Page 90 of Undercover Duke

“What do you have to lose if I look at the books?” she asked. “Are you doubting my intelligence again?”

“Again? When have I ever doubted your intelligence?”

“When you thought me a frivolous ninny.”

“I have long since been disabused of that notion, if I ever really believed it.”

That was the right thing to say, for she softened her stance. “So you’ll let me go over them.”

“If you want to so badly, absolutely. But you’ll have to explain to me whatever you find, so I can articulate it for him.”

“Of course. Let me just glance over this one first to see if I can tell what system he uses.”

“He says it’s double-entry.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t look like double-entry to me.”

Suddenly Gwyn burst into the room. “Where’s Mama?”

Sheridan stared at her. “I have no idea. Why?”

“I’m hoping she knows what has happened to Lady Hornsby. The countess isn’t in London or at her estate, according to her servants, who are being decidedly uncommunicative about where she actuallyis.” Gwyn dropped into a chair across from his desk. “Do you think she got wind of our investigation and left London for parts unknown?”

“I suppose anything is possible at this point,” Sheridan said. “You should send your husband to investigate.”

“I can’t. Joshua left London last night in furtherance of something he is investigating for you, he told me, though he wouldn’t say what.”

Sheridan chuckled. “That’s because your husband knows that once he tells you, it will be broadcast far and wide.”

“Hardly. I’ve kept Thorn’s secret all this time. I’ll bet you don’t even know what it is.”

“I’ll bet I do,” Sheridan countered. “But I swore I wouldn’t tell a soul, and you, dear girl, nearly told it yesterday.”

“What secret did she almost tell?” Vanessa asked. “My heavens, your family has a great many secrets.”

“I’ll tell you later,” Sheridan said to Vanessa in an undertone. He could always reveal how Olivia and Thorn had met. That was a juicy secret indeed. Although at the rate Gwyn and Olivia were going, the secret of Thorn’s identity as a playwright could be out next week.

His mother walked in.

“Good God,” he exclaimed. “Why are the lot of you congregating in my study? Don’t you have rooms—or in your case, Gwyn, ahome—of your own?”

Mother pouted. “I learned that Gwyn was here, that’s all. I wanted to see if she’d heard whether Grey and Bea’s baby had been born yet.”

“No, it hasn’t,” Vanessa said even as she looked over the account book. “They’re still waiting.”

Sheridan cast her a surprised look. “How doyouknow?”

“Bridget heard it from a servant in Grey’s household. She’s on very good terms with his staff.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Sheridan muttered. “Your lady’s maid is quite the resourceful female.”

Ignoring him, Gwyn turned to their mother. “I have lost Lady Hornsby, Mama, and no one can tell me where she is.”

“Oh! I did mean to mention to you that she owns a romantic little cottage near Richmond Park. I’d forgotten all about it. It’s where she retires to if she’s having a tryst with a married lover. Here, I’ll write down the direction.” She walked over to Sheridan’s desk and took out a pencil and some paper. When she realized both of her children were staring at her, she said, “What? I went there to keep her company once when her . . . er . . . current lover was delayed up north.”

“I think you’re right, Vanessa.” Gwyn stood and walked over to take the piece of paper from their mother’s hand. “Wedohave a lot of secrets. And I guess I know what I’ll be doing the rest of the morning.”

Sheridan scowled. “You’re not riding out to Richmond Park alone, are you?”