Chapter 40

Who exactly was John Wakes?

The question had nagged Lucas ever since Olivia had said the name. Two days had passed since she brought him the list she'd

copied from the ledgers hidden in Russell's chamber, and ever since, he and his men had been dedicated to tracking down any

pieces they possibly could.

But they'd found nothing.

What was more, Olivia had heard Tabitha say that this man could be dangerous, and the idea of someone harming Olivia fanned

the fire beneath him.

Lucas waited just outside the rear entrance to their shop, where Olivia was supposed to meet him. He spotted her as she crossed

the road, and he straightened. Thoughts of porcelain and thefts fled.

The early afternoon sunlight fell over the crowded street, and the resulting shadows highlighted her slender form and played against the wisps of hair visible from beneath her straw bonnet. The skirt of her empire-waisted peach-hued gown swayed with each determined step, and the ribbons securing her bonnet danced in the breeze. But it was more than her beauty that captured his imagination. Her every motion exuded a refreshing confidence that he was not sure he'd ever seen in a woman before. None of the other women at Cloverton would dare be seen on a public street without a companion or at least a maid. But Olivia did things her own way. She thought differently. She challenged what was considered feminine. And yet she exuded femininity.

As she drew nearer to his shop, he jogged and met her halfway in the crowded road. "There you are! I wish you would have permitted

me to send my carriage for you."

She beamed at him before they fell into step with each other back to the shop's rear entrance. "The offer was kind, but it

would only make my uncle suspicious."

Once inside, she removed her bonnet and brushed her hair away from her brow. "I've been eager to hear if you've been able

to find anything more on John Wakes."

"No, I haven't. You?"

She hung her bonnet on the hook just inside the door. "I spent all morning looking through records and couldn't find a thing."

He motioned toward his office. "Wainbridge is here already. He's in my office."

Olivia jolted, and her forehead furrowed. "I thought he wasn't supposed to arrive for another half hour."

"He's early. I've managed to put him off for a bit. I told him someone knowledgeable on the topic would be joining us."

"Did you tell him it was me?"

He chuckled. "No."

She expelled a nervous laugh and fussed with the fichu about her neck. "I suppose I can understand why."

"Don't worry. All will be well. Wainbridge is a reasonable man. Mostly."

Together they made their way to the office, and Lucas opened the door and paused for her to pass before him.

Almost immediately, Wainbridge jumped to his feet from where he'd been sitting near the desk. His appearance had much improved

from the wild version she'd encountered the morning she'd left Cloverton. He was once again the immaculately dressed, clean-shaven

man she'd met that first day of the house party, but instead of his customary grin, a disapproving scowl darkened his visage.

"MissBrannon. I was not expecting to see you here."

"I asked her to join us." Lucas raised his hands, as if soothing a spooked stallion. "Before we discuss your collection, she

has something you must hear."

Wainbridge's irritated expression hardened. "With all due respect, Avery, I don't think so."

Lucas maintained a firm tone. "She has news that impacts all of us. Like it or not, your collection is at the center of a

larger issue."

After Wainbridge's expression softened and he relaxed back into his chair, Olivia calmly informed him of what she'd learned

over the last several days—about Tabitha, Russell, and Wakes. About the ledgers and the midnight conversation, the planned

meeting, and the authentic piece at her shop that, in all likelihood, belonged to him.

When all again fell silent, Wainbridge pushed his fingers through his dark hair and shook his head, as if shaking himself out of a stupor. "I see."

Recognizing that Olivia's words were gaining traction, Lucas added, "We must act upon what we know. As the owner of the pieces,

you are the only one with authority. Based on what MissBrannon overheard, there's an exchange planned for Wednesday night

on Cloverton property. If these thieves are to be brought to justice, the three of us must work together."

"The three of us?" Wainbridge raised a thick eyebrow. "With all due respect, MissBrannon, I—"

"I take this very seriously"—Olivia's impassioned tone was steady—"and I'm the one who overheard the conversation and found

the original piece in the storeroom. I can answer questions that no one else can."

Lucas moved to stand next to her. "We should have no problem keeping any plans from Crane since he's away from London, but

ensuring that Tabitha doesn't suspect anything is imperative."

"Very well," Wainbridge acquiesced at last. "Isabella and I will be returning to Yorkshire in two days' time. You're welcome

to share our carriage, and we can sort the details from there. Will we be able to recover the stolen pieces? Or the money

at least?"

Lucas shrugged. "That's the goal. I suggest you inform your solicitor of our suspicions before you leave London, and we'll

want to speak with the magistrate in Yorkshire, but recovering the money will depend on whether the authentic pieces have

been sold or not. Crane is well-connected in the antiquities world, but so are MissBrannon and I. Hope is not lost, but you

must trust us."

***

Olivia never failed to impress Lucas.

She'd been articulate. Confident. And doggedly resolute. Even as she leaned to see out the office window, her golden eyes

were wide and eagerly intent. "How do you think that went?"

Lucas stood next to her as they watched Wainbridge's carriage disappear around the corner. "He's agreed to help. That's a

start, isn't it?"

Once the carriage was completely out of sight, she dropped the edge of the curtain and moved back to the center of the office.

"He still doesn't trust me. I can tell."

"Well then, you'll just have to prove yourself," Lucas offered encouragingly. "Just as you have been. I only hope you proceed

with caution."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning this entire situation could be very dangerous. These people aren't the sort of people we usually interact with. You

even said that Tabitha suggested Wakes could be violent."

She drew a deep breath and folded her arms. "I know, but we can't let them succeed. Especially Russell. They may have stolen

from the Cloverton collection, but Russell also took something from my family. He betrayed my father's legacy and took advantage

of his good name. He must be held accountable for that."

Lucas recognized the fire and need for justice in her words. He wanted to do something that would protect her and rectify the injustices she faced, but he also suspected that doing so would almost be an insult to her. She was composed and clever, and she possessed more aplomb than anyone he knew. Her inquisitiveness and poise would be the envy of most men.

No, she did not need him.

But maybe—just perhaps—she wanted him.

"This isn't going to be easy. If you need my support, you have it." He moved toward her. "And you will always have it."

She noticed the small rendering of the Avery boys on the desk and lifted it to get a closer look at the drawing his brother

had made all those years ago. "I wonder what our fathers would say if they knew we were working together like this."

"My father would be relieved," Lucas offered. "I know he always regretted the way things turned out between them."

"I think my father would too. We have all seen how life is too short for holding on to grievances."

He took another step in her direction until he was quite close.

Her curls sparkled in the afternoon sunlight. She lowered the drawing back to the desk and turned to face him.

Emboldened by the solidarity deepening between them, Lucas smoothed an errant lock of hair away from her face. He was close

enough to see the golden flecks in her eyes that captivated him so, breathe the scent of rosewater that always wafted off

her, and feel her warmth. "I don't know about you, but I hope this is the first of many endeavors we undertake together."

A playful smile curved her lips. "What else did you have in mind?"

He lowered his hand to her shoulder. She swayed subtly toward him, and it was all the encouragement he needed. He took her in his arms, relishing her softness. She melted against him, and in that moment no more words were needed.

He lowered his lips to meet hers, and the tender passion he found there, the earnest return of his affection, confirmed that

in the midst of searching for the success he'd thought would make him happy, he'd found the person who would not only make him happy but make him complete.