“Not the first time,” Fielding said.
Max chuckled. “I forgot I told you that story.”
“It was a woman that shot him,” Justin teased.
“Who was it this time?” Fielding asked.
“What the devil, Salinger, if you tell all my bloody secrets, I’ll tell yours,” Max said. It was unlikely he’d share official police business, especially if her majesty was in danger, though any of that information would be safe here among these men.
Then Esme Grey came in, wife of Fielding and the only female member of Solomon’s. Inviting a woman to join their infamous roster had never been an option until Esme. She and Fielding had been offered membership the previous summer after saving the crown jewels, not to mention Pandora’s box. Max had wholeheartedly approved of the addition of the Greys to Solomon’s.
“Hello, darling,” she said as she swooped down to kiss Fielding’s cheek.
Nick grabbed a chair for her from the next table.
“Thank you,” she said, plopping herself down next to her husband.
“Did you spend all of our money?” Fielding asked.
She gave a dainty shrug. “Perhaps.” Then she began digging into her shopping bag. “I know you will all be delighted to know I have purchased a new pair of gloves,” she said, placing them on the table, “a new hat,” again, it went onto the table, “and some fancy face crème.” She set the jar down as well.
“I knew if we allowed a woman in our midst, she’d start bringing in fancy-smelling whatnots,” Nick said with feigned annoyance.
“I’ll have you know that none of this is for here, this is all for me,” Esme said teasingly.
Max looked down at Esme’s treasures. Normally he wouldn’t have given much thought to anything a woman had bought. Shouldn’t normally care about a lady’s trinkets or toilet items. But just as he was about to look away, something caught his glance.
He snatched up the jar of crème for a better inspection. “See there, you’ve already ruined Lindberg,” Nick said.
Max shook his head, then he looked up at Esme. “Did you buy this at the little shop in Piccadilly Square?”
Her eyes widened. “Yes. A friend suggested it, said it’s all the rage right now. It’s supposed to remove unwanted lines from one’s face.” She smiled brightly. “Perhaps we’ll use some on you right here.” With her finger, she smoothed the skin between Fielding’s brows.
He swatted her hand away. “Those lines make me look distinguished. Otherwise I’d be just as pretty as Nick here.”
“Why do you ask?” Esme turned to Max.
“I had the opportunity to meet Miss Tobias recently,” he said.
“Isn’t she utterly charming? And so beautiful,” Esme said.
“Charming and beautiful,” Justin repeated. “You never mentioned that.”
“So she’s the lass who shot you?” Graeme asked.
“Not exactly,” Max said.
“Honestly, Max, you must be more careful,” Esme warned.
“I will endeavor to be so. Now if you would all excuse me, I’m going to see if Marcus is here.” He stood.
“Research library,” Fielding said. “He came in about an hour ago looking as stern and focused as ever.”
Max nodded and left the table.
He didn’t know Marcus Campbell well, only that he generally kept to himself, quiet and intently focused on his own particular research. That and he was building a unique machine that could be quite beneficial to Max.
As Fielding had said, Marcus stood behind a table in the research library, poring over two large maps. He walked from one to the other, jotting notes in his notebook as he went.