“You have the eyes of a hawk,” Alexander declared as he brought the candle closer.
Annalise spoke of Honfleur’s expectation that she clean the house, but how she had planned to leave this room untouched. Alexander did not like the idea of his sister acting as a maid, but he swallowed his protest for the time being.
Not wishing to disturb the patina of dust, he meticulously removed the book and placed it on the floor. “You two should move away while I open this,” he instructed.
Lionel caught his arm. “I’ll be opening it. You’ve a sister to tend to now. No more heroics for you.”
There was no argument to be had: His friend was correct. Alexander rose and reached a hand down to his sister. “Let us move to the hall for a minute, my dear.”
His sister lodged a protest, but Lionel ordered, “Join your brother, Lady Annalise.”
In the end, there was no explosion, but they had found a small bundle of papers. “This one appears to be a list of creditors. I should show these to Duncan and return them.”
“You cannot remove my uncle’s papers!” his sister protested. “What happens to me if my uncle discovers I permitted you admittance to his study?”
Alexander emphasized the words in his response. “Whether Moreau returns tomorrow or a month from now or never, your future does not lie with him. Moreau cannot touch you without bringing the power of the British government down upon his head. I believe he is already aware of our connection—of your being my sister.”
Lionel assured her of Alexander’s desire to protect her and how much he had done simply to find her. At length, she again nodded her agreement, though she was obviously not completely comfortable with what was happening. Alexander understood, or he would tell anyone who asked, that heunderstood, though, if she would do so, he would remove her from this house this evening.
There were two more pages holding the names and directions of various shopkeepers and establishments. Ironically, many on the list were ones the government had already acknowledged as having accepted forged bank notes. It also contained the names of several men and women Alexander and Lionel knew as those uttering fake notes on London streets.
In silent agreement, they left the book on the floor and locked the study again. “Now come with me,” Alexander said as he claimed his sister’s hand. “Although Moreau and his daughter know of the passage I will show you, it may be necessary for you to escape this house in a rush someday.” He handed her a card. “My directions are on this. Catch a hackney and have the driver carry you to Dutton Hall. My butler has orders to pay the driver double and to admit you immediately, even if I am not at home at the time.”
Worried for Theodora,Alexander called at Duncan Place after supper. He found Duncan alone in his study. “I brought you something,” he said as he set the papers from Moreau’s office on Duncan’s desk.
Duncan unrolled the papers to have a quick read. “From Honfleur’s files?” he murmured as he scanned the list.
“Found in a hollowed-out book in Honfleur’s study. Even used a dark thread to mark it. I promised Annalise I would return everything by tomorrow. My sister suspects that the cook, the housekeeper, and the maids will return soon, for Honfleur plans to return within the next week.”
Duncan looked up from the lists. “How might we be so assured?”
“Lady Caroline wrote to Annalise to warn my sister to have everything cleaned before Honfleur returns,” Alexander supplied.
“Then we must be prepared to move sooner rather than later, as we first suspected. I heard from Richard. He and Lady Emma will return to London tomorrow. I mean to ask Lady Emma to call upon Theodora. They have previously proved good for each other.”
“Is Theodora still refusing company?” Alexander asked.
“I have never seen her so distraught,” Duncan admitted. “She is taking her meals in her quarters. Elsbeth would be so disappointed in how I have failed our daughter.”
“Should I attempt to speak to her?” Alexander asked.
“She specifically said I was not to send you to her,” Duncan confided.
Alexander nodded his acceptance. “I would wish it otherwise, but, for now, I will abide by her decision. Hopefully, Lady Orson will bring Theodora solace.” They sat in silence for nearly a minute before Alexander asked, “Did we hear from the men searching for Theodora’s captor? I understood something of Lord Almano’s reason to seek out revenge on Theodora, but what of the man dressed all in black? He appeared completely set on the idea of killing Theodora.”
“My daughter has related all the man said to her and she to him, but our Dora holds no idea of the man’s identity. She said he had painted his face black.”
“When I found them on the pier, I thought he looked odd, but he was standing in the shadows from the overhanging trees along the shore,” Alexander shared. “He was quite prepared to kill Theodora. I had no time to study his features thoroughly.”
“I would have thought his body would have been located by now,” Duncan observed.
“Unless the man’s cape caught on a rock or downed tree. As it was black, our men may have overlooked it,” Alexander reasoned. “We may be required to search the area multiple times, especially after the water recedes back into its banks. A man dressed in black and painting his face as such. Very peculiar.”
Duncan sat forward as if sharing a secret, but he said distractedly, “I will have them search all the miles between the marsh and London.” He stared off, as if seeing the scene in his head. Duncan finally said, “Something about this has been bothering me. Lady Emma. Now Theodora. Wishing to harm us by harming the women we cherish? Perhaps we should learn if some of our political enemies have returned to England without our knowledge. Mayhap my shooting was the warning salvo of a new assault.”
