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Is that what he’d done?

God help him, had he fallen in love with his thoroughly unsuitable, completely perfect, incredibly daring wife?

“So it’s settled?” Olivia asked, clearly in response to something Thorne had said. “I’ll fetch the belladonna from my contact.”

What? “Nay,” he rasped. Absolutely not. “Nay.”

She blinked in surprise as she rounded on him. “Alistair, I’ll be perfectly safe.”

Just as she’d been when she’d gone to interview Auld Gus about The Dark Knight? Just the thought of her wandering about the East End gave him chills.

And hives.

And trouble breathing.

Ye’re allergic to the thought of yer wife in danger?

Apparently.

But the thought of Auld Gus triggered the memory of the man in his tavern. The Duke of Death, the poisoner.

Aye, that was it. He could supply them with belladonna, in the high dosage they’d need to keep Bonkinbone incapacitated…although the entire scheme still felt cowardly to Alistair.

Buck up, ye dobber. The man’s own daughter thinks it’s a good idea.

Shaking his head, Alistair announced, “Me.” When Olivia raised her brows in surprise, he nodded again. “I will…get it.”

“You’ll get the belladonna?” she clarified. “Where would you find it?”

And he raised a brow right back.

Thorne chuckled. “He’s right, Olivia. Why is it so hard to believe he might have a source, when ye—his wife—does?”

Olivia’s lips twitched, as if she was fighting back a laugh, and she rolled her eyes. “Fine, yes, good point. Perhaps we could go together?”

Absolutely no’. “Nay,” he croaked.

Demon startled them all when he slapped his knees and sat forward. “It’s settled. Effinghell, ye’ll have our thanks if ye can make this happen. Remember, we’re just doing this to lure Blackrose back home, make him think it’s necessary because he’s about to inherit Bonkinbone, aye?”

“Aye,” Thorne answered.

“Aye,” Olivia repeated.

“Good.” Demon stood, then pulled his wife to her feet. “Now, we’re getting the hell out of here. London makes me itch. I miss Endymion.”

Georgia smiled indulgently. “Yes, darling. Should we not stop and see your mother while we’re in town?”

Her husband shuddered. “Only if ye’re still pissed off at me for what I did to the library curtains last week. Ye ken I cannae stand her jabbering.”

“Hmm. Perhaps I will invite her to Endymion, now that you have reminded me about the curtain fiasco.”

Closing his eyes, Alistair leaned back against the sofa behind him.

What had he got himself into?

Chapter 19

Olivia tried her most winning smile. “Look, I’m willing to pay. Surely you know someone around here who can help me?”