Stephanie Laurens - In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster: A Cynster Novel (Cynster Bride)

In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster

I cant. Drawing back, still gripping the sill, Eliza raised her eyes to his. Believe me, Id like nothing more than to go with you, but I She reached out and grasped his forearm.

Looking at her hand, he saw it shake as she tightened her grip, just a fraction, but no more.

She released him on a sigh. Met his gaze as he lifted his eyes questioningly to hers. Thats the best I can do the hardest I can grip anything at the moment. They gave me laudanum for the past three days and it still hasnt worn off. My legs are still shaky, and I cant hold onto anything. If I slip

A chill coursed down Jeremys spine. If she slipped he might not be able to catch and hold her and stop her from pitching over the roofs edge. She was tallish, admittedly slender, yet there was enough of her to make him question whether he would be strong enough to hold and save her. All right. He nodded, keeping both gesture and tone calm and even. It wont help our cause if either of us falls and breaks a limb, so well think of another way.

She blinked as if taken aback, but then nodded. Yes. Good. She paused, then asked, Do you have any suggestions?

April, 1829
The Green Man Tavern
Auld Town, Edinburgh

s previously discussed, Mr. Scrope, my request is straightforward. I require you to kidnap Miss Eliza Cynster from London and deliver her to me here, in Edinburgh. McKinsey he was still calling himself that; it was a perfectly good alias, after all lounged in a booth at the rear of the dimly lit tavern, his gaze leveled on the man seated opposite. You have had your two weeks to reconnoiter and consider. The only question remaining is whether you can deliver Eliza Cynster to me, unharmed and in good health, or not.

Scrope, dark-haired and dark-eyed, his face long, his features haughty, held his gaze. After due consideration, I believe we can do business, sir.

Indeed? McKinsey lowered his gaze to where his fingers caressed the sides of an ale glass. What was he doing? He didnt trust Scrope as far as he could throw him, and yet here he was, dealing with the man.

His equivocation was genuine, although Scrope would doubtless see it as a ploy that McKinsey assumed disbelief to keep his price down. In reality, McKinsey thought Scrope would succeed; that was why he was there, hiring a gentleman Scrope actually was one known among the wealthy, especially the aristocracy, as the man who could, for a fee, make inconvenient relatives disappear.

In blunt terms, Scrope was a kidnap and disposal specialist. The word about the clubs was that he never failed, which in part explained his exceedingly high price. A price McKinsey, for all his hesitancy, was prepared to pay doubly over to have Eliza Cynster delivered into his hands.

Raising his glass, he sipped, then looked at Scrope. How do you propose to accomplish Miss Cynsters abduction?

Scrope leaned forward, forearms on the table; folding his hands, he lowered his voice even though there was no one else near enough to hear. As you predicted, in the wake of the recent failed attempt to kidnap Miss Heather Cynster, Eliza Cynster is being kept under strict and constant guard. Unhelpfully, that guard includes her brothers and cousins over an entire week she did not once appear in public, even when traveling to and from private functions, without one or more of said gentlemen hovering close. The Cynster family is not relying on mere footmen to keep their young lady safe. Scrope paused, his dark eyes trying to read McKinseys lighter ones. To be candid, the only way to lay hands on Eliza Cynster will be to stage some form of ambush. Which, of course, will run the risk of injuring not only her guards. If force is our only option, I cannot guarantee Miss Cynsters safety, not until shes in my keeping.

No. McKinseys flat tone made the prohibition absolute. No violence of any kind. Not toward the young lady, nor even her guards.

Scrope pulled a face and spread his hands. If you forbid the use of force, then I cant see how the task can be accomplished.

McKinsey arched a brow. One nail slowly tapping the wooden table, he studied Scropes passably elegant face. No emotion of any kind showed; Scropes poker face was as good as McKinseys own.

But his eyes

The man was cold; there was no other word for it. Emotionless, detached, the sort of man who would do murder as easily as dropping his hat.

Unfortunately, fate had left McKinsey few options; he needed someone who could get the job done. Retreat wasnt an option, not now, not for him. But if he was going to unleash the man and send him after Eliza Cynster slowly he straightened, then leaned his elbows on the table so his gaze was level with Scropes. I comprehend that this task stealing Eliza Cynster away from under her powerful familys very noses, even more when said noses are already on guard will, if completed successfully, elevate your reputation in your chosen field to something akin to a god. If the Cynsters cant protect against you, then who can?

Hed done his own reconnoitering while Scrope had been in London assessing his chances of kidnapping Eliza Cynster. Scrope was considered to be at the top of his league, but more than one of the previous employers Scrope had cited as references had, when McKinsey, as his true self, had inquired, mentioned Scropes overweening drive to excel. To succeed beyond question with assignments more cautious hirelings declined. Scrope, it seemed, had become addicted to the glory of pulling off the improbable. His former employers had viewed that as a positive; while agreeing in regard to getting a difficult job done, McKinsey could also see how Scropes addiction could be used to further his own ends.

Scrope hadnt reacted to McKinseys statement, but that he was trying so hard to keep his face impassive told its own story.

McKinsey let his lips curve understandingly. Indeed. With this mission successfully completed, youll be able to command even higher quite astronomical fees.

My fees

McKinsey held up a hand. I am not about to haggle over your already agreed fee. However still holding Scropes gaze, he let his face harden, let his voice harden, too in return for telling you of the one way in which Eliza Cynster can be kidnapped, even in the teeth of her male relatives protectiveness, without the use of force, I will require one thing.

Scrope hesitated. A full minute ticked by before quietly he asked, What?

McKinsey was wise enough not to smile in triumph. That we will plan the action together, from the moment you move to kidnap Miss Cynster to the moment you hand her over to me.

Again Scrope spent a long moment in thought, but Mc Kinsey wasnt at all surprised when eventually Scrope said, Just to be perfectly clear, you want to dictate how I do this job.

No. I want to be assured that you will do this job in a way that satisfies my requirements fully. I suggest that once I tell you how the abduction can be accomplished, you suggest how you wish to proceed through each stage. If I agree, you go ahead. If I dont, we discuss alternatives and settle on one that will satisfy us both. He was wagering that Scrope wouldnt be able to walk away from the prospect of being the man who successfully kidnapped a Cynster chit.

Scrope looked away, shifted, then met McKinseys eyes again. Very well. I agree. After an instants pause if Scrope had been a different man McKinsey would have shaken his hand to seal the deal, but, instead, he sat woodenly waiting Scrope smoothly went on, So where and how do I seize Eliza Cynster?