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“How do you think someone entered your home undetected?”

He shrugged. “If anyone came while I was away, the staff did not mention it. I am sure they would have.”

Anxious for their annual holiday, it could have been possible that his butler had forgotten. But Harold had served the family since before Alex had been born, and in all those years, had not once left details unsaid.

“I believe it happened after the staff left,” Alex said. “The question is why.”

William looked up from the accounts he’d been studying. “Perhaps because they wish to find information as to where all the accounts are. Studying your father’s documents would be an easy way to find out.”

A shiver of apprehension traveled down his spine. Whatever the siblings were planning, it could affect him greatly.

Thankfully, upon his father’s death, he’d brought most of his father’s files and ledgers there to Lark’s Song so he and William could study them. He’d not left anything of importance at his house.

“I must find a way to hide as much of my father’s money as possible.”

His friend gave him a perplexed look. “Why would you do that? You are the only heir. They have no basis for their claim. They do not even have your father’s last name.”

“They use it, father’s last name,” Alex replied.

He blew out a breath. “Bedroom doors were open, items moved. Whoever came to my house was taking inventory. They did not take anything that I could tell, however. It was recently, in the last couple of days. It could have been when I was at Haven,” he said, referring to William’s parents’ estate.

He had a bad feeling about the entire situation. The fact that nothing could be done until after the holidays was an annoyance. So far there was nothing in his father’s accounting ledgers that alerted him to more than normal business dealings.

“There are regular payments to someone with the initials N.D. Do you know who it refers to?” Williams pushed the ledger toward him. “There, there, and there.” He pointed to the entries.

The fifth of every month, a generous amount was logged as a deduction.

Alex flipped open the ledger he’d been studying and found the same for the subsequent months. “Neither of them had a name that started with the letter N. Could it be their mother?”

“I wouldn’t read too much into it until you can verify it. For now, let’s keep looking and prepare notes for the investigator.”

It was only moments later that heightened voices alerted them to a visitor.

William shook his head. “Mother is here. I presume she could not wait until you and Vivian came to her. She is most anxious to spend time with the Humphries ladies.”

“I am to spend the afternoon bird-watching. It’s an activity I normally enjoy, however, today my mind will be preoccupied with all of this.” Alex motioned to the ledgers.

When his friend chuckled, he looked up. “What is so funny?”

“Are you certain that Vivian’s presence won’t draw your mind away from the ledgers?”

Alex snorted. “I will admit to finding her rather alluring. However, I have pressing matters that require my full attention at the moment. No time for distractions.”

“Ah,” William said, his gaze moving past him to the doorway. “I must agree. This is a pressing matter. One that should not be allowed to go on for long.”

The prickling at the back of his neck made Alex rub it. “As soon as the holidays pass, I am going to the banks and then to see the inspector again.”

When he walked into the front parlor, his eyebrows shot up at all of the paraphernalia strewn about the room.

“What is all this?”

His aunt hurried to him and kissed his cheeks. Although it was something she’d always done in greeting to both William and him, in front of Vivian and her sisters, it felt odd.

“Alex, dear, you should know—you took them shopping.” The sparkle in Theresa Torrington’s eyes told him she found it amusing.

From the looks of it, not only had Vivian purchased the spyglass and book, but also pencils, sketch books, journals, a rather peculiar-looking pair of boots, and what looked to be a walking stick. “I don’t remember that,” he said, pointing to the cane.

“Most of the items we purchased were delivered later,” Penelope replied as Vivian continued studying the items.