Page 69 of How to Fall for a Scoundrel
He grasped the basil at the bottom of its stalks, and pulled the entire plant out of the pot, raining soil and roots all over her green leather desktop.
“What are you doing, you madman?” Ellie shrieked.
He laid the plant gently down on the surface, careful not to crush the leaves, and reached into the bottom of the pot, rummaging through the remaining soil with his fingers. A moment later, he withdrew a glittering gold object.
Ellie glared at him. “What’s that?”
He held it out for her to inspect. It was a man’s signet ring, the flat top engraved with a crest she’d seen a dozen times on the door of his carriage. Three lions rampant on a shield with a chevron.
“The Cobham family seal. It belonged to my father.”
Ellie almost sent him a commiserating look, but stopped short. She wasalmostcertain that he wasn’t acting—that he truly was the Earl of Cobham—but the investigator in her still wanted proof. He could still have stolen it from therealearl, or had a plain ring inscribed by a jeweler.
“You hid your family ringhere, in our office?”
He sent her a cheeky grin, amused at her irritation. “The safest places are those where nobody would think to look.”
“That was incredibly risky. What if I’d killed the plant? What if I’d thrown it on the compost heap, pot and all?”
His eyes twinkled. “I suppose I would have had to go digging around in the tea leaves and the potato peelings. But I had faith in your ability to keep it alive. You’re extremely conscientious.”
He slipped the ring into his pocket, then made a terriblejob of trying to sweep the mess back into the pot and replanting the poor, abused basil into the soil.
Ellie pushed his hands away. “Leave it. I’ll clean it up later. Let’s go and speak to Hugo.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Hugo’s face lit up in a roguish grin as Ellie, Tess, and Daisy all entered the drawing room at Cobham House.
“Ladies, welcome! What a lovely sight for these old eyes.” He sat up straighter in his chair, clearly delighted to have company.
Ellie suppressed a smile as she watched Tess and Daisy shoot furtive glances around the room, noting the décor and every other detail. They’d both been keen to have a good snoop at the interior of the house, and to be formally introduced to Hugo.
Tess shook his outstretched hand. “So, you’re Harry’s uncle? I can definitely see a family resemblance.”
“I’m better looking,” Hugo chuckled. “Improving with age, like a fine wine.”
Harry rolled his eyes as Hugo released Tess to kiss the back of Daisy’s hand. “Enchanté, mademoiselle.”
“Please, have a seat,” Harry said. “I’ll ring for some tea.”
“And cake?” Daisy asked hopefully.
Harry laughed as he tugged on the bellpull to summona servant. “And cake, certainly. I understand interrogations can be very hungry work.”
“Who’s being interrogated?” Hugo demanded with comical faux alarm.
“The ladies of King and Company want you to tell them all about my murky past,” Harry said with a dry smile.
“I’ll be happy to tell you whatever you wish to know,” Hugo said. “Except for what really happened that one time in Venice, when we dressed as gondoliers and borrowed that scepter from Prince Gustav of Sweden—”
Harry gave a strangled growl, and Hugo gave a wicked chuckle. “I’m teasing, of course. Some secrets will follow me to the grave.”
Ellie pulled out a notebook and pencil and balanced it on her knee. “We need to prove that he”—she tilted a glance at Harry—“is the legitimate son of the last Earl and Countess of Cobham.”
“Which he is,” Hugo said stoutly. “And I’d swear it in front of a judge if I thought my word would carry any weight. Unfortunately, I doubt my word would be enough, considering I’m a bit of a black sheep.”
“I’ve been thinking a lot about his eyes,” Ellie continued.