“It’s not a rumor.”
I leaned back in my chair and sipped my drink. His eyes twinkled, and the corners of his lips twitched toward a smile. He’d be apoplectic if someone robbed him, which I had every intention of doing, but Ivan’s misery amused him.
“Poor Ivan,” I muttered.
“Yes, poor Ivan indeed. A roaming band of degenerates has made a fool of him, but let’s not become a liar, son; you have no care what happens to him.”
“I have no love for Ivan, and he knows it.”
“And he has no love for you.”
“What does he plan to do about the robbery?”
“He’s sent out numerous parties to hunt for the thieves.”
“I hope he finds them, but if they prove as elusive as the Hooded Robber, he’ll soon be as frustrated as me.”
“Are youstilllooking for that man?”
“I am.”
“He’s making a fool of you; give it up.”
I swirled the liquid in my glass. “Ivan and I will be fools together then.”
“If anyone learns about you still hunting for that… that…degenerateand failing to find someone so much lesser thanus, it will be humiliating.”
“Oh no, we can’t have that, can we, Father?”
“You’re prolonging this hunt on purpose.”
“I’m doing it because I’m going to catch whoever stole my money.”
If he ever learned it was Ellery and that I knew it, he would throw a fit loud enough for the rest of the realms to hear. I smiled over the image of his flushed face and sputtering fury.
“Then stop fucking whores anddoit!” he snapped.
“Now, what fun would that be?”
I thought he might start sputtering with rage, but he took a deep breath and composed himself again. “I’m sure Ivan will have more luck than you.”
“Let’s hope so; he has far more men and women helping him than me. How much money did the thieves get?”
“I have no idea. I doubt Ivan knows. They succeeded in stealing a carriage, so I would guess it was a fair amount, but it wasn’t enough to damage his coffers.”
It wasn’t, but it was a start. “How many thieves were there?”
“The guards have no idea. Some said thirty, others said six. I doubt they’d tell the truth even if they knew it; Ivan had them thrown in the dungeon for their incompetence.”
I didn’t respond; there was nothing more I wanted to know or had to say to this man. Instead, I sipped my drink and waited for him to continue or dismiss me.
“We leave for the earl’s party tomorrow morning,” my father said. “We’ll ride together.”
“Why?”
“Because we are Lockes; wewilldisplay a united front.”
“United against what?”
