Page 90 of A Bluestocking’s Secret Courtship

He took a step toward her.

“Stay away from me!”

“Drop the knife,” her uncle barked. “Now! If he planned to harm us, he would’ve already done it. Put down the knife before you cut yourself. We can talk this out.”

She gaped at him.

“Be reasonable, Vanna. Study the evidence.”

Slowly, she lowered the knife. “I don’t know you anymore.”

She couldn’t say who she was addressing. Maybe both. She turned on her heel and stormed away.

Jonathan called her name.

“Leave her be,” Uncle Charles said. “She needs time to think.”

Thirty-four

CODED MESSAGE

liupwkehxihivhtvpucgssivsnxlaxyhntmxpp

wzxeueiuqg

* * *

DECIPHERED MESSAGE

Lord Dominic,

* * *

Wedmore's treachery runs deep. Fell the family tree.

* * *

Farrin

* * *

Dom rocked back in his chair. The deciphered message stared him in the face. “Hellfire,” he muttered.

He exhaled, stirring the hair that had fallen into his eyes. How was he supposed to explain murdered guests to the authorities?

He turned over the paper. The letter hadn’t been franked, which meant it was hand-delivered. He rang for his butler. When Wilcox entered the study, Dom asked who had delivered the message.

“I cannot say, my lord. One of the footmen found it lying by the front door.”

Dom thanked Wilcox and released him to return to his duties. Alone again, Dom lifted the message to scrutinize it. He recognized Farrin’s handwriting, so it was a legitimate order. He had to follow it.

Nevertheless, there must be another way to carry out the task without bringing the Janissaries to the villa. He tossed the message in the fire grate and used a flint to light it.

After the flames rendered it to ash, he grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair. He needed to find Farrin to discuss the alternatives. It might take a few days, though. Regent’s men excelled at hiding.

Thirty-five

When they entered Acharnae late the next morning, Uncle Charles was several yards behind. Evangeline hadn’t spoken with either man since the confrontation last night. They had slept by the fire and allowed her to curl up alone beneath the ledge with both blankets.