Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
The first thug lunged at Daniel, his fist flying in the air.
Without flinching, Daniel dodged the punch.
With ease, he caught the man’s wrist and twisted it hard.
A sickening crack echoed in the empty room, followed by a loud scream.
The thug fell to the floor, writhing in pain, and Daniel kicked him in the stomach.
“Look out! Behind you!” Theo shouted, ducking as a glass bottle flew inches over his head.
Another thug lunged at him, gripping a rusted blade. The man’s face was contorted with anger.
Theo did not look like he was ready to back down, even though his lips were pale and his eyes were anxious. Focused on the thug in front of him, he was able to deflect the first swing of the knife. However, the thug seemed eager to attack him at a deadlier angle.
Daniel could no longer watch. He grabbed a chair and smashed it on the man’s back, sending him crashing to the floor. Instinct told him to turn around and kick the one right behind him.
The other thugs did not look amused anymore. Not too long ago, they were laughing at Daniel and Theo for looking too fancy for the tavern, but now they stood trembling, their eyes wide. They were much too aware that their rough companions were easily bested by two Fancy Pants.
Daniel stood in front of them, not flinching. Not shielding himself in any way. He watched them with disdain. He could feel and smell the smear of blood across his cheek. He almost felt like he belonged in this world, the violent slums in the worst neighborhoods of London.
“Who does Gordon work for?” he demanded. His voice did not rise, but it was commanding nonetheless.
The man with the missing teeth, who seemed to be the group’s leader, groaned as he rose. He watched Daniel with a mix of contempt and fear, but he still tried to straighten himself.
Daniel could respect that. However, it looked like they were on opposite sides of a brewing war, one that was becoming clearer in his head.
“Gordon would sometimes come with a man we assumed to be powerful, but we never found out his name.”
“I hope you’re not lying, because there will be consequences,” Daniel grunted.
“We were told that we’d find Gordon here, and we found an almost empty place.
It seems to be a shady place for shady people striking shady deals.
The man can’t simply disappear from what seems to be his nest. Who pays him? ”
“W-we never got the name,” the man responded, still looking petrified. Daniel wondered if the thug was truly afraid of him or afraid of what would happen if he pointed his fingers at Moses Gordon and his client. “I—I swear on my mother’s life, that is all I know. What we know.”
Frustration bloomed hot in Daniel’s chest. Looking at the man, logic told him that the thug was telling the truth. Still, it was difficult to accept.
The trail was still hot, but for how long?
The following morning was bright and hopeful for Lucy. At least, it felt that way when the sun rays streamed into her room. She was standing before her mirror, breathing in, while her maid Anna laced up her stays.
“I am almost done, My Lady,” Anna murmured, her fingers skillful and practiced as she pulled.
Without warning, the door swung open. Both women gasped.
Lucy quickly pressed her gown to her chest as Joshua casually entered the room.
“Joshua!” she exclaimed, blushing furiously. “I am not yet fully dressed. You must wait in the hallway.”
Her brother did not leave her room. Instead, he remained there, looking unperturbed.
“Nonsense, Lucy. We are siblings, and I’ve known you since you were a babe. There’s no need for such modesty around me, especially since you are almost ready for your outing with the Duchesses of Hawksford and Wolfcrest.”
Indeed, Lucy planned to shop with Victoria and Daphne. She had chosen a soft, pale gown which flattered her figure. She was quite pleased with her selection, but her brother’s lip curled as he looked at her.
“You cannot possibly wear that,” he said sullenly.
Her brow furrowed. “Why ever not? It is one of my best and newest gowns.”
“You need something more modest,” he replied, crowding her personal space. “Your dress will attract every passing rake. However, if you want to attract a genuine suitor, you must show your virtue and your intellect. What better way to do it than with a more modest gown?”
“Still, the weather does not warrant such a dress, Joshua. Victoria will certainly advise me to wear something lighter, like the dress I am wearing now,” she protested quietly.
