Someone in that place had found her drawing. They had carried it with them, treasured it. They wanted to find her. They wanted her to find them.
The feel of Catherine’s arm through hers brought her back to the moment. “Come on, Hettie. It will be easier on all of us if we give Fiona what she wants.”
“It will.” Fiona laughed. “Now, do come on or all the best dancers will be taken!”
As they walked towards the dancefloor, Harriet let Catherine and Fiona’s chatter wash over her. All she could think about was the drawing, and the scribbled note on it.
Logic told her she should not go. The Duke did not sound like the sort of man she wanted to be anywhere near. The sensible thing would be to forget she had ever found the thing and just continue with her life.
“Curiosity courts misfortune,” she murmured under her breath, too quiet for her friends to hear over the din of the ballroom as they entered it.
Her eyes drifted to the Eastern window. Tomorrow she would go to Irondale Hall. Tomorrow, she would have her answers.
Satisfaction soothes all wounds.
CHAPTER 2
“You have three minutes to explain this to me. You have already wasted one.” Theodore’s deep voice filled the space between him and the man standing in front of him. “I do not suggest you waste another.”
Theodore gestured to the open ledger book behind him, the crumpled invoice and then to the man. He watched as the man’s eyes followed the motion of his hand, then darted to the door and back to Theodore.
He arched an eyebrow. “Run if you wish, Mr. Brown, I will not stop you.”
He saw Mr. Brown stiffen and lick his lips. “Your Grace?”
“If you run, I can only conclude that the discrepancies between the ledger and this bill of services are intentional.” Theodore kept his face neutral, his voice no more emotive than if he had been discussing the weather. “In which case, I shall have themagistrate deal with you. An odious fellow by all accounts, but he does have his uses. And he is unlikely to show leniency to any man who sought to steal from a duke.”
“Please, Your Grace, that will not be necessary. It was a mistake, that is all.” Mr. Brown tugged at the collar of his shirt.
“A rather large mistake, Mr. Brown.” Theodore picked up the ledger again. “45 guineas instead of 15.”
“I know, Your Grace. And I should have been more thorough. I can only apologize, but please, you must know I would never do such a thing deliberately.” Mr. Brown clenched and unclenched his hands, shifting from foot to foot, his bottom lip quivering.
“I must?” Theodore’s voice was like a snake’s hiss.You do not give me orders.
The man recoiled. “I mean – I would not presume to suggest – I only – I simply… You are a discerning man, no one in their right mind would try and fool you.” Mr. Brown was shaking, sweat pouring from him as he stared downcast at the ground. “I would not. It was a mistake. That is all. It will not happen again.”
“Of that much we can be certain.” Theodore shook his head as he stood up and walked towards the door.
“Then you believe me?” he heard the hope in Mr. Brown’s face.
“I do. Which is why I am giving you a second chance.” Theodore saw Mr. Brown’s mouth open and continued, his voice dispassionate but firm. “I do not like carelessness. It breeds disorder which invites chaos and destruction. I was clear when I hired you that I have higher standards than most and until this incident, you had exceeded my expectations. One mistake, I can accept – a second and you will be dismissed. .”
The door opened just as the clock chimed nine and Theodore’s butler, Mr. Grimsby walked in. Theodore inclined his head to him.Perfectly on time, as expected.
“Mr. Grimbsy has agreed to provide supplementary training and to review your processes to ensure such things do not happen again. I suggest you attend to him closely.” Theodore flicked a speck of dust from his lapel. “You will have a fortnight to present me with an audit of your accounts and a report outlining how you have improved efficiency and steps you have taken to ensure accuracy.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Mr. Brown’s eyes shone with unshed tears, sending a ripple of unease through Theodore. “I will not let you down again, I swear it. Thank you.”
“His Grace is a busy man, Mr. Brown. Come with me – you have potential and the Duke knows it.” Mr. Grimsby stepped between Theodore and Mr. Brown, finding the words that Theodore could not. “The best gift will be a job well done.”
“Indeed.” Theodore inclined his head as both men swept into deep bows. “Do not disappoint me again.”
Mr. Brown opened his mouth as though to offer his thanks once more, but Mr. Grimsby expertly swept him from the room and shut the door behind him. Theodore let out a long breath.Thank goodness for Mr. Grimsby.
He carefully arranged the stacks of papers on his desk, ensuring that each pile was at straight, neat and tidy. He pushed back in his chair, checking that the back of it was aligned perfectly with the window. The sunlight streamed through.
“Order and practicality.” He nodded to himself. “A warm chair to return to, and everything as it should be.”
