“Yes,” she said, tilting her head to look up at him. “Why do you ask?”
“Our family has been through much in the past few years. First Father, and then Daniel…”
“It has been difficult, that is certain, but their deaths likely affected you more than they did me,” she said.
“You do not often show your feelings.”
“Father used to say that some things were better concealed,” she said. “Not secrets just… pieces of a puzzle that weren’t meant for everyone.”
“What do you mean by that?” he asked, looking at her quizzically. She had always been closer to their father, but her words were almost nonsense.
“Who are you looking for?” Thalia cut in before he could clarify.
“What do you mean?”
“You are staring at the young ladies as though you are looking for someone in particular.”
“I am not.”
“Lady Evelyn Stratford, perhaps?”
He stopped abruptly. “Why would you think that?”
“I heard you were speaking with her – unchaperoned – on Bond Street yesterday.”
He rolled his eyes before continuing to walk forward. Was nothing left unnoticed anymore?
One thing was for certain. He had discovered yesterday that Lady Evelyn was much sharper than most people of his acquaintance, man or woman.
Which could be why she was named in the accusation. He wondered what she had seen that night.
“Did you hear that?” Thalia asked, and Asher realized he had been daydreaming.
“What?”
“I swear the lady and gentleman walking by us mentioned your name.”
“Perhaps they were just identifying me,” he said dryly.
“I thought I heard them also say something about the Paragon,” she said. “Is that the diamond that was stolen?”
“It is.”
“The one Mother loves?
Asher looked quickly from side to side to make sure that no one could hear his sister.
“Thalia, we shouldn’t discuss these things here.”
He hadn’t told her about the note, not wanting her to worry.
A group of ladies stood to the side of the path, stealing glances at them now and then, and Thalia looked up at him with concern.
“I’ll be right back,” she whispered.
He frowned, stepping to the side of the path, keeping an eye on her as she quietly approached the women, pausing on the edge of their circle.
They didn’t even notice her.
