Standing, Elise offered another friendly hug before she took her leave. Lyra accepted the gesture rather woodenly. The moment her sister-in-law was gone, Lyra rushed to her desk to pen a letter…
* * *
Richard Coventry had just shut the door to his rooms at Grenier’s when he had the prickly sensation that he was no longer alone.
He started to reach for his pistol when a familiar, feminine voice spoke up behind him. “Don’t bother. It’s only me.”
“What are you doing here?” he snapped.
Elise didn’t even hesitate. “To help clean up this mess you’ve embroiled us in.”
“So it’s allmyfault?” He gave a bark of laughter. “That’s rich. If I recall correctly,youwere the one who couldn’t restrain yourself when it came to consorting with my worthless brother.”
She lifted an elegant brow. “You know I only started that affair to gain you the information you wanted for‘The Cause’.”
“You were also supposed to make sure it looked like his wife had killed him,” he shot back. “I don’t have to tell you howthathas turned out. For someone who disappoints me in every respect, I don’t know why I even allow you to keep your miserable life.”
Her green eyes flashed. “Because you know if I die, you will never know where Roger hid the cipher.”
“Who’s to say that my dear sister-in-law hasn’t already found it?”
“She would have told me.”
He laughed. “You expect me to believe that you’re suddenly the best of friends?”
She gave an elegant shrug. “We conversed well enough today. In fact, during my single visit I managed to find out more than you have in all the time you’ve been in London.”
“Watch it,” he warned with a sharp narrowing of his eyes.
“I’m only speaking the truth. If you don’t like it, then perhaps you should do something about it.”
“I’m doing everything I can to gain support for‘The Cause!’” he growled. “You’re the one who won’t get me what I need to put our plan into motion!”
He could tell he’d sparked her ire, for she clenched her fists at her sides. “I had to wait for the commotion to settle down at Weston House, but now that I know Lyra is alone, I can sneak in and get the codes.”
“See that you don’t fail me again,dear wife.”
Again, those green eyes flashed. “I know what I have to do. Just see that you finish your part.” She gave him a calculating smile that bordered on evil. “And don’t forget that I have powerful friends as well. Friends who wouldn’t think twice about disposing of a body in the Thames.”
With that parting threat, she walked out.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Alister rode up behind Weston House well after midnight. He didn’t wish to draw undue attention to his arrival, so he took care of his own horse, making sure the gelding had a good rubdown and plenty of food. By the time he was finished, nearly every light had been doused inside, save one.
He entered through the garden gate, then paused and glanced up at that single, illuminated window he knew belonged to Lyra’s bedroom. No doubt she was wide awake and cursing him to the depths right about now. Talon himself had ridden out to Thorn Hall to show him her letter in person. Apparently, someone had discovered that he was an agent for Whitehall and decided it was imperative that Lyra learn about his duplicity before he’d had the chance to sort out what was right and wrong and tell her himself.
He realized now that it had been a mistake to keep his true purpose for being at Weston House from her after he’d personally established she wasn’t involved in any treasonous activities. But he hadn’t wanted to see that utter violation of faith that he feared would be on her face. In fact, he’d been torn about whether he should even return at all. Not only was he hesitant after Talon had told him he’d gotten all the murder charges dropped, but after Alister had finally decoded the cipher, he didn’t need to search Weston House any further. Any ongoing investigation could be done on his own or at his office at Whitehall.
While Lyra might deserve the truth from him, he didn’t owe it to her.
But he wasn’t here for that reason.
He simply had to see her one last time.
He checked the servant’s entrance, but as suspected, it was locked. Withdrawing a set of instruments from his pocket, he made short work of the latch and let himself inside.
The house was calm and still, without even the slight creaking sounds of a settling structure. He quietly removed his boots and set them to the side of the door. On stealthy feet, he moved as one with the shadows up to the second floor.
