Page 87 of Duke in Darkness

“They didn’t bother with regular meetings, instead, Mr. Norris took care of the correspondence with the stewards and acted as the liaison with this office.”

She froze. “The butler? How odd.”

Mr. Dennis shook his head as he neatened a pile of papers. “Not really. The old duke hated secretaries. Tried several, but they never worked out. So Mr. Norris offered to assist. He’s a clever man. Did you know he worked as a clerk in his younger years? No? I couldn’t believe it either, madam. I thought for certain Mr. Norris was born with silver hair and pursed lips and a black waistcoat.”

“Do go on,” she murmured. Not for a moment had she expected to hear such an interesting tidbit from Mr. Turnip Brain himself. “You know Norris personally?”

“Oh, we all know him a little bit. His late wife was Mr. Ormsby’s sister.”

Reeling, she stepped back. How very much clearer it all became when one had possession of the facts.

Norris, that blasted hateful weasel of a man sat at the center of this, she just knew it. A connection to Ormsby he had never divulged. Access to Gabriel’s library, and present on the day the real ledger had gone missing. His open resentment toward both herself and Gabriel. Well, of course he would be resentful if the fraudulent schemes he had been undertaking with several of the stewards and Ormsby’s knowledge, suddenly came under scrutiny. Prior to her arriving, Gabriel had probably been too ill with his sleeplessness, painful injuries, and nightmares of France to pay close attention to what Norris did on a daily basis.

It made her want to do exactly what Gabriel had done at the Castlereagh ball, and give someone a bloodied nose.

How dare they. How dare they.

“Your Grace? Are you well? You look a little pale.”

About to snap she was just fine, Lilian hesitated when out of the corner of her eye she saw Gabriel leave the office he had been directed to. He briefly met her gaze and shook his head. Blast it all. He hadn’t found the ledger. Then he continued on down the hallway, and disappeared into the room next to it. Thank heavens the other clerk was currently occupied putting books back on the shelf of the bookcase that took up most of the west wall.

Instead, she gave the clerk her sweetest smile. “I fear I am a little overwarm. Would you mind terribly if we sat here for a bit? I should so like to hear more of your stories. You tell them so well! My husband shakes his head and says I should not listen to gossip, but I shall let you in on a secret, Mr. Dennis. I do enjoy the scandal sheets. Apart from when I appear in them, naturally,” she continued with a false, high tinkling laugh. Ugh.

The young man beamed. “I read them from cover to cover. All the parties, and the hunts and whatnot. Mr. Ormsby travels to the country every other week visiting stewards, but he never does anything fun. He has a magnificent carriage, though. As fine as any lord’s…”

Lilian hid her hands in the folds of her gown so the clerk wouldn’t see her clenched fists. Oh, Ormsby liked to travel? And had a fine carriage, did he? No doubt paid for by all the funds he had stolen.

Lord in heaven, she hoped Gabriel found the ledger. Then they could bring that awful man, and damned blasted Norris, to justice.

THE LEDGER HAD to be here somewhere. Had to be.

As well as Ormsby’s office, Gabriel had searched two others and found nothing. This room was the third, but unlike the others, the large desk had materials scattered over it and several used ink pots and quills.

Carefully so he didn’t disturb them, he shifted another pile of ribbon-bound documents to one side. They wouldn’t have destroyed the original ledger, because they would need the numbers inside it for their own record of costs and bribes. Based on altercations he’d witnessed, criminals were far harsher in their expectations for payment—and their reminders and warnings if they weren’t—than most others.

And then, miracle of miracles, there it was.

Nearly hidden amongst a pile of papers and a book on legal statutes, but when he opened to the first page, he immediately recognized the handwriting, and some of the familiar names that he and Fairlie and Lili had seen when they had studied this ledger together. Swiftly flipping through to the last pages, he found the double entries, and sighed in relief. Then he took the leather-bound book, lifted up his jacket and waistcoat, and shoved it down the back of his trousers. Not fun for him or the ledger, but the only way to discreetly transport the damned thing out of this building.

Closing his eyes briefly, Gabriel perched on the edge of the desk. It actually made him a little lightheaded to know he had the proof to shut down such a longstanding fraud against himself and his relatives…hell. It felt good.

“What are you doing in here, Your Grace?”

His eyes flew open. Ormsby stood in the doorway, his arms folded and a dark frown of suspicion on his face.

“Nothing at all,” he replied blandly. “Just enjoying the quiet for a bit.”

“Those are confidential documents,” said the lawyer, leaping forward. “Private matters. I’m going to summon a Runner and have you escorted from the building.”

Gabriel stood, and seconds later had the older man pressed against the wall with his forearm. “Don’t be a fool, Ormsby. I haven’t read them. I’m not interested…in anyone else’s business.”

The lawyer began to struggle. Just when Gabriel thought he had him contained, a shoe heel stomped on his maimed foot. Pain exploded, and he cursed, black spots dancing in his vision as he stumbled back. While Gabriel remained off balance, near-blinded by the agonizing throbbing, Ormsby yanked open a nearby door and shoved him into an antechamber.

A small, windowless antechamber. Dark and silent.

“Stay inside while I find a Runner, little soldier,” chuckled the lawyer. “I know you are familiar with confined spaces…”

The next thing he heard was the sound of a key turning.