Free Where Shadows Dance by C.S. Harris Page B

possible murder were to be bandied about in the streets.” Foley pushed to his feet and swung away to where the ancient mullioned window overlooked the flagged court below. “It’s no secret that the situation on the Continent has reached a pivotal point. It would be difficult to overstate the importance of the diplomatic negotiations currently under way. The last thing we need is this sort of irresponsible nonsense mucking things up.”
    Lovejoy studied the other man’s sharp-boned, tightly held profile. “I’ll discuss your concerns with his lordship.”
    “See that you do,” snapped Foley, turning back to his desk. “My clerk will escort you out. Good day, Sir Henry. It’s to be hoped we won’t meet again.”

Chapter 14
    S ebastian returned to Brook Street to find a response from Jarvis House awaiting him. He hesitated a moment, then broke the seal to spread open the single sheet with its terse message.
    It is convenient.
    He stared at the bold, almost masculine handwriting, aware of an odd, heavy sensation in his chest. He knew he should feel something. Relief, surely, combined perhaps with a pang of loss as the future he’d once envisioned slipped forever from his grasp. Instead, he felt dead inside.
    He became aware of his majordomo, Morey, hovering nearby, and looked up.
    Morey cleared his throat. “Tom has been awaiting your return, my lord.”
    “Ah.” Sebastian thrust the note into his pocket. “In the library?”
    “Actually, I believe I last saw him headed toward the kitchens. Shall I send him—”
    A loud thump sounded from the depths of the house, followed by the clatter of running footsteps and a crash as the baize-covered door flew open. Tom catapulted into the hall. Morey hissed. The boy skidded to a halt, one hand coming up to straighten his hat.
    “Beggin’ yer pardon, gov’nor.”
    Sebastian’s lips twitched. “Well? Any luck?”
    “Aye, gov’nor. I swear, ʹe never knowed I was behind ’im at all.”
    Sebastian turned toward the stairs. “So where did Sir Hyde go?”
    “Carlton ’Ouse, my lord.”
    Sebastian paused with his foot on the first step. Since the institution of the Regency some eighteen months before, the center of power in the monarchy had naturally shifted from the Palace of St. James’s to the residence of the Prince. There was no reason to assume—
    “I ’ung around,” Tom was saying, “ ‘oping ’e’d come out again. And ’e did, not more’n ten minutes later. You’ll never guess who was with ’im.”
    “Lord Jarvis?”
    Tom’s grin fell. “You already knew?”
    Sebastian shook his head. “A lucky guess.” He glanced at the tall clock that stood near the library door. “I’ve another assignment for you: I want you to discover what you can about a Swedish merchant named Carl Lindquist.”
    “A Swede?” Tom pulled a face. The tiger did not hold a high opinion of foreigners.
    “A Swede. That’s all I know about him.”
    Tom swallowed his revulsion. “I’ll find ʹim, gov’nor; ne’er you fear.”
    To Morey, Sebastian said, “Have Giles bring my grays around in half an hour. And Tom—”
    The boy had started to run off. But at Sebastian’s voice he turned, his head cocked in inquiry.
    “Lindquist could well be something more than a mere merchant. Something considerably more ... dangerous. Be careful.”
     
     
    Charles, Lord Jarvis was striding up Pall Mall when Sebastian came upon him.
    Guiding his grays in close to the curb, Sebastian called out, “If I might have a word with you, my lord?”
    The Baron kept walking. “If you wish to see me, make an appointment with my secretary.”
    “This won’t wait.”
    “Unfortunate, since it will simply have to.” Without breaking stride, Jarvis turned onto Cockspur Street.
    Sebastian followed along beside him, the grays held to a walk. “What I have to tell you can be said here, if you insist. But I think you’ll find it’s not the sort of thing you’d care to have shouted in the