Chapter 8
Exhausted of all her patience, Phoebe marched over the group of all male agents gathered in the corner of Lord Archbroke’s enormous office within the Home Office headquarters and squeezed herself between Lord Foxton and Lord Archbroke. “We are no closer to locating Lord Kilman than we were three days ago. I suggest…”
Lord Archbroke interrupted her, “If you and Lady Ruth had been more forthcoming with the information you had gathered during your last…” The man stopped mid-sentence and glared at her.
From the set of the man’s displeased features, Phoebe assumed Lord Archbroke had stopped himself from referring to her unsanctioned mission. Over the past few days, the man had taken advantage of every opportunity he had to harp on protocols and how everyone under his purview should follow them to the letter.
Jaw clenched, Lord Archbroke continued, “We are working diligently to factor in the details you recently provided the team. Every piece of information should not be considered in isolation but as a piece of a larger picture. I’m just as displeased as you are that we have yet to find that one clue that will help us unravel this mess and identify those responsible for Kilman’s disappearance.”
Bah. Honey trickled faster than the team of agents Archbroke had assembled. The men had discussed every aspect ad nauseum, but Lord Archbroke had yet to act upon the many leads she believed to be worthy of further investigation. Without Kilman, her voice and opinions fell upon deaf ears.
Lord Foxton tapped her elbow and nodded his head in the direction of the fireplace.
She took a few steps back. The circle of men closed the space she vacated and continued to debate the likelihood of Kilman being detained in London or elsewhere.
She wanted to stomp out of the room and leave the bloody men to their own devices, but then no one would alert her to Lord Archbroke’s plans. Instead she compromised and took Lord Foxton’s suggestion to move closer to fire. Phoebe crossed her arms over her chest and paced back and forth, soaking up the warmth from flames. At the very least, Lord Archbroke should have agreed to hear her suggestions. Granted she wasn’t an agent like the others, but she’d been an informant and a very reliable one at that. Kilman often praised her ability to filter out the nonsense and identify the key facts spread about through the gossip mill.
Someone tapped her shoulder and she turned to find Lord Foxton staring down at her. “If you stay, Archbroke will stubbornly follow protocol which will continue to slow our progress.”
“Are you asking me to leave?”
“Yes. Yes, I am.” Lord Foxton let out a long sigh. “Lillian and Ruth are awaiting you at my townhome. And Letty and Danny are out front waiting to accompany you.”
“But I wish to stay.”
Lord Foxton glanced back over his shoulder and then leaned down so only she could hear. “I promise to send word if we discover anything.” His gaze flicked over her shoulder and he quickly added, “The three of you succeeded in tracking down the thieves once before. I’m hoping you will again.”
Aside from Kilman, rarely had a gentleman placed his trust in Phoebe and her abilities. With a nod she said, “You’re right.”
Lillian and Ruth would listen to her suggestions, and with their assistance she might be able to locate Kilman faster than Lord Archbroke. There was no time to waste. She curtsied and bid Lord Foxton a quick goodbye.
Unlike the darknessthat enveloped every room of Phoebe’s home, Lord Foxton’s London residence was brightly lit with candles from the first step inside.
“Finally!” Lillian skipped the last step with a hop and rushed across the marble foyer toward Phoebe. “We’ve been waiting all morning for you. I was about to go fetch you myself.”
The Foxton butler took her cloak and gloves mere moments before Lillian grabbed her by the hand to lead her up the stairs.
The first door on the second floor swung open and Ruth appeared. “Thank goodness you have arrived.”
“My apologies,” Phoebe replied as she was pulled into the room, which was like nothing she expected.
She stood in the middle of a brightly lit yet cozy private retreat. Two of the walls were lined with bookshelves floor to ceiling with volumes crammed upon every shelf. Phoebe walked over to study the titles and ran a finger over the leather bindings as she walked the length of the wall. If she had such a place to escape to, she’d never leave. The smell of aged parchment, the twinkle of candlelight reflecting off the gold and silver spines, filled Phoebe with wonder. Wonder at the worlds she could explore on the pages of all these books.
Ruth whispered next to her, “Foxton has always spoiled his sister, to a fault in my opinion.”
“Bah. David merely wished for me to leave him be and stay out of his way.” Lillian swept her hand in front of her to encompass the room. “This…this was his way of distracting me and his attempt to keep me out of trouble.”
A giggle bubbled up and escaped Phoebe. “Well, I’d say his plan failed, but at least it failed in grand fashion.”
Lillian smiled and walked over to the sideboard. “Have Lord Archbroke and his men managed to glean anything of use?” Lillian poured a dark amber liquid into three glasses. With two glasses in hand, Lillian offered one to Ruth before making her way to stand next to Phoebe. “Does Lord Archbroke have a plan?”
Phoebe took the glass offered to her and made the mistake of sniffing its contents. Nose wrinkled, she answered, “No.”
