Part 72 (2/2)

”Jus' leave her to me. I'll make sure she ain't in no hurry to talk about it.” He nodded and went back to his beer. Mortimer regarded him with mounting horror. He opened his mouth, then caught Joliffe's eye. He visibly shrank, but muttered,

”There must be another way.”

”Very likely.” Joliffe drained his tankard and reached for the jug.

”But we don't have time for any more convolutod schemes.”

”Time?” Mortimer looked confused.

”Yes, time!” Snarling, Joliffe turned on Mortimer. Mortimer paled, his eyes starting like a frightened rabbit's. With an effort, Joliffe reined in his temper. He smiled, all teeth.

”But don't you worry your head over it.

Just leave everything to Scrugthorpe and me. You do your bit when asked--and everything will work out just fine. ”

”Aye.” Brawn unexpectedly chipped in.

”I was thinking as you'd better get a different plan. From what the maid told me, seems like the lady's in expectation of ” receivin' an offer”, as they says. I don't know as I STEPHANIE LAURENS 241 understand these things rightly, but seems pretty useless making her out to be a wh.o.r.e if she's going to marry a swell.”

”What?” Joliffe's exclamation had all of them starting. They stared at their leader as he stared--in total stupefication-at Brawn.

”She's about to marry?” Warily, Brawn nodded.

”So the maid said.”

”Whom?”

”Some swell name of Lester.”

”Harry Lester?” Joliffe calmed. Frowning heavily, he eyed Brawn.

”You sure this maid got it right? Harry Lester's not the marrying kind.”

Brawn shrugged.

”Wouldn't know about that.” After a moment, he added, ”The girl said as this Lester chap had called this afternoon to take the lady for a drive in the Park.”

Joliffe stared at Brawn, all his certainties fading.

”The Park,” he repeated dully.

Brawn merely nodded and cautiously sipped his beer. When Joliffe next spoke, his voice was hoa.r.s.e.

”We've got to move soon.”

”Soon?” Scrugthorpe looked up.

”How soon?”

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