Byron’s expression pinched. “If this is another slight towards my choice in—”
“Not at all. I am merely suggesting that if Hoddle were arrested for, say, impersonating an officer, then you would be able to search the house at your leisure.”
The carriage fell silent. It was certainly something to consider. If Admiral Hoddle was arrested, they wouldn’t have to worry about Maureen. And yet...
“Do we trust the police here in Bath?” Mira asked.
Byron sucked in a breath through his teeth. “I don’t have enough experience with them to know. But I can’t imagine it would be an immediate arrest. There would be a larger investigation into the man, and in that time, Circe could make other arrangements to secure the documents,” he said. “I’d rather work with a known enemy than an unknown one. Besides, we don’t want to risk the police finding the documents during the investigation. After all, Circe is awfully keen on procuring them. I’m sure they would find a way to convince the police to part with them.”
“I’m interested to read them myself,” Castel said. “It must be quite the secret.”
***
“What a pleasant surprise!” Admiral Hoddle saidas he let them into the house. “Did Maureen know you were coming?”
“She asked us to come round to listen to a piece she’s been working on,” Mira said.
“Oh, lovely! I do believe she’s already in the music room. We can all go up together.”
Castel opened his mouth as if to say something, but nothing came out. Byron took pity on him.
“My brother here isn’t particularly fond of the piano, but my mother insisted on him coming to chaperone.”
Mira tucked her hands behind her back and swapped her ruby ring to her right hand while Byron continued making excuses.
“Would you mind entertaining him while we talk with Maureen?”
“Why, I thought...” Hoddle let out a laugh, round and full. “Of course, I’d be happy to keep you company, Mr. Sherard. Do you play billiards?”
Castel visibly relaxed. “I certainly do. Lead the way, sir.”
The two men walked down the hall and Mira let out a breath of relief.
“That’s settled then. Now to find Maureen.”
Byron nodded, gesturing for her to lead the way upstairs. “I’ll need to fulfill my promise of looking at her music, so you’ll be the one to guide the conversation. If you can find a way to divert the subject to her father, I think that will be our way in.”
Mira nodded. “I’ll do my best. Though I don’t know how we’ll convince her to let us look through his files.”
“You are forgetting how clever we are when we work together.” His eyes twinkled. “We’ll find a way.”
The door to the music room was slightly ajar, so Mira knocked on it, pushing it open.
“Miss Harris?”
Maureen turned from where she sat on the chaise lounge with a book.
“Why, Mira! And Mr. Sherard! I had forgotten you were coming.” She closed the book and stood, coming over to greet them.
“I did promise to have a look at your sheet music,” Byron said.
“So you did. Though I’m not sure you’ll be able to makeanything of it. Come in, please, and take a seat.” Her dress glided over the floor as she moved to the credenza and retrieved her folder.
“I thought that perhaps I have been playing it in the wrong key, but I’ve tried just about every configuration, so maybe there’s something else to it.” She passed the folder over to Byron.
He opened it and scanned over the notes. He tapped his fingers on his leg, humming to himself.
“It is so good of you to come,” Maureen said. “I hardly remembered that we’d made an appointment.”
