“While I’m inclined to agree, I’m not sure I believe you.”
“What the hell are you saying?”Henshaw leaned forward in his seat, a pink hue flushing his cheeks.“That I’m a liar?”
“I’ve yet to figure that out,” Adrian said, earning a furious glare.“Do you know a man named Mr.Grover?”
Henshaw’s entire face scrunched in confusion.“No.”
“You’re certain?”
“I meet a lot of people in my line of work so of course it’s possible my path has crossed with an individual who went by that name, but if that’s the case, I don’t recall.”
“Hmm…” It could be then that Henshaw was yet another victim of a stolen identity.Or simply a name being used as a means to an end.“According to one of the people working at The Veiled Lantern, Mr.Grover recently used your name in order to purchase supplies.Said he was in your employ and that you were going out of town on a business trip — that you would need some opium on hand during your absence.”
A heavy pause followed and then Henshaw said, “I do not know the man you speak of.If he used my name to procure supplies from The Veiled Lantern, then he did so dishonestly.”
As he had done when he’d told Alfie, the pickpocket, that he was the Earl of Marsdale.Adrian lowered himself to the nearest chair with a heavy sigh.With one forearm resting on one thigh, his elbow on the other, he pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to think.This Grover person, whoever he was, seemed to be throwing important names around in order to serve his needs.He’d known his appearance matched Edwards.Perhaps the information he’d shared about Henshaw was true as well.
Adrian shifted his gaze to the businessman he’d come to interrogate.“Have you recently been away?”
“I…” Henshaw closed his mouth, then nodded.“I travelled to Portsmouth a little over a week ago.”
“Immediately after Grover told the people at The Veiled Lantern that you required supplies for your trip.”Adrian stared at him.“How many people did you share your schedule with in advance?”
Henshaw blinked.“My butler, my valet, and my housekeeper were told along with my family, of course.Then there’s my secretary, the managers at my warehouses here in London, and a few business associates I met with prior to my departure.It’s possible I mentioned it to a few other servants or workers in passing.Naturally, my coachman also knew the day before.”
“I’d like to speak with your servants then, if I may.”When Henshaw agreed, Adrian said, “While I do, I’d appreciate you making a full list of names consisting of everyone else to whom you may have mentioned your trip, along with where I might find them.”
Each one of these people might be Grover, hiding under a different name.Or if not, then they’d surely spoken to him and mentioned Henshaw’s departure from Town.
“There’s one more thing,” Adrian said before going to speak with the servants.“I wonder if you’ve heard whispers about an exclusive auction being planned for the near future.”
“No.Why do you ask?”
“Curiosity,” Adrian replied, then went to conduct his interviews.
* * *
Samantha finished her evening meal and pushed back her chair.Dining alone wasn’t ideal, which was why she would have preferred to wait for Adrian’s return.Except he’d told her not to.There was no telling when he’d be back, and she was already getting hungry when he’d set off.
If only she could have gone with him as she’d so often done before.
Her hand settled over her rounded belly.She produced a soft sigh, then smiled.Life was rapidly changing.Nothing would be the same once the baby arrived.
Setting her palms against the tabletop, she pushed her cumbersome figure upright.
The pain that followed stole her breath.
It felt like a lance being slowly driven through her.She gasped, squeezed her eyes shut, and steadied herself against the table.Merciful heavens.Jaw clenched, she prayed whatever this was would soon subside, that it was nothing serious, and the baby was safe.
“Mrs.Croft,” a man’s urgent voice inquired.“Are you unwell?”
A groan was all she could manage.
“I’ll fetch your maid.”
Samantha pushed the breath she’d been holding out of her lungs and gulped down more air.The awful cramping sensation faded at the sound of the dining room door swinging shut.She opened her eyes and saw that the footman was gone — off to alert Emma that her mistress required assistance.
Another breath and Samantha felt much better.She re-filled her glass with the wine she’d had for dinner and drank.Strange.It was almost as though the incident hadn’t occurred at all.
