Zeus ate up the ground all too quickly, sending the cool morning air rushing past his face and in his hair. When Jeremy drew the spirited animal to a halt, the horse protested, throwing back his head and rising momentarily onto his hind legs.
Precisely how Jeremy felt, if he was to be perfectly honest.
The horse lowered his head and then rose up a second time but failed to unseat his rider. Jeremy had been prepared for it, leaning forward and digging his heels into the horse’s sides.
Sounds of another rider approaching had Jeremy grimacing until the familiar voice called out.
“Incredible animal!” Baxter was dressed in full morning attire, top hat in place, and riding a white mare who, although nearly as large and haughty as Zeus, was much better mannered.
“He needs work, but he certainly shows promise.” Jeremy rubbed his hand along Zeus’s slick, black neck as Baxter drew up alongside them.
“Necessary, I know, but I’m almost sorry to see the magnificent ones broken.”
Jeremy nodded, agreeing with the sentiment. He turned to ride the length of the row again, and Baxter followed.
“I was going to come by your office today,” Jeremy admitted. The park was all but empty and perhaps a better place for this conversation than the club would have been.
“My decision to ride this morning was quite opportune then.” The earl sent an approving glance across the space between the two of them. “My countess tells me you’re amenable to financing the orphanage.”
“Yes.” Jeremy marveled that something he’d opposed so vehemently only a few days before had suddenly become one of his top priorities.
“Bash, my brother, has a few concerns about Ludwig.”
This caught Jeremy’s attention. “Devonshire’s considering investing then?”
Baxter scowled and then exhaled loud enough that Jeremy heard it over the pounding of the horses’ hooves.
“He and Gold aren’t enthusiastic. Aside from some of the shipments known to have gone missing, there are reports that those that have actually arrived at the Ashanti Coast were tampered with. Air pockets are getting caught in the firing chamber. Particularly troublesome when pistols explode in our own soldiers’ hands.”
Jeremy knew this. And since potential investors did as well…
“Which has effectively driven down Ludwig’s value,” Jeremy pointed out. “My first objective is to eliminate the vermin involved.”
Baxter jerked to a halt and pinned his gaze on Jeremy. “You know who to go after?”
“I have a few leads, and ironically enough, one of them was provided by one of our orphans. A gang boss by the name of Farley. Surely it’s not a coincidence that the name Farley has come up on more than one of my manifests?”
“I don’t believe in coincidences.”
“Not under these circumstances.” Jeremy rolled a shoulder. “The Ludwig brothers themselves. are apathetic at best, if not outright culpable. As far as I can tell, they’ve only encouraged such activity. Impossible for other legitimate businesses to function in the climate that’s come about.” Legitimate being the keyword.
“There are rumors that they’ve badgered a few club members. Not good for business at all.”
“One way or another, we need to neutralize them.”
“My brother mentioned the same.” Baxter seemed quite in agreement. “And now with the ladies involved…”
Jeremy nodded. His thoughts exactly. “I’ll be thorough. Tell that to your brother and Gold.”
“Until then, we can only hope to keep them at bay. But I’ve no doubt they’ll make mischief, if not worse, at the warehouse. They’ll fight it. If the children have other options, better options, the gangs lose their soldiers.” Baxter stared straight ahead at the unoccupied run.
“One would wonder,” Jeremy side-eyed the club owner, “if perhaps you were aware of the connection when you so innocently suggested I step in to fund their operations?”
Baxter chortled and then urged his horse forward again. “They don’t call me the Earl of Bastards for nothing.”
Jeremy could only chuckle at this. And then he wondered if, a few days before, he would have chuckled at anything.
Lydia had always been able to make him laugh when he was feeling dour, and apparently, that hadn’t changed.
But it didn’t matter. He couldn’t allow her to melt his resolve.
She was Lydia, but she was also a Cockfield. And he couldn’t look beyond the choice her brothers had made.
“What’s really motivating you in all of this, Tempest?” Baxter asked out of the blue, almost as though he was reading Jeremy’s mind. “I understand the potential for profits, but in the past two months, you’ve moved your office to the docks, set your sights on what ought to be a relatively troublesome investment, and now you’re intent on rooting out a gang of treasonous villains. It’s all well and good, of course, but why now? And why you? Does this have something to do with your brother?”
Jeremy stiffened, and Zeus twitched and then jerked his head, turning sideways on the road and threatening to buck again.
Rather than answer Baxter’s question, Jeremy soothed the animal, increasing the pressure with his legs and thighs.
Only when Zeus was under control did he glance at Baxter again.
The earl merely stared at him questioningly, waiting patiently, brows raised.
“My brother served valiantly,” Jeremy answered. “Why wouldn’t I concern myself with issues that threaten our soldiers?”
Baxter looked as though he knew more but simply tightened his mouth.
“Ludwig’s profits will double. Possibly triple,” Jeremy continued. He had analyzed every possible scenario and none of the numbers lined up with those provided by the current owners. “The greater the risk, the greater the reward. You, Bash, and Gold are simply going to have to decide if you’ve the ballocks to go all in.”
“It’s not me who requires convincing. As I said before…”
“Yes.” Jeremy stared knowingly back at the other earl. “However, considering you’re known as London’s most charmed negotiator, I shouldn’t be concerned, eh?”
Baxter snorted. “True.”
“And as far as these gang bosses,” Jeremy went on, “I’ve discussed the issue with a handful of Bow Street Runners. But I wouldn’t mind a little help with manpower once we decide to raid, once I know more of the specifics.”
“How many?”
“Twenty men. More if you can.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem. Just do me a favor and try to give me a few hours’ notice. I’ll need to bring substitutes into the club.”
Jeremy nodded. The idea that he might be able to clear his brother’s name was one he couldn’t let go of. Or perhaps, the notion refused to let go of him.
Unfortunately, it was also possible the information he discovered could do just the opposite.
That thought summoned an elephant to sit on his chest.
Damn Lucas, and damn Blackheart, and damn them both to hell that they would turn their backs on his brother so easily.
“Is this orphan of yours the same one you’ve taken into your home?”
“Women talk too much.” But Jeremy nodded.