“Nothing?”
“Not one paper in these top drawers,” Caleb said.
“That is odd.”
Caleb slammed the last drawer. “It is more than odd,” he declared. “Normally, the top drawers are locked but I never thought I needed to spy on my own father.”
“We don’t know for certain yet that he is involved.”
Caleb dropped down onto the chair. “We will need to report our findings to Kendrick,” he lamented.
“If we do so, there is a chance that he will remove you from the investigation.”
“Maybe that is a good thing?”
Roswell walked over to the bookshelf and ran his fingers over the titles. He noticed that a book was pushed in a little too far when compared to the others.
He removed the book and started rifling through the pages. He stopped when he saw a blank piece of paper that had been placed inside.
Holding it up, Roswell asked, “Dare we test for invisible ink?”
Caleb jumped up from his chair and went to light the candle.
Roswell closed the distance between them and held the paper up to the light. It was only a moment before the message began to illuminate.
As he reviewed the code, he recognized that it was similar to the one that they had found in Lord Chester’s study.
He had just opened his mouth to reveal his findings, but Caleb spoke first. “You don’t need to say it.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, unsure of what he could say in a moment such as this one.
Caleb returned to his seat and hung his head. “My father is a traitor.”
No sooner had he finished speaking when the door swung open and Anette appeared. Her lips were set in a thin, straight line. “What are the two of you doing in here?”
Roswell tucked the paper into his jacket pocket. “We were just talking.”
Anette didn’t look convinced. “I heard noises coming from here and I thought I would investigate.”
Caleb brought a smile to his lips. “I was looking for a quill in Father’s desk and I must have slammed the drawer harder than I thought.”
Pointing towards the desk, she said, “There is one right beside the ink pot.”
“I’m afraid I didn’t see it,” Caleb responded.
Roswell wanted to shake his head in frustration. They weren’t giving Anette enough credit. She no doubt saw through their charade. But he didn’t dare tell her the truth about why they were there.
Lady Oxley stepped into the room. “I thought I heard Roswell’s voice,” she said, almost with a hint of victory in her voice. “I was hoping you would take Anette on a carriage ride through Hyde Park.”
Roswell was at a loss for words. He didn’t dare spend that much time alone with Anette, but to refuse Lady Oxley’s request would be rude.
Anette must have felt his reluctance because she said, “Mother, you can’t just ask Roswell to take me on a carriage ride. He is a busy man and has things he must see to.” She turned towards him. “Don’t you, my lord?”
Roswell found himself grateful for Anette’s help, but it was short-lived.
Lady Oxley waved her hand in front of her. “The curricle is being brought around front and it isn’t as if it is during the fashionable hour. I am sure he can spare the time.”
“Mother, I just feel—” Anette started.
