Page 60 of The Viscount's Code
“I was looking for you,” Faith said without preamble, and Hope tried to determine how she could quickly extricate herself from the conversation. This was going to be bad enough as it was – she didn’t need Faith as a witness.
“Youwhat?”
Their father’s roar from the library could be heard from where they currently stood down the hall. Faith’s head whipped toward Hope. “What is happening?”
But Hope didn’t have time to explain. She hurried down the corridor, Faith following behind her. She only hoped that her father’s reaction wouldn’t bring the rest of the guests along with them. They didn’t need such a large audience to witness her father’s fury nor the wrath he was sure to bring down upon Anthony.
“His book is gone,” Hope said over her shoulder when Faith wouldn’t stop poking her finger into her shoulder, of course having no problem keeping up to her due to the length of her legs.
“What do you meangone? Which book?Thebook?”
“Yes,” Hope said, coming to a halt in front of the library door so abruptly that Faith ran into the back of her and almost knocked her over.
Lord Ashford was pacing back and forth across the floor of the library, arms crossed over his chest, while their father’s face was red in fury, and Anthony stood with his hands on his hips, clearly refusing to be cowed.
“Where did they go?” her father continued, and Anthony lifted his arms to each side.
“I wish I knew,” he said, his voice much quieter, but steely, telling Hope that he was teetering on the edge of his temper. “They were in my bag since we left Newfield Manor. I went to retrieve them from my room, and they were both gone.”
“I cannot believe that you lost them. Not after I entrusted you with them.” Hope’s father stepped closer toward Anthony, who stood tall, unmoving. “Unless you lost them on purpose.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Itmeansthat you are no different from your father. A man who turned on those who believed in him.”
“Now, Lord Embury,” Lord Ashford interjected. “That is hardly fair.”
Anthony stepped closer now, getting into Hope’s father’s face. “My father was no traitor. And I would never do anything to jeopardize this for Ashford. Besides, what could I possibly gain from stealing books I was already in possession of?”
“Perhaps you gave them to someone else.”
Anthony brought his thumb and index finger to the bridge of his nose, pressing against it, obviously trying to control himself.
“I have had enough of this conversation. I will speak to my valet. Perhaps he will have an idea. Ashford, could you ask your servants to look for them as well?”
“Of course,” Lord Ashford said. “I know we already solved the clue, so that is not my concern so much aswhysomeone would take them. Combine this with the fact that Cassandra and Lord Covington were shot at—”
“What?” Lord Embury burst out. “No one ever told me that there could be danger involving this damned riddle.”
He glared at Anthony as if it was his fault.
“I told you not to go with him,” Faith hissed in her ear, and Hope elbowed her, but it was too late. They were noticed in the doorway.
“This doesn’t concern you,” their father said when he saw them. “Continue on and I will be with you shortly. We should be leaving soon.”
“We are all involved in this, Father,” Hope said, but it wasn’t the right tactic, for her father’s face only reddened.
“I want you as far from this as possible,” he said. “If I had realized that Lord Whitehall was bringing danger to my household…”
“Father,” Hope attempted, but he was already shaking his head.
“Out. And no more conversations with this traitor.”
Anthony’s jaw set, his hands curling into fists.
“I have tried to prove myself to you, but at what end, I have no idea,” Anthony said. “Good luck with your search, Ashford. I’m done with it. With all of this.”
He looked at Hope, his eyes hard and unrelenting. Her stomach churned as she understood what that look was saying, without any words accompanying it. He was done with her family, done with her, refusing to fight for the two of them and what she knew they had.
