Page 42 of The Ambiguous Enigma of the Hunted Lady
“Your crew, Captain?” Cornelius pressed. “How many can you account for?”
“We had forty-four souls aboard.” the captain shuddered. “Eight of us made it on board the French ship that picked us up.”
“Have their statements been taken and sworn to?” Cornelius asked the panel of East India officials.
“They are here, Lord Wilson.” one of the men approached with a small stack of papers.
“Very well.” Cornelius looked through the documents briefly before handing them over to Kenneth.
Kenneth looked to him with astonishment.Does he truly want me to make the decision?
“Very good then.” Cornelius announced. “The partners shall deliberate, and your answer will be received within a week. This hearing is adjourned.”
The visiting parties shuffled out and finally Cornelius and Kenneth were left alone in their offices to discuss the claim.
“What was your impression?” Cornelius asked, pouring up two brandies for them to share.
“He seemed earnest.” Kenneth admitted, taking the glass.
“That is what you always say.” Cornelius smiled and drank with his nephew. “You participated in the questioning, what drove that?”
“I cannot say for certain.” Kenneth shrugged.
“Well, whatever it was,” Cornelius took in a deep breath. “I should like to see more of it. This will all be yours one day, yours without me that is. It is already half yours. I should like you to make the final decision about the nature of the claim. Are you comfortable with that?”
“I suppose I must be.” Kenneth replied, taking a refill of brandy.
“Indeed.” Cornelius lit up with a grin and toasted again with Kenneth. “You shall need all of these.” he uttered, collecting the transcript of the captain's testimony. “Read it over, as well as the other testimonies. The word of a sailor is less reliable than the word of a captain, but between all of their stories you will either find commonality or dissimilarity. Think on it well. Take until the next week at this time, and return to me your answer along with its reasoning. Are you prepared for this?”
“I am.” Kenneth said boldly. “Although I find it dull, I understand the importance.”
“Well said.” Cornelius laughed. “Now, will you be staying in London? I hear there is to be a gala two days from now.”
“Alas no, Uncle.” Kenneth shuffled all the papers together that he required, sliding them safely into a carrying case. “I have an urgent delivery to make.”
Chapter 12
Leah, if she was not already bored with her bedrest, had come to completely despise everything about the room she inhabited.
Everything in her proximity seemed to reach out at her, holding her back in the one-person bed, keeping her pinned and smothered in the crannies of this mansion.
She had been immobile longer than ever in her life, and it worked into her fiber like an irritating tic. She was stuck there, healing at whatever pace she progressed at, fretting over how long she could remain here anonymously.
It was far from likely that any of Riphook's gangs would try to reach her here, if even they knew where she was. Yet, still she felt uneasy, as if she had already been discovered by some malicious force.
Yet, in bed she remained, ever ready to spring out the windows, should the situation merit it.
“Leah?” She could hear Kenneth rapping on the door, as if she could be in a position other than the one she was captive to.
“Are you coming in or not?” she called back playfully.
“Well, of course.” he said, stepping through the doorway. “Although it is only proper to have permission first.”
“What do you care for proper?” she asked, cocking her head with a grin. She was glad to see him. Out of all the bars that kept her here, he was by far the least offensive; he was charming, even, in his own sort of sour way.
“Not much, or so I'm told.” Kenneth grinned and took the seat beside the bed.
“How did you find London?” she asked idly, diverting her attention briefly out the window.
