The Vanishing Thief(33)
“He said, ‘I can’t believe Drake found out. It’s been over ten years. I’ll be a laughingstock if anyone learns about this.’ Did he tell you he’d marry you someday?”
I didn’t know which was more upsetting. His questions or his purring voice as he asked. “We were engaged and had set a wedding date. Rather like you and Miss Victoria, Your Grace.” My comment about Victoria Dutton-Cox made no visible impression on him. He didn’t even blink. “What do you know about the Earl of Waxpool’s secret?”
“Nothing. He doesn’t have one. Have you been in love since the death of your lover?”
I reached out and touched his sleeve. “Hold on a moment. He’s being blackmailed but he doesn’t have a secret? That makes no sense.”
“If you want clarification, you must answer my question first.”
“No.”
“The answer is no, or you won’t answer?”
I smiled. “If you want clarification . . .”
“Touché. The Earl of Waxpool has led a disgustingly virtuous life. You don’t have to take my word for it; check with anyone. He said he had recently noticed irregularities in his accounts and suspected one of his relatives stole from him to pay off their blackmailer. If he suspected someone in particular, he didn’t tell me.” He ate another bite. “I believe you owe me an explanation on your answer about whether you’ve been in love since your fiancé died.”
“No, I haven’t been. Could you please explain what you said earlier about Lord Hancock?”
“He’s constantly inventing something lethal and looking for investors so he can mass-produce it and have it deployed to slaughter the residents of some corner of the empire. Since his inventions are so destructive, our military is loath to use them for fear our soldiers would be among the victims. No one with any sense will invest with him.” He shook his head. “I don’t have any idea why someone would blackmail a man with so little money and so many lethal weapons at his disposal. Why are you looking for Drake?”
I was surprised at first because his question wasn’t personal. Relieved that it wasn’t, I began with a simple answer. “Because that’s what the Archivist Society does. We search for missing people and find the killers of those who are murdered.”
Warming to my topic, I said more than he might have wanted to hear. “We believe what we do is important. And we do this for everyone, whether or not they deserve our help, because we decided long ago we wouldn’t stand in judgment.”
Blackford nodded. “I can understand that for some unfortunate wreck, some light skirt, but not for Nicholas Drake. He destroys people.”
“Who has he destroyed?”
He stared into my eyes. I could feel anger and hatred flowing toward me. I stared back, but he didn’t blink or turn away.
We were served the next course. I faced Naylard with only half my attention as he plunged into a long explanation of how his steward figured out what was wrong with one of his mares. What I really wanted to do was ignore the rules of etiquette and question Blackford further about Drake.
I glanced across the table at Naylard’s sister. Lucinda barely touched any of her food and paid little attention to what Inspector Grantham said to her. “Milord,” I broke in, “is your sister quite well? She’s barely touched her dinner and looks quite pale.”
“She doesn’t believe in eating much or wearing jewelry or anything but praying.”
“Is she heartbroken over a man?”
“Can you keep a secret?”
“Of course. I don’t know anyone in society to tell anything to, except for Lady Westover, and I won’t tell her. I promise.”
“My sister wants to live in a convent, except she can’t, because she’s got to take care of me. I’d destroy myself and end up in a gutter somewhere if she didn’t take care of things for me.”
I looked into his guileless eyes and unfurrowed brow and said, “You’re lucky to have her.”
“I know. She can’t leave me. She’s always watched over me.”
No one could blackmail Naylard. But someone could blackmail his sister if it meant keeping her brother safe.
The ices arrived, and I turned back to the duke. He said, “Have you had any luck finding Drake?”
“Not at all. But we won’t give up.”
“Wonderful,” he muttered.
“Why did you say Drake destroys people?”
“I have the misfortune to have met him, and I’ve seen him ruin lives. I won’t give you details because it’s ungentlemanly to divulge other people’s secrets, so don’t ask me.”