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"Thank you, Guillford," Julian said, his stance as casual as the viscount's was stiff. "My wife and I both appreciate your good wishes."
"Yes, well, I'd best be on my way." Guillford turned to Henry. "Please contact me when you have those figures." With that he left the office, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Aurora's breath expelled in a rush. "Mr. Camden, I'm sorry. I had no idea."
"Nonsense." Henry waved her protest away, a hint of a smile playing about his lips. "A little scandal is good once in a while. It keeps one on one's toes." He gestured toward his inner office. "Won't you both come in?"
"Thank you for being so gracious," Aurora said when they were seated.
"Not gracious, my dear—adaptable." His kindly eyes twinkled. "You've been wed to this gentleman for but a few days. I've worked with him for years. I've learned to expect the unexpected. Speaking of which, before we address the reason for your visit, I, too, would like to extend my best wishes. May you enjoy a long and happy life together."
"We intend to, Henry," Julian replied. "Long, happy, and—if the past few days are any indication—rife with excitement."
"Which brings us to the purpose of your visit?" Camden prompted.
"Yes." Julian leaned forward. "Henry, this meeting concerns Geoffrey's strongbox."
"I see." The solicitor glanced uneasily at Aurora.
"My wife knows everything." A corner of Julian's mouth lifted. "Actually, a good deal more than you do, given your timely exit from Morland Manor the day you presented me with the chest." He held up his palm, anticipating Henry's protest. "I realize your decision to leave when you did was rooted in your customary integrity."
"I won't deny I was curious about Geoffrey's legacy," Henry clarified. "But curiosity is not the quality upon which my family built our reputation. As I explained to you at Morland Manor, Geoffrey's instructions were that you view the contents of the chest alone."
"And I better than anyone understand why—else I'd be sharing my findings with you now."
"I understand."
"But I have shared them with Aurora. So don't worry about speaking freely."
"Very well." A puzzled expression crossed Camden's face. "But I don't understand. Given your information and my lack thereof, what can I do for you?"
"You can tell us if my great-grandfather entrusted you with a similar chest," Aurora inserted.
The solicitor frowned. "I don't understand."
Aurora chewed her lip, carefully measuring her words. "Based upon a discovery we made at Pembourne, we have reason to believe that James Huntley might have bequeathed a twin chest to his heirs. Did he?"
"Not to my knowledge."
"Mr. Camden, I'm a Huntley," Aurora reminded him. "I understand you'd feel more comfortable if Slayde were here issuing this request, but with Courtney about to deliver their first child, that just wasn't possible. I did bring a note in Slayde's hand, should you require it, asking that you release to me anything of James's that you might have in your possession…"
"That wouldn't be necessary," Camden interrupted. "I've known you since you were a babe, Aurora. If I had what you were seeking, I'd be perfectly willing to turn it over to either you or Slayde. The fact is, I don't. Whatever you discovered that led you to believe James possessed a similar strongbox—at least one he entrusted to my family's care—was misleading. I simply don't have it."
"Dammit." Julian came to his feet. "It's got to be somewhere. I know it exists. Every instinct tells me so."
Slowly Henry rose from behind his desk. "If my curiosity were aroused before, it's clamoring now."
"I know, Henry. And soon, I hope, we'll be able to supply the answers to all your questions. But for now—" Julian gripped Aurora's elbow, guiding her to her feet. "We'd best be going."
"Very well. I wish you luck." Henry studied them both, an ironic gleam in his eye. "'Tis hard to believe there might at long last be peace between the Huntleys and the Bencrofts. I'd begun to think of that as an impossibility. But if anyone can accomplish the impossible, Julian, you can. Especially with this particular young lady by your side." He crossed over and opened the door for them to pass. "I'm certain you'll find precisely what you seek."
* * *
By the next day, Aurora had her doubts.
Having left Somerset posthaste, they'd driven to Pembourne at a breakneck pace, hoping that in their absence Courtney and Slayde had uncovered something of consequence.
The results were as disheartening as their own. Despite hours of poring over books and scrutinizing papers, neither Courtney nor Slayde had turned up one shred of pertinent information on either James Huntley or his falcons.
