informed Mrs. Wallace and Dora that he was making an unscheduled trip to Yorkshire. He told them in no uncertain terms that it was their responsibility to keep his house from burning down or from thieves breaking in and stealing his work. They were amused by his hasty plans, and Phin had the impression they believed he was running home to consult with his father about marrying his overnight guest. He didn’t disabuse them of that notion and played up the lighter side of the situation, but in fact, he couldn’t have felt more serious about fleeing London and taking Lenore with him if they were being chased out by peasants with torches and pitchforks.
“Time is of the essence,” he explained to Lionel when he dropped by the law offices of Dandie & Wirth to let his brother know what was afoot. “There’s no telling how long this Mr. Swan has been in London or how much searching he’d already done.”
“Do you know anything else about the man?” Lionel asked, getting up from the office’s huge mahogany desk where he’d been working and walking around it with a thoughtful look. “Anything other than the fact that he’s a potential murderer who likely has your charming lover in his sights?”
Phin ignored every bit of the innuendo infused in Lionel’s question. That was simply the way Lionel asked questions and gathered information. “I haven’t had time to investigate,” he said, arching one eyebrow in a hint that Lionel could do that for him. “Though speaking of investigations,” he went on, blowing out a breath and rubbing a hand over his face, “Lady Hamilton has hired a Det. Gleason to seek out the author of Nocturne.”
“Gleason, Gleason,” Lionel said, brow furrowed, tapping his lips. “The name is familiar, though I can’t quite place it.” He cocked his head to the side with a wry grin. “Isn’t that an unfamiliar sensation.”
“What name is this?” David Wirth said, walking out of the back office, his nose in a file.
Lionel instantly snapped straight, his face going pink and his eyes flashing with desire. “My brother has a private detective on his tail,” he said, his voice changing to a softer, more alluring timbre. Everything from the way he stood to the lilt in his steps as he moved closer to Wirth changed to the tactics Phin had seen his brother use when he had a conquest in his sights. “We should all be so lucky.” He sent Wirth a flirtatious smile.
Wirth was so focused on the file he was reading that he didn’t notice the overt flirtation. Or, if he did, he was as used to ignoring Lionel’s silliness as Phin was. And if that was the case, Phin liked the man instantly. But he hadn’t come to Lionel’s place of work to watch him seduce his employer.
“I am about to leave town for an undetermined amount of time and I dropped by to say goodbye to my brother,” Phin said, rolling his eyes at Lionel.
Lionel shot him a defensive look that also managed to convey that Phin was no better when it came to objects of his affection. “I was about to offer to walk my brother to St. Pancras so that he can catch a train home. Do you have any errands that need running? Anything I can do for you? Anything at all?” He flickered one eyebrow seductively.
Phin had to cover his mouth with one hand to keep from laughing. Again, Wirth seemed to be more interested in his file than Lionel.
“If you have time, you might pay a visit to Dr. Cameron in Harley Street to ask about the medication he prescribed for Mr. Greer. I’m still convinced there is some sort of malpractice involved in that case.”
“Your wish is my command,” Lionel said. He bowed gallantly, raking Wirth with a lascivious look as he did, then crossed to fetch his coat and hat from the rack by the door. Wirth wandered over to one of the many bookshelves lining the office to search for a book, still either oblivious or unimpressed.
“Don’t you know it’s shamefully unprofessional to seduce your employer mere months after being hired?” Phin asked with a smirk as he and Lionel headed out the door and began the search for a cab to take them to St. Pancras.
“I have no intention of seducing him,” Lionel said with a disappointed sigh. “Though if I could, I’d’ve had him bending me over one of those delightful sofas in the office