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

they made their way back to the grouping of chairs. The rest followed.
    “May I?” Mr. Wallace extended his hand to help her to her feet.
    The second their fingers touched, a bursting of emotion surged through her. She’d experienced a similar feeling earlier when he’d held her, but nothing as explosive. Nothing as dramatic.
    She walked to her chair and sat.
    “What are your plans, Mack?” Quinn Walker asked.
    Mr. Wallace took in a deep breath. “We are very fortunate that Miss Lane got a good look at our killer. Unfortunately, our killer got an excellent look at Miss Lane as well.”
    There was a moment of silence before Jack Conway spoke. “Well, that puts a different slant on things.”
    “That’s what I explained to Miss Lane. We can’t guarantee that the killer isn’t looking for her right now. We can’t even guarantee that the killer didn’t follow her here.”
    “We didn’t notice anyone when we came,” Hugh Baxter said, sharing nods of agreement with the other men. “But we weren’t watching for anything out of the ordinary, either.”
    “I told Miss Lane she will have to stay here until we catch our killer.”
    Cora watched for a change on the expressions of the three men. She was surprised that no one seemed shocked or even surprised.
    “Miss Lane will, of course, need clothing and other items.”
    “What is your home address, Miss Lane?” Quinn Walker asked.
    “Number forty-five Thurloe Square.”
    Four pairs of eyebrows shot up.
    “That’s a very nice section of London,” Jack Conway said.
    “Miss Lane lives with her sister and brother-in-law. Mr. and Mrs.—”
    “ Baron and Lady Stewart Preston,” she finished.
    “We’ll have to send someone there to guard Lord and Lady Preston,” Mr. Wallace said.
    “I’ll take care of that,” Jack Conway said. “I know a couple of reliable watchmen who will be glad for the job. I’ll talk to them, then visit Lady Preston and have her pack a bag for you.”
    “Please assure her that I’m all right. I don’t want her to worry.”
    “Why don’t you write her a note?” Mr. Wallace said.
    “Yes, I’d like that.”
    Cora rose from her chair and went to Mr. Wallace’s desk. She took a clean sheet of paper and began her message to Bridgette. She concentrated mostly on what she wanted to tell her sister but couldn’t help overhearing the orders Mr. Wallace gave the other men. He was very organized. Very precise in his instructions. Cora was impressed by his assumption of command. Even more impressed with how the other men acquiesced to his orders.
    “Quinn,” Mr. Wallace said, “take the picture Miss Lane drew of our man to Briggs and Roarke. It will give them a good idea of who to be on the lookout for. Hugh and Jack, you two will take turns with Briggs and Roarke guarding the diamond. The Exhibition only lasts four more days. There aren’t many chances for our thief to make another attempt to steal the diamond.”
    Mr. Wallace’s last words took her off guard. “Oh no.” Cora looked up from the message she was penning. “The man who killed the Undersecretary wasn’t there to steal the Koh-i-Noor diamond,” she said.
    All heads turned in her direction. Mr. Wallace rose from his chair and stepped closer to her.
    “Are you sure?” he asked.
    She nodded. “I’m quite positive. The gunman intended to kill Sir George Grey—the Home Secretary.”

Chapter Three
    M ack stopped when he reached her chair. “Why do you think this was an assassination attempt?” he asked. “And why do you think Sir George Grey was the intended victim?”
    “Look.” Miss Lane pulled out another sheet of paper.
    In exact detail she indicated where the group of dignitaries stood in relation to the Koh-i-Noor display. She then indicated where she’d been standing and where the gunman stood.
    “See, if the gunman’s intent had been to fire at the display, thereby breaking the glass case and stealing the diamond, he would have fired his gun to his