Chapter Thirty-Three
Gideon sat at a table at the Raven with Asher, Leopold, and Owen.
The mood of the group was grim and it was taking everything in Gideon’s power to calm Violet’s brother down.
His temper flared, rightfully so, when the men explained the role Violet would play with their scheme to catch a would-be killer.
“You cannot put my sister in such a reckless situation just to prove who has been breaking into the apothecary or who might have burned her house down,” Owen declared, slamming his fist on the table.
Gideon pushed a tankard of ale in the man’s direction. “All of us will be close by but out of sight, including the constable. If my hunch is correct, then Major Dawkes won’t be able to resist interrupting our wedding and attempting to steal my bride away.”
Owen wagged a finger in Gideon’s direction. “You’re asking too much of her,” he fumed.
“She’s the one who came up with the idea of carrying out the plan on their wedding day,” Asher added, giving Gideon a knowing look. “That idea was smart even if it wasn’t what I originally came up with.”
A snort left Leopold. “What a way to ruin a perfectly nice wedding day,” he declared, raising his ale to his lips and shaking his head. “Losing your bride before you’ve even said your vows.”
Gideon nodded. “The actual wedding won’t actually occur until the next day at the local church.
This plan is all for show and we think it will work.
An outdoor wedding in the forest isn’t something most young women would want and we can only pray the weather holds or we’ll need to come up with some other alternative. ”
“I still don’t like it,” Owen replied as he fidgeted in his seat. “What happens if he actually abducts her?”
Gideon leaned forward. “With all of us hiding in the woods including the constable? How would he ever manage such a feat?”
“Anything is possible if someone is desperate enough,” Owen grumbled before glancing around at the room. “Do you suppose the culprit has spies telling him of our every move?”
“We’re counting on it.” Gideon made a show of laughing loudly and raised his tankard toward the men. Asher and Leopold took his cue and began to chuckle with him.
“What the bloody hell is wrong with you London gents? This is hardly a situation that is laughable,” Owen grimaced.
Asher set down his mug but continued to smile as he whispered through his teeth.
“Appearing like we’re having a grand time and drinking our fill, is what is most important at the moment.
We need to show that we’re comfortable with the wedding moving forward tomorrow even if the whole situation is a fake scheme to catch our villain. ”
“I swear this is right out of some novel my wife might read,” Owen mumbled even though he managed to put a smirk on his face. “I’m telling you this whole thing could backfire on us in a moment’s notice.”
Gideon laughed and slammed his tankard on the table calling out for a refill. He then grew somber as he gazed at the men before him. “We will account for every detail and, with all of us nearby, no harm will befall Violet.”
“If it does, I’ll kill you myself,” Owen warned meaningfully.
Leopold held out his tankard that was refilled by a servant and once she left he raised his mug up again. “To Gideon,” he said loudly for the room to hear, “may your marriage to the lovely Miss Barnet be filled with happiness.”
The resounding tone of hear hear was said by the group who all vowed to keep Violet safe from harm.
They continued to keep up their ruse of drinking heavily and their voices raised as though deep in their cups.
They began discussing the plans for Gideon’s outdoor wedding and where it was to take place.
As Gideon kept a close eye on the room, he noticed a man hidden in the corner of the room who appeared to be paying close attention to their overly loud conversation.
It seemed a little too convenient but perhaps this was a clue that Dawkes was getting sloppy.
There didn’t seem to be anyone other than this man who seemed interested in what Gideon’s group discussed and when the conversation turned to the goings on happening in London, the man left the inn.
Hoping that this might be the opportunity Gideon was looking for and who might report to Dawkes, Gideon pulled up the hood of his cloak and followed close, but not too close, behind.
He didn’t go far, only across the street to the Black Lion, and as Gideon lurked in the shadows of the tavern, he noticed the man slide into a booth at the back of the room. It was enough for him to see none other than Cosmo Dawkes tossing a coin purse to the man to pay him off.
The trap had been made. Now they only had to wait until the next day.