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Cameron had sold it shortly after the Fitzroy family left for the continent, which was a small relief.

The Jack would not be his problem to deal with.

That had been the other half of the task Peregrine had set the solicitor to—finding and burning out any remaining investments in ill business, which he would not tolerate.

The Scarlet Jack was busy, and Peregrine had to weave around bodies as he strolled into the establishment casually, trying to spot the Regent before he could be spotted in turn.

There—in a side room with the Faro table—he could see a crowd of gentlemen pressed shoulder to shoulder as they watched the banker turn the next draw.

Prinny’s eyes were fully fixed on the cards, but Lord Ravenscroft beside him noted the movement at the doorway, and locked eyes with Peregrine. The expression on the man’s face warned him against coming any closer, and Perry turned on his heel, heading back towards the bar.

In less than a minute, the magpie was beside him. “What are you doing here , Canary? You are not made for discretion. Certainly not with that hair of yours,” Ravenscroft flicked the back of Peregrine’s head.

“Touch me again like that and I will do worse than ruin your cravat, Maggie . You know why I am here. I have come to speak with a man about a woman.”

“No.” There was no give in Ravenscroft’s clipped word. “This way lies only trouble.”

Peregrine gave him a sidelong look. “Do you even know what woman I am referring to?”

“You incorrigible blockhead. Upstairs parlour, behind the blue curtain. Knock thrice,” Ravenscroft said shortly as he went back to the Faro room.

Peregrine idled long enough to finish his own drink before heading up the stairs, checking cautiously to make sure the Regent was nowhere near the door.

In his distraction, he nearly bumped into a dusky-skinned man in dark clothes as he glanced over his shoulder, but fortunately that collision was neatly avoided when the other backed out of his way.

Did Ravenscroft actually dare to have a conversation upstairs?

The brothel and gambling tables had been the ‘legitimate’ business of the Jack.

It was profitable enough, to be certain.

But profits were even better when all the men and women who had been employed by Marian and Cameron were also taught how to mark patrons who could be blackmailed.

A new owner or not, certain business ‘tricks’ would likely persist.

The madame didn’t blink an eye when she opened the door to find Peregrine standing there, and she graciously invited him into the parlour where a cluster of women lounged like ornaments.

The air was thick with the scents of hedonistic pleasure, and he resisted the urge to wrinkle his nose in distaste.

Taking another drink in the quietest corner, Peregrine smiled neutrally at the women who invited him to sample their wares, demurring.

Fortunately, he only had to fend off two direct advances before Ravenscroft arrived, enthusiastically greeting a pretty, petite woman with dark hair and limpid eyes, dragging her with him over to where Peregrine sat.

“This is Kitty,” he introduced her. Kitty smiled at Peregrine hopefully, but obediently snuggled up to Ravenscroft, who nuzzled her neck and ear with great affection. “Let us retire.”

Peregrine schooled his expression, showing nothing as Ravenscroft herded both of them into a room at the far corner.

Inside, the older rake smiled slightly, cupping Kitty’s jaw in his hand so that she was looking at Peregrine.

He nipped at her earlobe. “Would you like to enjoy Peregrine’s company, Kitty?

” he murmured in her ear, just loud enough for Perry to hear.

Any courtesan who understood Ravenscroft would have shown some sort of agreement, no matter how feigned. But Kitty, Peregrine saw immediately, showed no sign of even hearing his words, much less understanding them.

Perry tipped his chin in acknowledgement. Kitty was stone deaf, by all appearances. Ravenscroft had bought them a modicum of privacy from the other women, but Peregrine hoped the other man knew why a madame would prize someone like Kitty in her business.

“You cannot leave well enough alone, can you?” the magpie continued to murmur in a low voice, standing behind the girl.

“You pursuing questions about your marchioness is only going to prove to the throne that they are right in believing she is indeed tangled up in this riot business. And you in it as well.”

“I only seek to inquire about her welfare, of course,” Peregrine drawled in a vague way, bored.

Unfortunately, he must have looked too bored, because Kitty made an inquisitive gesture in his direction.

“No, pet,” Ravenscroft turned her and told her kindly, with a smile. And indeed, Peregrine watched her trace the words on his lips with her eyes. “My friend is saving himself for marriage, like a good girl.”

The prostitute’s eyes shot in his direction, and Peregrine sighed. “He thinks he is amusing.”

Kitty smiled sweetly, and Ravenscroft planted a kiss on her forehead, leading her to a stool set in the corner.

Kitty let Ravenscroft seat her facing the wall.

Clearly, he had used Kitty for such clandestine meetings before, and she was familiar with his routine.

She helped herself to the plate of sweets and carafe of wine put there for customers, likely appreciating a break from her usual obligations.

“ She is still being questioned about her associations,” Ravenscroft finally answered the question in a low voice. “A guest of Her Majesty—but you and the duchess already know that.”

So the magpie knew they had inquired at Buckingham House.

Which meant Prinny and the Queen did as well.

