Chapter Eleven

Tess and Daisy were impressed by their successful sleuthing.

"We need to find out as much as we can about Lord Willingham," Daisy said. "Is he still in London, for a start? And where does he live when he's here?"

Ellie went to the bookcase and pulled down a copy of Boyle's Fashionable Court and Country Guide and Town Visiting Directory .

Since her own desk was still taken up with Harry's ridiculous plant, she placed the book on Daisy's desk and turned the pages until she found the correct entry.

"Ah, here we are: Patmore, John, T. Honorable Lord Willingham. He lives at Twenty-two Gloucester Square."

"That's just to the north of Hyde Park," Tess said.

"If he stole the book because it's valuable, and plans to sell the gold and jewels, then he'll have to go to a jeweler or pawn shop to do it. We should put a watch on his house and follow him if he leaves," Daisy said.

"And we should look into his financial situation," Ellie added. "Perhaps he has gambling debts or a crippling mortgage that means he needs the money? I can ask my cousin Reg to see if he's heard any rumors at the gentlemen's clubs."

"And I'll ask my brothers if they know anything," Daisy said. "One of them might have been sober enough to have taken note."

Her tone indicated she didn't hold out much hope of that possibility, and since all three of her elder brothers were known to be scandalous reprobates, it was probably a well-founded belief.

"But if Harry's theory is right, and Willingham wants the book because it's supposed to be lucky, then he won't be looking to sell it at all," Tess said. "He'll want to keep it close by, either at one of his properties, or maybe even on his person. I doubt he'll hide it away in a bank vault or deposit box."

"What if he stole it for someone else, though?" Daisy mused. She perched on the edge of her desk, one leg swinging back and forth as she thought aloud. "Maybe it's intended as a gift to bring luck to the recipient." She glanced over at the plant on Ellie's desk. "Like that basil."

Ellie glared at the unwanted greenery. She picked it up, and moved it to a side table near the window. "Do either of you know the Willinghams socially?"

Tess shook her head. "Not really. They're more our parents' generation."

"I've seen them a few times around town, but never spoken to either of them," Daisy said. "My father knows them, though. I'm pretty sure they've attended some of his drunken gatherings at Hollyfield. Lord Willingham likes to hunt. And drink."

"We need an excuse to get into the house and look for it. Do you think they'll be holding a party soon?"

"It's possible, given the festive season. The difficulty will be getting an invitation."

"Harry would happily forge us some," Ellie said tartly. "Or steal some. He seems to think that small crimes are permissible if executed in pursuit of foiling a larger one."

"I agree with him," Daisy said. "Needs must, and all that."

"You would," Ellie groused. "You have a highwayman's soul."

Daisy grinned at what she perceived as a compliment. "Didn't that fortune-telling hermit we visited at Vauxhall Gardens say my ideal match would be with a highwayman?"

"I think the actual wording on your scroll was ‘meet your true match on a dark highway,'" Tess reminded her. "But fortunes are notoriously open to interpretation."

"He accurately predicted that you'd be happy," Daisy countered. "He said you'd receive undying fidelity from your husband, and you only have to look at Justin to know that's true. The man's besotted with you."

Tess smiled, and a tinge of pink swept her cheeks. "Well, that was probably a lucky guess. But yes, he is. And I with him."

Ellie wrinkled her nose. "He said I'd marry a mysterious stranger."

Her pulse did an odd little skip as an image of Harry formed in her mind, but she dismissed it with an impatient shake of the head. He was not the stuff of happily-ever-afters.

Daisy hopped down from her desk. "I'll be off to try to find my brothers, then. Do you have any idea when we'll see Harry again?"

"He said he'd ‘be in touch.'" Ellie shrugged. "But if we need to contact him, he's staying at Cobham House, on Norfolk Street."

Tess raised her brows. "That's just off Hanover Square. Lovely part of town. Is he a guest? I've never heard of a Lord Cobham."

"That's because he disappeared some years ago, apparently. Nobody's quite sure if he's dead or alive, but in the meantime, Harry's renting the place from one of the man's relatives."

"Ah." Tess nodded, satisfied. "Very well. Let's meet back here at noon tomorrow to discuss what we've managed to find out. Justin and I are attending the Levensons' soir é e tonight, but if the Willinghams are in attendance, I'll try to get an introduction."

"I'll call on my other cousin, Edward, the barrister, tomorrow morning. He might know if the Willinghams have ever been involved in any court cases." Ellie stood and rounded her desk. "See you both tomorrow."