even apprehend him.”

  Jason kept in stride with Ethan and tried to process what he was saying. “So you’re the one who turned on Gin Jimmy.”

  “It was that or be his scapegoat for Lady Aldridge’s death, which I may end up being anyway,” he said darkly.

  Ethan put his head down and increased his speed. Jason did the same. A few minutes and two streets later, their speed began to flag, but then Ethan spurred forward. “There he is!”

  Up ahead, a man and a woman were turning onto Beak Street—the man clearly pulling her along.

  Jason let out an inhuman cry and overtook Ethan in his effort to get to Lydia.

  Gin Jimmy spun about, one arm locked around her neck and the other pointed at her side . . . with a knife.

  Ethan lunged in front of Jason, partially shielding him, but Jason stepped around him. Ethan put his arm in front of his chest. “Stop. If you move, he’ll kill her.”

  “What’re ye doin’, Jagger?” Gin Jimmy asked, his blade pressed against Lydia’s ribcage.

  Jason could barely contain himself, despite Ethan’s arm restraining him.

  “Let her go, Jimmy,” Ethan said. “You don’t need her. You escaped. Let’s be on our way.”

  Gin Jimmy cocked his head to the side. “Somethin’s odd about ye, Jagger. I’m beginnin’ to think Wolverton might’ve been tellin’ the truth. That ye set me up instead o’ him. Why should ye give a shit about this bit o’ fluff? She’s yer brother’s lady, ain’t she? And I ken how much ye hate him. Why haven’t ye gutted him by now?” His lips spread in a humorless smile. “Mayhap ye’ve been lyin’ about how ye feel about him—like ye’ve been lyin’ to me.”

  “You set me up, Jimmy.” Ethan’s tone was crisp and frigid.

  Gin Jimmy’s gaze was fierce and his mouth twisted with menace. “Ye weren’t doin’ yer job. Ye were supposed to take care o’ Lady Aldridge, not squire her about town. Seemed yer fancy new place in Society had blinded yer vision. So I had Oak help things along.”

  While Jason was happy to learn that Ethan hadn’t participated in
Lady Aldridge’s demise, he was far more concerned with Lydia at this moment. He pushed Ethan’s arm away and stepped forward. “Lydia, are you all right?”

  Her dark eyes were wide, frightened. Of course she wasn’t all right. She was caught in the grip of a murderer. But at least she wasn’t hurt. Yet.

  “If you harm my fiancée, I’ll kill you myself,” Jason vowed. Indeed, he considered doing it anyway for kidnapping her and scaring the hell out of her.

  “Jagger! Gin Jimmy!” A chorus of shouts and boots hitting stone sounded behind them. Jason looked back to see Teague and another man running their way.

  Gin Jimmy snarled. He rotated his wrist. The knife flashed in the lamplight. Lydia’s gasp twisted Jason’s gut, and he lunged toward her.

  Ethan moved like quicksilver, his hand catching Gin Jimmy at the base of his throat. Jason assumed he’d gone for the windpipe, but he’d missed. Still, it was enough for Gin Jimmy to loosen his grip on Lydia. Ethan grasped Lydia’s forearm and yanked her forward. She stumbled into Jason’s waiting arms.

  Gin Jimmy raised his arm, and the knife blade glittered as he brought it down toward Ethan’s chest. Ethan just barely moved in time, but the blade caught him in the upper right arm as he turned.

  With a growl, Gin Jimmy turned tail and ran down the street.

  Teague and the other Runner were almost upon them.

  Ethan pivoted, his features drawn, his gray eyes furious. “I won’t let them take me.”

  “Go,” Jason said. Ethan had saved Lydia’s life, and though he might be a fool, Jason was certain he hadn’t killed Wolverton, nor had he orchestrated Lady Aldridge’s death. “I’ll explain what you were trying to do. How you were working against Gin Jimmy.”

  “It won’t matter,” Ethan said, sounding both defeated and remorseful. “They’ll still come after me.”

  Jason kept one arm around Lydia, but he reached out and clasped his brother’s wrist. “Let me help you. It’s time to trust me. Go. I’ll make sure you get a decent start.”

  Ethan smiled, and in it, Jason saw himself. Saw a future they could build together. He hoped they got that chance. Ethan took a step back, and Jason let him go.