evening would suggest he had an interest in her to everyone at the ball. He intended to do all he could to protect her reputation even if she seemed unconcerned about it.
He returned to the ballroom, frustration simmering inside him. If he and Annabelle could spend some time alone together to review the information they had, surely they could make sense of the few clues before them and decide on a path to pursue. However, that carried too much risk, which left him with the task of searching Sir Alexander’s library desk.
With a quiet sigh, he admitted talking to Annabelle wasn’t the only reason he wanted more time with her. She appealed to him in multiple ways, including her intelligence, wit, beauty, and those generous curves. He wanted her more than he’d wanted a woman in a long time, if ever.
He caught sight of her across the room, talking with her sister. She looked especially beautiful this evening in her pale green gown with its high waist and suggestive neckline that only made him want to see more of her. The delicate white bandeau circling her hair brought to mind a princess. His princess.
He deliberately turned away, determined to set aside his attraction so he might focus on the problem at hand.
Annabelle’s comment about the possibility of another murder occurring soon worried him. It made sense that if the murderer were replicating the book and had yet to achieve whatever goal he sought, he would kill again. But who and why?
Someone with influence at the East India Company had to be directing the murderer. Thomas’s instincts suggested Sir Alexander could very well be involved. The man’s background was unclear, but rumors circulated that he’d come from nothing, having grown up in one of the rougher areas of London. His rise to wealth and power, not to mention his knighthood, remained cloaked in mystery. Perhaps the man hadn’t lost touch with the tough roots from which he’d sprung.
Thomas couldn’t pass by the opportunity to investigate the man’s library when he was this close. Especially after the remark Cummings made about Sir Alexander and his ruthlessness regarding the East India Company’s tactics.
Thomas made his way slowly around the ballroom, searching again for Sir Alexander and his wife. When he finally discovered them near the refreshment room, conversing with another couple, he decided the time had come to act.
Though he wondered if he should be concerned that Cummings had decided to be so forthcoming of late, Thomas couldn’t resist following the only lead he had. He and Annabelle certainly had no other evidence to help them resolve this mystery.
He gave himself a mental shake at the realization that he considered Annabelle his partner in all this. He should keep her as far away as possible from the situation. It was dangerous, as proven by the attack at the shipyard and Smead’s murder.
At least he’d resisted her offer to help him search the library. He could easily explain his presence by saying he needed a moment alone or was searching for some decent brandy or the like. Having Annabelle with him would complicate the matter tenfold.
With one last glance at Sir Alexander and his wife, Thomas eased out of the ballroom and moved down the deserted corridor to the door he thought to be the library’s.
To his relief, the knob turned under his hand. A glance inside revealed a large, darkened room with a banked fire that cast shadows along the walls. Based on the numerous shelves that ran the full height of the room along one entire wall, the man had an impressive collection of books. Thomas wondered if he’d read any of them or merely collected them because he had the wealth to do so.
He found a candle in a candlestick on a nearby table and lit it with the coals of the fire then strode toward the desk positioned by the draped windows. The desk was bare, but Thomas knew anything of interest wouldn’t have been left out for others to view.
The middle drawer was locked as was the top right-hand one. He withdrew a small pick from his waistcoat that he’d brought along in case the opportunity presented itself and knelt to try his hand at the lock. The task brought back memories of he and his brothers attempting to unlock their father’s desk simply for the challenge in their youth. He listened closely, concentrating on the feel of the metal through the lock.
He drew a breath of relief when