He stared at her, unblinking, as though trying to gauge the veracity of her statement.Eventually he stood.“Very well.But you should know that if this ever changes, I will take my vengeance twice over.”
Samantha forced her hand to keep from trembling, to hide the impact of his words as she kept the pistol on his departing form.There was no mistaking his meaning.If she failed to uphold her end of the bargain, Dorian wouldn’t come just for her.
He’d come for Adrian too.
* * *
Adrian retrieved the burnt piece of card he’d collected from Islington’s house and placed it on the counter.Having left Samantha at home to recuperate while he tried to make some progress with the case they were trying to solve, he’d gone to visit the companies where calling cards were produced.
Mr.Sullivan, the clerk who worked at Sparrow’s stationery shop on Bond Street, held a magnifying glass to the fragment in order to better study the card stock.
“This appears to be British Regal Cream, judging from the fiber consistency and thickness.”He pointed to the spot that seemed to provide this information and offered Adrian the magnifying glass so he could have a look too.“I can reveal that we do indeed carry this exact type of card.In fact, it’s a popular choice not only for calling cards but also for invitations.”
“Do you think you can trace the partial print?”The card had been torn before being tossed in the fire.Only the top parts of a few letters were visible.
Mr.Sullivan lit an oil lamp and held the card close to the light.Hunched over, he examined it a while longer, then turned to a nearby shelving unit from which he retrieved a folder.He flipped the folder open and leafed through a number of pages before selecting the one he sought, a collection of words printed both in upper and lower cases, which he set on the counter.
“Judging from the thinness of this letter’s line right here” – he indicated the spot on the calling card that had caught his interest – “I have no doubt the font used for this particular order was Baskerville.Not the most popular choice since Caslon is easier to read.Especially when the font is smaller in size.”
“Then your purchase records for cards printed using this font should be limited.Yes?”A bit of hope after learning the writing sample Samantha had pilfered from Wrengate’s house would bring them no closer to learning if he’d been behind the anonymous letter.Due to its being a list, the duke had used a casual print-script that failed to match the formal lettering used in the missive.
It left them at a blockade of sorts and a wasted effort on Samantha’s part.The best Adrian could do was remind her that they had more important matters to deal with than Wrengate.A murderer had to be stopped before he picked his next victim.Nevertheless, Adrian had promised to have a word with Murdoch to see if one of his contacts might provide a better sample of the duke’s writing.
Mr.Sullivan pushed the card across the counter to Adrian.“I really can’t say.”
It was the same situation Adrian had encountered months earlier when he’d requested customer information at one of London’s most exclusive tailors.Threats had been required.A tactic he always preferred to avoid when possible and the very reason he’d asked Kendrick to vouch for him.
Adrian reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper which he showed to Mr.Sullivan.“I’m collaborating with Bow Street on a murder investigation.The chief constable signed the approval himself.Whatever you share with me will aid the authorities in their hunt for a sinister killer.”
Mr.Sullivan paled in response to that realization.“I see.”
“Learning who this card belonged to could provide a vital clue as to who this monster is.”
“O…of course.”Mr.Sullivan picked another folder from the shelf and flipped it open.“With no idea when the card was ordered or anything else to go on besides the card stock and the font, providing a list of people who requested both will take a while.Perhaps you’d like to come back in a couple of hours?”
“I’ll wait.In fact, I’m happy to help review your purchase orders.”
Mr.Sullivan answered with a weak smile and pushed the folder toward him, then went to collect another.It took nearly three hours for them to review all the records, which went back more than a decade.
Eventually, however, Adrian left the print shop with a list containing fourteen names.All he had to do now was cross-reference the list with medical professionals.
This wouldn’t necessarily lead him to the killer, but he suspected it would tell him who else was involved in Mr.Booker’s surgery and subsequent death.There was a reason the physician had tried to destroy the card before vanishing into thin air.
* * *
Edward did his best to distract himself from his thoughts.Despite his best efforts, he’d failed to dismiss his mother’s suggestion to have Lady Heathbrooke visit.Instinct told him it was a bad idea, which was why he’d asked his mother not to issue an invitation.
Yet as time went by, he came no closer to forgetting Miss Roberts.Quite the opposite.And the more he thought of her, the more his mother’s suggestion clamored for attention.Until he’d finally written to Lady Heathbrooke himself.
That was several days ago.He’d yet to hear back.
So he busied himself with estate matters and tried not to wonder what her response would be.Time dragged on.Or so it felt.He considered writing Miss Roberts directly, only to change his mind after penning the first few words.
My Dearest Miss Roberts,
He scrunched the paper into a ball and tossed it in the bin.What was he doing?None of what needed saying should go into a letter.It ought to be said in person, discussed through conversation so they could come to a clear understanding.
A knock at the door preceded the butler’s arrival.“A letter for you, my lord.From Lady Heathbrooke.”
