“Indeed, my history with him has been very profitable. I would offer to recommend your father, but one does not petition Zander. He comes to you.”
“A very elusive gentleman, indeed.” To Elizabeth, there was nothing more thrilling than speculation. Well, perhaps there was one thing she could think of that eclipsed the feeling. She touched her lips, the memory of Langdon’s kiss still upmost on her mind. Her uncle went back to reading his paper, and she shifted her thoughts to the task at hand.
She needed to seek out Pike and uncover exactly what he knew about Randell. If she could get a look at the invoices Cane delivered, she might piece together more of the puzzle, but there was the matter of gaining entry into Pike’s office. Memories of last night’s housebreaking endeavor with Langdon sprang to mind and she felt an excited tingle. It had been a most enjoyable interlude, well, she had to admit, perhaps not at first. He was unduly angry with her, and hedidthreaten to push her back into the hallway. It was only her own reminder of the precariousness of their situation that made him change his mind.
He was very stubborn when he wanted to be and so was she. After his adverse reaction to her last eve, he wouldn’t be open to taking her with him to Pike’s office. Therefore, it was imperative she visit the solicitor before Langdon called later that day and uncover the information herself. Once she gathered the evidence, she would proudly present it to Langdon.
Her aunt came into the room in a light blue tea gown, the usual dark circles gone from under her eyes. Baby Sarah had slept the night through. She stopped to kiss her husband on the cheek before sliding into the chair next to him.
The butler entered with a note on a silver platter. “This arrived for you, Mrs. Adare.”
“Thank you.” Elizabeth accepted the missive, her pulse humming faster. Was it from Langdon? The paper was of a poor quality but there was no mistaking the spidery handwriting. Her earlier good humor vanished. Frowning, she opened the letter and scanned the brief note, her jaw tensing the further along she read.
“Is something wrong, Elizabeth?” Lady Nora asked.
Inhaling to gain control of her rising anger, she placed the parchment onto the table. Fingers stiff, she picked up her teacup and sipped the liquid. It was tepid, but she didn’t care. “My father has asked that I come home posthaste.”
“Is it serious?” her uncle asked, staring at the letter.
Lady Nora picked up the letter and scanned it before Elizabeth had time to react. “This is preposterous,” she said, dropping it back onto the shiny surface. Her mouth compressed into a thin line. “Selfish man. He wants you to come home because Bradley says Cook is stealing food? Unbelievable.”
Lord Coburn scowled into his teacup. “Who is Bradley?”
“Vernon’s obnoxious manservant. The man is even more taciturn than his master,” Lady Nora said with a scathing snort. “Vernon has always kept an iron fist around his money. It is not uncommon for him to drill the servants and count the silver at a drop of the hat. If not for Elizabeth’s intervention, the staff would have left a long time ago.”
“He has always been frugal,” Elizabeth defended him, although secretly she agreed with her aunt. For far too long, she had been forced to find excuses for her father’s unacceptable behavior. Her future was tied to her past, however, and as much as she wished to stay in London, her time in the city was limited. There was no telling what state the estate was in after a week of her being gone. She shuddered to think about it. “He is right, it is past time I return home.”
“Nonsense,” her uncle said, shaking his head. “Your father can spare you for another few days. I shall write to him informing him of the fact.”
“Really uncle, it isn’t necessary.” Elizabeth, more than anyone, knew the consequences of denying her fathers’ request. She lived under his stern thumb and walked a perilous line.
“What of the tea that I am hosting in your honor?” Lady Nora asked, upset dimming her brown eyes.
“Oh my, I nearly forgot.” Elizabeth was not comfortable with attention. She was used to blending into the background. Her father was a harsh man even when he was in good health. After her husband died, she had little choice but to move back to Waverly Park. It had been beneficial for Elizabeth to learn to blend into the scenery to avoid his caustic presence.
“Are you then so eager to leave?” her uncle asked softly, regret in his tone.
She shook her head. The last thing she wanted was to leave London, especially now that she and Langdon had a tangible lead. Truth be told, there were more things keeping her from departing in any rush. In the past week, she had become closer to the two loving people staring at her with high expectation. The ever-present resentment she felt toward her father rested like bile in her throat. With a defiant toss of her head, she nodded. “Very well, I will stay, but I must leave the morning after.”
“Splendid, I shall send a message to your father directly,” Coburn said with a broad smile. His overt pleasure caused an unexpected warmth in her heart, and she found her throat tight with emotion. How different her life would be if she had been born to loving parents.
The butler entered the room and cleared his throat. “Beg pardon, my lord, my lady. Mr. Idle is here to see Lord Coburn. He carries a message from Lord Stanton.”
“Idle, yes. Please see him to my study.” Coburn stood and kissed Nora on the cheek. “Pray excuse me, ladies. I have business I must see to.”
“Yes, of course,” Elizabeth said as he left the room. An icy chill of dislike cut through her at the mention of Idle and Stanton. The first and only time she’d met the men, both had been rude and insufferable. Concern furrowed her brow as an idea took root in her mind. If her uncle was friends with Stanton, would the man say something to Coburn about what happened at his office on the day she met Langdon?
“Uncle is friends with Lord Stanton.” Elizabeth’s mind was awhirl with questions. She’d gone to see Stanton on behalf of the villagers, which was government business. Her uncle was not part of the government. Nor was Farnsworth, yet Stanton told him about her suspicions. “Langdon served in the army with him. Did Anthony?”
“No. They are acquainted through their club,” she said, a noticeable stiffness in her jaw, as if she were trying to choose her words carefully. “Why do you ask?”
“Miss Beaumont has asked me several questions about him.” From what her father had said, her uncle belonged to the Tenet Club. Her father had been a member as well until he was denied entry into the upper tier of the club, then he quit. But he talked in his cups and from what she could discern, some members of the club performed top secret duties for the Crown. Her uncle was one of them. “I am embarrassed to say I know very little about my cousin.”
It was a lie, pure and simple. From the gleam of pleasure transforming her aunt’s face, the distraction worked. Nora launched into a detailed accounting of her cousin’s past. Elizabeth nodded and listened with half an ear. If Randell was a member, the club might have closed ranks until she showed up at Stanton’s house and met Langdon.
A maid rushed into the dining room. “I am sorry, Lady Coburn, but Miss Sarah requires your attention.”
“Oh dear,” Nora stood and closed her eyes for a brief second before inhaling. Shoulders squared, she placed her napkin on the table. “Elizabeth, don’t forget your uncle and I will dine with the prime minster tonight.”
