“Do ye know what’s most annoying about ye,” he grumbled behind her, but his hand brushed her back.
“I can think of many traits that might qualify as most annoying.” She tossed him a grin over her shoulder.
He gave a single laugh. “The worst is how often ye’re right.”
That made her stop and she looked back at him. “Huh. I wouldn’t have picked that one. I thought that was one of my finer qualities.”
“Are we going to get his daughter back too?” He drew her closer again, dropping his nose into her hair.
“Yes, and we’re not even going to kill him. At least not yet.”
That made him chuckle. “I’m so glad ye’re safe. Ye are miraculous.”
She squeezed his middle again. “You’re pretty miraculous too.”
Minnie came rushing out the doors. “Diana,” she cried, racing toward them as she lifted her skirts. “Can you ever forgive me?”
Diana looked at him. “Minnie, there is nothing to forgive. You couldn’t have known.” Those words were for Exile as much as they were for Minnie.
His eyes crinkled in pain. “Thank ye, lass.”
Minnie wrapped her in a hug. “How did you get away?”
“I’ll tell you in just a few. For right now, we need to plan a rescue.”
Chapter Thirteen
Exile tried not to sigh but a half breath came out. “No’ a rescue. A capture.”
Diana waved her hand. “Yes, of course.” He was fairly certain that she was placating him.
He didn’t say a word this time, just followed. He’d listen to her and figure out what she was thinking, then he’d decide how to best protect her. Because, whatever anyone else’s goals were, that was his. Keeping Diana safe.
Minnie twined her arm with Diana’s. “How did you get away?”
“She clubbed Sin with his own walking stick,” Exile said, his insides feeling a bit lighter. She was right. Diana was exceptionally good at taking care of herself. “Then she beat the driver. Speaking of, let’s send Bad back to see if he cannae capture that man too.”
“Good idea,” Diana answered.
Bad and Vice hadn’t made it far. Daring was in the music room, the three men tying Sin to a pianoforte bench.
Exile crossed the room and, ignoring Sin, turned to Bad. “See if ye can find the driver.” Then he looked at the other man. “Who was he?”
“He worked for Lady Abernath.” Sin swallowed. “He was supposed to help me, but I’m sure he was a watchman instead. Making sure I did what I was told.”
“I’ll go with him,” Vice volunteered, giving his cousin a look of disgust.
“Hurry,” Exile said.
They headed back out onto the veranda, breaking into a run.
Exile looked at Diana. “What do ye want to ask?”
“I beg your-—” Daring started, but Exile held up his hand. Now was not the time for his friend to pull the Duke rank.
Diana stepped up and rather than lean over Sin, she sat next to him. “Tell us everything.”
“Like what?” Sin gave her a wary eye, his shoulders slumping.
“When did your daughter disappear?”
Sin looked at the floor. “Four days ago. But that isn’t the beginning.” He closed his eyes. “I owed Lady Abernath money.”
Diana grimaced and Exile surely looked the same. Bad stories often started with such a statement. “She came to me because she needed the funds repaid. I didn’t have them.” He shook his head. “My reasons for wanting to join the club are my own, I needed that money for an investment.”
Diana touched Sin’s arm. Exile felt another niggle of jealousy. Why did she need to give this man sympathy? Then again, Sin also had a large egg forming on his head. “And when you couldn’t repay her?”
“The driver is her most trusted servant. I can’t prove it, but I believe he stole my daughter from our home even as Lady Abernath and I were talking.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Daring mumbled.
Sin squeezed his eyes shut. “I realized moments after Abernath had left. My nanny hurtled into my office, crying that she couldn’t find Anne. We searched for hours until we got a note.” He raised his eyes. “Abernath was clear. You for her. It was after midnight and the missive said you were at the club. When I failed, she told me to try and join the ranks to get close to you, Diana. Please. I know what I did was wrong but I just wanted Anne back. My daughter is all I have in this world. She’s everything.”
Diana nodded her thoughts turning over a plan. “And tonight? What were you to do with me?”
Sin scrubbed his face, pain and worry pinching his features. “I was to meet her by the Crowing Cock in the west end of the Docklands at eleven.” He shook his head.
Diana looked at the clock. It was only nine. “Good.” Then she stood. “I propose that Sin keeps his meeting.”
Minnie crinkled her brow. “What do you mean? You mean he goes and claims he failed?”
“No, precisely the opposite.”
Exile’s insides dropped to his toes. “Absolutely not.”
“What does she mean?” Daring asked crinkling his brow.
“We’ve got the carriage, the captor, and the captive,” Diana said, spreading her hands along her dress. “All we’re missing is the driver.”
Daring scratched his temple. “But the driver would never help us.”
Diana shrugged. “I think Vice could pass. He’s the right height.”
“Dear God, Diana, ye’re no’ actually thinking what I think ye’re thinking?” His insides turned with a sick dread.
“What’s she thinking?” Daring demanded.
Exile stepped closer. His fingers itched to pull her close and never let her go. “She’s going to use herself as bait.”
Diana’s own stomach clenched. She didn’t love the plan, didn’t even like it. But she couldn’t think of another. How else was she going to get Anne back and capture, as Exile said, Lady Abernath?
Diana straightened her spine. She needed to do this. “I’d like to think of myself as more of a carrot. Draw her out.”
Sin leaned forward. “And Anne? You’ll keep her safe won’t you? Bring her back?”
She looked over at Sin. “I’ll do my best. And I mean that.” She bent down. “Women need to protect little girls.”
Exile pulled her back up to standing, his large hand gentle under her elbow. “Yer sisters and yer cousins, they’d protect ye no matter what.”
She flushed. She knew what he was referring to. Her secret. The one she hadn’t shared because it filled her with shame. She looked over at him, her heart beating wildly again. She did love him. She ached with it. And while he’d confessed his feelings for her, he hadn’t made any sort of commitment. Diana didn’t blame him but what she wanted to do tonight, this was her penance, she supposed.
“Of course we would,” Minnie answered. “Which is why I want to go in Diana’s place. She’s been in enough danger for one night.”