The Vanishing Thief(14)

“Why did Miss Carter have a photograph of her next-door neighbor? Not the usual thing to have, is it?” Fogarty said.

“No, but her concern made it clear she’s in love with Nicholas Drake. Her possession of this photograph tells me he reciprocated her feelings.”

The buzzer sounded. I fell silent and looked to Sir Broderick, who nodded to Jacob. The young man set down his plate and silently hurried down the stairs to the front door.

Moments later, I heard the door open and a commanding voice said, “The Duke of Blackford for Sir Broderick duVene and Miss Fenchurch.”

“They’re not available this evening, Your Grace.”

“Oh, I think they’ll see me.”

Emma whispered, “That’s him. That’s Georgia’s duke.”

“He’s not my—” I looked at Sir Broderick and gulped. This was worse than any nightmare. How did he know I was here? My friends would throw me out of their society after this debacle.

“Bring him up, Jacob,” Sir Broderick called out.

My heart thudded with every step on the stairs. I glanced around the room. Every eye was trained on the doorway.

Maybe it was only a fluctuation in the gas pressure, but it seemed to me that the lights dimmed as the Duke of Blackford entered the study. He was dressed in the finest of black evening wear, and it seemed to absorb the warmth and brightness of the room and replace it with chilled darkness. Every hair on his head was precisely combed despite the wind outside.

I didn’t realize the room had grown silent and I was holding my breath until Sir Broderick said, “Come in, Your Grace, and state your business with us.”

“You need to cease your search for Nicholas Drake.”

“Has he been found?”

“No.” The duke stood just inside the room, towering over the seated occupants. His eyes were like burning coals, a thin crust of black holding the flame within. I knew I’d be in awe of his passion if he’d direct it toward something beneficial. As it was, I was astonished at the tightly leashed power flowing from him like heat from the fire. How had he known we were meeting here tonight?

“Then why should we stop?” Sir Broderick asked.

“A slander has been made against my reputation. I am the one who should find Drake and prove my innocence in his disappearance.”

“Our help could prove invaluable.”

“I doubt it.” The scorn in the duke’s voice was unmistakable.

Sir Broderick didn’t hide his anger. “You underestimate us, Your Grace.”

“No. You underestimate us. Call off your search for Nicholas Drake.” He faced me, his gaze piercing my brain. “Your help is neither wanted nor appreciated.”

Then he turned back to our host. “This should conclude any business between us. Miss Fenchurch, if you’ll see me out?”

I glanced at Sir Broderick, who nodded slightly. I rose and gave the duke my arm. He escorted me down the stairs in silence while I tried to plan a series of questions that might lead me to the reason a duke had descended on our meeting and ordered us away from the investigation.

Stunned, my mind spent those precious few moments absorbing the precision of his steps, the firmness of his arm, and the scents of soap and smoke. I couldn’t think of a single articulate question.

“Please convey to Sir Broderick that I am serious about handling this investigation without your interference.” He picked up his silk top hat and reached for the door handle.

I moved to stand with my back to the door, blocking his way. “We’ve not yet decided if we will undertake this search, but we might be more amenable to your request if you told us what was behind it.”

“This slur on my reputation is my business, not yours.”

“We’ve been asked to locate a missing man, not salvage your pristine reputation.” My tone made clear what I thought was more important.

He stared down on me, standing close enough to let me study the grim set of his mouth and feel the heat coming off his body past the cold air trapped in his heavy wool overcoat. For the first time, I noticed tiny light gray flecks in his dark eyes. “You don’t know what you’re getting involved in.”

“I’m going to find out.”

“You said the Archivist Society hasn’t yet decided to undertake a search for Drake.” His hand reached past me to the door handle.

I decided on my first step. I would defy a duke to find Nicholas Drake. “You said ‘us’ upstairs. Who are the others? The men in your club who’ve also been victims of Mr. Drake’s larceny?”

He opened the door by pushing me aside with it. “Why put yourself in danger?”