Page 8 of A Spinster for the Rakish Duke (Notorious Sisters of London #3)
Chapter Eight
“ S o,” the delivery man asked suddenly. “You aren’t the brother of the Duke. You are the Duke of Lowe, Your Grace?
Donovan’s eyebrow arched. Most people kept their heads down when it came to the matters of the aristocracy, and even if they eavesdropped, they wouldn’t say so directly. He couldn’t avoid the truth of the situation now though.
“Yes,” he admitted.
“And you told Miss Branford that you weren’t a Duke when you were.” The look of confusion on the young man’s face would have been comical if for the slightly pressing matter of the subject.
“I did,” he admitted again.
“May I ask why, My Lord?” the delivery man enquired.
Donovan stared at him for a minute. “I want to express something to you, and I want you to know I am not expressing this out of anger but genuine surprise. Most common people do not look to enquire on the matters of titleholders. Either out of awe, respect, or fear. Probably a mix of the three. But you ask more directly than anyone I ever met. Why is that?”
The delivery man gave a little laugh. “Has nothing to do with my perspective on people of your station, Your Grace. We are investigating the disappearance of my employer and benefactor, Miss Bradford’s brother.
All questions need to be asked, especially because your name was in Mr. Bradford’s address book, but I’ve never heard of you.
So, you aren’t above suspicion in my book just yet. ”
Donovan nodded appreciatively. “A fair deduction. I am assuming this is, in large part, because you found out I was lying about who I am to your employer’s sister.”
He nodded, “The one hiccup in that though is your lie doesn’t at all go along with what I read in my books. You would want to lie about being someone important, not to hide that you are important.”
Donovan continued to study the young man. There was a cleverness to him that he hid behind many layers but was willing to use it when it was necessary. Donovan was glad. Seemed like someone useful to have around during an investigation.
“Here is the deal. My reasons for... misleading Miss Bradford are my own. But I promise I hold her no ill will, and that my lies bear no significance to her brother going missing. I swear upon my honor that is the truth of the matter, and I humbly ask that you keep this revelation to yourself for the time being.”
It was the delivery man’s turn to study him. “Well, if I am not to be calling you “Your Grace,” then how would you like me to refer to you?”
“Mr. Connor suits me just fine, thank you,” Donovan said pleasantly and politely.
“Well nice to meet you, Mr. Connor,” the delivery man said while holding out his hand. “My name is Martin Herst, Marty to my friends.”
The young man’s grip was surprisingly firm, but it was clearly not meant to be a postulating or painful handshake. Donovan could tell that part of this man appreciated the idea of the two of them being relative equals, even if it wasn’t true to life.
When Emma heard the door, she held a brief flutter of hope that her brother had returned.
It was soon clear that wasn’t the case though as she could hear Mr. Herst's excitable voice carried all the way down the hall to her brother’s study.
Emma had herself holed up at her brother's desk, reading through any of her brother’s paperwork that she could make any sense of.
She was almost as happy to see Donovan had chosen to return with Mr. Herst. He had come, and she was thankful.
“Mr. Connor. I am glad that you have come to our aid in this time of need,” she said trying not to let too much emotion creep up into her voice. She had detested crying, even from a young age. One of her father’s favorite anecdotes about her was to express how she never cried as a baby.
“I must admit, I was surprised after receiving a letter from you after all this time. I thought you no longer wished to hear from me.” Emma’s face became puzzled, and Donovan quickly changed the subject. “So, your brother disappeared, and nobody knows where?”
“Yes, I have no idea where he has gone,” Emma said while gesturing to the pile of papers that had been gathered before her. “The only lead we have, which is not really a lead at all, is this list of his recent associates and acquaintances,” she said handing the slip of paper to Donovan.
“He’s been missing for two days, now?” Donovan asked. “Did anyone talk to these people?”
“I did, Mr. Connor, but it was mostly to ask if anyone had seen my missing employer,” Mr. Herst informed him. “I didn’t ask any other questions, so some of the people on that list will probably have to be talked to again.”
“I’m sure that any information could be pertinent to the investigation.
Especially when the evidence we already have is practically nonexistent,” he added as an afterthought dryly, but then he was quick to correct himself when he noticed a concerned look on Emma’s face.
“All investigations have to start from the bottom and work their way up. I will start working on it now, and I am going to find your brother.”
“You aren't going to find him. We are,” Emma corrected. And before Donovan could argue, which she could clearly see that he was ready to, she followed up, “You may know investigating and crime and all of that, Mr. Connor, but you don’t know my brother. And for that, you will need my help.”
Donovan’s jaw tightened. He had no argument against her. Especially since he knew her pride in her intelligence. It may have cost her a great deal to call him for assistance, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to convince her to sit and wait for results.
He shook his head. “Very well. We won’t be taking the carriage, so make sure you are prepared to be doing a great deal of walking.”
“Excellent,” she said with firm enthusiasm. “Where do we start?”
“We start where your brother was last. If anyone knows anything helpful, it is likely the people on this list,” Donovan assured her.
“But they were already asked if they had seen Benjamin or knew where he was,” she said uncertainly.
“That was a good start,” Donovan nodded, “but not the only useful information they could provide. Come, you’ll see what I mean soon enough,” he said confidently and prepared his coat and some materials. “We leave at once. Time is of the essence.”
Emma stood quickly and left to prepare her own things.
Mr. Herst stood in the room for a moment before adding to no one in particular. “I suppose I’ll stay here then. Just in case he comes back.”