breath. âTook youâ¦â She gasped in another breath. âSo long?â
âIt didnât appear that you needed my assistance. Someone has taught you how to defend yourself.â
She glared at him. âAnd here I thought⦠you knew everything about me.â
So had he. But sheâd managed to surprise himâsurprise and impress himâand that was not easily done.
âWhat the devil is going on?â one of the men demanded, crawling to his hands and knees. Blood poured from a gash above his nose. âThat little bitch cut me.â
âYouâre lucky thatâs all that happened.â Warrick set Fallon down and pushed her behind him. âNow get out of here before I have you charged for attacking a lady.â
âAnd who the hell are you?â the other man asked. He was in considerably better condition.
Warrick disliked questions. He disliked answering them even more. He reached in his pocket and pulled out his pistol. He leveled the weapon at the men. âAny further questions?â
The men scrambled to their feet and backed away. When they were in the doorway, Warrick closed it, bolted the lock, and turned to Fallon. âGood of you to come.â He checked his pocket watch. âYouâre late.â
âI was detained,â she said, her eyebrows coming together.
âExcuses, excuses.â He lifted the lamp heâd hung on a nail next to the door and began to make his way back into the club proper. He scanned what appeared to be a parlor or study. Bow Street had been here. He could see their handiwork everywhereâoverturned tables, drawers standing open, papers scattered on the floors. They were clumsy and overlooked more than they found.
âIf you had that pistol with you, why didnât you threaten those men with it to begin with?â
He turned to see Fallon standing in the parlorâs doorway. Warrick shrugged. âYou seemed to have matters well in hand.â
She shook her head. âThat is no way to treat a lady.â
âThatâs because most ladies are skittish ninnies who faint if a man utters the word damn in their presence. You should hope I donât treat you like a lady. I have no use for ladies.â He turned back to the room and began conducting his own far more delicate search. He didnât know what he was looking forâsomething to do with the Diamonds in the Rough. Something to give him insight into Lucifer.
But, of course, thatâs why Fallon was here.
He glanced at her and saw she was shaking her head. â This sentiment on the topic of ladies comes from the son of Lord and Lady Winthorpe?â
He turned back to the task at hand, lifting a stack of papers and flipping through them. âI take it you know my mother.â
âI know of your mother. Sheâs one of the most persistent, scheming, marriage-minded mamas I have ever encountered. I apologize if that offends you.â
He righted an overturned desk. âWhy would it offend me? If you ever do meet her, tell her those words exactly. Sheâll be flattered.â
âI seriously doubt it.â
He glanced at her. âYou shouldnât doubt me. After all, it takes a man with considerable convictions and impressive fortitude to resist the manipulations of a mother like mine. I tell you truly, I donât care for ladies.â He rolled onto his back and peered under the desk heâd set on its feet.
âWhat are you doing?â
âShine the lamp so I can see.â Though her steps were light, he heard her cross the room. A moment later, the lampâs light illuminated the bottom of the desk. âNothing,â he muttered.
âDid you expect to find the diamonds? He wonât have them here.â
He stilled, willing her to go on. He could ask her about her association with Lucifer directly, but he knew she would not be forthcoming. Information she volunteered on her own was worth