Page 80 of Secrets of the Heart

“Water Street at Conover,” he said, frowning. “Something of a seedy area at this time of night, I’d say.”

Rachel was glad she was sitting down. That was the address of the warehouse where Michael had told Sir Robert that he was to meet Anthony, but the time was an hour later than what Michael had said. It seemed clear proof that Sir Robert was the man who had been sending the messages to Anthony, which would mean, by what Rachel and Michael had surmised, that he really was the mastermind behind the whole criminal scheme.

“I don’t know what to do—whether I should go or not. What does he want of me? What does it mean?”

“I am not sure what it means, exactly,” Rachel replied. “But I think you probably should not go. It might interfere with a trap that Michael has laid for…someone.”

“A trap!” Anthony goggled at her. “You mean he has set a trap for…for this man?”

“Yes.” Rachel stopped. How could she explain the scheme without implicating Sir Robert? She glanced over at Lilith, who was frowning.

“I don’t understand,” Lilith said. “I thought Robert said that Michael was meeting Mr. Birkshaw tonight. That that was why you would be here alone and might welcome company.”

“What?” Anthony looked even more confused. “But I had no plans to meet Lord Westhampton. Was I supposed to?”

“No. No. That was merely part of, um, this trap.” Rachel shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“But why would he say—” Lilith began, then stopped abruptly. Rachel looked over at her. Lilith was staring at her, shaking her head. “No,” Lilith said in a way that made the word almost more a prayer than a statement. “No. You can’t be saying that Michael set a trap for Robert.”

Rachel cast about frantically for something to say, but her silence was answer enough for Lilith.

“That is it, isn’t it?” she cried. “You are saying that Michael lied to Robert. That he is trying to trap him! Why?”

“I’m so sorry,” Rachel said. “Please, Lilith, believe me, Michael doesn’t want to believe it.”

“Believe what?” Lilith said, her voice rising emotionally. “What is he trying to trap him into? What does he think Robert has done?”

“He doesn’t know for sure,” Rachel said quickly. “He doesn’t want to believe Sir Robert has done anything wrong, but there was the possibility…. He had to find out.”

“Find out what?”

“He thinks that Sir Robert might be—well, behind some crimes Michael has been investigating.”

“What he has been working on the past weeks?”

Rachel nodded. “And, if it is Sir Robert, then he may also want to get Michael out of the way.”

“Out of the—You mean kill him?” Lilith jumped to her feet, eyes flashing and her cheeks flushed. “That is absurd! Rob would never hurt Michael. He is like a brother to him. You might as well say that I would hurt him or the duke or your own brother!”

“Lilith, please.” Rachel went to her, taking Lilith’s hands. “Michael is by no means certain. That is why he—”

“Set a trap for him?” Lilith burst out. “As if he were an animal. A common criminal. Robert should not have to pass a test for Michael! He has proven his loyalty and friendship time and time again.”

“I know. Michael does not want to believe it. Neither do I. I was sure that tonight would prove that Michael was wrong, and we would be happy about that. But now, this letter to Anthony…”

Lilith whirled to face Anthony. “This letter—do you have it?”

Anthony brightened. “Yes, I saved this one. I was sure Michael would want to see it.”

“Show it to me,” Lilith demanded, going toward him. “I can tell you whether the handwriting is Sir Robert’s.”

Anthony glanced uncertainly at Rachel. She nodded.

“Yes. Go ahead, Anthony. Let her see.”

He reached inside his coat and drew out a folded sheet of paper, which he extended to Lilith. She snatched it from his fingers and began to read.

“It is not his handwriting!” Lilith looked up, triumph glowing on her face. “This was not written by Robert.”