Damien merely shrugged, his expression untroubled. “I tend to notice things.”
Adrian watched his sister carefully as she processed that, noting the brief flash of alarm on her face before it gave way to irritation. If nothing else, she looked properly chastened now, which was more than he usually managed to accomplish.
“What are you doing here if not to eavesdrop?” Adrian demanded.
Elara gave him an indignant look as her blush faded, and she swept her hands down her ruffled skirts.
“I told you I wanted to help find our brother’s murderer, but you would not listen,” she answered with a bristling tone. “So, Idecided to take matters into my own hands. Since you would not tell me to my face, I decided to listen through the door.”
“You said you would look after Mother!” he snapped.
“And she is asleep!” she snapped back.
Then she smirked so wickedly that Adrian bristled.
“And it seems it is good that I stepped away. It seems as if a certain countess has you distracted from our search,” she added haughtily.
“She has done no such thing,” Adrian snapped. Yet even as he said it, he felt the tips of his ears burning. Perhaps she had—but only a little.
He flicked Damien a quick glance and saw that his amused expression matched Elara’s.
“She is a means of information,” he stated testily. “Nothing more.”
Then suddenly, an idea popped into his head. Perhaps there was a way to have Elara help while keeping her out of their hair at the same time.
“Actually, I do believe that there is something you can do to help us,” he stated.
Elara’s haughty expression turned eager in an instant.
“Anything,” she said quickly.
“As I was telling Damien earlier, I think it would do Mother good to have some visitors. He is going to spend some time with her tomorrow, but why not make it into a social gathering? Invite some ladies over for tea tomorrow. See if they know anything ofthe Earl and Countess of Winslow.”
Elara raised a curious brow.
“You want me to listen in on gossip?” she asked, sounding disappointed.
“Gossip at times has a ring of truth to it,” Adrian countered. “Especially when a glass or two of sherry is introduced. Loosen their tongues, passively mention the couple, and see what the others have to say. You know as well as I do that women of thetonlove to trump one another with what they think they know.”
Elara’s disappointment shifted to a look of intrigue.
“So, I shall be a spy?”
Adrian raised a brow and smirked as he nodded.
Elara crossed her arms with a satisfied grin, obviously pleased with her new assignment.
“Very well. I shall host a tea gathering tomorrow and find out all I can about this Earl of Winslow.”
“And his wife,” Adrian added.
He caught Damien’s raised brow of intrigue and quickly added, “For research purposes. Of course.”
“Of course,” Damien replied with a laugh.
Chapter 11
“My lady, I must protest this journey,” Farley pleaded the next morning as she walked to the carriage.
