"Yes, Father." Keeping her expression carefully blank, she raised her head. "But what about my usual round of calls with Mother?"

"She can do them on her own today, as she did yesterday. Mr. Mayne will arrive within the hour." Her father's frown deepened. "After he does, I'll be off to my club." Without the slightest flicker of emotion, he returned his attention to his reading, and she knew herself dismissed.

Julianne turned and made her way across the room. It wasn't until she'd exited her father's study and closed the door behind her that she allowed the smile of triumph to curve her lips.

Gideon would be here, in her home, within the hour, hired to protect her. Her plan had worked.

But a shadow instantly clouded over her triumph. Yes, he would protect her, but instead of it being from an imaginary threat created by Johnny, it was from a real threat.

A real threat with a real knife.

Chapter 14

Before presenting himself at Julianne's home, Gideon had several stops to make. The first was conducted in a shadowed doorway on a narrow side street on the outskirts of Whitechapel lined by tall, soot-covered brick buildings. There he slipped a folded piece of vellum and a sovereign into the hand of Henry Locke, whose cunning ability at ferreting out information people wished to keep hidden made him a very useful asset to Gideon. The man would have made an excellent Runner but for his unfortunate habit of picking pockets.

"These are the people I want looked into," Gideon said, giving Henry the list he'd comprised of everyone he knew who had been at Julianne's home yesterday. He would have preferred to conduct the investigating himself, but he couldn't do that and guard Julianne. "There will be more names, but this will get you started."

Henry glanced at the list, and although it contained the names of some powerful society peers, he showed no reaction. "When do you want the information?"

"Yesterday. Until I tell you otherwise, you can contact me at the Gatesbourne mansion in Grosvenor Square."

Something flickered in Henry's shrewd green eyes. "What brings you there?"

"Why do you ask?"

Henry shrugged. "No reason. I'll contact you as soon as I know something." He pocketed the list then slipped out of the doorway. Gideon watched him move like a wraith through the myriad twists and turns of the narrow alleys and disappear from view.

Picking up his portmanteau and giving a soft whistle for Caesar, he made his way back to the main street, where he hailed a hack. After giving the driver Logan Jennsen's direction, he sat back and closed his eyes.

Damn, he was tired. His eyelids felt gritty and heavy, a consequence of his sleepless night. But at least by not going home when he left the Drunken Porcupine, he'd accomplished something: gaining some information about Lord Beechmore that Logan Jennsen would find interesting. The investigative work had kept him from lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about things he needed to forget. Things he couldn't have.

The hack jerked to a halt and, after instructing the driver to wait, Gideon stood before Jennsen's home and stared at the sheer size and grandeur of the mansion. Bloody hell, the man was rumored to have more money than the entire royal family combined, and he obviously didn't have any qualms about spending it on his home.

A very proper butler answered his knock and several minutes later escorted Gideon down a long corridor. Jennsen's home rivaled that of Julianne's father, except Gatesbourne's house was, in a word, soulless, while Jennsen's was, in spite of the opulence and objets d'art and paintings that lined the walls, welcoming.

When the butler announced him at the door to a well-appointed study, Jennsen immediately rose from behind the massive mahogany desk and walked toward him.

"Mayne," he said, holding out his hand. "You have news for me?"

Gideon shook the American's hand and nodded. "I do."

"That was fast."

"I had some time and made good use of it."

"Surprised you've had any time at all, what with another robbery and murder on your hands. Terrible news about Lady Daltry." His gaze dropped to Caesar, who stood at attention next to Gideon, giving Jennsen a narrow-eyed look. "He's not going to chew off my leg, is he?"

"Only if he needs to. It's best not to make any sudden moves."

"Thanks for the warning. Would you like to sit down?"

"Thank you but no. I cannot stay. I just wanted to tell you what I learned about the matter you wished me to look into. According to my sources, Lord Beechmore recently suffered some serious financial losses."

Jennsen's gaze sharpened. "How recently and how serious?" "Last month, and very serious. He was involved in some high-stakes gambling on the Continent. He lost not only an enormous amount of money but two unentailed properties as well."

"Do you have an amount?"

"Not for the properties, but the monetary losses were reportedly fifty thousand pounds."

Jennsen nodded. "Anything else?"

"Just that he keeps a mistress in London, which is expensive, and has reportedly fathered a number of by-blows. Apparently he has a fondness for the household help."

Jennsen shrugged. "Not surprising. Based on my observations, the words gentleman and morals have little to do with each other. Is that all?"

"For now. If I learn anything further, I'll contact you."

"Thank you. I'll see to your payment and include a bonus for acting so quickly. Actually, I planned to call on you today. I recalled where I saw the snuffbox."

Gideon's interest quickened. "Where?"

"Daltry's party. Soon after I arrived. I was standing with a group of gentlemen, one of whom took the box from his waistcoat pocket."

"Do you recall which gentleman?"

"Lord Haverly."

Gideon instantly added Haverly's residence as another stop he needed to make this morning. He thanked Jennsen for the information, then they walked to the study door. Before turning the brass knob, Jennsen remarked, "The Times is once again filled with lurid speculation about the murdering ghost robber. Any new developments?"

"Nothing I can discuss. But rest assured, he'll be caught."

Something glinted in Jennsen's eyes. "Not worried that his ghostly self will slip through your fingers, Mayne?"

"Not in the least. He will be caught. And punished for his crimes."

"So if I were a betting man, I should wager on you rather than the ghost."

"Unless you're fond of losing your money."

"Can't say I am. Indeed, I'm not fond of losing anything, in any manner, for any reason."

"Neither am I," Gideon said grimly. "And I don't intend to start now."

He left the house and gave the driver Haverly's direction. Fifteen minutes later he was shown into his lordship's dining room.

"Rather early for a visit," Haverly said, looking none too pleased at having his breakfast interrupted.

For a reply, Gideon held out the snuffbox. "Recognize this?"

Haverly's eyes widened. "Of course I do. It's mine. Where did you find it?" He reached for the box, but Gideon pulled his hand back.

"Find it?"

"Yes," Haverly said with a frown. "I lost it. Sometime during Daltry's party. Is that where you found it?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. Specifically, I found it beneath a window. One whose lock was tampered with. A window someone attempted to use to gain access to the house." Gideon's eyes narrowed. "Where, as you know by now, Lady Daltry was robbed and murdered."

Haverly blinked. "And you think I am in some way responsible?"

"Are you?"

"Certainly not." Haverly tossed down his napkin and stood. A red hue colored his face. "How dare you ask such a question. Why would I do such a thing?"

"I'm not certain. Yet."

"Well, I wouldn't. And I didn't. Obviously whoever did either found or stole my snuffbox."

"Rather careless of 'whoever' to drop it after taking the time to steal it," Gideon said, watching him carefully.

"Perhaps it was dropped on purpose. To implicate me."

Gideon set the box on the table. "Perhaps. But rest assured, I'll discover the truth. I'll show myself out."

He left and settled himself in the waiting hack, this time giving the driver the Duke of Eastling's direction.

His Grace was no more pleased to see him than Haverly had been. "I'm leaving in precisely five minutes for an appointment," the duke said, after Gideon was shown into his private study.