“Since you do not seem to be inclined to share details, let me take a guess that she was implicated in Harrison’s confession,” Peregrine whispered irritably, looking to make sure that Kitty was still looking away. “Something to the effect of payment?”

Ravenscroft scowled at him. “How, exactly, did you come by the knowledge of the association between the riot and Mr Harrison?” he asked in a low hiss. “And the fact that there was a note?”

“Maggie, you disappoint me,” Peregrine drawled as he leaned against the wall. “You are well aware of the resources I have. In this case, the he in question drives my carriage. He followed the path of the rioters from gaol to Harrison’s home.”

Ravenscroft stepped closer, ‘til he was standing inches away from Peregrine, allowing him to keep his voice quiet. “Take care where you speak of this matter. The butler says he found the note first and brought it straight to His Highness for a reason. Everyone is busy trying to keep Mr Harrison’s confession within the palace walls.”

Peregrine scoffed. “That will never happen. Their walls are infested with more rats than men at the best of times. And these are not the best of times. You are going to tell me everything because I believe you have some idea of where my loyalties lie. If you do not, I am going to keep whatever I know about the matter to myself, and when the Crown discovers they have ignored the brush fire in their backyard until it has become a conflagration, they will have nobody to blame but themselves.”

Closing his eyes, the rake let out a long growl. “Does your share of information include whether or not Lady Normanby is a member of the Order? Because if you are confronted by the Queen, that will be the first thing she will ask you. She rather suspects that to be the case.”

Peregrine kept his face perplexed. “Why would you ask me that instead of her?”

“Not only does the confession say she gave Mr Harrison the funds and letter of instruction to pass along to someone to plan the riot, he claimed the marchioness also had a habit of asking others for favours as well. He meant no harm in taking her money, Harrison claimed! Well, not until he learned the nefarious purpose she had set him to.”

Ravenscroft gave him a sardonic look. “I know the marchioness well enough to believe it of her. And she is just evasive enough in replying to her questions that the Queen suspects she has caught one of the troublemakers you have refused to give her. Why else would Lady Normanby bribe people, if she was not one of the Order?”

“Hell and damnation,” Peregrine breathed, his spine going stiff and his eyes unfocused as he considered the magpie’s words. “Selina is not the target—or at least, not the larger one. Viscount Sidmouth is.”

“Explain your meaning,” Ravenscroft demanded. “Sidmouth was not accused of anything.”

“This is not the Order.” The Order would not foul their own nest like this. “Harrison worked as secretary for Sidmouth in the Home Office. What do you suppose a public accusation of several members of the Home Office accepting bribes from Selina would do?” he growled.

The magpie’s lips flattened. “The scandal would damn near empty the Home Office, Sidmouth included. They would crucify him for being oblivious to the activities happening under his roof, if nothing else.”

“And can you think of anyone else who would be interested in damaging a leader like Sidmouth? A man who just happens to have been interested in trying her publicly as a traitor? Perhaps someone more interested in striking at me, as well?”

Ravenscroft grimaced. “You think your dear mama’s hand is behind this?”

“It is as likely as any other explanation. And if it is her, she will not limit herself to putting Selina’s head in the noose.

There will be more to this plan. Think, Maggie.

What if Harrison’s death was a murder, and that note forged?

In that case, what hope have you of containing it?

I assume Prinny and the Queen are so overconfident, no one has checked to ensure that something has not been given to the papers.

Because if I am correct, the connection to Sidmouth will be at the top of the columns today.

How much would you trust my mother to bide her time? ”

“I wouldn’t.”

“Shall I leave you to it, then?” Peregrine pointed with his chin at Kitty. “ Or , shall we leave right now and go to The Morning Chronicle, to find out if I am right about a story being given to them while there is still time to do something about it?”

Ravenscroft balled his hands into fists as Peregrine named the paper that printed society news. “And what do you plan to do if you are right? What story do we give them to deter them from printing what they have? Because a rumour or bribe will be insufficient.”

“What if you gave them a different scandal?” Peregrine suggested slowly.

Ravenscroft looked sidelong at Peregrine, his face pale. “You are an absolute lunatic, if you are proposing what I think you are. Especially after everything it took to keep the other one quiet.”

“If given a carefully contrived version of the facts, the news story will involve no one who is not already motivated to remain silent. But you will need to obtain Prinny’s approval to release the story. And the royal stamp on it will certainly trump anything from Harrison’s written confession.”

Peregrine only wished he could be a fly upon the wall when Sidmouth had a chance to learn who pulled his arse out of the fire. It would stick in his craw until the end of days.

To his credit, Ravenscroft didn’t dismiss this out of hand. “It is a good thing that the Prince Regent is well in his cups tonight. He will be easy to convince to go along with this madness. ”

“Do you think he will remember enough of tonight to also protect us from the Queen’s wrath?”

“I wouldn’t count on it, Canary,” Ravenscroft barked a laugh. “I hope you can do without your beauty rest. We will have a great deal to do very quickly, and there will be even more explaining to do afterwards—to a great many people.”