Page 36 of Lyon’s Obsession (The Lyon’s Den Connected World #91)

“I think it would be appropriate for us to call upon our grandmother before the Festive Season begins. What do you say, Annalise?” he asked.

“I believe the idea suits me very well.” She gestured to the basket. “Should I serve?”

“You are not to serve either Lionel or me,” Alexander ordered. “We are accustomed to fending for ourselves. Are we not, Lionel?”

His friend glanced up with a sheepish grin. “Did Cook include the chicken?”

Alexander explained, “Lionel cannot know enough of my cook’s chicken, no matter how the dear lady prepares it.”

“Have me a hollow leg,” Lionel declared with another engaging grin.

His sister took charge. “Then we place the dishes on the side table and eat on this one.” All at once, her blush returned. “I apologize, my lord. Would you prefer to eat in the dining room?”

Alexander caught her hand. “When we are alone, there will be no more ‘my lord’ or ‘your lordship’ or even ‘Marksman.’ I am Alexander or Axe. I wish to be in your company whether it is in this simple kitchen or an ornate ballroom. More importantly, neither Lionel nor I own a sense of entitlement.”

Lionel teasingly said, “I don’t, but me friend Lord Marksman can be as high in the instep as the best of them.” His smile widened. “But only when necessary.”

As they ate, Lionel filled Annalise’s ears with tales of their time in the slums of London. His friend’s easy way with Annalise had them all laughing with happy tears in their eyes. However, at length, Alexander renewed his request to search Honfleur’s study.

With a deep sigh indicating her uncomfortableness, she said, “You will practice excessive caution in all you touch, will you not? I would not be surprised if my uncle has not rigged the drawers and shelves in some means to know if I have trespassed on his personal property. He did something similar, when we were aboard his ship, with the valuables he had plundered and had stored in his quarters. He used a dark thread to indicate whether something had been disturbed or not.”

As they cleaned the kitchen so Honfleur’s staff would not know of his visit, Alexander assured her the English government trained their agents for all contingencies.

He realized Annalise might require a bit more time to accept her decision.

However, forty minutes later, they entered her uncle’s study, having discovered nothing but empty drawers in Honfleur’s wardrobe and dresser.

The search had played hard upon Annalise’s sensibilities, for Honfleur had not left even the smallest token nor pin behind.

“It assuredly appears as if Uncle Jacobi never meant to return,” she had whispered in dismay.

It amazed Alexander that Annalise had not previously searched her uncle’s quarters, but, evidently, she had trusted the man to return for her.

When would she have accepted Honfleur’s abandonment?

Not likely ever. Alexander imagined when Honfleur stopped paying the servants he employed, that is, if he had not done so already, she would remain in this house and starve to death before considering leaving.

Honfleur had such a hold on her and had controlled her so completely that it frightened Alexander as to what might have become of her.

He caught her in his embrace. “You will never be left alone again unless such is your wish.”

They remained as such for more than a minute before they retrieved the key, which was hidden in a nearby vase. “Just as if the marquis be expecting you to use it,” Lionel remarked.

“Assuredly, not hidden well,” Alexander murmured. “Should we proceed, Annalise?”

He watched a myriad of emotions cross her features, before she nodded her agreement.

Alexander ordered, “Examine the bookshelves first. A book sporting a carved out inside is a common hiding place for important papers.”

They quietly went about their search for several minutes until Lionel announced, “Dark string. Just as you suspected, Miss Anna.”

“You have the eyes of a hawk,” Alexander declared as he brought the candle closer.

Annalise spoke of Honfleur’s expectation that she clean the house, but how she had planned to leave this room untouched. Alexander did not like the idea of his sister acting as a maid, but he swallowed his protest for the time being.

Not wishing to disturb the patina of dust, he meticulously removed the book and placed it on the floor. “You two should move away while I open this,” he instructed.

Lionel caught his arm. “I’ll be opening it. You’ve a sister to tend to now. No more heroics for you.”

There was no argument to be had: His friend was correct. Alexander rose and reached a hand down to his sister. “Let us move to the hall for a minute, my dear.”

His sister lodged a protest, but Lionel ordered, “Join your brother, Lady Annalise.”