“Your friend is quite flamboyant, and she can afford to do so as a married woman,” Joshua argued. “But you—you are a Coulson. People will find ways to suggest anything scandalous about you. The gray high-neck gown is a perfect choice.”
“B-but it’s too drab and heavy. I will be a melting—”
“Not drab. Dignified,” Joshua interrupted, giving her a wide smile.
She noted that his smile never quite reached his eyes. What was going on with him?
“You should show them that you are a woman of substance. Go on, Anna. Fetch Lady Lucy the gray silk dress.”
The maid had no option but to go fetch the dress.
Lucy felt trapped. Earlier, she felt a bit of hope, with the promise of the sun warming her skin as she and the twins walked around town. However, her brother’s overprotectiveness had crushed it yet again. It was suffocating, leaving her with no choice but to obey.
As Victoria’s carriage stopped in front, Lucy was already wrapped in the dress that made her feel heavy with grief. She tried not to pull at the high collar, which was scratchy.
“Good heavens!” Victoria exclaimed as soon as Lucy joined her in the carriage. She was positively glowing from pregnancy, while Lucy looked pale and miserable. “Why are you dressed for a funeral? You’d melt soon in this weather!”
“I believe we should think of what we are shopping for and not what I am wearing. I do feel a little chilly,” Lucy lied.
Victoria narrowed her eyes at her. Lucy knew full well that she could never really deceive her friend.
“You might be right, Lucy. We should focus on what we are shopping for.”
The dressmaker’s shop at least cheered Lucy a bit. It was a beautiful sanctuary of lovely pastels, with the fabrics smelling heavily of perfume. Madame Cecile hovered around them, ready to provide them with assistance.
“Your Grace, the dresses you have commissioned are ready. However, I do believe you want me to make you something more flowy for when you come back. It should celebrate the life you are carrying within you.”
“Oh, of course,” Victoria replied, beaming.
The dressmaker steered her behind a velvet curtain to try on some of her new gowns. Meanwhile, Lucy waited outside, feeling the heat increasing.
“It’s all in your head,” she muttered to herself, even as she pulled at her dress’s high collar.
Her breathing had become erratic as she fully realized the extent of her confinement in the gown’s heavy fabric. She fanned herself, feeling sweat trickling down her neck and chest.
“Is Mademoiselle not well?” Madame Cecile inquired as she approached with a glass of water.
“It’s, uh, the heat.”
“My dear, the dress is not only burning you alive, but the color does no wonders for your complexion. It dulls you when you are a naturally beautiful young woman. Perhaps I can tempt you into trying a new piece? I believe it will look exquisite on you.”
Before Lucy could refuse, the dressmaker walked away and back again with a gown of shimmering deep blue. It hugged her curves and emphasized her décolletage. The blue seemed to blend with some silver beads on the silk.
It was a beautiful gown. Simply wearing it made Lucy feel like herself again. Joshua would absolutely hate the low neckline and the plunge in the middle.
“It’s exquisite, indeed,” Lucy admitted breathlessly. “However, this gown is not for me.”
At that moment, Victoria left the dressing area, and her eyes widened with glee.
“Y-you look magnificent!”
Lucy did feel magnificent. The dress fit her well and made her stand straighter. More confidently.
“You look like a goddess, Lucy,” Victoria added, looking proud.
The bell then chimed, and both women turned to the door. It swung open. The Duke of Hawksford, Victoria’s husband, stood there, smiling at them. But he was not alone.
“Well, guess who I found at White’s. He looked like he was raring for a fight, so I told him to take a walk with me since it would do him good.”
Daniel followed his brother-in-law into the shop. He wore a dark green coat. He looked bored and annoyed, but that all changed when his eyes landed on Lucy.
Lucy shivered at the way he watched her. She could feel his gaze like a caress. The polite man from the ball became someone else—the man she had danced with, who had held her tightly.
His eyes darkened, and she could have sworn they looked hungry. Predatory.