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Pierce also owes me a few favors,” he said.

    “Like the poor man who works at my bank.”

    “Pierce would never have given you up to me, if that is what concerns you. He agreed only to
    suggest the meeting to you but he made it clear that whether or not you accepted the invitation
    would be your decision. Perhaps the more intriguing question is why you consented to come here
    today.”

    “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said. “I had little choice in the matter. It was obvious that if you had
    gotten as far as making inquiries of Mr. Pierce it would not be long before you found me.”

    He did not respond. Her conclusion was right. He would have come looking for her if Pierce had
    not agreed to set up the meeting.

    “What is the precise nature of your problem, sir?” Adelaide asked. “I am well aware that you are
    not engaged in the brothel business so you have nothing to fear from a social reformer like me.”

    “What makes you so certain that I do not operate any brothels?”

    She waved one hand in a dismissive gesture. “The girls who come to the charity house bring a
    river of gossip from the streets. They collect far more information than most people, including
    their customers and the brothel keepers, realize. They are aware of who engages in the business
    of selling flesh and who does not. There are many rumors about you, sir, but none of them link
    you to that despicable activity.”

    “I will take comfort in knowing that I needn’t worry about an assault from your raiders,” he said
    politely.

    “Do you mock me, sir?”

    “No, Mrs. Pyne. I fear for your life. It is evident that you are now going after Luttrell’s
    whorehouses. He is a ruthless man who lacks any vestige of a conscience. He does not know the
    meaning of remorse. He is driven by greed and a lust for power.”

    “One generally expects those sterling qualities in a crime lord,” she said coolly. “Do you claim to
    be from a different mold?”

    “I thought we had just agreed that I do not make money from brothels.”

    He had to work to keep the edge out of his voice. If they were in each other’s company much
    longer he would soon be looking for some effective way to silence her, at least temporarily. It
    occurred to him that kissing her would achieve that objective.

    “My apologies, sir,” Adelaide said. “I am well aware that your character is vastly different from
    Luttrell’s. He is truly a monster. I see the damage he causes every time I take a girl out of one of
    his establishments.”

    “You got away with raiding two of his houses but I doubt that you will escape so easily the next
    time. Take my advice, Mrs. Pyne. Find another hobby.”

    “Is that a threat, sir? Are you implying that you will inform Luttrell of my identity if I do not
    agree to help you?”

    Anger crackled through him. There was no logical reason why she should trust him, let alone
    place any faith in his character. Nevertheless, he did not like knowing that she believed he would
    stoop to blackmail.

    “I am attempting to make you see reason, Mrs. Pyne,” he said. He clung to his patience with an
    effort of will. “It did not take me long to understand that you are now targeting Luttrell’s
    brothels. You may be assured that he will soon come to the same conclusion, if he has not
    already done so. The pattern is clear.”

    “How can that be? Three of the five raids were conducted on independent brothels.”

    “You practiced your strategy on those first three raids. When you believed that you were ready,
    you went after your real target. Now that you’ve tasted some success, you are planning to
    continue raiding Luttrell’s operations.”

    “Why would I concentrate on him?”

    “Probably because they employ the youngest women and cater to the most jaded clients. When
    you hit his whorehouses you also embarrass some of the most socially prominent men in
    London. By making an example of Luttrell and his customers, you hope to