In the end, there was no explosion, but they had found a small bundle of papers. “This one appears to be a list of creditors. I should show these to Duncan and return them.”

“You cannot remove my uncle’s papers!” his sister protested. “What happens to me if my uncle discovers I permitted you admittance to his study?”

Alexander emphasized the words in his response.

“Whether Moreau returns tomorrow or a month from now or never, your future does not lie with him. Moreau cannot touch you without bringing the power of the British government down upon his head. I believe he is already aware of our connection—of your being my sister.”

Lionel assured her of Alexander’s desire to protect her and how much he had done simply to find her.

At length, she again nodded her agreement, though she was obviously not completely comfortable with what was happening.

Alexander understood, or he would tell anyone who asked, that he understood, though, if she would do so, he would remove her from this house this evening.

There were two more pages holding the names and directions of various shopkeepers and establishments.

Ironically, many on the list were ones the government had already acknowledged as having accepted forged bank notes.

It also contained the names of several men and women Alexander and Lionel knew as those uttering fake notes on London streets.

In silent agreement, they left the book on the floor and locked the study again.

“Now come with me,” Alexander said as he claimed his sister’s hand.

“Although Moreau and his daughter know of the passage I will show you, it may be necessary for you to escape this house in a rush someday.” He handed her a card.

“My directions are on this. Catch a hackney and have the driver carry you to Dutton Hall. My butler has orders to pay the driver double and to admit you immediately, even if I am not at home at the time.”

Worried for Theodora, Alexander called at Duncan Place after supper. He found Duncan alone in his study. “I brought you something,” he said as he set the papers from Moreau’s office on Duncan’s desk.

Duncan unrolled the papers to have a quick read. “From Honfleur’s files?” he murmured as he scanned the list.

“Found in a hollowed-out book in Honfleur’s study. Even used a dark thread to mark it. I promised Annalise I would return everything by tomorrow. My sister suspects that the cook, the housekeeper, and the maids will return soon, for Honfleur plans to return within the next week.”

Duncan looked up from the lists. “How might we be so assured?”

“Lady Caroline wrote to Annalise to warn my sister to have everything cleaned before Honfleur returns,” Alexander supplied.

“Then we must be prepared to move sooner rather than later, as we first suspected. I heard from Richard. He and Lady Emma will return to London tomorrow. I mean to ask Lady Emma to call upon Theodora. They have previously proved good for each other.”

“Is Theodora still refusing company?” Alexander asked.

“I have never seen her so distraught,” Duncan admitted. “She is taking her meals in her quarters. Elsbeth would be so disappointed in how I have failed our daughter.”

“Should I attempt to speak to her?” Alexander asked.

“She specifically said I was not to send you to her,” Duncan confided.

Alexander nodded his acceptance. “I would wish it otherwise, but, for now, I will abide by her decision. Hopefully, Lady Orson will bring Theodora solace.” They sat in silence for nearly a minute before Alexander asked, “Did we hear from the men searching for Theodora’s captor?

I understood something of Lord Almano’s reason to seek out revenge on Theodora, but what of the man dressed all in black?

He appeared completely set on the idea of killing Theodora. ”

“My daughter has related all the man said to her and she to him, but our Dora holds no idea of the man’s identity. She said he had painted his face black.”

“When I found them on the pier, I thought he looked odd, but he was standing in the shadows from the overhanging trees along the shore,” Alexander shared. “He was quite prepared to kill Theodora. I had no time to study his features thoroughly.”

“I would have thought his body would have been located by now,” Duncan observed.

“Unless the man’s cape caught on a rock or downed tree.

As it was black, our men may have overlooked it,” Alexander reasoned.

“We may be required to search the area multiple times, especially after the water recedes back into its banks. A man dressed in black and painting his face as such. Very peculiar.”

Duncan sat forward as if sharing a secret, but he said distractedly, “I will have them search all the miles between the marsh and London.” He stared off, as if seeing the scene in his head.

Duncan finally said, “Something about this has been bothering me. Lady Emma. Now Theodora. Wishing to harm us by harming the women we cherish? Perhaps we should learn if some of our political enemies have returned to England without our knowledge. Mayhap my shooting was the warning salvo of a new assault.”