Page 39 of The Mysterious Miss Lydia
And if the circumstances were different, he’d wait. He’d do his due diligence, and he’d hold off on speaking with Sir Cedric again until he had irrefutable proof.
As it was, he had circumstantial evidence, at best, and a gut instinct.
But if anyone ought to have faith in his instincts it was the man who’d overseen his missions these last few years.
With that thought in mind, he took his chance the first moment he could. “Sir, I really need to speak with you.”
“Are you enjoying the party, Lord Galena?” he asked, all smiles.
A muscle in Luke’s jaw twitched as he stressed the honorary title.
Sir Cedric looked around them. “I saw your father around here somewhere.”
Luke’s brows hitched up at that. His father was here? He shook off the thought. It could very well just be Sir Cedric’s way of reminding him of his new responsibilities.
“Now where did he get to?” the older man murmured.
By the man’s too-casual air, Luke suspected his guess was right. But it wouldn’t work. He could do his duty to the earldom after he’d ensured that his mystery woman was safe and there were no threats left in the Home Office.
“It’s about Wendell,” he said quietly.
Sir Cedric’s easygoing demeanor dropped swiftly. “Galena,” he murmured his name in a low warning tone.
“I know you don’t want to believe it—”
“I’d believe it if you had one shred of proof,” the other man shot back. But by his quick, aggressive turn, Luke didn’t believe him.
Sir Cedric was a good man. An honorable one, and a strong leader. But even the strongest man could be fooled by love, and there was no question that Sir Cedric thought of Wendell as a son.
“Do you have proof?” Sir Cedric snapped.
No. Luke gritted his teeth, his nostrils flared. “I have something better.”
Sir Cedric hesitated. “What are you talking about?”
“The redhead you’re looking for,” he said, his voice low and his words quick, trying to make the most of Sir Cedric’s attention. “The actress. She’s here. At this party.”
Sir Cedric’s brows snapped down. “What?”
“I saw her,” he said. “I spoke to her.”
Sir Cedric’s gaze began to scan the crowd. “I don’t believe it. What would she be doing here?”
Luke felt a twinge of hesitation. Not because he doubted his instincts but because...
Because he didn’t want to hurt his former mentor.
“Well?” Sir Cedric snapped.
“Last I saw...” He drew in a deep breath. “She was talking to Wendell.”
Sir Cedric’s eyes snapped with emotions. Disbelief. Anger. But there was a hint of doubt there as well. Still, when he spoke, it was with the defensive anger Luke had expected. “How dare you—”
“I’m telling you what I saw.”
“You’re telling me what you want to believe,” the older man cut in.
Luke’s mouth opened but no sound came out.
