Rose wrinkled her nose. “That’s true, but she would be vastly disappointed if we postpone. I should ring for more tea.”
“We’ve already set Winston on the task,” Rebecca said, then lowered her voice. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Gabriella screamed and clapped her hands. “You’re with child! I knew it.”
“What? No.” The duchess was most insistent, but her face turned noticeably pink. If she wasn’t yet, Rose suspected she soon would be. Lord knew, it was long past time her brother spawned an heir.
Gabriella deflated. Rose hid her smile behind her cup.
Just then, a maid entered with a new service and set it on the low table. No one spoke until the girl left. Rose poured tea for herself, leaving her sister and the duchess to fend for themselves. Family and all.
After a quick sip, Rebecca leaned forward and reached for a card of soft cream Rose hadn’t noticed on the tray, there for all to see. “What’s this?” She turned it about and read, “Mr. Emerson Whitmore, Whitmore’s Wholesale Warehouse. Importers of Fine Textiles and Goods. Manchester Square, London.” She looked up, meeting Rose’s eyes. The mischievous glint did not bode well.
Somehow Rose managed to contain a groan. Not her embarrassment, however, her face flaming that started from her toes.
Rebecca glanced back at the card. “By appointment to several London houses.” She cleared her throat for the final repost. “Discretion assured.”
“Interesting,” Gabriella said, grinning again. “As I said, Mr. Whitmore has been looking for you. He happened by Hope House yesterday.”
Rose snatched the card from Rebecca, vowing silently to sack Winston for allowing this horrid little scene to take place. “I’ll thank you to leave my correspondence be.”
“Of course,” Rebecca murmured with faux contriteness Rose didn’t buy for a minute.
A sense of humor was not something Rose was known for. Once more, she forced back a groan, realizing Adventurous Rose had much evolving to endure.
“We actually came for an entirely different reason,” Rebecca said.
The hair on Rose’s nape raised, but she did her best to steady her voice. “Oh?”
“Someone rifled through Sebastian’s desk.” She continued more softly, “It was quite brazen.” Her voice sharpened. “He’s a bloody duke.”
Rose blinked and nearly dropped her cup, her stomach tightening with an influx of beetles buzzing about. And not because of Rebecca’s blasphemy. Rose set her cup down lest she spill the contents with her trembling fingers. “It wasransacked?” Her voice was near to squeaking. She hadn’t imagined Emerson tearing through Sebastian’s desk like a marauder. The thought infuriated her.
“No, not ransacked,” Gabriella piped up. “It was much more subtle.”
“I don’t understand.” Rose pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead, partly in relief.
“Sebastian doesn’t feel it was a common thief,” Rebecca said. “He believes the culprit was looking for something specific.”
Gabriella nodded. “Huntley and I checked our own papers—so far, nothing seems amiss.”
Rose could barely draw a breath. Because it was she who’d allowed Emerson in. He had promised no harm. He had sworn it. “Did anyone see anything?” she asked, terrified of the answer.
“No.” Rebecca’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t appear to be seeing anything in front of her. “Whoever it was appeared to have entered through the windows, but Fosse insists they were latched.”
Rose’s throat went dry.
“We thought you should know,” Gabriella said gently. “Sebastian’s wasn’t the only office searched. Shufflebottom’s was as well, during the masquerade.”
Rose swallowed. Hard. “Does Sebastian have any idea why?” She could hardly get the words past the constriction in her throat.
“He only told me to keep my eyes and ears open. It’s perfectly outrageous,” Rebecca bit out.
Gabriella chimed in. “You might mention it to Winston in the event some miscreant is casing Mayfair.”
Oh, dear.Rose’s gaze drifted to her own windows, where the pewter-colored sky was spewing rain. The card between her fingers seemed to singe her fingertips.
The Adventurous Rose wanted nothing more than to dash to her bedchamber and pull the covers over her head. But now, shemustspeak to Emerson.
