“Yes, and how do you think?” A secret compartment in her desk. I examined my own. It felt deficient knowing it only had the standard drawers that everyone could see. “You arrested her mother. That is hard to forgive.”
“Hard I can handle.” Rollins set his jaw. “If there’s a chance, no matter how small, that Eleanor can forgive me, I will make it happen. But if it’s impossible….” His voice broke on the last word, and I stood and circled the desk to stand before him.
“Nothing is impossible.” Well, not if they found the true killer. If Eleanor’s mother was hanged, her forgiveness of Rollins would stretch the bounds of even my optimism. “Nothing will be accomplished by you standing here chattering with me, either. If you want something done, you must go after it.”
Which went for myself, as well.
It wasn’t difficult to herd him to the door. With a subdued farewell, he exited my office.
Leaving me to take my next step. Because while he had been talking, I’d been plotting. Mr. Rollins might not think Lady Richford’s desk no longer held anything important to the case, but I needed to be sure. And gaining access to her writing desk required a specialized set of skills.
I would be asking my nephew for help, after all. I could only hope he wouldn’t lord it over me indefinitely.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Lady Mary
The man standingin front of my fireplace sipping my twelve-year-old whiskey was a dashing figure. Then, most of my nephew’s friends were. Julius Blackwell, Earl of Rothchild should be the last person one thought of when one needed a spot of burglary committed. Rich, handsome, witty, he was the epitome of the ideal man in the Quality.
Except for the skills he possessed to gain entry anywhere he wanted, and his irritating habit of moving without making a sound.
I looked at the booty on my tea table. I’d closed the curtains to my back parlor. The chances of anyone lurking in my garden to see Julius bring me the items were small, but not impossible. “You’re certain this is all there was?”
He pressed his hand to his chest. “Your doubt wounds me, Aunt May. I didn’t just check the lady’s personal writing desk, but all the desks. With Lord Richford in the country, his remaining servants have taken to drinking his better wines. I could have spent all night there without worry.”
“Hmm.” I poked at the desk drawer’s contents. A signet ring, a women’s bracelet, some cash, and two letters. I picked up the first, my eyebrows rising. “Did you read this?”
Julius inclined his head. “That one was a bit concerning. I will have to tell Castlereagh that one of his officials was most likely being blackmailed.”
Knowing the Foreign Secretary’s reputation, I pitied his official. But to put such things to paper was the height of stupidity and much deserving of a set-down, even if the letter was directed to a friend. I wondered how Lady Richford had gotten ahold of it.
The other letter was similarly indiscreet, though the consequences of it becoming public were much less dangerous. Most everyone in thetonknew the woman had liaisons with men not her husband. The proof would have infuriated her husband but could hardly come as a shock.
I tapped my knuckle against my mouth as I examined the stash again. Maybe it wasn’t that there was too little here; maybe there was too much.
“Are there any other homes you’d like me to…” He delicately cleared his throat. “Gain entry to? It was good practice. I fear after leaving the Crown’s service my skills are becoming a bit neglected.”
He looked at her eagerly, and she was almost sad she didn’t have more homes for him to burgle. “Not at the moment, no. But thank you for this. You and the rest of the boys are always so good to me.”
A wicked grin crossed his face. “Anything for you. Summerset was most put out that I got the task of housebreaking for you. Even though you are only blood to Marcus, you’re family to us all.”
I was not going to get sentimental over one of the lads thieving for me. Marcus and his four close friends had filled a void, one that I doubt they even knew existed.
I flicked my hand at him. “Away with you. I’m sure your wife is eagerly awaiting your return and cursing me for putting you in danger.”
He swallowed the rest of the whiskey and brought the glass to the table. He bent over it and kissed my cheek. “I would faceany danger for you,” he said gallantly. “Now, if you require any further assistance, you will let one of us know.”
I smiled at his order. Dear, overbearing man. “Go. I know you have better things to do with your time.”
When the door snicked close behind him, my smile fell. I tapped my knuckle to my lips again, my mind spinning over everything I’d learned. There was a hole somewhere in my knowledge. A mistake. A false assumption. Something that hid the truth from me.
How did Mrs. Lynton’s letter come to be in Bannister’s possession? That part made no sense. Lady Richford had no reason to give it to her son. And if Bannister knew about the secret compartment in his mother’s desk, why hadn’t he taken everything from it? Why just that one letter?
The fire in the grate popped, and still I sat, staring at the wall.
Until only one option made sense.
I pushed to standing. I had sent Julius away too soon. There was still one more thing I needed from him.
