Rose studied theFrench man as they continued to ride in the carriage. Wondering who Remy was and where he obtained the document he showed her earlier. The rumor that ancient text was being used to send coded messages had proven true. Did that mean Hawley knew more than he’d shared? He had to. Rose and the scholar were the only two who could decipher cuneiform.
Her gaze drifted over the man. A shiver of fear shot through her. He exuded a coldness that disconcerted Rose. She swallowed as her mind flashed back to him shooting Bradford without a care in the world. What drove someone to be that way? Was he a spy for France? “Why are you doing this? Is it for some cause or your country?”
The man snorted. “What cause would make my actions acceptable? Tell me, and I will use that one.”
Rose didn’t know what his words meant. Did it make him more dangerous or less that he seemed to be doing this for selfish reasons? Still, she suspected the coded message had something to do with espionage of some kind.
“Why would anyone use an ancient language to send a message? Perhaps your answer will help me decipher your document.”
Remy snorted. “Ask Viscount Hawley. I’m not sure if your government asked him to develop a way to use cuneiform or if he proposed it.”
Her eyes widened, and she leaned forward. “You are saying Lord Hawley is involved in this.”
He sneered at her. “Miss Calvert, I suggest you ask the man next time you see him.”
Did that mean she would live? A small measure of relief filled her.
“The French want whatever is in the coded message?”
A sneer replaced his smirk as if Rose had somehow offended him with the suggestion he was acting on behalf of France.
“My boss sells secrets, Miss Calvert. The message you must decipher for us will be very valuable if sold to the right group.”
Remy and the man he worked for were doing this all for money. The fact he was willing to harm people to accomplish his goals was horrifying to Rose. He would likely kill her when he had obtained what he needed.
The man leaned forward. “You know nothing about me—not my name or even where I’m from. I give you my word: If you decipher my text, I will let you go.”
Her eyes widened, skeptical, and he chuckled. Rose asked, “Where are we going?”
“A place where we won’t be disturbed.”
“It may not be as simple as you think,” Rose pointed out.
Remy sighed. “Don’t play games with me.”
“I’m not. My key only works for certain languages. If it isn’t those languages, it will be impossible.”
A menacing glint appeared in Remy’s eyes, and Rose shrank back, not liking it at all. He whispered softly, “Let’s hope it is the right language. How long will it take?”
“I don’t know.”
“It needs to be done fast.”
“That isn’t the way it works,” Rose snapped back.
He grunted but didn’t say anything further. Rose remained quiet. Wherever they were headed appeared far from whereRemy had retrieved her. She frowned, hoping Bradford had somehow managed to survive.
They’d been in the vehicle for almost an hour, and the driver wasn’t slowing but was actually gaining speed. She needed an escape plan because Rose doubted she could decipher the text. If someone was using cuneiform, it was almost certainly their own system of words. She could make something up, but would the man know?
The carriage came to a stop. Remy pointed to the door, motioning for her to step out. Rose took a deep breath and stepped down from the carriage. Disappointment filled her. They were still by the Thames, but it was a quiet area with only one warehouse. Rose wasn’t sure if they were even north or south of Mayfair.
“Time to do some work, Miss Calvert.”
Rose nodded. She either needed to run or bluff her way out of the situation. She wasn’t sure what options she would take yet, but did not doubt that no one had a chance of finding her here.
*
Augustus followed Hawleydown to the lower floors of the London Society of Antiquaries building. The basement space emitted an eerie feeling in the early morning hours. There were still guards, but most were hidden in the shadows. They entered Hawley’s office, and the scholar immediately went to a table and poured a brandy. He looked back at Augustus, but he shook his head. He didn’t want his mind muddled at all while searching for Rose.
