Page 82 of The Duke and Lady Scandal
“I must speak to the two customers whose gems were stolen. Lady Dalrymple and Lord Holcroft. He’s expecting his cut gems to be delivered on Monday.”
“Could you write to them?”
Allie arched a brow. “Their valuables were stolen while in our possession. They deserve more than a letter.”
“Can they both wait until next week?”
“I’m not sure they can.” Holcroft was the most pressing case. She doubted word of the break-in would spread to him, but she wanted to alert him well before his expected delivery date. “I can speak to Mr. Gibson. Perhaps he can make a visit to both customers.”
It didn’t sit well with her. She was responsible for Princes, and losing customers’ property wasn’t a matter to be dealt with lightly.
Ben stroked his hand along her arm, attempting to soothe or perhaps persuade her.
“Let’s get you home,” he said quietly.
Allie bit her lip and then dared to ask, “Will you stay with me tonight?”
He closed his eyes. “I shouldn’t, but I hope you know how much I wish I could.”
It was just what she’d been afraid he’d say.
“But you will see me home yourself?”
He glanced toward the front of Princes, and it struck her then that he hadn’t even planned to take her home. No doubt, a constable was outside already, waiting to begin his watch over her.
She could also tell that it cost him something—the thought of parting from her tonight. For days.
“I’ll see you home.” He held out his hand.
When she laced her fingers through his, Allie couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be until she could touch him again.
The next morning, Ben summoned two of his most promising detective constables to his office.If he was going to catch M in the next few days—and every minute the man was free to wreak havoc seemed like too much—he needed to divide the investigatory load.
He emphasized the discretion needed for the case and also made clear to each man that late hours and extra diligence would be demanded of them. Each was ambitious and hardworking, and both had readily agreed.
With the two new cases he’d begun reassigned and reports collected from the detectives he’d had making inquiries that might help lead him to M, he sat down with Gates and Riley for the focused hunt he planned for the coming days.
On his office wall, he’d pinned facts he knew and also cordoned off a section for hypotheses about M that he’d not yet been able to prove, such as the suspicion that he may be a noble or military man with a grudge against the royals.
“Gates, get to the bottom of the Bedford Square address. Others have made inquiries that led nowhere. Track down the previous owner. A leasing agent. Someone had to have conducted the sale of the property at some point. Speak to neighbors in the square too.”
“I’ll see to it immediately, sir.”
“Riley, you’re going back over everything collected so far. With special attention to the pieces of paper.” Ben glanced at the photograph of the newspaper clipping found at the jeweler’s. “I know it’s tedious, but it’s the details that matter most. Somewhere, there’s a thread that will lead us to him.”
The young detective didn’t seem a bit daunted by the pile of documents in front of him.
“One file seems to be missing, sir.” Riley ran his finger down a page of notes he’d made. “The last case you worked?”
“I still need to clear it with Haverstock, but a good deal of what’s on the board emerged in that case.” The chances of Haverstock allowing the two detective constables access to the details of the attempted blackmail of the prince of England were slim, but Ben intended to make a persuasive argument. Connecting the cases would make the whole picture clearer. The two young detectives only knew that they were seeking an unnamed mastermind known as M who was likely behind the attempt on the Crown Jewels and the break-in at Princes of London.
“And the list of Demming’s associates, sir?”
“Leave them to me,” Ben told Riley.
Both young detectives exchanged a look.
“Do you really think any of them will name this puppet master pulling their strings, Duke?” Gates asked.
