Page 45 of The Big Bad Duke

If she didn’t kill him, she would never see Emir again. If she did kill him, there was a slight chance that she would.

Was she willing to take a man’s life for that chance?

Yes.

But was she willing to take Gideon’s life for that chance?

Her gaze drifted back to his tall stature, his silver mane, his light gray eyes…

Leila swallowed.

She would be saving this North Toad fellow. Her gaze fell on the portly man who was practically salivating as he openly lusted after the young debutantes scattered throughout the room, his lecherous gaze lingering on their innocent faces and youthful figures. Even more appalling was the fact that he made no attempt to hide his inappropriate behavior, even with his wife and daughters standing mere feet away.

Her nose twitched.

I have no choice.

Do I?

She did not have much time to contemplate her options. She needed to act fast.

She devised a plan in two parts.

Lure North Toad for a tryst—he would be the bait. Then wait for Gideon to follow him—he would be the fish.

And when he did, she would jump out from the shadows and attack him, taking him by surprise—she would be the hook.

She knew that the only way to overpower him in a fight was to have the element of surprise on her side. Thus, the plan.

With that in mind, Leila continued watching North Toad’s blatant inappropriate advances toward young women in front of his wife.

But it was young Miss Charlotte who seemed to capture his most focused attention.

He had called for her to join his family’s conversation, and now the young woman stood flanked by his daughters, struggling to focus on them rather than the lecherous old man. Leila had learned from eavesdropping that she was a young opera singer—a talented one who had once resided in the women’s shelter patronized by both Caroline and Lady Payne. Recognizing her extraordinary voice, they had arranged this performance as a chance for recognition and advancement.

Not part of the nobility, young and vulnerable, and with no protector in sight, North Toad had undoubtedly marked her as easy prey.

Leila observed Miss Jones’s increasingly desperate attempts to maintain polite conversation while North Toad moved closer, his hand “accidentally” brushing her arm and whispering words that made the young woman’s face flush with mortification. The poor girl had no choice but to endure it; to protest would be seen as rudeness, effectively ending her fledgling career before it could begin.

Leila could not interfere, but she could use this situation to her advantage.

A plan began to take shape in her mind as she retreated to a secluded alcove and carefully penned a note in her most delicate handwriting.

My lord,

I find myself quite overwhelmed by your attentions this evening, but I confess they are not entirely unwelcome. If you would care to meet me privately in thirty minutes in the gazebo by the rose garden, I would be most pleased. Please take care to leave the drawing room first—I will follow after a suitable interval, as my reputation depends upon discretion.

Charlotte

She only hoped North Toad was too lust-driven and egocentric to doubt the authenticity of the note.

Lady Payne’s voice rang out across the drawing room, calling for attention as the evening’s entertainment was about to begin. “Ladies and gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to take your seats, we shall commence with our musicale.”

The guests arranged themselves in neat rows of chairs. The program would begin with the well-bred young ladies demonstrating their musical accomplishments—a series of tentative pianoforte pieces and nervous vocal performances that served more as marriage advertisements than artistic expressions. Lady Payne herself would conclude the first act with a more sophisticated piece, after which professional musicians would take over for the second half, culminating in Miss Charlotte’s performance.

Leila deliberately chose a seat in the back row, positioned to observe the entire room while remaining inconspicuous. As the first strains of the violin began, she caught the eye of a passing footman and subtly waved him over.

“Would you be so kind as to deliver this note discreetly?” she murmured, pressing a coin into his palm along with the folded paper. “To Lord North…” She almost called him North Toad—“folk, when the opportunity arises.”