“He insinuated that a collector may have hired thieves to steal them.”
“That is what I was wondering,” Lisbeth stated.
“I requested that Mr. Abbas meet with the club. I think a partnership can be formed there, especially if the club is open to displaying artifacts on loan rather than purchasing them.”
Lisbeth smiled. “We would be open to the idea.”
“Splendid.”
The duchess looked tired. She was always taking care of others. Rose wondered who took care of her. Lisbeth smiled at her. “Stop staring at me like that. I’m just exhausted from the long trip.”
“Then I insist you go rest.”
Lisbeth lifted a brow. “Are you ordering me about in my own home?”
Rose grinned. “Yes, because no one else will do it.”
Lisbeth laughed and headed towards the grand staircase that led up to the hallway with all the bedchambers, including hers. “I was planning to rest anyway.”
“Good. I will be in the drawing room if you need anything.”
After Lisbeth left the room, Rose returned to the drawing room. Her eyes studied the portraits on the walls, and relief filled her when they landed on a painting of Lisbeth’s husband at a much younger age. He did have reddish-brown hair. She shook her head, embarrassed that, for a moment, she’d suspected Alice was Thomas’s child.
Lisbeth hadn’t been lying to her. Guilt coursed through her that she would ever think the duchess would do such a thing. Sighing, she plopped down on the sofa. Everything that had taken place made Rose feel like intrigue was around every corner, but that likely wasn’t the case. Usually, the simplest answer or reason turned out to be the right one.
She was happy that they had finally arranged a time to meet with Hawley. Earlier in the day, she’d received a missive from Augustus with a date and time. The meeting didn’t seem as pressing now that they suspected the theft was likely caused by a relic collector, but it allowed Rose to ask about the map.
The thrill of deciphering a full epic filled her. Yes, she wanted that. Still, they needed to find the stolen tablets first. She hummed, excited about the meeting and about spending more time with Augustus. She missed being near him.
*
Augustus followed Roseas they were escorted to Lord Hawley’s office in the London Society of Antiquaries building. His space was located underground, and they’d walked through multiple locked doors. Similar to the first time Augustus had visited Hawley at his office, he wondered why a man who studied antiquities needed so much security. A weariness filled him. And he wasn’t alone in his thoughts. Rose glanced back at him, frowning. She sensed it too. Something was off.
The man unlocked one last door, and they entered the spacious waiting area filled with ancient artifacts. Five closed doors surrounded the room. Their escort knocked on one and entered. Lord Hawley murmured something from inside, and the man turned to them. “He is ready to see you.”
“Thank you,” said Augustus. Rose nodded.
They stepped through the door as Hawley rose. He smiled at both of them, but his gaze darted to Augustus as if hoping to glean something from his face. He hadn’t shared any specifics in his initial message to Hawley beyond the fact that he and Rose wanted a meeting.
Hawley moved to the sitting area and said, “Please sit.”
Augustus and Rose joined him. Rose seemed in awe of the antiquities surrounding them, which wasn’t surprising; Augustus had felt the same during his first visit.
Once everyone was settled, Hawley asked, “How may I help you?”
“Recently, we met with Mr. Abbas, the solicitor I previously mentioned. He believes that the theft is the work of thieves being paid by a collector. I have informed Rose about your connection to the British Secret Service.”
The scholar’s lips pressed together in annoyance. Rose added, “You are lucky I haven’t informed your wife’s club.”
“The details I shared with Sinclair are not to be gossiped about or shared with all of London. I’m glad you haven’t mentioned them to my wife’s club, as you just confirmed that the theft is unrelated to what the British Secret Service is working on.”
“We aren’t so sure,” Augustus said. “Someone also tried to steal Rose’s work—struck a guard at Seely House and chased after her.
Hawley blinked rapidly, stunned by his words. “When did this happen?”
“Over a week ago,” Rose answered.
The scholar scowled at Augustus. “Why didn’t you send word?”
