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He needed to alert Lord and Lady Morton, and then to go to Kirby Hall, to let Lord Kirby and his family know. He didn’t want the Lady Selina going out alone. Who knew where the thieves would go next if they were still in the county, that was. A lady, walking with her maid, would be allowing herself to be taken, unaware.
* * *
The family had just finished dining and had retired to the parlor. Selina sat with a book in her lap, listening to her aunt and cousin telling her uncle about their plans for the next day.
Mr. Wickes opened the door.
“The Duke of Gillingham,” he announced. They all shared looks, standing up as the Duke entered. He seemed out of breath.
“What brings you here at this hour, Your Grace?” Uncle Latimer asked.
“I’ve just had news of the soldiers,” he replied. “They’ve returned.”
“Oh? Come, sit, Your Grace,” Uncle Latimer gestured to the seat across from him.
Selina set her book aside.
“It wasn’t them,” the Duke said, his eyes meeting Selina’s. He quickly looked away, focusing on Uncle Latimer. “The innkeeper in Bridesdale can vouch that they were there, gambling and drinking the entire night, and then the few days, following.”
“So those who did rob the Mortons are still at large?” Selina said.
“Yes, My Lady,” he said nodding.
“But who could it be, Your Grace?” Selina asked.
“I have no idea,” he said. “There aren’t many crimes in this county. It’s so out of the way. I just came by to let everyone know not to wander about alone and unprotected.” His eyes cut over to her, then away.
Selina sighed. “I suppose it’ll happen again, if they’re still here.”
“Why are you so morbid?” Leah asked. Selina noted that her tone was measured since the Duke was present.
“I’m just saying,” Selina replied, recalling what had happened in Italy. “That we should all watch out for any shifty characters. Although, maybe this isn’t a shifty-looking character.”
“Whatever could you mean?” Aunt Georgiana asked.
“What if it’s someone that we know?” Selina suggested, her eyes meeting the Duke’s.
“How could you say that?” Leah asked scandalized.
“It’s all very easy to pin it on the poor and downtrodden. What if this villain is someone who doesn’t need to steal? After all, it stands to reason—why come out here, where crimes like this don’t happen often? It’s so out of the way.”
“Selina!” her uncle said, impressed. “That’s quite some deductive reasoning.”
“You have a point, My Lady,” the Duke replied, raising an eyebrow. “But I can’t think of a single person who would target the Mortons. They’re very well liked.”
Selina was prepared for this. “Well, when my family was vacationing in Italy, there was a particular villain who was making his way through the countryside, stealing from the wealthy by breaking into their homes.”
“Did they catch him?” Uncle Latimer asked.
“Yes, Uncle. He was caught when he stole from a particularly well-prepared lady, who had posted guards around her home, both day and night.”
“Who was he?” the Duke asked.
“An Italian Duke,” she stated, looking around at everyone’s shocked faces. “He didn’t need to steal at all, you see,” she said. “He did it compulsively.”
“What an evil, evil gentleman,” Aunt Georgiana murmured.
“Agreed, Aunt,” Selina said, turning her gaze toward the Duke. “What I’m saying is—”
