Page 10 of A Translation of Desire (The Brazen Curators #2)

R ose stepped through the doors of the Seely House, and her eyes widened in alarm. Two constables were talking with Addie. The club president’s hands flew back and forth as she pointed to the research room. Fear filled Rose’s stomach. She suspected their visit had something to do with the tablets.

Addie and the men headed for the research room. Rose followed behind them and gasped as she walked through the doorway. All the cabinets in the room were thrown open, and some were knocked over.

Sarah Martin was standing in the middle of the mess with a notebook.

Her gaze met Rose’s, and she shook her head.

Something had happened to the tablets. No.

She pulled her satchel closer, grateful she still had her interpretations and drawings of the text.

Why would someone steal heavy pieces of stone?

“Miss, have you looked over everything? Can you tell us what is missing?” one of the constables asked Sarah.

She glanced at Rose again, causing more dread to fill her stomach, before turning her attention to the man. “Two stone tablets are gone.”

The other constable nodded. “What is their worth?”

“They are priceless,” Rose said as she sank into one of the wooden chairs that had not been flipped over.

The men looked at each other and then turned to her. “While we understand you are upset, we need a realistic figure.”

Rose’s eyes flashed. “They are from thousands of years ago and perhaps contain a unique story that has never been seen in history before.”

Addie placed a hand on her shoulder as if to calm her. “Constables, say in the range of thousands of pounds.”

The men scribbled something in their notebooks. One asked, “Do you believe they were specifically looking for the tablets? Has anyone expressed interest in them?”

“We just hosted a lecture about them a few days ago. It was well attended.”

Frowns on both the constables’ faces as they wrote down more details.

Rose suspected this theft would be labeled as a low priority for them.

Alarm filled her that they would never see the artifacts again.

The men spoke quietly to each other and then turned to Addie, Sarah, and Rose.

“We have all we need. When we have information to share about your case, we will be in touch.”

The ladies watched them leave, and then Sarah plopped down on a chair. “We will never hear from them again.”

Addie sighed. “I agree. Constable Jackson and Constable Harris will do nothing more than file the report. The theft of ancient antiquities is likely not a priority for them, no matter their value.”

They had to do something. Rose was furious. “There must be someone we can speak with who understands where stolen artifacts might end up.”

“There is an illicit market for antiquities in London. I could ask my father, but I fear he will become alarmed about my participation here if he knows about the thefts,” Sarah said.

“We must keep this as quiet as possible. The gossipers are already on alert, looking for anything amiss here,” Addie stated.

“We need to speak with someone,” Rose bit out.

Addie nodded and walked to the office. What was she doing?

Rose and Sarah followed her. The club president rifled through her desk and then held up a missive.

“The Duke of Sinclair requested an appointment with us. His import business brings in relics across the globe. Perhaps, we can bring him into our confidence. I trust him and believe he would know where stolen antiquities were sold.”

The duke’s face flashed in Rose’s mind. She’d not expected to see him again after their encounter with the statue.

Yet, he’d been at her talk and now the club would meet with him.

Why did he unsettle her so much? He was handsome, but it wasn’t that.

Rose had encountered plenty of attractive men in her life.

She’d felt something different and new at his ball with him.

No. Rose was making their connection bigger than it was.

She was letting her imagination run wild.

That’s all it was. They didn’t suit and she wasn’t even looking for a husband.

But the thought of working with him to find the tablets made her flustered.

Anger welled in Rose that her mind wasn’t focused on what was important.

What was she doing? She didn’t let men affect her and wouldn’t now. “I think we should ask for his help.”

Sarah nodded. “Agreed.”

“I hope this can all be cleared up soon. We are only a few weeks from the grand opening,” Addie said.

“We do still have the second tablet.”

She was grateful for that. Rose had only just started deciphering it.

The theft seemed strange. Why leave one tablet behind?

If a thief were looking to sell the relics on the illicit market, they would want all of them.

She didn’t share her thoughts, unsure what it all meant.

“We have my notes from the first tablet as well. No matter what, we will have something to share at the grand opening.”

Addie nodded but appeared disappointed. Rose said, “I want to find them as much as you do, and I refuse to believe they are lost to us permanently. When are we expected to meet with the duke?”

“This afternoon.”

Rose would and could put aside the disconcerting feelings she had for the man. They would find the tablets. That was her only focus.

*

Augustus followed Lady Hawley to her office at Seely House.

She’d said that she and the Historical Society for Female Curators board had much to speak with him about, surprising him.

As they reached the door, he could hear multiple women speaking.

His body became alert as he heard a voice he suspected was Rose Calvert’s.

His reaction both unsettled and annoyed him.

He was making their encounter into something it wasn’t.

Augustus told himself he was simply impressed with all she had accomplished.

