Page 26 of The Miracle of Love
“Not there either. Too many people have access to those rooms. There is no privacy in a club. I’m thinking it is somewhere only Richard or your father would have access.”
She pursed her lips in thought. “In London? But the Crown agents tore everything apart here. They even discovered several secret passageways and chambers in our home. I had no idea these hiding places existed. I’m sure you read about those in your reports.”
“I did. So tell me about places outside of London. Did your father or Richard travel anywhere on a regular basis?”
“I’ve already been asked this question several times. All I can think of is our country estate. That has also been searched high and low. The house, barn, and stables. Your agents even discovered an abandoned well and searched it. We had no idea it ever existed.”
At his urging, she listed every detail she could recall about their country home.
He then asked her about her father’s daily routine in London.
“He never wavered from it,” she said. “He rose promptly at seven each morning, washed and dressed, and then joined me in the breakfast room at eight o’clock. Mother, when she was in town, preferred to take her breakfast in her bedchamber. My father had eggs and coffee while reading the morning papers. When finished, he would have his carriage summoned and head to the art gallery. He arrived there promptly at nine. The driver would then return and take me on my calls for the day.”
“How do you know your father did not stop elsewhere?”
“Oh, I suppose I don’t. But the Crown agents questioned his driver, and this is what he told them. I don’t think Crawford would lie about this, especially under their questioning.”
“And what of your brother, Richard? Did he ride with your father?”
“No, he rarely came downstairs before noontime because he stayed out with his friends until all hours. But Papa did not mind his coming late to work because the art gallery rarely got busy before midday. Richard would show up by then and do whatever it was he did there. Truly, I have no idea what his function was at the gallery. I wasn’t involved in the business, and my father was adamant no daughter of his would ever soil her dainty hands by working.”
She shook her head. “I thought he was just behaving like an old fossil who thought women belonged in the home and their only role was to bear children. As it turns out, he simply did not want us interfering with what he and my brother were doing. By the way, my brother was not a wastrel when it came to work. Yes, he carried on with his unsavory friends in the evenings, but I never heard my father complain about him shirking his duties. I believe he oversaw the warehouse transports, and I know he was responsible for the many galas and soirees held at the gallery. Those were quite popular. Richard knew how to throw a good party.”
Their carriage rolled past her former home.
“Did you have our driver pass by here on purpose?” In truth, she did not care if it was coincidence or planned. She wanted to go inside and look around.
She was pleased when Deklan agreed. “Something might jolt your memory.” He rapped on the carriage roof. “Rivers, pull up here. Wait for us. We won’t be long.”
“How did you know the driver’s name? He never told us.” She shook her head and sighed. “He is one of the Crown agents, isn’t he?”
“Wooton isn’t leaving anything to chance. Not only the villains have their eyes on you. The good guys are watching as well.” He hopped out, took a moment to look around, and then assisted her down from the carriage. “Stay close to me.”
“I will. Does Wooton have more agents watching this place?”
“He might, but I doubt he will use an active field agent for this purpose now that there is nothing more to be found here. Perhaps he’s assigned a clerk to keep an eye on whoever passes by.” He placed a hand lightly to the small of her back to guide her inside.
His merest touch shot tingles through her, but she did not allow herself to be distracted by the warmth of his hand or gentleness of his touch.
“We are in broad daylight and the street is busy, so we ought to be safe enough. But take nothing for granted, Grace. The foreign agents who are after you are the best money can buy. I have no doubt a few are lurking close. The smallest lapse, and they will swoop in and carry you off. Do you understand?”
“Am I in danger even when we are inside the house?”
“Yes, even then.”
She did not mind holding onto him or burrowing close to his side. Deklan was sleek as a leopard, his shoulders broad, and his build big and powerful. He scouted their surroundings with a predator’s eye, absorbing every detail.
She could see his agile mind at work as he took in every detail with a sharp and critical precision.
There was no question this man was intelligent.
“The lock to the front door is smashed to bits,” she noted with dismay, remaining close as they entered the house. She had seen the damage done by the Crown agents in those early days when the thefts were first being uncovered, but was unprepared for this utter devastation. “The walls have been demolished down to their studs. I knew they were going to search high and low, but this…”
“Wooton thought the crown might be hidden behind one of the walls.”
“Obviously, he found nothing.”
He shook his head. “Oh, he found plenty. Just not the crown. He and his agents tore apart the art gallery and warehouse, too.”
