But as she continued through her sums, she noted two of her columns did not add up.The funds from her various accounts did not match her assets total.Odd.She’d have to retally the columns to find out where the discrepancy was located.
She rarely had errors like this in her calculations.Not only did she like the work, she’d been well-trained.
She started again, working her way back through the last several months but a second tally yielded the same results.She rubbed her cheek trying to decide where the problem might be located.
A knock sounded at the door, pulling her from her thoughts as she looked up.“Yes?”
The door opened, the butler stepping inside.“A letter has arrived for you, my lady.”
She nodded, standing as the butler held out a tray with the missive.She took the sealed envelope, returning to her seat as the butler retreated once again.
She flipped the letter over, her breath catching as she noted her father’s seal.Eugene’s seal now.
She dropped the note, wondering if she opened it at all.Wyatt had claimed that he would manage Eugene.But this was not a personal meeting, just a written communication.What did he want?
Surely not to apologize?
Before she’d fully decided, she found herself reaching for the letter opener and slicing open the wax bond that held the page together.
Her fingers shook as she opened the page, her gaze scanning the contents as her heart rose up in her throat.
Of course it wasn’t an apology.
When had Eugene ever felt remorse for anything?
She dropped the note on the desk, reading it again as her gaze crinkled, attempting to understand.
Eugene asserted that she should return home.That Wyatt wasn’t the man he pretended to be.
For a moment, she’d assumed he’d meant the Bushy Hero business, a secret she’d known already.But it turned out, Eugene didn’t know about it or wasn’t sharing with her.Instead, Eugene claimed that Priscilla was not Wyatt’s first fiancée.
That, in fact, he’d been engaged before and that the relationship had ended because of Wyatt’s misdeeds.
Which, as far as secrets went, was not that great a one.But that begged the question.Why hadn’t he mentioned this to her?How could she not know that he’d almost married another?
And why, every time things seem to settle in nicely, did some other mystery jump out of Wyatt’s past?
* * *
Wyatt satacross from the solicitor attempting to understand his words.“What do you mean you don’t know where Mr.Crosby is?He was your partner, wasn’t he?”
The man shifted in his seat, the chair creaking with his movement.“He was.As I said, he no longer works here.”
“So let’s review what we’ve covered so far.The solicitor who found the long-lost heir of the Earl of Purlington no longer works here and you’ve no idea where he is?”
“Correct.”
“When did he leave?”
The man paled, pulling at his tight collar.“Some months ago.”
“But the heir was only found in November and it’s April now.Surly you have a more specific time frame for me thansome months ago?”
“Right.He left in January, I believe.Warmer climes.He found the London winter unsuitable.”
“A solicitor with enough funds to travel to better climes.”Not out of the question but certainly suspicious especially when he considered his partner’s vagueness.“Is he returning?”
“I don’t think so.”The man shook his head.“To be honest…”