They walked through the door, and all chatter died. Besides Lady Hawley, four women stared back at him. The club president pointed at a wingback chair. “Please join us, Your Grace.”

He nodded hello to all the ladies before taking a seat.

Augustus’s gaze drifted back to Rose Calvert.

Today, she wore a blouse and a brown skirt, and her brownish-red hair was piled high on her head.

Again, he noticed a tiny black mark on her skin.

The suspected ink spot was on her chin. Was the woman always splattered with the substance?

“I’m not sure what you wanted to speak with us about, Your Grace, but we did have some questions for you.”

“Please call me Sinclair.”

Lady Hawley flashed him a smile. If it were any other woman, he might believe she was trying to flirt with him, but he speculated it was her natural personality.

His gaze drifted back to Rose Calvert to discover her frowning at him.

Augustus turned back to the club president. “What are your questions?”

“We request that whatever we share with you doesn’t go further than this room.”

Now, his curiosity was piqued. What was going on?

Lady Hawley looked around and said, “The relics we discussed a few days ago have been stolen.”

He frowned. “How? By who? Have you called the police?”

The only other woman he knew, the Duchess of Lusby, said, “We suspect this will not be a priority for them.”

Augustus shrugged. “That isn’t surprising. They are overrun with cases.”

“The tablets are priceless items,” Rose Calvert stated.

He nodded. “I understand, but theft of goods is never a priority.”

“I just realized I haven’t done introductions. I’m sorry for that,” Addie said. Then, she introduced each lady and what they did for the club. She motioned to Rose Calvert last. “Miss Calvert isn’t a permanent member, but the tablets are hers. We need to find them.”

“I understand. How do you think I can help?”

“We were wondering if you knew where markets or auctions for illicit antiquities are held,” Miss Calvert said.

A scowl filled his face. “I don’t deal in stolen goods.”

“Sinclair, we would never think so, but we hoped you may know where and when some of the auctions are held,” one of the quieter women, Lady Esme said.

He frowned. “You aren’t planning to attend one, are you?”

“Yes. We need to find them,” Miss Calvert said.

He looked at her dubiously. “They are not places for ladies.”

A snort escaped the woman. “I have traveled all over the world. Do you think I haven’t set foot in a shady market or auction before? If so, I assure you I’m more than capable of holding my own.”

His eyes flew to the other ladies in disbelief.

Rose Calvert could not attend an illicit market auction alone.

He turned back to her, and she tilted her chin, pursing her lips as if ready to battle him.

Augustus smiled, trying to take a different approach.

“Miss Calvert, I can’t in good conscience give you the locations of these markets and allow you to visit them alone. ”

“Good point, Sinclair. Perhaps you could go with her,” Lady Hawley said.

The only other lady who hadn’t spoken, Sarah Martin, said, “I think that is an exceptional idea.”

“I don’t need an escort,” Miss Calvert stated.

“London is not a dig in the middle of nowhere,” he said.

The woman’s eyes narrowed and flashed. “Your assistance is not required, Your Grace.”

He would absolutely not let her go alone but wouldn’t argue with her. Instead, he said, “But you don’t know the London players in the antiquities world like I do. You should agree to Lady Hawley’s suggestion since I’m willing to help.”

“I agree, Rose. Sinclair is very respected here in the selling of all goods,” the Duchess of Lusby said.

She sighed. “Fine.”

Annoyance reverberated through him that, for some reason, she didn’t want his assistance. Why was this woman so bloody complicated?

“Where are the auctions held?” Miss Calvert asked.

“I know of two coming up in the London Docks and Piccadilly, but I also think we should meet with Sebastian Devons first. He is betrothed to one of your board members.”

Lady Hawley nodded. “Lady Hensley. She could not attend today but is aware of what is happening.”

“Why do you think it would be valuable to meet with him?” Lady Esme asked.

“I met with a man looking to catalog all relics with cuneiform text in London. He was very evasive. Having some of Devons’s investigators search for him would be beneficial. My assistant attempted to discover more information about him but couldn’t even figure out where he was residing.”

“What was his name?” Miss Calvert asked.

“Michael Abbas. Have any of you heard of him?”

Everyone shook their heads. Augustus had no evidence that the man was involved. Still, something told him that the solicitor and the missing tablets were somehow related.

“Can you meet this evening? We are hoping to find them as soon as possible,” the Duchess of Lusby said to him.

“I can make myself available.”

“I will send a missive to Devons,” Lady Hawley said.

“Let’s plan to meet at my townhouse. Rose is staying there with me for the Season,” the duchess stated.

His eyes swung to the lady. Was she actually searching for a husband? As if reading his mind, she said, “Only until the tablets are found and my work is done. Hopefully, that will be before the club’s grand opening.”

“Let’s do our best to locate them,” he said.

A ripple of something flowed between them, confusing him.