The Heart of a Duke(57)

Robbie grinned. “Now that we might have more success finding. We can—” Robbie began, but was cut short at the sound of a throat being cleared.

They turned to see Davie, Robbie’s brother, who was half the size of Robbie but with the same dark eyes and shock of unruly hair. “You need to come inside,” he said, addressing Daniel. “Something has come up.” He did not wait for either of them to respond, but turned on his heels and headed back out.

Daniel exchanged a curious look with Robbie before following him outside.

They trailed Davie into the house, upstairs, down a long hallway, and toward the guest quarters and Daniel’s room, where his bedroom door stood ajar. Davie gestured Daniel inside with a nod of his head.

Frowning, Daniel quickened his step, but stopped short at the sight greeting him. A young housemaid stood inside, wringing her hands before her. Daniel noted her anxious expression, but was too stunned at the disarray in his room to give her much heed.

It was as if a gust of wind had whipped through and tossed everything asunder. His books and papers were dispersed, some on the floor, some crumpled up. Drawers jutted out with items spilling from them, his wardrobe door gaped open, and clothing was strewn on the ground. The only broken item was the porcelain bowl that had sat on the commode. It looked as if it had been hurled in anger, for it was shattered into pieces before the hearth.

What in the world . . . ?

“In a bit of temper before you left, were you?” Davie said.

Incredulous, Daniel’s eyes shot to him. “You believe I did this?”

“Well, if you didn’t, who did? Are any of the other rooms ransacked like this?” Robbie asked the maid.

“No, sir. Thot’s wot I was tellin’ Master Davie here,” she said. “I had done a proper cleanin’ when my lord first left early this mornin’. I didn’t plan to do another when ye returned, but I noticed the door was ajar after ye left again and I came to close it, I did, and thot’s when—”

“When I returned? This morning?” Unease swept through Daniel.

“Yes, sir.” She looked at him oddly.

“You saw me return? Did I speak to you or anyone?”

“No, my lord. But Lanie, said ye . . . well, she said ye smiled at her when ye climbed the stairs.” She flushed, but sobered when Daniel simply stared. “But ye seemed in a hurry, otherwise she would have asked ye if ye wanted a proper cup of tea brought up.”

Daniel faced Robbie. “This is the first time I have returned since my leave-taking early this morning. Whoever smiled at Lanie, it was not me.”

Robbie addressed the maid. “Corrine, can you get Lanie for us? That might assist us with clarifying matters.” The maid bobbed a quick curtsy and hurried from the room, looking relieved to escape.

“Only one other person could be mistaken for you,” Robbie said. “I would ask why, but we both know he has cause for his anger.”

“What cause? What do we know?” Davie said, his interest perked at Robbie’s meaningful look.

Daniel waved a hand dismissively. “My brother and I had a bit of a row earlier.”

Davie whistled. “Cor, me and Robbie go at it all the time, but I never thought the duke had it in him. Always so high in the instep. That explains your black and blue. Did you triumph?”

Robbie cuffed his brother on the head. “Can you focus here? We need to find out if Bedford took anything.”

Davie rubbed his head. “You just said he did it ’cause he was in a fit of temper, so I doubt he pocketed anything. He lost the fight, then?” He gave Daniel a hopeful look, but Daniel simply shook his head. “Fine, don’t share the interesting details.”

“Davie,” Robbie’s patience snapped. “What makes you so bloody sure he didn’t take anything?”

“’Cause I picked this off the floor,” he said, striding over to the mantel and lifting a gold watch fob. “This is a pretty piece. Looks like it has the Bedford crest on it. Doubt he would leave it, if he was here to loot. Besides, he’s a duke, he has to have everything a man could want or the funds to buy what he doesn’t.”

Daniel swiped his hands down his face. Did Edmund seriously visit his room simply to vent his rage? Go home. I give you fair warning. Edmund had threatened him. He frowned. It seemed extreme even for his nefarious brother, but there was rage here. No denying that. His eyes strayed to the remnants of the shattered bowl.

“Sir? Corrine said you wanted to see me?” A petite maid hovered in the doorframe. Her wide blue eyes nearly swallowed up her gamin face.

“Yes, Lanie. Did you see Lord Bryant return to his lodgings mid morning?”