Page 100 of One Wicked Secret
Damn the fool. He was right. A line in Lord Grafton’s final message confirmed Carver was the intermediary. That he alone knew the identity of the devil behind it all.
“Mr Charmers must have lied,” Elsa said, looking relieved.
But Daniel hadn’t finished with Magnus. “What about the men you hired to watch Edenberry? You never mentioned that either. You knew I’d hired a retired runner.”
“I took my father’s advice and decided to trust no one. Wasn’t it better to have three men watching the house?”
“Is that why you didn’t tell me you were in London? Because you think I’m untrustworthy too?”
Magnus pushed his hands through his blonde hair. “When I was attacked in Geneva, I knew I had to come home and find answers. I didn’t mean to keep you in the dark; I was just trying to spare you more trouble. I’ve spent countless nights searching Edenberry, looking for that damned journal.”
Elsa inhaled sharply. “Didyoushoot me?”
Her brother’s brows shot up in disbelief. “No!”
“But you did send the letters to The Grange, informing Clara that Daniel had a mistress and had bought me for two shillings.”
Magnus winced. “Yes, but I thought if Denby saw you in town, he might reveal his hand or at least give me a clue as to what the devil is going on here.”
The news came as no surprise to Daniel. No one else had known about the two shillings, though half of London knew now. “I suppose you dressed as a vagrant and stole the books Elsa took from Edenberry’s library.”
“Yes, but they were just Mother’s old novels.”
Daniel glanced at the ceiling and prayed for restraint.
“Do you still have the copy ofThe Italian?” Elsa said, perhaps wondering if there was a secret message they’d missed. “I would really like to examine it.”
Magnus shrugged. “At my lodging house, but we havemore important matters to attend to than reading Mother’s novels, Elsa.”
Daniel couldn’t recall ever wanting to punch a man more than he did Magnus Tyler. “That book might hold a vital clue, you imbecile.”
“Finnegan said there was nothing written inside. Still, for a price, he gave them to me anyway.”
Daniel launched himself at the useless fop.
Rothley moved with the silent speed of a panther, positioning himself between Daniel and the clown in the chair. “Why waste effort on a halfwit?”
Daniel stepped back and tugged his coat sleeves. “I suppose you know where I might find the elusive Finnegan and Mrs Tate.”
“I paid them to make themselves scarce. I knew you wouldn’t send Elsa back to The Grange without protection.”
Elsa took a cushion from the chair and hurled it at her brother. “At any point, did you consider keeping Daniel informed of your pathetic attempts at playing the amateur investigator?”
Magnus raised his hands, bracing for another feather-filled assault. “I was trying to avoid dragging you into this mess.”
“A splendid plan,” Rothley said with dripping sarcasm. “Shall we toast your martyrdom with brandy? Let’s look on the bright side. I’m confident we can strike you off the list of devious suspects.”
A knock on the study door brought light relief.
Signora Conti entered, gripping a letter, not the silver tea tray. “Sorry for the intrusion, but a gentleman, he has just delivered a note. He said it requires your immediate attention.”
Daniel thanked his housekeeper. “Is Clara home?”
“No, but the countess promised to see her safely to the door.”
He dismissed Signora Conti and broke the seal on the missive. “It must be news from Daventry.” He rolled his eyes at Magnus. “At least some people keep me abreast of important developments.”
Daniel read the letter twice before his pulse soared and he cursed Denby to the fiery pits of hell. “Of all thebloodynerve.”
