Grimaldi swiveled on his heel. “Oakleaf, you said you brought extra servants with you from the town house when you went to Surrey. Is that right?”
Daffin nodded. “Yes. In addition to the two coachmen and the two groomsmen, there were two footmen.”
“Timothy and Matthew,” Nicole added.
“Six servants total?” Grimaldi asked.
“Yes,” Daffin replied with a dawning mixture of realization and alarm.
“It has to be one of them,” Cade said. “Whoever it was fed information to the kidnappers in Londonandin Surrey.”
Nicole pressed a hand over her mouth. “Someone in this house?” She lowered her voice. “I feel sick. Who could it be?”
“Who could it be?” the parrot reiterated.
“My guess would be one of the groomsmen or coachmen. They were with you every time you went out, weren’t they?” Grimaldi asked.
Nicole nodded.
“We don’t want to accuse an innocent person,” Grimaldi pointed out.
“We must watch them,” Daffin said.
“We need to find a way to eavesdrop on them,” Danielle added. “We must listen to their conversations.”
“Listen to their conversations,” the parrot echoed.
Daphne shot the bird a lethal glare. “Delilah, please—perhaps you can take Miss Adeline to another room.”
Delilah nodded and stood to leave. She shook a finger at the parrot. “You see, Miss Adeline? I told you that you would get me banished eventually. You must learn to be silent.”
“Learn to be silent,” the parrot cawed.
“If only we could overhear them,” Nicole added.
“Overhear them,” the parrot repeated, stepping daintily onto Delilah’s hand.
“If you want to overhear them, you should use Miss Adeline,” Delilah said, stopping at the door. “He’ll repeat anything anyone says.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Daffin excused himself from the salon full of people and made his way to Grimaldi’s empty study. He poured himself a brandy and stood staring blindly out the window, the glass in his hand all but forgotten. He’d made a mistake, a costly one. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to Regina. He had barely slept since she’d been taken. He had feelings for her, damn it. Deep ones, and he missed her desperately. He wanted to punch his fist through a wall when he thought about the danger he’d put her in.
“There you are.” The voice behind him shook him from his reverie. He turned to see Nicole step into the study. “A penny for your thoughts,” she said with a sad smile, as though she already knew what he was thinking.
“How are Lady Harriet and the duke?”
“They’re fine,” Nicole replied. Lady Harriet had traveled back with them from Surrey. The duke had come, too. At the moment he was in one of the guest rooms, resting. Regina’skidnapping had caused him to suffer a relapse of his lung condition, and his health was as precarious as ever. “And you’re not answering my question.”
“My thoughts?” Daffin expelled a long breath. “I’m thinking this is the worst mistake of my career.”
She wandered over to stand next to him and patted his shoulder. “You know her, Daffin. You’re too close.”
“Yes. I know her, and I intend to get her back.” His voice was nearly a growl.
Nicole nodded solemnly, her hand falling to her side. “She wouldn’t blame you. She knew there was danger involved.”
He bit the inside of his cheek. “She trusted me to keep her safe.”
