Page 21 of The Miracle of Love
“I am trying, Papa. But would it not help if you were more cooperative?” She studied him, looking for signs of abuse but found none. He sounded surprisingly robust and appeared to be well treated. He was groomed and there were no obvious signs of his having been beaten, no bruises or marks on his wrists to indicate he had ever been restrained.
Thank goodness.
Grace cleared her throat. “Perhaps they would release you if–”
“I am not some ruffian off the streets. I am a viscount and should be extended the privileges of my rank.”
She thought he had been suffering from remorse, but he appeared to be suffering from nothing more than the annoyance of being caught.
He was not even feeling shame.
Not a trace of shame, just irritation.
Did he not see himself as a thief?
What may have started as complicity in assisting gentlemen of his station to secretly sell their valuable works of art had soon led him and her brother down a more sinister path. As much as she loved her father, she now knew he was not as honest as he should have been. Being born to privilege and having a taste for the finer things in life had skewed his perception of right and wrong.
He obviously felt entitled.
Somehow, being born into privilege made everything he did, whether hurtful or dishonest, all right.
Had he always felt this way?
How could she not have noticed this pettiness in his character?
“I am not well, my darling.” He placed a hand over his heart, no doubt hoping to gain her sympathy. “You must find a way to get me out of my confinement.”
“Have you asked for a doctor to see you?”
He shook his head. “No, why bother when I know they want me to suffer?”
“Papa, please tell me the truth. I am dealing with enough just now trying to protect Mama and the children. You haven’t even asked about them. Are you merely griping or truly ill?”
He dropped his hand from his heart. “Very well, ignore my needs.”
“I am not ignoring you. All I ask is the truth from you.” She looked around the townhouse Deklan had brought her to in an unfamiliar part of London. Perhaps they were not even in London anymore.
They certainly were not within the walls of old London now.
No doubt another bit of misinformation about his whereabouts meant to confuse her and anyone else interested in finding her father.
Deklan had hailed a passing hackney as soon as they were out of Mayfair. Their progress was slow because the London streets were crowded, but even so, they had been in that carriage a very long time.
Well, they were here now and this house did not remotely resemble a prison. It was elegantly furnished and comfortably heated despite the wintery chill outdoors. She and her father were seated across the table from each other in what appeared to be a dining room.
Although small by society standards, it was more than adequate for their meeting. After all, they were not hosting a dinner party for the Londonton. “Papa, answer me. Are you truly ill? You must tell me the truth.”
“The truth? Who knows what it is anymore? Well, Gracie? Do I have your promise to help me?”
“I am trying my best, Papa. But you have to help me, too. What can you tell me about the theft of the royal crown?”
“That again?” He slammed his fist on the table. “Is this the only reason you have bothered to see me? Have they turned you against me? Told you terrible lies about me?”
She wanted to throttle her father. “Papa, please calm down. And do not insult me. I have been trying for weeks to see you, but they would not let me until now. I am finally here. Do not waste precious time by declaring your innocence when we both know the nature of the enterprise you and Richard were carrying on.”
“Now, Gracie–”
“No, do not coddle me. You were complicit in the art thefts. Perhaps not the more serious ones pulled off by Richard, but you had to suspect something dangerous was going on. I will do all I can to help you, but you cannot lie to me. You have to give over that foreign crown or we shall all die. Do you understand me? You and Richard are not the only ones at risk. Mama, the children, and I will be harmed if it is not returned.”
