“Very well, Artemis,” she said as she picked up the drawing. “Do you mind if I keep this?”
He shook his head.
“Do you have any idea where I might begin looking?” she asked. As she asked, she reached across so he could touch her hand.
He wrapped his gnarled fingers around hers with surprising strength. As quickly as he touched her, he dropped her hand as if he had been burned.
She looked questioningly at him and he fixed her with a flinty stare.
“You’re not telling me everything, gel.”
Her heart lurched and she caught her breath. She cast her eyes sideways at the viscount hoping Artemis would understand her silent message.
“I can’t help you,” he announced, standing up from his seat. “If I knew where the bracelet was, I would have unearthed it long ago.”
She expelled her breath in disappointment and snuck a peek at Ridge who looked confused by the whole scene.
Ridge slapped his hand on the desk as if just remembering something of import. “We should query Mrs. Alicia Unster,” he said. He turned to look at India. “The book seller I purchased Sir Roderick’s journal from mentioned that he bought it from Alicia Unster, Sir Roderick’s sister. Perhaps she has the bracelet.”
“Sir Roderick’s sister,” Artemis said after a moment. He rubbed his forehead, a look of wonder on his face. “He found it didn’t he? After all these years, Sir Roderick was the one to find it.”
India nodded slowly. “I have reason to believe my father may also have reached the city before his...death.”
Artemis frowned even harder. “But he isn’t—”
“If that is all, we really must be departing,” she said in a rush, rising from her chair so quickly she upended the stool.
Artemis arched a wrinkled brow, but to his credit remained silent.
“Are you well?” Ridge asked as he rose to stand beside her.
“Yes, yes, of course,” she said brightly.
She looked hard at Artemis, silently begging him to understand and to keep her secret.
“If you reach the city,” Artemis began, his voice reverent. “If you actually find it, you must remember every detail. I want an exact accounting. I must know if all I think is correct.”
“I won’t leave a single detail out,” she promised.
“Before you go. You should know that I have been approached by a man about the bracelet.”
Ridge whipped his head around. “What man? Why did you say nothing before now?”
Artemis glared at the viscount. “Respect your elders, boy. I wasn’t asked. That is why I didn’t speak.”
India laid a hand on the old man’s wrinkled arm. “He is just worried, Artemis. We’ve had several brushes with danger in the past days. We believe someone is trying to prevent us from finding the city.”
“I’d say that’s a fair assessment,” Artemis said, bobbing his head up and down.
“What about this man,” Ridge broke in impatiently. “What did he look like? What did he ask?”
Artemis continued to glower at Ridge. “I don’t know what he looked like. I wasn’t close enough to see howprettyhe was. He asked about Gabriel’s Bracelet and if knew of anyone who could decipher Pagorian script.”
India sucked in her breath. It could only be the person responsible for the theft of the journal. Who else would need someone to translate the writing?
“I pled ignorance, of course,” Artemis said, beaming at his apparent genius.
“Thank you, Artemis. You’ve been helpful as always.”
