Bedford Street Brigade 01 - Where the Lady Belongs Read Free Page A

back and led her to the center of the room. “Come in, men. I’m sure you’ve seen a lady before,” he said, waving the trio forward.
    “Of course,” the man Cora had seen at the Exhibition earlier with Mr. Wallace said, stepping forward. “Just not in your house.”
    “Yes,” the second man in the line said.
    The third man didn’t have anything to say, but his raised eyebrows and brilliant smile said more than any words could.
    Mr. Wallace ignored the teasing remarks and began the introductions. “Miss Lane, allow me to present three of my friends, all former investigators in the Detective Branch at Scotland Yard. Quinn Walker, Hugh Baxter, and Jack Conway. Quinn, Hugh, Jack. Allow me to present Miss Cora Lane.”
    “Miss Lane,” the three men said in unison. They all nodded politely.
    “Sit down, men.”
    Mr. Wallace pointed to several chairs scattered throughout the room, and the men brought them forward until they formed a comfortable circle. “Miss Lane is having tea, but I’m sure she won’t mind if we have something stronger. Will you, Miss Lane?”
    “Of course not,” Cora answered. All three pairs of eyes still rested on her as if her presence was some great mystery they needed to solve.
    Mr. Wallace walked to a sideboard and filled four glasses, then brought them back and handed them to the three men. When he retrieved one for himself, he sat in his chair. He took a sip from his glass before he began. “Miss Lane came to see me because she was at the exhibit when the Undersecretary was killed.”
    The three men shifted in their chairs when he made that comment.
    “She not only saw our assassin but can describe him.”
    “What a stroke of luck,” the man introduced as Quinn said.
    “Briggs and Roarke will be glad to hear that. It will help us all to be on the lookout for the man if he makes another attempt to steal the diamond.”
    “Can you give us a description of the man?” the fellow introduced as Jack asked.
    “Yes, but—”
    “Good,” Hugh said, stepping to Mr. Wallace’s desk to retrieve a piece of paper and a lead pencil. “I’ll take down notes as you describe our man.”
    “If you’d rather,” Cora said, “I can attempt a sketch of the man. I’m not an artist by any means, but can provide a few details that might be of use.”
    The three men shared a look that Cora couldn’t read, but Mr. Wallace rose and extended his hand to help her.
    “Here, sit at my desk. You’ll need a flat surface on which to sketch.”
    Cora stepped behind the massive desk and sat. When he placed a clean piece of paper in front of her, she picked up a pencil and began.
    At first it bothered her to have Mr. Wallace watch over her shoulder, but soon she became so engrossed in remembering the features of the man she’d seen at the Exhibition, she didn’t notice him. Nor did she notice his three friends, who’d gathered behind her to watch, too. She sketched until she was satisfied that she’d remembered every detail she could. She laid down her pencil and sat back.
    “Bloody hell,” Hugh Baxter said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
    “Me neither,” Jack Conway said in a soft tone.
    “How’d you do that, Miss Lane?” Quinn Walker asked.
    Cora felt her cheeks warm. “Do you think it will help?”
    Hugh laughed. “Help? It’s as good as a photograph.”
    The men each repeated their admiration for her talent. All except Mr. Wallace. He hadn’t said anything. Cora lifted her gaze until her eyes met his. The expression in his eyes stole her breath. He approved. He more than approved.
    “Amazing, Miss Lane,” he said.
    His expression softened, and Cora felt an emotion similar to how she’d felt when he’d held her in his arms. The same as she’d felt when she’d pressed her cheek against his chest and heard the steady beating of his heart beneath her ear.
    She lowered her gaze. “I’m glad you think it will help.”
    “It will more than help,” one of the men said as