Settled upon the settee with her glass already half empty, Ruth asked, “Aside from describing the men who held us captive, did you share anything else?”
Admittedly, Phoebe had debated whether to share everything she’d come to learn of the bandits and their operation with Lord Archbroke, but not for more than a split moment. Kilman’s fate hung in the balance.
Breath held, Phoebe took a sip of her drink. Once the burning sensation in her throat subsided, she admitted, “I did. I provided them with a full accounting.”
Staring into her glass, Lillian said, “Did you…umm…well…”
“Simply tell me what it is you want to know,” Phoebe snapped. Having spent three tiresome days with men asking her the same questions over and over, she was done answering inquiries. She wanted to hunt down the villains who had dared to kidnap Kilman.
Lillian looked up at Phoebe with a frown.
Phoebe immediately said, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Lillian walked over and joined Ruth on the settee. “I know how trying Lord Archbroke and his lot, especially my own brother, can be.”
Thankful that her friend understood, Phoebe left the rows and rows of books and settled into the wingback chair facing both Ruth and Lillian. While the pair had been friends with one another for years, they treated Phoebe as if she too had been their boon companion since childhood and not as if they had only become acquainted with one another a year ago. Feeling as if she neither belonged among the row of wallflowers or in spinster seating, Phoebe had established the habit of hiding amongst the greenery where she often bumped into Ruth and Lillian. It was hidden amongst the potted plants that the trio had overheard rumors of the missing diamonds. At the time, none of them were aware that the gems belonged to the Royal Treasury. Not that it mattered, for they still would have investigated since it was a far cry more interesting than watching their peers entertain and be entertained.
Glass empty, Ruth reached out and placed her tumbler on the table that sat between the settee and the chair Phoebe occupied. “Does Lord Archbroke also know that you suspect the mastermind behind the theft to be a lady…a spinster, to be exact, and not in fact a gentleman?”
“No.” Phoebe shook her head. “He never gave me the chance to share my hypothesis.”
“Men.” Lillian spat the word out like it was a filthy word to use before draining her glass.
Ruth leaned back and sighed. “It’s a blooming shame Lord Kilman was the one taken, he’s always open to listening to our suggestions and theorems.”
“I wish my brother was more like Lord Kilman in that sense, but David has always kept his personal affairs from me. If we hadn’t gone missing, I still to this day might have been clueless to the fact that my own sister-in-law is an agent for the Home Office,” Lillian shared.
“Where is Lady Alice?”
Lillian pulled out a pocket watch from the pocket secretly sewn into her skirts. “She should be joining us shortly. She’s been feeling wretched for the past month.”
“Is she with child?” Ruth asked the question Phoebe wanted to ask but didn’t dare.
With a shrug, Lillian said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if she were, but she claims to be…”
“I’m merely tired and adjusting to Cook’s meals.” Lady Alice walked into the room and sank into the chair opposite Phoebe. Lady Alice, who was three years her junior, crossed her legs at the ankles and said, “Lady Phoebe, why don’t you share with me how you would like to go about finding Lord Kilman. I promise to assist as best as I can.”
Phoebe inhaled, taking a moment to organize her thoughts because she was still in shock at the news that Lady Alice was in fact an agent for the Home Office. After having Lord Archbroke reject her multiple requests to become an agent, Phoebe had assumed that the man simply didn’t want women agents. An ache settled in the center of her chest. It was a devastating hit to her pride to find out that there were, in fact, ladies employed in an official capacity for the Home Office.
“Lady Phoebe?” Lady Alice’s prompt snapped Phoebe out of her own world.
Phoebe clasped her hands in her lap and tamped down the bubbling ire rising within her. “I’m not certain where to begin.”
“The beginning is always a good start.” Lady Alice’s pink cheeks whitened and she wrapped her arms about her waist. “No, I retract that statement. Rather than rehashing the details that Lillian has already provided, please share with me the name of the lady you suspect behind these treasonous crimes.”
Finally—someone willing to take action and move forward. Seizing her opportunity, Phoebe said, “I suspect Lady Margaret, eldest daughter to the Marquess of Maldon.”
“Impossible. The lady is…” Lady Alice covered her mouth, closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.
While Lady Alice was silent, Phoebe countered, “Not entirely impossible. Lady Margaret might not be able to walk unassisted but her mind works perfectly fine.”
Lady Alice removed her hand from her mouth and asked, “Why would she wish to steal the crown jewels?”
“Maybe because she’s unwed, unwanted, and unhappy.”
“Are you friends with Lady Margaret?” Lillian asked.
“I wouldn’t say friends. She and I debuted together. Back then she had the full use of her legs and was considered quite the catch, despite her bookish ways. That was the case until she injured her back. She was thrown from a horse.”
Ruth gasped. “Oh, how unfortunate.”
Eyes narrowed, Lady Alice said, “I don’t recall having met Lady Margaret.”
