Silken Secrets by Joan Smith

Author:Joan Smith [Smith, Joan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Belgrave House
Published: 1988-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Lord Edwin always felt he worked best under pressure. Had life permitted him more pressures, he was sure he could have been a hero. He picked up his letter and waved it toward Mr. Robertson.

“My plan of castigating Officer Codey,” he said urbanely. “Can’t have the likes of that jackanapes running tame through a man’s house behind his back. He searched me while I was busy elsewhere, you know. Nice of you to drop by, Mr. Robertson. I haven’t thanked you for rescuing this niece of mine. Well done!” That last was an inspired touch. The sort of grace note Wellington would have added.

Mr. Robertson ignored his simple urbanity. “I’m here about the silk, Lord Edwin.”

“So was Codey. I think I mentioned his visit? We haven’t seen the stuff. Pity. I could use that reward.”

Watching the exchange, Mary Anne was very glad Mr. Robertson was unaware of her uncle’s telltale habit of playing with his cheek while contemplating larceny.

“Fifteen thousand, no questions asked,” Robertson said.

Lord Edwin’s fingers sped up alarmingly and he looked to his niece. Mary Anne shook her head firmly. “Fifteen thousand, eh?” he said wistfully. “That’s a great deal of money. At Folkestone they only offered—or so Vulch tells me is the usual price—a thousand. Er, would that be pounds or guineas?”

“Guineas. No questions asked.”

Lord Edwin directed a beseeching gaze on his niece. The higher Robertson went, the more she was convinced he was a customs man. Again she shook her head and scowled fiercely to squelch her uncle’s greed. Yet, there was no relying on him, and she spoke up to conclude the meeting quickly. “If we hear anything about the silk, we’ll let you know, Mr. Robertson.”

Mr. Robertson noticed Lord Edwin’s peeps in his niece’s direction and felt he would have better success if he could get her out of the room. “Perhaps Miss Judson could get us some coffee, and we could discuss the matter further,” he suggested.

“Mary Anne?” Lord Edwin said hopefully.

“Certainly, I’ll be happy to ring for Plummer.” She went to the bell pull and yanked the rope.

To avoid the subject of selling the silk, she said, “Mr. Robertson was attacked by Vulch’s men in the stable, Uncle.”

“Yes, my dear, you already told me that. But they didn’t go near the—”

“No,” she said hastily. “They didn’t come near the house.”

But the uncle had said “go,” not “come,” Mr. Robertson noted. Now where the devil had they hidden the silk? Mary Anne saw his puzzled frown and interpreted correctly what was in his mind. “You won’t want to stay away from Vulch’s too long. They’ll wonder what happened to you if they happen to go to your room.”

“I particularly told them I was retiring and didn’t wish to be disturbed unless Vulch recovered the silk. I don’t believe they’ll be calling on me.”

Mrs. Plummer’s capped head appeared at the door. “What is it then, milord?” she asked crossly.

“Coffee, Plummer.”

“Oh, Uncle,” Mary Anne said. “It’s late, and Mrs. Plummer was in bed. Just wine, Mrs.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.