Page 31 of The Art of Theft
She looked at him. “My father is a man of little significance. But his cousin, Mrs. Newell, is very well connected. She is related, by marriage and somewhat strenuously, to the Ashburtons of Derbyshire, the current Duke of Wycliffe among them.”
At the mention of the Ashburtons, something flickered in Forêt’s dark green eyes.
“Some years ago,” continued Charlotte, “when she still moved in Society, Mrs. Newell brought my sister and me to Eastleigh Park, the Duke of Wycliffe’s country seat, for a house party. When I was there I saw a photograph that caught my attention: The people in the picture were draped in garlands of tropical flowers, on an island with a dramatic landscape.
“I asked and was told that the lady in the picture was born an Ashburton, a cousin of the late duke. And those in the photograph with her were her husband and her two sons from a previous marriage. I may not remember every face in every photograph I have ever seen, but yours was a memorable face in a memorable photograph, sir.”
“Ah,” said Forêt, this time in perfect English, “Ash did warn me that my disguises would be too paltry for your penetrative gaze.”
“The lady’s late husband was an Atwood of Sussex. That would make you Mr. Atwood.”
“Lieutenant Atwood.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lieutenant.” She gestured at the chair at the opposite end of the table. “Won’t you join me for dinner?”
Lieutenant Atwood did not hesitate this time. He set a place, served himself a bowl of soup, and sat down.
“Lord Ingram mentioned that you were passing through France. Were you on your way back to India?”
“That is correct.”
“Did you come to England with Lord Remington?”
This time Lieutenant Atwood’s answer was slightly slower in coming. “Yes.”
Lord Remington, youngest of Lord Ingram’s three elder brothers, was attached to the viceroy’s office in Calcutta in an officiallyvague capacity. Charlotte would call him a spymaster, except she wasn’t sure that was all he did.
“I investigated a case for Lord Ingram at Stern Hollow. At the time, he mentioned that he’d entrusted his children to Lord Remington. But it became apparent later that the children had not been, in fact, with Lord Remington himself. Were they by some chance with you?”
Lieutenant Atwood inclined his head—this line of inquiry apparently did not bother him. “The children and their governess were at my place in Sussex. I was happy to host them, as I myself was needed at the estate, to make decisions and see to its upkeep.”
It was rare for a firstborn heir to join the military, which was more typically the lot of younger sons.
“It sounds as if you hadn’t been home for some time.”
“Years.”
“May I venture to guess that you have been saving your home leaves for more travel, such as to Chinese Turkestan?”
Her dinner companion was reaching for a slice of baguette. His hand hovered for a moment above the basket. His eyes cast briefly downward, before he met Charlotte’s gaze. “Chinese Turkestan is a politically sensitive area,” he said evenly. “The Chinese would be quite miffed if the English were mucking about. The Russians wouldn’t be pleased either.”
“Which is why the English would be mucking about, I take it.”
“Just because the magazine I put in the dossier has an article on Chinese Turkestan doesn’t mean I have visited or plan to visit the area.”
Even though those pages had been read repeatedly and the rest of the magazine hardly riffled through?
“Of course you’re right about your own plans,” said Charlotte, deciding not to further press the point. “But I’m glad you came back to England with Lord Remington. Nothing matters more to Ashthan the safety of his children. I’m sure he was supremely grateful that they found timely refuge in your home.”
Lieutenant Atwood inclined his head again. “It was very little trouble on my part.”
Charlotte judged that had been enough small talk. She took a bite of her unbuttered bread. “Our current venture, however, promises to be much more troublesome. Have you already seen the château?”
“Yes.”
“And obviously you have also seen the architectural plans. What do you think?”
“That would depend on whether we are taking the painting by force or by stealth.”
