It Takes a Spy...: A Secrets and Seduction book (6 page)

True to his word, Sergeant Jolicoeur stationed himself at the ballroom entrance to begin his systematic search of the guests. Two other uniformed bobbies stood with him.

Jolicoeur raised a small box on a handle above his head and began swinging it around. A loud clicking and rattling noise emerged from it, which immediately cut through the din. “Please present yourselves for inspection in an orderly manner,” the sergeant said. “Once you have been cleared by me or my men, you will be permitted to either exit the building or return to your room here in the hotel. We will also be making a thorough search of the entire building.”

The press of people around the devastated family began to dissipate, but not a single guest moved forward and offered himself as the first to be searched.

Devin glanced at Lady Babbage and saw that her complexion hadn’t improved. It was still as pale as snow. “Perhaps we should return to our rooms,” he said to Cecilia. “We could serve as an example.”

Cecilia nodded. “It would have the added benefit of allowing us to avoid all this unwanted scrutiny,” Cecilia added.

Lord Babbage didn’t speak, but instead rose to his feet and offered his hand to his wife. She smiled weakly as she let him help her stand, and then leaned heavily upon him as they all made their way over to where Sergeant Jolicoeur was waiting.

Jolicoeur patted Lord Babbage’s pockets and paused, pointing at one of his trouser pockets. Lord Babbage grimaced and pulled out a pocket watch, which one of the other bobbies then held while Jolicoeur completed the search. Then he nodded, and the bobby returned the pocket watch to Lord Babbage. “You may return to your rooms, Lord Babbage. I’m sorry to have troubled you.”

“What of my wife? Surely you don’t mean to manhandle her in a similar manner.”

“Certainly not,” Jolicoeur said, obviously rattled by the question. “As a lady, she is, of course, exempt from the search.”

Lord and Lady Babbage moved toward the door and then paused, waiting for Cecilia and Devin. Cecilia moved forward to stand with them while Devin underwent the search.

When Jolicoeur paused and pointed to the pocket of Devin’s jacket, he was surprised. He never put items in his jacket pockets. It ruined the line of the coat. But he reached in and scooped out something that almost slipped through his fingers.

When he opened his hand, the light above him reflected off the diamonds he held, scattering a rainbow of light.

CHAPTER THREE

“Is that my necklace?” Lady Babbage asked as she stumbled forward to stare at it.

Devin could only gape at the necklace in horror. How had it come to be in his pocket? “This makes no sense,” he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.

Jolicoeur plucked the diamonds from Devin’s hand and handed them to Lady Babbage. “Can you identify this as one of the stolen items?” he asked.

“Of course. It’s mine. It was to be auctioned off tomorrow.” She looked dazed as she stared at the bright gems. It was as though she couldn’t believe her eyes.

“Did you give it to Mr. Montlake?”

“Certainly not.” Her shock and dismay were plain on her face as she regarded him. “Devin. How could you? We trusted you.”

Her words cut him more deeply than any knife could. “But I didn’t. This makes no sense. You’re to be my family.”

Lord Babbage’s face transformed before Devin’s eyes. Suddenly, the man radiated fury. “Not anymore!” he shouted. His face was red with anger. “I’d never give my daughter to a thief. The engagement is off.”

“But Father, no,” Cecilia said, stepping between them. “He couldn’t have done this. He isn’t capable of it.”

“Don’t be a fool,” Lord Babbage said, grabbing her by the arm and pulling her away from Devin. “The proof is right there in front of you.”

Cecilia glanced down at the glittering jewels dangling from her mother’s fingertips. Her hand trembled so much that the gems appeared to dance in the light, their fire providing the damning evidence of Devin’s guilt.

“I refuse to believe it. I’ve known Devin all my life. He’d never do something so vile. And besides, he’s been with us at the ball all night.”

A gentleman cleared his throat as he stepped forward. “I saw him leave the ballroom not long after you waltzed with him,” he said.

“I saw him enter the ballroom from one of the garden doors about fifteen minutes ago,” another said.

Jolicoeur pinned Devin with a glare that was almost gleeful, making it painfully obvious he’d been hoping for some sort of revenge. “How long would you estimate you were absent?”

Icy fingers of dread slid up Devin’s spine. “Probably about thirty minutes.”

“Can anyone account for your whereabouts?”

Devin shook his head.

“That’s because he’s the thief!” Lord Babbage shouted.

“No, Father. No!” Cecilia cried. “Don’t say such things.”

“Don't be a fool, Cecilia,” he said. “Control yourself.”

Cecilia pressed her hand over her mouth and turned her back on everyone in the room, facing the exit. A moment later, she darted through it.

“Help!” a woman’s voice cried from the hallway. It wasn’t Cecilia, but someone else. “Help! It’s the thief! He’s escaping!”

Jolicoeur waved the two other policemen through the door and toward the voice, and they both rushed from the room. The guests pressed forward, eager to see what was happening.

In seconds, Devin found himself pulled along by a group of men rushing through the ballroom door and then down the left side of the corridor toward the hotel’s foyer. Devin split off from the group and looked around. The corridor to the right of the exit was empty, and at the end was a door leading to the hotel gardens.

Devin was certain he could feel Jolicoeur’s dark eyes track him as he pushed against the flow of the crowd. Devin ducked down, hoping to lose himself in the mass of black-jacketed men. He glanced back, easily spotting Jolicoeur’s tall beaver top hat in the crowd. Apparently the man had lost sight of Devin, because now he was scanning the room in a panic.

Devin finally broke free of the crush and rushed toward the door leading outside.

Cecilia was standing right next to it, watching him.

Waiting for him.

He paused, not knowing whether to proceed or turn around. She made his decision simple by reaching out, pushing the door open, and then standing aside so he could scurry through it and into the garden.

