Page 28 of A Translation of Desire
The man eyed her skeptically. Rose insisted, “I’m telling the truth.”
Just then, the Seely House guard staggered down the walkway, blood dripping down the back of his head. The cleaner whistled to a hack driver. “Fetch a constable.”
The driver took off, and the guard asked her, “Are you hurt, Miss Calvert?”
She shook her head. “No, but you are. Please sit.”
The man stumbled. Rose sprang to her feet. “Sit now.”
He sighed and slid to the ground. She frowned, puzzled by what had happened. It was clear that the thieves had been after documents, and Rose suspected it was related to her work. Why?
*
Augustus followed LordHawley’s assistant as he guided him to the viscount’s office at the London Society of Antiquaries. His lips quirked up in amusement as one door after another was unlocked and relocked. He didn’t realize antiquities required so much security. What was Hawley doing in here?
Finally, they arrived at a large room where several secretaries and assistants sat at their desks, diligently working. Along the perimeter of the space were multiple doors. His escort knocked on one.
“Enter,” Hawley said from inside his office.
The assistant opened the door and stepped aside, allowing Augustus to enter. Hawley rose. “Good day, Sinclair. I was surprised when my assistant informed me that you were here requesting a meeting.”
Augustus nodded. “I apologize for arriving without an appointment.
“Nonsense,” Hawley said before turning to his assistant. “Please fetch us some tea.”
The man nodded and shut the door as the scholar settled back into his chair behind his desk. “What can I help you with?”
“What I’m about to tell you must stay between the two of us.”
Concern filled Hawley’s face. “Has something happened to my wife?”
“You could say so. Two of the tablets they are planning to use in their main exhibit for the grand opening of the Historical Society for Female Curators have been stolen. I’ve been assisting them in trying to retrieve the relics.”
His assistant entered, and they both waited to speak further until the tea had been poured and the man departed. Finally, Hawley said, “I know. I’ve hired someone to keep me apprised of any issues they encounter. It is only to ensure Lady Hawley’ssafety. I would have reached out to her, but I’m aware that my wife does not want any assistance from me, so I have not offered my help. I’m glad you’re there for them.”
Augustus found it strange that he was monitoring his wife so closely. They’d been separated for a decade. “You are having someone watch the club?”
Hawley winced at his tone. “It has nothing to do with any perceived competition between my wife’s club and the London Society of Antiquaries.”
“Then what is it?”
“You and I both know that there are great people in the antiquities field, but there are also plenty of cutthroat and unscrupulous individuals out there. It is simply a precaution.”
“I have your word it isn’t to try to stop their club?” Augustus asked.
His host’s lips twitched upward. “First, Devons becomes a dedicated supporter of their cause. And now, you?”
Heat crept up the back of Augustus’s neck. “I’m an advocate for all clubs focused on antiquities and artifacts.”
Hawley nodded but continued to smirk. “I’m impressed that they were able to convince Rose Calvert to work with them. I hope to share my decipher key with her eventually.”
“Soon?” Sinclair asked.
“I would like to do so before either of us shares details about how our keys work publicly. It would be valuable to compare and validate each other’s research.”
“This may be speculation on my part, but I believe the break-ins at Seely House are related to her work on deciphering the text. I have a hunch they are after her analytic findings.”
Hawley shrugged. “Perhaps.”
