Valiant (Gentlemen of the Order #3) - Adele Clee Page 0,38
had duped the widow. He had paid for a clock worth two hundred pounds by cheque and vanished after taking delivery. It was a simple case of fraud, and the widow was unlikely to receive recompense, yet D’Angelo seemed overly keen to trace the merchant.
Daventry glanced at D’Angelo. “I’ve no issue with you working both cases.”
“Perhaps I might use my newly inherited title to learn more about the countess,” Ashwood said. He turned to Miss Hart. “I shall be discreet and respectful of the lady’s position. The countess will know nothing of my enquiries into her background.”
Miss Hart gave a solemn nod.
“Sloane, that leaves you to visit Doctors’ Commons, to question Charles Sloane and anyone else you feel is pertinent to the case.” Daventry only had to raise a brow, and Sloane knew what the man meant. Buchanan and Mrs McCready could be considered suspects, too.
“And what of me, sir?” Miss Hart spoke as if she were an appointed member of the Order.
Daventry smiled. “According to Sloane, you have a keen eye for observation, Miss Hart. Might I suggest you use your talents to discover why Mr Golding mentioned the poem by Thomas Gray? It is, without doubt, another clue to finding your legacy.”
Abandoning her solemn mood, Miss Hart clapped her hands with excitement. “If I’ve time, I shall visit the circulating library today.”
“I have a few poems by Gray,” Ashwood said, “and shall have a footman deliver them to your home, Miss Hart. Gray is known as one of the Graveyard Poets. It might be relevant.”
Having failed to mention the lady was removing to Keel Hall, Evan braced himself for more sly grins and twitching brows.
“Most relevant, my lord. Please have your footman deliver them to Mr Sloane’s abode. I’m to reside there until we catch the masked fiend.”
The men swapped amused glances but said nothing other than to probe Miss Hart for information about Mr Ramsey and Mr Golding.
Daventry took a moment to pull Evan aside and gave an inconspicuous nod in Miss Hart’s direction. “She’s far from your usual choice of companion. Original. Spirited. A confusing package of contradictions. You realise you’re out of your depth with this one.”
“Out of my depth?” Evan snorted. He had been drowning for days. “Since meeting her, I’ve barely surfaced for air.”
Chapter 10
Producing a letter signed by a deceased First Lord of the Admiralty caused a stir at Doctors’ Commons. It took three days for the admiralty to confirm it was legitimate, for the proctor to consult the archbishop and for them to summon Mr Sloane to collect the special licence.
And while Vivienne’s examination of Thomas Gray’s poems failed to reveal any answers regarding their legacy, other problems brought a halt to the investigation and their wedding plans.
No one at Charles Sloane’s house in Bloomsbury Square would reveal their master’s direction. After some poking into his distant cousin’s affairs, Mr Sloane discovered the man kept a mistress in Guilford Street near the Foundling Hospital, though she was currently out of town.
Buchanan’s visit to Mr Golding’s office raised concerns. Twice, he’d arrived to discuss the lawyer’s need to attend the wedding, only to find the office locked. The tea seller next door confessed he’d not seen Mr Golding or his nephew for two days.
To complicate matters further, Vivienne found she liked living at Keel Hall. She liked sharing cosy suppers with Mr Sloane, liked their long strolls in the garden, their late-night card games. And although she had woken to the alluring scent of his cologne this morning, he had not visited her bedchamber. Nor had they shared another scintillating kiss.
“So, we have a long day ahead of us.” Vivienne watched him eat breakfast, knowing he must have entered her room during the night, wondering why. “Visiting Mr Golding must be a priority.”
Mr Sloane dabbed his mouth with his napkin. “We’re to visit a costume shop in Holborn after calling on Golding. As I explained last night, the villain bought two identical masks. Hopefully, the shopkeeper will remember the purchase.”
During a game of Question and Command, he revealed the intruder had left a plague mask in Vivienne’s home. The strange calling card was a means to frighten and intimidate. To prevent her from making an alliance with the gentleman who’d consumed her thoughts ever since their passionate encounter.
“I don’t know why Buchanan kept it a secret.”
“He said he didn’t wish to cause you distress.”
She gave a half shrug. “Forewarned is forearmed, is it not?”