The Heart of the Rose

17

     In the morning when Rose came down for breakfast she found not only Ethan waiting for her but Big B, Nicodemus, and the Puppet Master. All of them big names in the protection of the crown and country. She was lead into Ethan's study and given her favorite chair. She waited she was pretty sure they were there for her assessment. But what on Earth was Vaughn Valentine from the war office doing there? She was surrounded by power two Marquis and two Dukes. She did not think what she had to say was that important to the country, but would explain why someone would want to kill her for the knowledge she obtained. It was Ethan who handed her the notes she had left on the table yesterday. She was sure he had tried to decipher it and could not. It was in her own special code.

"Rosy I need you to tell us about the rest of the names on the list. Seems you stumbled on some important information that can affect the state of our country and our interest in other countries. That is why all the heads of the country security are here."

She looked over her notes and sighed. This was going to be a long session and she had not eaten anything yet. As if on que John knocked and brought in a plate of food for her. She smiled him and thanked him. She took a bite of food, and then started to share her information with the men.

"On the list there was a Mr. Cardson. You will be glad that I did not have to go to investigate this one in person. I found that his identity I have been determined to be Mr. Sheets. He is selling properties to investors, as far as I can tell he has not fulfilled any of the contractual obligations. He has been running this farce for over ten years. He is paying the early investors with the money from newer investors. One of his properties is on foreign soil, and as far as I can tell its attached to an Italian Duchy in Italy to the Duke of Turin."

Vaughn was the one who spoke.

"What kind of business is he doing with the Italian Duke?"

"As far as I can tell they are running the same scam on the Italian side as the English side. They have investments in Bordellos, land management, wine, horses, and other questionable companies. I am waiting on a report from Italy about the Duke. Rumor has it he buys and sells children to men for their pleasures. As far as I can tell they send them to a madam to be groomed. The English girls go to Italy. The Italian girls are sent here. This seems to be the biggest moneymaker for them and the most disgusting. "

She could see the look of pain on Ethan's face. She knew he was sorry she had obtained such savory information and had to share it in mixed company. She wished she could make him feel better but some of the other names on the list were going to hurt him as well. But it was her job to investigate. She waited for them to ask her the question she would not offer the answer for without being asked. It was Nicodemus who asked the unspoken question.

"How pray tell did you come in possession of this type of informaion?"

"I know Mr. Sheets niece and she was able to obtain the books and letters I needed to make my assessment. She owed my father a favor and I called it in."

Ethan looked relieved.

"You never went to his house?"

"No, all documents were delivered here. I never step foot in Mr. Sheets house."

"Do you still have the books?"

This question came from Big B. He was excited by the prospect of all the information she had gathered. She could visualize him rubbing his hands together and a salivating. She shook that image from her thoughts. Turning her attention back to the rest of the room. Ethan was talking about something that she had not paid attention to and was not sure how to answer him.

"I am sorry I did not hear what you said."

"I asked what other information you gathered?"

"Mr. Galatians is Mr. Preacher the son of Lord Raven he changed his name at the request of Lord Raven because of his chosen way of supporting himself. He is entangled with a gaggle of wealthy woman who were unaware he was steeling from them. Lady Marks had her family heirlooms taken that had been in her dead husbands family for generations. Lady Oman had her prized horse stolen from her stables. She at first thought it was a oversight. She asked him for the horse back but he refused saying he no longer had the horse and he would tell everyone she gave him the horse and who would believe her since she was just a woman.

"How did you come into this knowledge?"

She smiled at the group of men. She blushed.

"It is common knowledge, in salons that Mr. Preacher is a fancy man. He has been with many of the woman of the ton and not one of them came out of the relationship unscathed. He hurt each of them someway financially."

Ethan was mortified Rose noticed she was sure it was because she knew what a fancy man was. She may have spent her whole life being sheltered from people and the outside world but her reading appetite was ravenous. She had learned a great many things reading. Some of them she would like to try with a certain Duke.

The men other than Ethan looked like they had been to the gaming hall and walked away winners. Vaughn was the d most at ease with this conversation. She had to wonder why, but she would later find out his sister was j as inquisitive as she was.

"Any more information you can share?"

Rose laughed, of course she had more information that was what she did for the crown.

" I know that Mrs. Lion is actually Lady Florence Chamberlin who is the Earl of Henley wife. She owns the upper class brothel known as Dragon Lilly's. I do not think the Earl knows but there is such an age gap he might not even care. Actually the Lilly on his list is Lynnette White. She the daughter of the Marquis of Garstang she is a courtesan working for Lady Chamberlin and has been caught by the Lady a few times with blackmailing clients to keep their secrets. Mr. Cure is known on the streets as Doc. He is actually a chemist John Kipper. He sells all sorts of illegal substances one can not get here in England to anyone who can afford it. He also has a problem with gambling. He owes Madam Ransoms a pretty penny. Last but not least Mr. Billings is actually Mr. Ledger who is known to be a smuggler of artifacts in and out of England. The most resent thing he brought in was a cargo of tea, and lace. I believe his dropping port is somewhere off the cost of West Wales. It is believed he saves on at least 60 percent on these illegal shipments that the ones he does pay taxes on he still makes a 95 percent profit. Not bad considering how much the tax on those items are."

Big B could not believe all of this information she had gathered since coming back from her adventure with her brother. How had they not put this girls' intellect to better use? He was ashamed of himself for not better utilizing her talents. He would have to rectify that if she did not marry this season. But from the way the young Duke was looking at her he was not sure she would be single much longer. It would be as his mother and the king wished.

"Rose dear, you have obtained all this in formation so can you tell us who is trying to kill you?"

"I know Lord Hughes worked with Lady Chamberlin but I can not extrapolate who they hired. Neither of them have given that information out. The only three people who know or I suspect know is Lady Chamberlin, Lord Hughes and the killer. I do not think Lord Hughes knows. I think he paid for the contract, but doesn't know the identiy of the person. I can not tell you if its a man or a woman only that the contract is only good until either the job is done or if the contractor call off the assassination. I do believe it is someone from the ton. No one of common birth is allowed into the Dragon Lilly."

None of the men commented on her thinking they all knew no one of common birth could get into the place. It was a place for the nobles to let loose and have a spot of fun. They had all been there a time or two over the course of their life times. Vaughn a few more times than most. He loved the risqué things he could do and no one would be the wiser. He would not like for the Dragon Lilly be crushed. He could talk with the Madam to see if they would call off the assassination in exchange for them to stay in business. If that were the case it would be a winning situation for everyone involved. He spoke up.

"I will go talk with Lady Chamberlin."