A Thin Line Read online

  “So that is the way of it. May the best man win,” Southerby chuckled good-naturedly. Southerby left after dropping a kiss on Kala’s cheek. His lips were firm, not at all like Dewhurst’s. She felt a sense of friendship and peace, for lack of a better description.

  “You seem to truly like Southerby,” Drucilla interrupted her thoughts.

  “I enjoy his company. I also enjoy Mr. McKenzie’s companionship. Lord Dewhurst, however, is another tale entirely. There is just something about the man that I can’t quite put my finger on,” Kala replied.

  “Have you given up on Gabe then?”

  “Dru, the only thing between Gabe and me lived in my childish fantasies. It’s time I moved on. He has.”

  “Oh?”

  “Lady Clarissa Blackerby.”

  “I see.”

  “I can’t even hate her. She’s so nice and personable, almost delicate. So, it is time that I move on. Put the past behind me. Gabe has only ever seen me as a little sister, and perhaps that is the way it is meant to be,” she broke off and stood. “Pardon me Dru, I think I will have a bath.” Dru watched Kala thoughtfully as she left the room with carefully controlled movements.

  ***

  Gabe saw Lady Clarissa delivered to her house and finalized plans for escorting her to the ball that night. He turned Diablo toward the War Office. He had several things to attend to. There were several titled men that worked for the government in various capacities. This gave some of the nobility a chance to feel as if they were doing their part in the fight against the little tyrant. Gabe had, however, truly served the government as a sailor, but since acquiring his title he was relegated to primarily office work.

  Gabe thought back over the encounter with Kala. He gave her credit for hiding the shock of seeing him with Lady Clarissa. Gabe knew that growing up she had developed a crush for him, but that it would never lead anywhere now that he held the title of Duke of Hawkescliffe.

  His position within the government also put paid to a relationship with Kala. Kala knew too much about him. In his position, she would be a liability. Enemies used weaknesses and Kala could definitely be called that. No, he would marry someone he could keep at a safe distance, both emotionally and physically. That would be the easiest and safest thing. However, he did disapprove of her choice of riding partner today.

  Gabe rode Diablo up to a large, gray building and absently handed the gelding off to a groom. The weight of the world felt as if it rested on his shoulders as he recalled the many recent conversations with his grandmother. Each of them led to the inevitable fact that he had to produce an heir of the correct lineage for the line to continue. What his grandmother did not know was that he desperately needed someone who could provide much needed funds to the family coffers. He also worried about his mother’s episodes and what might happen if he brought another female into the household.

  His older brothers had raised hell and most of the trouble they had gotten into had required the duke to financially rescue them. Gabe’s father had also been a poor money manager in his own right, trusted the wrong people and made several bad investments. Gabe refused to let either his mother or grandmother know what dire straits he found the family to be in.

  He had taken part of the money they had left and invested in shipping with Derek. Their first two shipments had paid well, but risks still abounded, especially considering their ship had to avoid Napoleon’s. The risk of meeting pirates was high as well. Although they didn’t rule the seas as they once did, the sea remained a dangerous frontier. And then they risked society finding out that they, high-ranking members of the ton, were merchants.

  Gabe wound his way through the hallways of the building absently nodding at the men he passed. The inside of the War Office seemed as dark and dismal as the outside on some days, and unfortunately this happened to be one of those days. He walked up a tight flight of stairs and passed a man with a large stack of books and papers. He reached the floor his office was located on and men buzzed everywhere. The walls felt like they were closing in and people bounced off him as they attempted to rush to the bidding of the man whose voice carried out into the hall. Gabe felt his chest constricting and quickly ducked into Derek’s office and shut the door.

  “Do you know who your sister rode about in Hyde Park with today?”

  “No, but I feel certain you are going to inform me.”

  “McKenzie!”

  “Truly?”

  “What in hell is she doing keeping company with that man?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You should. You’re her brother. Isn’t she supposed to answer to you in lieu of her father?”

  “What do you care, Gabe?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Is it true or not that you have been seen courting Lady Clarissa Blackerby?”

  “Well, yes.”

  “So, in that case, what does it matter if Mikala is escorted about by other men? I am sorry if one of them is your bastard brother, but other than not inheriting his father’s Lairdship, he is considered legitimate by all purposes. If he makes my sister happy, then who am I to stand in her way?”

  “So you are going to sit there and do nothing?”

  “That is correct. I also have it on good authority she is being squired by Lord Southerby and Lord Dewhurst as well. Do you expect me to talk to them as well?”

  “What is she doing, becoming a loose woman?”

  “Gabe, I think you should really reconsider what you just said about my sister.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said after several minutes. “I don’t know what has gotten into me. It seems like we take care of one threat to the government and another is waiting in the wings.”

  “And you feel the weight of taking care of your family as well, don’t you?” Silence greeted Derek. “Is your mother having another spell?”

  “No.”

  “Perhaps you should have her taken to the dowager house. I am certain someone from the village would be willing to stay with her.”

  “I’m not ready to do that.”