Devin stayed low as he moved past her, and Cecilia used the broad hoop-skirts of her ball gown to block him from view. She slipped out behind him and closed the door.

“Hurry,” she said as she moved past him. “One of the policemen is sure to have noticed the door open. They’ll come to investigate,” Cecilia said.

He took her hand and ran down the garden path. “We need to go back inside,” Devin said, glancing up at the sides of the buildings that surrounded the small interior garden. “It would be too easy for us to be trapped in here.” He pushed open the next door, but Cecilia moved in front of him.

“Wait,” she said. She pressed her hand against his chest, blocking his way. “You can’t risk being seen.”

She poked her head inside the room and glanced from side to side before lowering her hand. “It’s safe.”

They stepped into a large, dark, empty room that appeared to be used as a dining room for private parties. Cecilia didn’t pause, but darted across the room to a door leading toward what was probably the main corridor. She pulled it open just an inch, but after peeking through it, she quickly closed it again. “Not that way,” she said, “too many people.” Then she turned toward the plain-looking servants’ entrance. She scurried over to it and repeated the same check she’d performed at the last door. This time she waved him forward. “This way.”

They hurried down a servants’ hallway, and when they came to a staircase, Devin pulled her to a stop.

She gave a quick nod. “This way should be safe,” she said, and tried to lead the way again.

Devin stepped forward, blocking her way. “I can’t let you put yourself at risk,” he protested.

“What do you expect me to do? Let them arrest you for something you didn’t do? I’ll be fine. They aren’t searching for me. It’s you they want.” She ducked past him and into the narrow staircase, leading the way yet again.

They continued up the stairs until they ended on the top floor. Cecilia was breathing quickly as she pulled the door open and peered into a hallway. Devin recognized the corridor leading toward the guest rooms.

“No one’s here.” Cecilia abruptly stood more erect, as though suddenly filled with confidence. “My room is just over there,” she said, pointing down the corridor. “We did it,” she said, and grinned broadly.

Some of the tension wicked away from Devin’s shoulders. She’d be safer in her room than she currently was with him, sneaking around the hotel. It would be for the best if she were to keep her distance from him. “Do you have your key?”

She frowned, shaking her head. “But Evangeline is terrible about locking the door when she leaves.” She moved to the door and it sprang open to her touch. “
Et voila
,” she said with a grin. “Let’s hurry before someone sees you.”

“Let’s hurry?” he repeated. Surely she didn’t mean for him to enter her bedroom. “What are you saying?”

Cecilia’s eyes widened. “Be reasonable, Devin. You’re in danger. Surely that trumps any risk to my reputation. What does it matter, anyway? I plan to marry you either with Father’s permission or without it.” She pushed her way into the room, clearly assuming he’d follow her.

CHAPTER FOUR

Cecilia wouldn’t let herself look back.

Would Devin follow her inside? He could be so blasted respectable. Normally it was something she admired about the man, but today wasn’t a normal day. She could only hope he wouldn’t be too honorable for his own good. If he didn’t enter the room with her, his misguided morality would be his downfall.

Being alone with him in any room, let alone in a bedroom, was an unforgivable breach of propriety. Her reputation would be irrevocably ruined if they were found together. But what other choice did they have? She’d stand by Devin and help him find his way through this. She couldn’t let him face these accusations alone.

Cecilia crossed to the far side of the room, willing Devin to follow her. Even though she kept her back to him, she could sense him hesitating at the doorway. She was afraid to turn and face him, so she held her breath and listened intently. A moment later, the door clicked shut. She closed her eyes as she whirled around. Would he still be there? Or had he fled down the corridor?

She opened her eyes. There he was, standing next to the door, looking as uncomfortable as a chimney-sweep standing on a white rug.

She forged ahead, ignoring the obvious issue of propriety regarding being alone with him in a hotel room, and addressed the urgent issue at hand. “How could this happen?” she asked. “How did that necklace end up in your pocket?” She stared down at the floral design on the ruby-hued rug, completely perplexed. “None of this makes any sense.” She glanced at him. “What do you think?”

Devin looked momentarily relieved by her question. Had he wondered if she would doubt him? He should have had more faith in her. Or maybe he was simply relieved because she’d asked the right question. The corners of his mouth drew down in a frown as he shook his head in bemusement. “Someone must have put it there.”

As she watched him, he rubbed his hand through his dark hair, making it stand on end. The disheveled look seemed to suit his mood. She was tempted to move closer and try to soothe him, but she was afraid of spooking the man. Right now, he reminded her of a cornered tomcat, bristling with fury and ready to fight.

How would she ever convince him not to fight, but to flee?

“It’s obvious that someone wanted to make you a suspect. It certainly worked. No one is trying to find the real thief. They’re all searching for you.” She paced the floor, tugging fretfully at her lower lip as she tried to find a solution. “The hotel is swarming with policemen. You’ll never be able to slip past them all without being caught. I think you should hide here until they’re gone.”

“Hide? I can’t simply hide. If I’m the only person they’re searching for, the thief will escape. I can’t sit by and allow that to happen.”

“I don’t see that you have a choice. They won’t believe you if you protest.”

Devin pressed his lips together in a thin line. “Then I’ll have to find him myself.”

Cecilia’s mouth fell open. “How can you possibly do that? You’re trapped in a hotel with all of London searching for you.”

“I’ll have to escape.” He moved toward the window, his gaze intent.

At least he’d said “escape.” That was a big step in the right direction, and she was glad Devin had been the first to mention it. Thank goodness he wasn’t talking about confronting the police and trying to convince them of his innocence anymore. Cecilia moved closer to him and peered out the window to the ground four floors below. “You can’t leave that way. We’re much too high. You’ll have to sneak out.”