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Chapter 68
The very next day, Silas and Lucy returned to the lending library, as they had planned. Aunt Joan had gone to visit her good friend, Mrs Scriven, who had recently been ill. Aunt Joan was bringing her soup and freshly-baked bread.
When they arrived at the library, Lucy looked around. She was amazed by how many details from this building had been employed in the library that Silas had built.
“Did you bring the builder here?” she asked.
“I did. I told him to make an almost exact replica,” he replied, clearly proud of himself.
“He did an excellent job of it,” she mused. “Down to the way that the sun falls through the glass dome.”
“Just think, we won’t have to come here anymore,” he commented.
“Oh, but I want to!” she said, turning to him. “It’s all very well to have a library of one’s own, but to make a visit to the lending library is a joy like no other.”
“Very well,” he replied, smiling. “If you love it so much, I will keep my subscription. We shall come here as often as you like.”
“Oh, please do. You spoil me.”
“That’s all by plan,” he replied. “I want you to be the happiest lady in all of England.”
She couldn’t argue with him, though she already knew herself to be incandescently happy. “You don’t have to work so hard at it,” she assured him.
She suddenly recalled the slip that had been in Silas’ pocket the last time they had come. “Did you ever get a chance to check what was at those coordinates that you had in your pocket?” He had gone to the countryside, all those months ago, and she wondered if he had found anything.
“I did, actually. That was my primary reason for going to the country. Though, once I’d arrived, it was too late.”
“Someone else had taken it?” she asked in dismay.
“Whatever it was, it was gone,” he replied. “Someone had been there and had dug it up. I checked in the dirt to see if there was anything, but I found nothing at all.”
“Curious.” Her mind kicked into high gear. Her gut was telling her that something was suspect about that, though she couldn’t put her finger on what it was.
“Even if my father did bury something there,” he went on, “it appears that someone else knew about it and took it.”
Lucy felt unsettled. Frowning, she turned towards him. “Think hard,” she said. “Did anyone have access to your father’s books and papers? Someone who wouldn’t normally, perhaps?”
He thought for a moment, then slowly shook his head. “No, no one.”
They began to walk on. Something about all of this was bothering Lucy. She knew that it would continue to plague her until she’d solved the matter. She was about to ask Silas if, perhaps, one of the servants might have come upon it when Silas gasped.
“Wait a moment. There was someone.”
“Who?” she asked.
“The weekend of the house party, I caught Percy coming out of my father’s study.”
Lucy nodded; suddenly, things clicked into place. Naturally, Mr Percy Stalton would be the guilty party. He was mean, sneaky. If anyone had stolen the coordinates and cheated on the treasure hunt, it would have been him.
“I should have checked his pockets,” he hissed. “Had him turn them out, right that moment.”
“What are you going to do?” Lucy asked. They had to do something. Already, months had gone by. Percy could have done anything with whatever the viscount had buried. It might even be long gone by then—sold to pay off his gambling debts, which Lucy had heard were many.
“I’m going to leave you back at your home, and then I’m going to go and confront him.”
“Is that wise? Should you go alone? Let me come with you.” Lucy was disappointed that he didn’t want to take her. She was fully ready to go in for the fight with him.
“I should be fine,” he reasoned. “Percy’s a crooked chap, but he isn’t a killer.” He looked at her. “Besides, I don’t want him anywhere near you.”
Lucy nodded, knowing that she would be waiting for him to let her know that all had gone well.
“You’ll come straight back to Harley Street when you’re done, won’t you?” she asked. “I’ll be worried sick the whole time.”
“Of course,” he replied. “Unless I have to go and get the constable. Either way, you’ll have word from me before the day is over.”
They both left, walking quickly. Silas was clearly worried. He was silent for most of the walk back, and Lucy allowed him to gather his thoughts. He was going to have to approach Mr Stalton with a high level of tact, in order to get back whatever Percy had taken.
