“Indeed, but it’s what’s stored inside the hat, if Duncan left it in here, that’s important.”
Before Adelaide could question him about that, Camilla was standing directly beside Adelaide, shaking a finger Gideon’s way.
“If you think Adelaide is going to waltz around the city with that on her head, you’re sadly mistaken,” Camilla began. “It’s one of the most hideous hats I’ve ever seen and should be relegated to a ragbag, even if it has a special button and a gun pops out of it.”
“Doesit have a special button and a hidden gun?” Adelaide breathed.
Gideon rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m afraid that gadget has yet to be invented, but this hat does have a special feature, although not one that can compare to a hat that has the capability of having a gun blast out of the brim.”
“A hat that had a gun bursting out of the top would be extraordinary indeed and would certainly take an assailant aback.”
“I’m sure it would, but even though you’re bound to be disappointed with the special features of this hat, since there’s no bursting to be had, know that Duncan found it incredibly useful when he was on an undercover case because he was able to conceal a derringer in the hidden compartment it has built into it. It was fortunate he used the hat during his assignment because the gambling den he was visiting insisted he check his reticule at the door, but they didn’t blink an eye over him keeping his hat on.”
Adelaide wrinkled her nose. “I would think a lot of blinking occurred if Duncan waltzed into a gambling den with a lady’s hat on his head.”
“Especially one that hideous,” Camilla added.
“He was dressed as a lady,” Gideon said. “And before you ask, he makes a somewhat passable lady—if he remembers to shave right before he goes out on assignment.” He smiled. “He did complain about the fit of the garment we found for him to wear. He said it was far too constricting, and he now has a new appreciation for the discomfort ladies experience due to bustles, corsets, and stockings, which apparently fell down his legs and caused a bit of a situation when an inebriated patron insisted on helping Duncan reattach them to his garters.”
“That particular problem would be alleviated if you’d simply stop being stubborn and realize the numerous benefits of adding a few ladies to your staff,” Adelaide pointed out.
“Nice try, but no,” Gideon said, moving to a small table and setting the hat on it. “With that out of the way, would you care to see the hidden compartment?”
“You know I would, but don’t think we won’t return to the advantages women could provide the firm in the near future,” Adelaide said, which earned her a charming smile from Gideon before he showed her how to access the hidden compartment by pulling on an innocent-looking tab. After the false bottom opened, she peeked into the hat, blinking at the sight that met her eyes—a minuscule pistol that could fit into the palm of her hand. She scrunched up her nose. “I was hoping for something a little larger.”
“I don’t believelargeis a word we’re going to contemplate when it comes to appropriate weapons for you.”
She glanced back into the hat. “Given its lack of size, I don’t think that can actually be considered a weapon.”
“It’s definitely a weapon—a one-shot derringer, and it packs more of a punch than one would imagine,” Gideon said. “It’s also remarkably easy to handle because it only requires a user to put a bullet into the chamber, cock the hammer, then pull the trigger.”
“I could probably manage that,” she admitted.
“Which is why I chose this particular weapon for you.” He sent her a smile. “Would you care to try it out?”
“Don’t you think it’s rather close quarters for me to be firing off a derringer, even if it’s tiny?”
He laughed. “Not to shoot it. Just see if you can get the hat off your head and then the derringer out of the hidden compartment within a reasonable amount of time.”
“Since Adelaide won’t be wearing that abomination you keep referring to as a hat, I don’t think there’s any point in having her try it out,” Camilla said.
“But it’ll give her an opportunity to handle a gadget she’s probably read about in one of her novels but never thought she’d have an opportunity to see, let alone experiment with. We wouldn’t want to deprive her of that experience, would we?”
Before Camilla could do more than send Gideon a rather peculiar look, although what the look meant Adelaide had no idea, Gideon nodded to the hat and grinned. “You know you want to give it a try.”
She was powerless to resist his grin. “I suppose I do, but after experimenting with the hat, I’d also like to try out that armband gadget you showed me earlier. You know Camilla will probably confiscate the hat at some point, but I would certainly take any assailants by surprise if a derringer suddenly slid out of my sleeve.”
“I’m afraid that particular gadget is difficult to use,” Gideon said. “Which means it’ll be best all around, what with Camilla’s aversion to the hat, to simply keep the derringer in your reticule.”
“But what if someone asks me to check my reticule at the door like they did with Duncan?”
“I don’t believe society makes it a habit to have ladies check their reticules while attending a ball or dinner.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Adelaide muttered before she closedthe hidden compartment and stuck the hat on her head, the mere sight of it leaving Camilla shuddering once again.
“Let’s see what you’d do if you suddenly find yourself under attack,” Charles suggested from where he’d taking to lounging against a wall.
Adelaide nodded, readjusted the brim of the hat, then walked around the room a few times, fighting a smile when Charles began advancing on her, evidently assuming the role of a potential assailant.