  He pushed off the door, walked further into Derek’s office and rolled his head, attempting to ease the tension in his neck that caused his head to pound. Gabe rolled his shoulders and crossed the room dropping into a visitor’s chair. He saw the huge pile of paper littering Derek’s desk and knew a similar one awaited him in his office. Gabe studied the paperwork and noticed that one paper had “URGENT” scrawled across it.

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m sure you have a similar one waiting for you in your office,” Derek passed the piece of paper over to him.

  He picked it up, and began to read through the missive. Gabe read the paper three times, not believing his eyes at first before he threw it down on the desktop. He reared back in his chair and contemplated what this meant for the government. Someone that worked in one of the government offices divulged secret information to the French. Finding that person would be difficult, but they had done it before and would do it again. People that worked in these offices had access to everything.

  “Not another one.”

  “And this time McKenzie doesn’t have a secretary to blame it on.”

  “That’s right gentleman,” the man they had just spoken of walked through the door and shut it once again behind him. “I had a feeling I could find you both in here,” he looked pointedly at Gabe, but neither man commented. “What are we going to do about this?”

  “Find the son-of-a-bitch,” Gabe said, offhandedly.

  “And how do you propose we do that, Hawke? Hire a town-crier asking all spies to turn themselves in?”

  “You arse,” Gabe jumped up and pushed McKenzie into the wall. Derek quickly lit from his chair and rounded his desk getting between the two men.

  “That’s enough! McKenzie, sit behind my desk. Gabe, you sit there,” Derek pointed at the chair the man had recently vacated.

  “You can inform me of what you two decide to do later.”

&n
bsp; “Hawkescliffe, if you walk out that door, you might as well keep walking because I will take it as your resignation.”

  “Go to hell.”

  “Been there.” The two men stared each other down. Gabe refused to sit down and instead stood by the door with his arms crossed in an attempt to appear superior. “Now, if we can address the matter at hand,” McKenzie looked at the two men. “When Pitt and Canning get wind of this they will be on us like hounds on a fox. Hawke, I am putting this solely in your hands. Blackburn deserves a bit of a break after the last couple of months.”

  “That is kind of you, McKenzie.”

  “Don’t let it get around. Hawkescliffe, this problem is on you. It must be taken care of as quickly and silently as possible. Do you understand?”

  “Yes. Do you have any idea what or who it is we are looking for?”

  “There have been rumors spreading around that the person is looking for an object that will help empower Bonaparte, and that they are a member of the beau monde.”

  “Oh?”

  “I have even heard asinine talk about the Holy Grail being sought after.”

  “What?” Derek and Gabe asked in unison.

  “Damn fools,” the director muttered under his breath. “The important thing is to find the person or persons behind this and bring them in as quickly and quietly as possible. No need to arouse a panic in the government.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Not in regards to this. Use any means necessary to find who is responsible.”

  “I will,” he turned to leave the office.

  “I’m not done.” Gabe turned and raised an arrogant brow. “You are slipping. Miss Simmons questioned me on our outing about you and your loyalty to the Crown.”

  “Dammit, I apologize, Director,” Derek colored angrily at the thought of his sister doing something so forward.

  “This is not Miss Simmons fault, Blackburn. This is about someone who acted carelessly and found themselves overheard in a particularly compromising situation,” McKenzie countered, arching an equally arrogant brow back at Gabe.

  “I will take care of it,” Gabe replied stiffly.

  “That had better not mean taking your incompetence out on Miss Simmons.”

  “I said I will take care of it,” he bit out. “Now, it seems I have an assignment to begin, if I have your permission to leave.” The director nodded and Gabe slammed the door shut behind him, rattling the glass.

  Chapter 4

  Gabe left the room, his mind spinning. He didn’t know whom he wanted to strangle more at that moment, McKenzie or Mikala. Knowing that he had to do something to dispel the anger he felt, he walked out of the building and requested Diablo be brought around. After waiting a few minutes, he mounted his black stallion and headed towards Gentleman Jackson’s.

  Gabe spent some time taking out his anger on others before making his way to White’s. As much as he hated to admit it, the men of the ton were usually bigger gossips than their wives, they were just selective where they indulged in it. Gabe felt certain that if there were any grumblings of treasure hunters, they would be talked about at the club. He dismounted gingerly already feeling sore from his time in the ring. As he walked in he nodded at several members before walking to a corner.

  Listening carefully, he only heard talk floating about the latest society on dit. Finding the peace of the club preferable to what he might find at home, he signaled a footman for a copy of The Times and a glass of whisky. Gabe found himself engrossed in the business section of the paper always seeking new investments. The paper romanticized the war with Napoleon. He knew that it was anything but romantic and attempted to ignore those articles. A loud commotion in the corner aroused his attention. Southerby and Dewhurst stood nose to nose and Southerby looked as if he would pummel the other man at any moment. Gabe calmly folded the paper before laying it on the table. He picked up his glass and took a sip, watching the two men.

  “You best watch yourself, man,” Southerby said through gritted lips.

  “Oh, I’ll watch myself all right. I’ll watch as I tup that fiery wench.” Southerby threw a fist that landed squarely in Dewhurst’s abdomen. He doubled over gasping for air.

