Chapter 6

6

A bothersome ache gnawed at Samantha's left inner thigh. Despite being in excellent shape and preparing herself for today's challenge, she'd still managed to put too much strain on her body.

Lounging in one of the armchairs that stood in Harlowe's study, she stretched out her legs and crossed them at the ankles. Still dressed in the breeches and shirt she'd worn while exercising, she sipped her hot tea while waiting for Harlowe to broach his reason for summoning her.

"Chief Constable Kendrick came to see me today." The words were bluntly spoken, the lack of emotion adding weight to the statement. "The chief magistrate wants your assistance in taking down Mr. Adrian Croft. Are you familiar with the man?"

Samantha tapped her nails against the side of her cup. "If memory serves, I read his father's obituary in the paper last September. Beyond that, I know nothing about him."

Dorian nodded. "Rumor has it the family's been involved in a number of illegal dealings for several generations. Providing aid to criminals and foreign agents, smuggling, counterfeiting, forced prostitution… You get the idea. Unfortunately, no real evidence of this exists, and until it does, we've got nothing to go on but unverified rumors and suppositions, which is hardly enough to convict a man of his station."

Samantha could sense where this was going. "You want me to infiltrate his life and find the proof that will get him arrested?"

"Precisely." Approval turned Harlowe's grey eyes a shimmering shade of silver. "We need you to gain access to Croft's inner circle. Find out exactly where his family's wealth has come from and what sort of dealings Croft himself has been involved in. Documents will be required if we're to build a solid case that can't be refuted in court."

"That's quite the challenge," Samantha murmured, eyeing Harlowe. "Getting close enough and gaining the kind of trust such a task will require is going to take time. Especially since I was never meant for English Society. He'll be bound to question my past, my connection to you, and my reason for suddenly showing up at all the events I'll have to attend for our paths to cross."

"We'll create a reasonable story – one that's close to the truth."

It wouldn't be easy, but she was happy to take on the task. Her pulse already raced with the thrill of testing her abilities in the real world.

Focusing, she narrowed her gaze and told Harlowe, "For starters, I'd like to assemble a dossier on him. If I'm to come up with a workable plan that will lead to success, I'll need every piece of information you have at your disposal."