Page 117 of A Deal with the Devil

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Kitty goggled.

She needed to be planning, running, stabbing Portsmouth.

But she still goggled uselessly, wasting a full minute she would berate herself for later. “Lady Portsmouth?”

Caroline nodded.

“Why are—Never mind that now. How do you know where your husband is taking my sister? And will you go with us? We need you. She needs you.” It was selfish to ask, but Kitty didn’t care.

Caroline nodded, though she trembled. “I’ve hidden long enough. I saw your message at the oak, and I’ve seen you try to help me even when you did not know me and I was not brave enough to ask for that help. But I will be brave enough to help your sister.”

“Thank you,” Kitty breathed, nearly lightheaded with relief. “You may be the first to stab him.”

“Thank you?”

“Where is he taking her?” Priya asked, motioning to Pierce through the glass. He was striding toward her before her arm dropped back down. “Gretna Green?”

Caroline shook her head. “Not this time, not when he knows you might follow. Gretna Green was to force your sister’s hand, to ruin her so she had no choice once they reached Scotland.”

“I did not know it was possible to want to stab someone quite so much.”

“Believe me, I understand.”

“I would rather my sister’s reputation be ruined than she be murdered. But if not Gretna Green, where? The banns have not been read. I have been checking the papers.”

“He wouldn’t do it that way, not now that eyes are upon him. Not nearly elegant enough.”

“Yes, because abducting women and murdering his wives is very elegant indeed,” Kitty said.

They exchanged a cutting, killing glance.

“He’s found someone to force into giving him a special license,” Caroline continued. “It’s what he does.”

“So we’ve discovered.” Fat lot of good those secret letters were at the moment.

“I have been following his men. He went to the archbishop’s offices at Doctors’ Commons and had them procure a special license today.”

“There are too many bishops and vicars in London.”

“Yes, but only one he is blackmailing. He lives not far from here.”

“I have a carriage,” Priya said.

“But I have a Winchester brother,” Kitty replied. “He’ll get us there faster.”

Which was how Kitty found herself climbing into a carriage with Priya and Caroline, and Pierce and Wulf acting as outriders.

“We should send for Devil,” Wulf said.

“Go ahead,” Kitty replied. “But I cannot wait. Not one moment.”

Wulf swore under his breath before climbing aboard. “Devil will find us. He’ll find you.”

Kitty could not see how that was even possible, but it did not matter. She had her makeshift army: spinsters and wives on the run and men who did not care about her lack of fortune. Or which dessert spoon to use.

Lord Portsmouth would not have her sister.