  “I know that she allowed you the right to escort her tonight, you bastard, but you just keep this in mind. I’ll be watching you. You’ll not move two feet with her that I won’t be watching. And if I were her father or brother you would be meeting me on the dueling field come morning and the undertaker would be taking you away shortly after. Do you understand?” When there was no response, he lifted Dewhurst up by his lapels and shook the man. His Scottish brogue became more pronounced the angrier he became. He started to lift his knee, when the man before him began to whimper.

  “I understand,” he cried covering his crotch.

  “I’m glad we’ve come to an understandin’.” He threw Dewhurst to the floor. Silence permeated the room as Southerby left, leaving Dewhurst to endure the embarrassment of the very public confrontation. Gabe watched Dewhurst straighten his waistcoat and cravat before stomping out of the club. A tide of whispering followed the men.

  Gabe shook his head predicting that the books would be full of bets within the hour. That Scots temper would get Southerby into a great deal of trouble if he did not learn to control it. However, Gabe really couldn’t blame him. He didn’t know what happened between the two men, but something about Dewhurst just seemed wrong. He had a title, but no one knew much about him. Most of the time, he spouted a lot of information no one could corroborate. The clock in the foyer of the club began to chime and Gabe decided perhaps he should go home and get ready for the evening.

  He waited outside for a footman to bring Diablo around when a sudden thought occurred to him. Gabe had seen Dewhurst several times lately around the War Office. He had seen both Southerby and Dewhurst at the War Office over the last few months, in fact. He made a mental note to ask exactly in what manner they served. Gabe decided it could wait until morning and climbed up on Diablo after tipping the footman. Traffic already clogged the streets of London and it took longer than necessary to reach his house in Grosvenor Square. He dismounted and entered the front door that his butler held open.

  “Good evening, Your Grace.”

  “Hamlin.”

  “Your mother and grandmother are waiting to speak to you.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes, Your Grace.”

  He let out a sigh, raking the fingers of his right hand through his dark hair, leaving it tousled. “Where are they?”

  “The parlor, Your Grace.”

  “Thank you, Hamlin.” He walked down the marble corridor to the parlor on the right. His mother had it painted a light blue and he found it tolerable as far as parlors went. The furniture lacked sturdiness, but he didn’t spend much time in this room. “How are my two favorite ladies?”

  “Good evening, love. How are you?”

  “Fine Grandmother. You?” He placed a kiss on her wrinkled cheek.

  “I ache.”

  “Poor thing,” he winked at her. “Mother,” he placed a kiss on her still smooth cheek.

  “Not asking how I am?” She huffed.

  “How are you, Mother?” He asked patiently.

  “I am fine, thank you for asking. Leticia came by this afternoon.” Gabe bit back a groan as his mother referenced one of his grandmother’s dearest friends, who also happened to be one of the greatest gossips in London.

  “And how is Lady Byrd?”

  “Full of information. Are you courting Clarissa Blackerby?”

  If nothing else, his mother did not waste time trying to extract information. “We are becoming acquainted.”

  “She comes from good stock, she knows her place, and comes with quite a bank account.”

  “I am well aware of that Mother.” He watched her rise and swish her skirts before crossing the room. She turned back to study him when she reached the door.

  “If only you did not have that grotesque scar.
It makes you look quite beastly. Do be on your best behavior. Perhaps your manners will sway her to overlook your hideousness. I had such plans for you,” she sighed theatrically before leaving the room.

  Gabe ground his teeth and fisted his hands behind his back. He stared blindly at the empty doorway and did not realize his grandmother stood beside him until he felt her hand on his arm.

  “I wish I could say she doesn’t mean it,” the older woman said sadly. She had not lost her beauty over the years. Her chestnut colored hair had streaks of gray shot through it, which did not in any way make her look old, but rather refined. Today she wore a sapphire walking dress that set off her blue eyes, causing them to sparkle. She had a regal bearing, but could also be kind and gentle. “Your father chose poorly with that one. You were the only good thing that came of that union.”

  “Gabriel, do you care for Lady Blackerby?”

  “She is a nice girl, Grandmother.”

  “Nice? Gabriel, do not settle. I know that we have financial difficulties to face, but don’t sell yourself for a lukewarm marriage.”

  “We are only just now becoming acquainted with one another. I have made no overtures.”

  “Come sit with me,” she patted the settee next to her. “I need to say this and for you to hear it and then I will speak no more on the topic and trust your decision,” she waited until she saw that he acquiesced to her request before continuing. “Your grandfather and I were forced into a typical ton marriage. I don’t know that we ever loved each other, but we cared for one another. We felt it best to continue that manner with your father and denied him marrying the woman he truly loved, and look what that did to five lives--it ruined them. Even more lives were ruined if you include yourself and McKenzie. Perhaps you should look at breaking tradition and marry for love.”

  “I don’t love anyone, Grandmother.”

  “Not even Mikala Simmons?”

  “Definitely not her! Did you know she believes I am selling government secrets and has made it her goal to see me crucified for it?”

  “That is what I am talking about, Gabriel! You need a woman who will bring spice to your life. A woman who won’t let you walk all over her or push her aside.”