Finessing the Contessa by Wendy Soliman

Author:Wendy Soliman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-11-09T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Rob stared first at the contessa, then at Hal. “Are you absolutely sure about Pallister?”

“Oh yes. I met him once a few years ago when he came to Sicily as a guest of my father-in-law’s.” She wrinkled her brow. “You’re all looking terribly grim. Is something wrong?”

“Pallister is known to us. I was aware of his interest in the wine trade but hadn’t made the broader connection.” Hal paused, glowering at the fire. “I should have.”

“Lord Pallister and this family are not the best of friends,” Rob explained. “While defending clients accused in a high-profile robbery case last year, my sister’s husband, Darius Grantley, discovered that Pallister’s son was actually the guilty party. Pallister tried to intimidate and bribe witnesses and even burned down a barn on Darius’s estate.”

The contessa gasped. “How terrible!”

“Pallister’s son then attacked our sister in the gallery of the Old Bailey, and Darius was badly injured when he rescued her,” Rob added.

“So to say that Pallister and I aren’t the best of friends is something of an understatement,” Hal said grimly. “He certainly wouldn’t be able to resist aiding Gravina if it meant gaining even a small modicum of revenge against the Forsters. His honour and position were severely affected by events in that courtroom.”

“Pallister sounds like a terrible person, which would make him a perfect ally for my father-in-law. May I ask how you intend to discover where they’re holding my brother?” Lady Falzone asked.

“We won’t need to.”

“Oh, but I thought—”

“I intend for you to feed snippets of information to Maynard that he’ll be convinced are true. You’ll tell him you can’t give him the actual report because it would be immediately missed. If that happened I’d know you were the one who’d taken it.”

Rob nodded. “You could tell Maynard you saw where the marquess hid the report, took a look at it and copied down the relevant information.”

“Do you think he’ll be deceived?” the contessa asked in a dubious tone. “He’s nobody’s fool.”

“The quality of the information will ensure he is,” Hal replied. “It will be the truth, with a few vital exceptions, and will certainly be sufficient to ensure your brother’s safety.”

“Until Vincenzo and I return to Sicily. Once we’re there, we’ll be at Gravina’s mercy once again.”

“Then perhaps you should consider remaining in England,” Rob suggested.

She met his gaze. “How could I possibly do that? Everything I own is still in Sicily. Besides, why should I be driven out of my own country by a bully and a tyrant?”

“It’s something for you and your brother to consider when this farrago has been resolved,” Rob replied.

Hal turned to the contessa. Rob knew he still didn’t trust her and was testing her. He was taking a considerable risk, and doing so for his sake. They hadn’t discussed the matter, but explanations were unnecessary. “Gravina wants your intelligence to be true and so won’t be hard to convince, especially if I include information you couldn’t possibly have known about without being privy to private documents.

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