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“But…perhaps if you recalled their position, the Constable could do his own digging—”
“Thomas,” said Gerard rather sharply.
Thomas closed his mouth. Gerard lifted a hand to his temple, as though trying to massage away a headache.
“I’m sorry,” Thomas said, guilty. “You had just said this whole process has been overwhelming for you. And of course it has. You kept it to yourself for so long. Then, with the second attack—”
“Can we please quit discussing it?” Gerard asked, still rubbing at his head, and now closing his eyes as well.
Thomas knew they couldn’t drop the matter entirely. Not with everything that was at stake. He also knew that they were close to a breakthrough now; they had to be.
Yet a sudden tiredness came over him as well at the harsh reality of it all. Even if they were to solve the mystery this very night, Lady Evelina was still going to marry another.
“Yes,” Thomas acquiesced. Then, trying for upbeat and failing dismally, he added, “I suggest we spend the rest of the evening drinking away our sorrows and stresses, side by side.”
Gerard looked tempted, but then glanced around the room, at all sprawled chaos of his belongings. “I hate to just abandon packing at this stage. I’ve never packed on my own, after all, and it’s proved much more of a challenge than I was expecting.”
“Of course it has, Gerard, you are a Marquess. Such tasks are not meant to be your responsibility. Truly, what has become of your staff?”
Gerard began to answer, then hesitated. “I…let them go early. I am no longer inclined to trust those originally employed by Father so easily, after what happened with the footman. I am attempting to make a habit of handing anything that I can myself. It’s unsustainable, of course, and I will get over this paranoia. But—”
“I understand,” said Thomas, rising from the settee and putting a comforting hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I’ve been acting much the same way.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, it’s quite pitiful, actually,” said Thomas, laughing a little. “Every time I ride in a carriage now, I am certain I am on the verge of meeting my end, even if we are doing nothing more than a slow loop around the park. In fact, I have to keep my eyes out the window at all times, to ensure we are actually going the right direction.” Saying it all out loud made Thomas feel oddly exposed. He released Gerard and turned away. “It’s really rather awful, when you think about it.”
“Thomas,” Gerard said. Thomas turned back around at the somberness of his tone. “Iamsorry.”
Thomas gave him a wane smile. “Why should you be? It’s not as though it’s your fault.” In an attempt to try and pull their conversation toward less dismal topics, he stepped away over a high stack of books, navigating through the mess toward his brother’s bedchamber. “In any case, if you are intent on finishing packing this evening—or at least make a dent in the task—I shall help you. We are in this together, after all, and I…”
Thomas’ voice trailed off as he crossed the threshold of the bedroom.
“Thomas,” said Gerard sharply, as though he were warning Thomas away from the edge of a cliff, “wait—”
But it was too late. Thomas had seen.
There, on top of the ivory chess table in the corner, was the missing ledger.
