AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Imogen’s gaze lit up. “What is it?” She relinquished the box to Adelaide, who immediately turned it over, considering the simple oak cube from all angles.
From over her shoulder, Sesily said, “It looks like a child’s toy.”
And it did. A simple block of wood, six inches square, with no keyholes, no discernible latches or seams, no evidence at all that there was a top or bottom or inside to it. “It’s not.”
“How do you know?”
Because it belongs to the Duke of Clayborn.
Again, she didn’t say it.
“Because Alfie Trumbull has no reason to keep a child’s toy in the false bottom of his desk drawer. I would wager all I have that there’s something valuable inside it.” A safe wager, as secrets belonging to one of the most respected, powerful aristocrats in Mayfair were one of the most valuable currencies in the world. Adelaide liked nothing more than a puzzle, and this one was magnificent. She tumbled the cube over and over in her hands.
“The question is, how does it open?” Imogen asked.
“I don’t know,” Adelaide said softly.But she would.
“Absolutely no waythatwas made by a Bully Boy,” Sesily said, the words distant as Adelaide pressed and pulled at the box, to no avail.
“Dammit,” she whispered, wincing at the sting in her scalp as Sesily pulled her hair into a wickedly stern coif,seating hairpins as far and tight as they might go. “Ow! Go easy, Sesily.”
“I can’t help it,” the other woman clipped, shoving another pin into Adelaide’s unyielding hair. “It was all falling down.”
Adelaide’s cheeks warmed at the words. At the memory of Clayborn’s gaze on the lock that had been loosed from her cap. At the soft relief in his voice when he’d whisperedRed, as though he’d been waiting a lifetime to know what color her hair was.
“We could explode it!” Imogen offered.
“I think we want to know what’s inside such a curious container,” Duchess said, returning Adelaide’s eyeglasses. “Something important enough that The Bully Boys thought it worthy of hiding.”
“Worthy of stealing to begin with,” Adelaide said, the words urgent and eager. “Which is why I’m going to get it open.” She wanted to open the thing. And then she wanted to march into Clayborn’s Mayfair town house and show off her skill. She imagined she’d shock him again, just as she had with that kiss.
That kiss.
The one he’d thought was a mistake, she reminded herself before looking up again to discover that all three of her friends were watching her. “Out of curiosity,” she added, though none of the three looked convinced.
“Well,” Duchess said, coming forward, passing Adelaide a new set of gloves, waiting for her to pull them on before following the movements with a button hook. “We shall return to the mystery of the wooden cube when we are done with our current performance, ladies, which I like to callProtecting Lady Helene from Her Odious Father, and Keeping Her Safe Until We Can Deliver Him to Scotland Yard.”
“It’s not the drollest of titles,” Sesily remarked.
“Agreed,” Adelaide replied. “It doesn’t exactly trip from the tongue.”
“Though Iamlooking forward to the bit where I flummox Tommy,” Imogen said, happily.
Adelaide grinned as Duchess worked on her gloves. “I don’t imagine the detective inspector would take kindly to you calling him Tommy, Imogen.”
“Nonsense,” Imogen retorted. “We’re good friends now. I’m thinking of having him round for dinner.”
Sesily spoke around a tea cake she’d found. “You blew up his jail, Im.”
“And think of the way he shall regale others with that story! It was practically a gift.”
“Be that as it may,” Duchess said through a laugh, “I do hope we can take care of this particular... problem... without attracting the attention ofTommy... or those others.”
Imogen grinned. “I shall do my best.”
“Right, then. We move quickly. Adelaide off the boat, Helene on.” Duchess looked to Adelaide. “There is already a carriage on its way to remove you from the house when your meeting is through. Remember, we don’t want to ruin the boy. We simply want her to fuss.”
Adelaide nodded as Sesily settled a black hat upon her head, hiding away every errant flame of Adelaide’s red hair that might lack control or reveal too much. “We’ve done it a dozen times before.”
