Augustus didn’t like it, but he knew Rose had decided. “Could we meet with your contacts?”
Hawley shook his head. “I have already asked, and they don’t think it’s a good idea. Hopefully, after your talk, the British Secret Service will move on to other focuses.”
Augustus wasn’t quite sure he believed everything Hawley said, but he felt at least they were closer to the truth than before. Rose sighed. “I need to speak with the club about Mr. Abbas and what we have learned. I won’t share anything about the British Secret Service. The club will ultimately choose whether to proceed with the grand opening.”
Hawley nodded. “Did Mr. Abbas provide details on why he thinks it is a collector?”
“He had tablets with a small amount of cuneiform text, and thieves stole them. During the incident, they mentioned it was for a collector.”
The scholar nodded. “I think a history lover in London has fallen in love with cuneiform. I will ask around the London Society of Antiquaries to see if any regular collectors have expressed interest. While we frown on artifacts being acquired illicitly, everyone in the club knows it still happens.”
Rose beamed. “That would be wonderful. I do have one other request. Think of it as a way to show you hold no grudges against your wife’s club.”
He sighed. “I don’t.”
Augustus chuckled, unable to help himself. Hawley sounded like a sulky child. Rose grinned. “The tablets I’m deciphering contain an epic well-known in southwest Syria. Mr. Abbas indicated that two more tablets need to be found to complete the translation of the story. He said years ago, the London Society of Antiquaries acquired an ancient map of a cave system. He believes it shows where the last tablets are.”
Hawley grimaced. “Unfortunately, I do not manage the cataloging of our artifacts, and the man who does is not a fan of the Historical Society for Female Curators.”
“Who is it?” Augustus asked, planning to use his influence if needed.
“I’m not even sure you can convince Lord Harston to help the club.”
Augustus grimaced because the vice president of Hawley’s club was well-known for his dislike of any research connected to Seely House.
“Can you at least try?” Rose asked.
Augustus and Hawley’s eyes connected—a silent agreement passed between them. They would find a way. Hawley said, “I’ll figure it out. I’m sure Sinclair would be willing to provide his assistance.”
Augustus nodded. Excitement flashed in Rose’s eyes. “Wonderful.”
Hawley rose, and Augustus knew their time with the scholar was at an end. He and Rose made their way to the door. Before leaving, Rose said, “You seem to want Addie to have a chance at being successful. Obtaining the map would highly benefit the club.”
Hawley nodded. “I will do everything in my power to ensure it is found.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Rose stepped intoAugustus’s office at his warehouse. The meeting with Hawley hadn’t run very long, and they decided to return there to discuss next steps. Somewhere along the way, Augustus had become Rose’s closest confidant in London. She would miss him once she left the city. She wouldn’t be leaving, at least, for another few weeks, perhaps longer, if they didn’t find the tablets.
Augustus sat in the sitting area of his office, and Rose joined him, taking a seat on the sofa across from him. She frowned. “I feel like Hawley isn’t being forthcoming. Something seems amiss. Did you see the amount of security to reach him?”
“That also crossed my mind, but I believe all the artifacts not on display in the building are housed in the underground area, and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of them.”
Augustus’s point wasn’t wrong. While the Historical Society for Female Curators was just being established, the London Society of Antiquaries had existed for over a hundred years. “So you don’t believe he is involved in espionage?”
He shrugged. “I believe he is far more connected to that world than anyone knows, but I doubt it is a continuous thing. I’ve known Hawley since we were young. His work on antiquities consumes a significant portion of his time. I don’t see him being a secret agent for the crown too. Still, I’m skeptical he is telling us everything about these coded messages, but if it is not associated with the theft of the tablets, does it really matter?”
Rose felt the same way. She suspected Hawley was more involved with the British Secret Service, but she agreed with Augustus; it wasn’t relevant to their search for the tablets. Augustus added, “I do believe he would withhold information for the benefit of the crown and country. Any gentleman would do so.”
Rose rolled her eyes at his proclamation of all gentlemen doing the right thing. She doubted all men behaved so nobly. He frowned at her. “What are you thinking?”
“That most men aren’t as decent as you.”
“I ruined you. I can’t be that saintly.”
The mention of their previous tryst seemed to intensify the air around them. Rose’s eyes met his. Desire sparked between them. “You did nothing wrong.”
“I took your—”
