Mira nodded. “I am so sorry for your loss. It must be terrible, especially now that you are looking after the baby all alone.”
Sibyl gave a halfhearted laugh. “It feels as though Enoch was never around from the start. First with being in prison all those months and then out playing suitor to other women. I gave birth two weeks ago, and he never came back to see the baby. I know that Elvina told him about it when she went up to the manor to take jewels from him last week.” She sniffed, looking down at her little one. “His son. And now he’s dead and I’ve had to rush back into all this.” She gestured vaguely to the chamber and shook her head. “I don’t need anything else from that man. He’s already put us in enough trouble.”
Mira’s mouth fell open. “You only gave birth two weeks ago?”
“Two weeks tomorrow,” Sibyl said, standing straighter. “But don’t you worry about us. We’re used to taking care of ourselves.”
“You don’t have to.” Byron tore a small piece of paper from his journal and wrote something on it. “I’ll ask you again, do you want to leave Circe?”
She swallowed, looking up at the two women. “It isn’t safe to. He—they’ll find us, bring us back.”
Byron passed the slip over to her. “Just the same, if you want help, don’t hesitate to visit this address. You can have a new life.”
Sibyl took the slip and tucked it into her pocket. “I’ll think about it. But I don’t need charity.”
Byron nodded and stood, helping Mira up as well. “Thank you again for your help.”
They went to leave, but Byron stopped once more on the threshold of the room. “I forgot to ask. Might I take a look at your wares? I’m quite prepared to pay for a few of them.”
Sibyl smiled. “Certainly.”
***
It was well after one in themorning by the time they caught a carriage back to Davenguard. The Sherard family jewels were tucked safely in Byron’s jacket pocket.
“I knew that the thefts had to be more than just burglary if Circe was involved,” Mira said, yawning. “These documents must be quite extraordinary if they are still looking for them after almost eleven years.”
“It will be interesting to see what they contain,” Byron said. “But first we’ll need to find them.”
“Right.” She sat up straighter. “I’ve been thinking about that. What if Enoch wasn’t courting Theresia at random? Her father works with Sir William Arthur White, the ambassador to the Ottoman Empire. If someone were sending documents about that treaty to anyone, wouldn’t they send them to him?”
Byron hummed. “I didn’t realize the connection.”
“Theresia mentioned it in the stable. Her family was meant to attend Sutherland’s party back in October but had a previous engagement.”
“I see.” Byron drummed his fingers on his leg. “We’ll need to find an excuse to visit Wynmar again.”
Mira laughed a little. “You’ve forgotten. They are having a party on Valentine’s Day. Perhaps I can arrange with Theresia for us to come visit again at a better time to talk with Mr. Risewell. So, we only need to wait a few days.”
“Valentine’s Day is today, love.”
Mira blinked. “Is it really?”
He laughed and reached into his pocket. “If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have brought this with me, presuming we might be out all night.” He pulled out an envelope and handed it to her.
Mira opened it and pulled out a little heart-shaped card with a rose printed on it. She smiled as she read Byron's swirling hand:A rose for my Rose.
Her heart warmed. “I’m surprised you didn’t forget,” she said. “I certainly did.”
His eyes twinkled. “I try not to forget important things.”
“I’ll have to make it up to you,” she said as the carriage slowed to a stop.
“You’ll be all right getting in?” he asked.
“I have a key to the library door,” she said. “You don’t think you’ll have any trouble with your family?”
Byron shook his head. “My mother sleeps soundly and Mary’s room is at the front of the house. I’ll slip in through the garden.”
