“Such is understandable. I, too, took a long time to come to terms with my father’s decisions. I did permit him some credit for pulling himself together so our line might claim the earldom. In his dying days, he moved the heavens aside to make my transition easier. At least, we might thank him for that.”
“I will attempt to follow your lead,” she said softly.
“Do what is best for you,” he corrected. “I will not judge you. Perhaps we might visit our maternal grandmother soon. Although the rest of the family readily turned away my initial advances to reestablish a connection to the maternal side, our grandmother did not. She lives quite simply on the Smithfield estate in the dower house. I have made it my business to keepher abreast of my search for our mother. When this madness is over, it will do me well to tell her of your homecoming. It has been too long since I last called upon her.”
“A grandmother,” his sister said reverently. “I never thought to claim a grandmother.”
“And two maternal uncles,” Alexander explained briefly, “along with their spouses and children.”
“A family carrying my blood in their veins. I never thought it possible.”
“How be Moreau explaining his relationship?” Lionel asked.
“He said he was my mother’s half-brother,” Annalise answered, “but now I suspect he meant to claim my mother as did Darwood Lisey.”
With a lift of his brows and a slight shake of his head, Alexander warned Lionel not to ask the question so apparent on his friend’s countenance.
“Hard to believe neither Uncle Jacobi or Caroline are my true relations,” Annalise murmured.
It bothered Alexander greatly how she must once more face hard truths. She had again had her whole world turned upon its ear. He had always known Robert Dutton was his father, and, although Alexander often cursed his father’s choices, he always knew his parentage; whereas, Annalise had had a number of “false” relations thrust upon her.
“I think it would be appropriate for us to call upon our grandmother before the Festive Season begins. What do you say, Annalise?” he asked.
“I believe the idea suits me very well.” She gestured to the basket. “Should I serve?”
“You are not to serve either Lionel or me,” Alexander ordered. “We are accustomed to fending for ourselves. Are we not, Lionel?”
His friend glanced up with a sheepish grin. “Did Cook include the chicken?”
Alexander explained, “Lionel cannot know enough of my cook’s chicken, no matter how the dear lady prepares it.”
“Have me a hollow leg,” Lionel declared with another engaging grin.
His sister took charge. “Then we place the dishes on the side table and eat on this one.” All at once, her blush returned. “I apologize, my lord. Would you prefer to eat in the dining room?”
Alexander caught her hand. “When we are alone, there will be no more ‘my lord’ or ‘your lordship’ or even ‘Marksman.’ I am Alexander or Axe. I wish to be in your company whether it is in this simple kitchen or an ornate ballroom. More importantly, neither Lionel nor I own a sense of entitlement.”
Lionel teasingly said, “I don’t, but me friend Lord Marksman can be as high in the instep as the best of them.” His smile widened. “But only when necessary.”
As they ate, Lionel filled Annalise’s ears with tales of their time in the slums of London. His friend’s easy way with Annalise had them all laughing with happy tears in their eyes. However, at length, Alexander renewed his request to search Honfleur’s study.
With a deep sigh indicating her uncomfortableness, she said, “You will practice excessive caution in all you touch, will you not? I would not be surprised if my uncle has not rigged the drawers and shelves in some means to know if I have trespassed on his personal property. He did something similar, when we were aboard his ship, with the valuables he had plundered and had stored in his quarters. He used a dark thread to indicate whether something had been disturbed or not.”
As they cleaned the kitchen so Honfleur’s staff would not know of his visit, Alexander assured her the English government trained their agents for all contingencies. He realized Annalisemight require a bit more time to accept her decision. However, forty minutes later, they entered her uncle’s study, having discovered nothing but empty drawers in Honfleur’s wardrobe and dresser. The search had played hard upon Annalise’s sensibilities, for Honfleur had not left even the smallest token nor pin behind.
“It assuredly appears as if Uncle Jacobi never meant to return,” she had whispered in dismay. It amazed Alexander that Annalise had not previously searched her uncle’s quarters, but, evidently, she had trusted the man to return for her. When would she have accepted Honfleur’s abandonment? Not likely ever. Alexander imagined when Honfleur stopped paying the servants he employed, that is, if he had not done so already, she would remain in this house and starve to death before considering leaving. Honfleur had such a hold on her and had controlled her so completely that it frightened Alexander as to what might have become of her.
He caught her in his embrace. “You will never be left alone again unless such is your wish.”
They remained as such for more than a minute before they retrieved the key, which was hidden in a nearby vase. “Just as if the marquis be expecting you to use it,” Lionel remarked.
“Assuredly, not hidden well,” Alexander murmured. “Should we proceed, Annalise?”
He watched a myriad of emotions cross her features, before she nodded her agreement.
Alexander ordered, “Examine the bookshelves first. A book sporting a carved out inside is a common hiding place for important papers.”
They quietly went about their search for several minutes until Lionel announced, “Dark string. Just as you suspected, Miss Anna.”
