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“Thank you,” he said as he took it off her.
Unfolding the numerous sheets, Connor dropped everything onto the table and pressed one of the brandies into Tahlia’s shaking fingers. He took a fortifying sip of his own before he studied the first sheet of parchment. To his surprise, Oscar took a seat in one of the chairs beside the hearth, and Cecily took the other. It was an unusual move for a butler and a maid, but one that everyone seemed to accept as being perfectly normal.
Connor’s brows lifted and he glanced at Tahlia, but she was completely unconcerned by their behaviour. He realised then that this was no ordinary mistress and servant arrangement; Oscar and Cecily were more friends than servants. Still, it wasn’t for Connor to judge so he kept his thoughts to himself. If Tahlia was alright with this kind of arrangement then so was he.
“This is addressed for you,” he murmured as he handed Tahlia a folded piece of parchment that had been sealed and marked clearly with her name.
To his consternation, the other papers in the pile related to the transfer of the property ownership into Tahlia’s name. There was nothing unusual about them in any way; certainly nothing to warrant murder.
“There is nothing here,” he muttered for the benefit of everyone in the room watching him.
“I told you,” Tahlia whispered. She glanced down at the note in her lap, and felt her trepidation grow. Without creating a spectacle there was nothing she could do right now. She had to read it. With a sigh, she broke the seal and read aloud.
Dear Tahlia,
Thank you for collecting this letter, and the key, from Mr Kibble. In front of the fireplace in the library is a rug. Beneath it is a hidden compartment beneath the floor which contains a safe. The stones in the red pouch are for you and Joseph. The other items in the safe are important, and I have left further instruction inside.
Yours,
Henry
Relieved and confused in equal measure, Tahlia read the note again.
“Well, this gets more curious by the minute,” Oscar murmured.
“Were you aware of this secret compartment?” Tahlia asked the butler with a frown.
“No.” Oscar shook his head.
“Do you think it exists?” Cecily whispered.
“I don’t see why Uncle Henry would lie about such a thing,” Tahlia replied as she went to fetch the key. “Let’s go and see, shall we?”
She didn’t need to look behind her to know that everyone followed her into the library. Once there, Connor rolled up the rug in front of the fireplace, and removed the loosened floorboards.
“Well, I never,” Oscar murmured when a shiny safe was revealed to their shocked gazes.
Tahlia placed the key in the lock of the safe and stood back while Connor opened the door.
“I wonder why he felt the need for all of this secrecy,” Oscar muttered. “I mean, I worked in this house for five years and had no idea about any of this.”
“I had no idea either,” Tahlia sighed. “And he was my uncle.”
She dropped to her knees beside Connor, and searched the items Connor placed beside the hole in the floor.
Connor knew she was telling him the truth, and was greatly relieved that she finally trusted him enough to be honest.
Later, when he had the time to reflect, he would consider that this was the first time he had ever worked on an investigation with a woman. It was an entirely different experience to working with his colleagues, not least because the woman in question was so darned attractive. However, he didn’t regret it. In fact, he rather revelled in the new and quite engaging experience.
“It’s empty,” Connor informed her minutes later.
They all studied the items piled on the floor. Tahlia picked up the red pouch and opened it.
“Oh my word,” she gasped when she poured several large, highly polished, and very expensive jewels into the palm of her hand. “What on earth?”
She held her palm out. Connor picked a gem up and studied it in the firelight.
“Is it real??
