Unhallowed (Rath and Rune #1) - Jordan L. Hawk Page 0,53
but their line died out. All of them grew to prominence one way or another—I’m sure you recognize the Whyborne name from the railroad company. Most of the families have had only a few children with each generation, but there are a lot of Waites, so not everyone you meet with that name will necessarily have any money or social standing.”
“But Mortimer does.”
Sebastian nodded. “Indeed. One of his cousins is the current heir to the bulk of the family fortune, and Mortimer is well provided for.”
Ves’s expression gave nothing away. “But what is he like as a person?”
They reached Sebastian’s office. The space was far more cramped than Sebastian would have liked. Thanks to the Ladysmith’s strange architecture, the walls formed a rhomboid shape. The boxes of letters covered part of the floor, and Kelly’s notebook was locked in the desk. Shelves lined the walls, mostly filled with the various references he needed to assess books, letters, maps, or anything else the library might acquire.
He gestured Ves to take one of the two chairs, while he settled himself behind his desk. “Why do you ask?”
Ves hesitated. “He came to the bindery this morning with some books that needed conservation work done to them. He mentioned he’d wanted the bookbinder job for a cousin and was disgruntled I had it. The encounter caused me to wonder if he might have been the one to leave me the note. Or if he knew about the Books of the Bound and wanted his cousin in the position, since it seems to have some significance. I suspect he might be the one behind O’Neil’s disappearance, the threatening note to me, and the men following you.”
Sebastian bit his lip. He wanted to dismiss the idea out of hand…but the old families had earned their reputation for ruthlessness. “He did know of my concern for Kelly, yes. As did Irene and Arthur. As for the Books…they do sound like the sort of lore the old families might have passed down over the years. After murdering Kelly—or having him murdered, more likely—he could have wanted a cousin to be the next binder to get access to the bindery and anything Kelly might have hidden there.”
“And he’s having you followed, because he thinks you know something. Which you do.” Ves’s expression was grave. “Sebastian, you have to be careful. And make sure this room is secured at all times.”
God. The theory certainly explained a great deal. Still, it was difficult to think ill of his fellow librarian. And could Irene have truly misjudged his character so badly?
Then again, from what he knew of the Endicotts, they could be awfully ruthless themselves. She might miss some warning signs others would see, assuming they indicated only the level of cut-throat ambition she was accustomed to.
“I don’t know,” he said at last. “Certainly we can’t go accusing him without proof.” Another thought occurred to him. “Although if you’re right, you could be in danger as well.”
Ves smiled faintly. “I’m tougher than I look.”
“I’m sure you are, but…” Sebastian trailed off before he could stay something stupid. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. It would break my heart if you were hurt. “Just be careful, all right? I’m worried about you.”
Ves looked surprised by the sentiment, as though he’d never had someone show concern over his well-being. “I…yes.” A light flush crept up his cheeks. “Thank you, Sebastian.”
Chapter 18
Sebastian wasn’t at all surprised when the signatures matched. The letter he examined had indeed been written by Nathaniel Ladysmith.
Nathaniel Ladysmith, speaking of his love for the architect who had designed his museum. No wonder its eccentricities had been allowed to stand. He’d built it exactly as Dromgoole had wanted, as a testament to his lover.
In the meantime, Ves had turned his attention to Kelly’s notebook and was taking notes on the contents. While he worked on that, Sebastian set himself to putting the collection O’Neil had left behind into some order. Chronological seemed the best way to start, but the boxes were in a wild jumble.
“I wonder where he found it?” Sebastian mused as he worked. “This collection of letters, I mean.”
“I might be able to answer.” Ves sat back, blinking as though his eyes had gone dry. “This isn’t just a notebook about his investigation. It appears to have been his commonplace book, and he used it to jot down his thoughts on all sorts of subjects. There’s a great deal about margin width, naturally.”