“That is because she is rarely introduced to anyone. She prefers to don muted colors and sit in darkened corners where she is afforded an excellent view of the festivities. Before her accident, she was the complete opposite. Her lively conversational skills and pleasant smile often resulted in Lady Margaret being sought out by both gentlemen and ladies. Yes…Lady Margaret was someone you wouldn’t forget meeting.”
Lillian let out a deep sigh and stood. “How extremely sad.” Her host collected the empty glasses and strode to the sideboard to refill the tumblers. Except this time Lillian filled them with what looked to be unwatered-down wine.
After another deep breath, Lady Alice began to regain some color in her cheeks. “Spinster seating is full of unwed ladies. I doubt unhappiness is motivation enough to plan and carry out such a bold heist and to kidnap a gentleman, a lord no less.”
“I’ve not heard any rumors of Lady Margaret’s family falling upon hard times. If not for financial gain, what other reason could there be to steal gems?” Ruth asked.
The four of them looked at one another.
Simultaneously Ruth said, “Revenge;” Lillian said, “Excitement;” Lady Alice said, “Gratification;” and Phoebe blurted, “Love.”
Lady Alice stood and began to pace the perimeter of the room. “Hmm…revenge. Plausible. Excitement…also possible if she’s escalating the stakes. But love…love might actually be the reason since the emotion can motivate those of sound mind to act like fools.”
Phoebe couldn’t help but notice the similarity in the manner with which Lady Alice and Kilman filtered and analyzed information. Was that part of their training or a trait they both naturally possessed?
One more turn of the room and then Lady Alice stopped in front of Phoebe. “If you are correct, and I suspect you are, we need to discover who Lady Margaret is in love with.”
“You think her lover is conspiring with her?” Lillian asked.
“Not necessarily. If the gentleman in question is a lord, he might not be unaware of her obsession with him.”
Brows knitted in concentration, Ruth asked, “Did she favor a gentleman before her accident?”
“Not one that I am aware of.” Phoebe rattled her brain to recall the details of Lady Margaret’s accident. Uttering thoughts as they came to mind, she said, “There was, however, gossip that her accident was linked to some sort of wager.”
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.” Lillian shook her head and said, “Nothing good comes of gambling.”
“Do you remember who was involved?” Lady Alice asked.
“Give me a moment. Much has occurred over the past seven years since the ordeal.”
Eyes ablaze with enthusiasm, Ruth shared, “During our investigations, we came across the Earl of Galston’s given name on multiple occasions, did we not?” Ruth loved solving puzzles, and with her extraordinary ability to recall details and recite entire conversations, she was like a walking vault of information.
“Lord Galston?” Why didn’t she have perfect recall? Phoebe pondered a moment longer and then said, “Aha! Lord Galston, Gavin Lake. I remember the man now. But he’s been away on the Continent for years. Originally it was said he was on a grand tour, then rumors spread he’d been captured during the war, and the latest on-dit about the man suggests he’s married and has decided to remain abroad.”
“Where is Lord Galston’s country residence?” Lady Alice asked.
Lillian jumped up to her feet and marched over to a writing desk near the windows covered in parchment. Her friend shuffled the sheets about until she withdrew a map, waved it in the air briefly before running her palm over it on the desk, smoothing out the wrinkles. It was but a minute or two before Lillian looked up and said, “Egad! It’s on the English-Scottish border. Quite close to where we intercepted the bandits and retrieved the diamonds.”
Lady Alice, who had resumed her pacing, stopped once more and once again turned to face Phoebe. “I’ll give you a two-hour head start before I do my duty and inform my superiors.”
Ruth stood, but before she could take a step forward, Lady Alice added, “Lillian. Ruth. You are both to remain here.”
Lillian’s mouth fell agape, while Ruth argued, “We are a team. We shall accompany Phoebe.”
“You are not going anywhere.” Lord Foxton entered the room and joined his wife. “If Alice says you are to stay put, then that is what you shall do.”
“Welcome home, husband.” Lady Alice greeted her husband with a smile.
Rather than returning his wife’s smile, Lord Foxton let out a groan. “Why me?”
The couple apparently had exchanged words with mere looks.
Lillian’s brother gave his wife a kiss on the forehead and then walked back toward the door. “Come along, Lady Phoebe. Let’s go fetch Kilman.”
She scurried after Lord Foxton, who had in a matter of strides made his way out of the room into the hall. Over her shoulder she called out, “My thanks, Lady Alice.”
She didn’t miss Lillian and Ruth’s displeased expressions. In an attempt to mollify the pair Phoebe gave them a wave and added, “I owe you both a boon.”
Appeased, the devilishly clever ladies waved back.
As door swung closed, Ruth replied, “I shall remember you said that. There is no going back on your word.”
She might regret granting the pair a wish later, but she would be forever grateful for their help today.