An Unexpected Gift Read Online Free PDF Page A

hoped she hadn’t made a mistake. The man, dressed in a plain dark wool suit, looked as though he could have been a footpad himself. His nose had been broken in the past as it sat slightly off center, and a small scar in the shape of a semicircle sat near his temple.
    She stood and gestured for him to take a seat in front of her desk. “Mr. Durant. Thank you for coming.”
    “Heard you wanted someone investigated.” He sat down and pulled a small battered notebook from his pocket. He produced a stub of a pencil, licked the tip, and looked up at her, his expression inquiring.
    “Yes.” Olivia returned to her chair.
    “Anything on this person you wanted to know in particular?”
    “Whatever you can find out.”
    “A rival for a man’s affections?”
    She frowned. Why did men always assume women were willing to fight over them? “No. I’m interested in learning more about a man.”
    Durant’s eyebrows rose. “What’s his name?” he asked, though it was apparent he clearly wanted to ask something else.
    “I’m afraid I don’t know his name, only a moniker.”
    “That’ll do.”
    She stared at the man, trying to gauge how much she should divulge about the Lazarus’ appearance at her home. “Lazarus.”
    Durant burst out laughing. “You sent for a Bow Street Runner to find out about him?”
    Olivia frowned again. “I fail to see the humour in the situation.”
    “Everyone knows about Lazarus.” Durant shoved his pencil back into his pocket. “He leads the biggest band of criminals London has seen in many a year. Theft, smuggling. If it’s illegal, he’s got men involved in the process.” He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “Except prostitution and the opium trade. Never heard anything connecting him to that.”
    “If what you say is true, why isn’t he in Newgate or some such place?”
    “That’d be the sticky part.” Turning serious, Durant leaned forward in his chair. “You see, everyone knows Lazarus is a criminal, but we’ve never been able to actually tie him to anything.”
    “Why not?”
    “His men are more loyal than most. They protect him, go to gaol themselves rather than turn him over to the magistrates.”
    “What does he do to inspire such loyalty?” She couldn’t understand why a man would be willing to be sent to gaol or worse in the place of another.
    Durant shrugged. “He is fiercely loyal himself. Will go to any measure to protect those he considers family.”
    Olivia asked the one question she wasn’t certain she wanted an answer to. “Is he dangerous?”
    “There’s a number of rumours about him. Hard to know which ones to believe. None of them are fitting for a lady’s ears.”
    “For example?”
    Durant hesitated.
    “Please do not worry about my delicate sensibilities,” she said in a dry tone. Heaven knew anything delicate about her sensibilities had long ago disappeared.
    “It’s said he once took a man’s eyes just for looking at a woman under his protection.”
    She stared at the Runner in a mixture of horror and disbelief. “Is it true?”
    He took a deep breath. “Can’t say for certain.”
    “But?”
    “But it wouldn’t knock me off my feet if it were true. I’ve heard and seen the results of Lazarus’ work whether we can prove he did it or not.”
    Olivia glanced at the window. Given her own recent experiences with the man, she was inclined to believe the rumours as well. But even now, after learning the type of man he was, she still felt compelled to find him. To ensure he had at least sought medical care after reopening his wounds. She needed to know she’d cared for them properly, that she’d done everything possible. And to find out why he had said those horrible things about her brother.
    She took a deep breath. “If you know of a way to contact him, I’d be grateful to learn of it.”
    Durant stared at her as if she belonged in Bedlam. “I can’t be giving a fine lady like yourself such information.”
    “Please.” One more death