Darcy Branwyn

Deduction – A Regency Romance:

…“Can you tell me why your name was in the paper?” he asked Liam.

Setting aside his fiddle and bow, Liam took a cigar from the box on a table and trimmed off the end, taking his time at it. “Something along the lines of making London a safer place,” he said, aware of the sarcasm in his voice.

He took a taper from the mantel and dipped it into the fireplace, lighting his cigar then tossing it into the fire when he was through. He went over to the paper, scanning the front page.

London’s Streets Safe Again

Our thanks go out to amateur detective, Liam Daltrey.

One would think that bringing down a criminal mastermind would make him something more than an amateur. Liam blew smoke into the air. “Amateur…”

“You’ve gone too far this time,” Richard said. 

“I asked the editor not to mention my name, but it seems in his excitement he didn’t listen.” Liam sat on the settee next to his mother. She gestured and he handed the paper over to her.

“That’s not the point.” Richard sat across from them on a velvet chair, brandy in hand.

“It says here three men were killed,” Cassie read. “And there’s no telling how many more would have died if the killer hadn’t been stopped.” She looked at Liam. “How brave of you. Although I don’t like it when you put yourself in danger like that.”

“Someone has to,” Liam told her.

Richard stood, brandy slopping onto the carpet. “And that someone should not be you. God knows I’ve tried to turn you into a gentleman, but you’ve too much of your father in you.”…

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