“There he goes,” Richard murmured and Robert nodded as they watched the Findlay carriage ride out of the courtyard and head up the street.

“Smart,” Daniel muttered. “Act natural, attend the night’s ball and stick to his routine. Like you said, less likely to draw suspicion than his suddenly disappearing.”

Robert nodded again, but didn’t comment. He was using all his concentration to keep from leaping out of the hired hack they’d rented and charge the house shouting Lisa’s name.

“Well, Findlay is a clever man, I’ll give him that.”

This time Robert managed to tear his eyes from the house across the street and glance to the speaker. Mr. Smithe was at the open window in the door behind them.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Robert growled, leaning to open the door and urge the man inside. “You’re supposed to be on your way to Gretna Green to be sure they weren’t headed there.”

“I sent two of my men instead. A wasted trip as it turns out, since Findlay is still here. No doubt the girl is too,” Smithe said calmly as he closed the door and settled on the bench seat beside Richard. Robert himself was kneeling on the floor to look out the window, while Daniel sat on the bench opposite Richard.

Robert scowled, but didn’t point out that it might have been otherwise.

“Besides, I was about to leave when I recalled a certain light skirt who caters to men of Findlay’s ilk. She don’t mind it rough. Knows how to handle herself and them,” he explained. “I thought it might be helpful if I asked her a couple questions. Turns out it was a good instinct. I got some information that might be useful.”

“Tell me,” Robert ordered.

“She says not to bother with the upper floors if you go in looking for the girl. All is kept normal as any other Lord’s house in London on the main floor and the one above. She says it’s the basement where he’ll have the girl if she’s here.”

“The basement,” Robert muttered, glancing back to the house.

“Yes, my lord,” Mr. Smithe said solemnly. “It seems he has himself a right little torture chamber in his basement. Likes to lock the girls up in a room down there where they can see all his toys. She said he’d most likely leave her there and attend whatever ball or event was taking place tonight. As he obviously has,” Smithe added dryly, glancing in the direction the carriage had taken. He turned back and added, “She says it allows the girls to get a real good scare growing in their belly at what’s to come when he returns. And he likes them scared.”