Page 85 of A Story of Love

“You!” she accused, pointing a finger and glaring at the offending creature.

The cat paused and gave her a smirk that was a great deal like Mr. Gregg’s.

“You should be honored Mr. Pouncefoot-Jones has deigned to pay you a visit.”

Lori ignored his taunting. “Will you help me escape if I tell you about Lady Sedgewick?” She had no intention of telling him anything, but it would be interesting to see how far he would go to get information about Freddie.

“No.”

“So, then what will you do for me?”

“I could tell you some interesting things.”

“Such as what Lord Severn did with the mutineers he picked up?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “I won’t say anything about Severn.”

“Then what? Give me a sample of the interesting things you could share.”

“Did you know the Earl of Barrington is pockets to let?”

“Pffft! Everyone knows he is broke thanks to ill-advised investments.”

“Did you know Barrington is dabbling in illegal slave trading to re-fill his family’s coffers?”

Lori’s eyebrows shot up. Barrington was an extremely powerful, well-connected man. Parker would love to print such a story, but even he would want more than innuendo to go after such well-regarded peer. “I would need proof,” she said. “And lots of it.”

He nodded slowly. “I have proof.”

“And you’ll give it to me if I tell you about Freddie?”

He nodded again.

“I’m not going to tell you anything she has confided in me.”

“I don’t want to pry into any confidences,” he said. “Was her marriage happy?”

Lori frowned.

“Well?” he prodded.

“I don’t know,” she finally said, more than a little ashamed that it was the truth. “She was widowed years before I met her.”

“Does she have a lover?”

She opened her mouth to tell him he was an impudent scoundrel for asking such questions, but then realized she could give him a truthful answer without betraying her friend. “I don’t know anything about that.” She paused and added, “And I wouldn’t tell you even if I did.”

Humor glinted in his dark eyes at her answer. “What about the Duke of Plimpton?”

Lori was startled by the question. “What about him?”

Gregg sighed and gave her a pained look.

“Are you asking me if Plimpton is Freddie’s lover?”

“Is he?”

“I already told you that I don’t know anything about Freddie’s lovers.”