The Earl Of Her Dreams by Anne Mallory

Author:Anne Mallory [Mallory, Anne]
Language: fra
Format: epub
Tags: Historical
Published: 2011-02-22T23:00:00+00:00

Kate looked at Christian in shock as he abruptly cut off her explanation. He was staring at Freewater, his gaze shrewd. After hearing his contemplative thought about Mary, Kate’s mind was in turmoil. That Freewater should suddenly pop up like a child’s toy was disconcerting.

Freewater straightened importantly. “I want to help your investigation.”

“No you don’t.” Christian’s tone was moderate, as if talking about the weather.

“What do you mean, no I don’t?” Freewater blustered.

“I mean exactly what I said; you don’t want to help investigate Janson’s murder.”

“Why else would I offer to help?”

“Did you lose something, Freewater?” Christian purred. Kate stared at him. His eyes were mocking, but there was something fierce and narrow behind the mocking.

“Didn’t lose anything. There’s just nothing to do in this blasted inn while we wait to be set free.”

Christian examined his nails. “You can play cards or gossip with the others. You could hide away in your room as you did before, doing who knows what. We can’t help you, Freewater, if you don’t help us.” He continued to examine his nails, his voice idle.

Freewater clenched his lips, his face turning purple. “Fine. A journal was stolen from me.”

“Stolen?” Christian’s eyes grabbed Freewater’s. “Why would someone steal your journal?”

Freewater hesitated before answering. He seemed to be waging an internal battle. “Because the journal was valuable. Priceless.”

“Oh yes? What did the journal contain?”

“It was a private account.”

“A gentleman’s account? Why would that be valuable, or priceless, as you say?”

Freewater gritted his teeth. “The gentleman has a lot to lose should the journal fall into the wrong hands.”

“Sounds like the journal already did.” Christian’s eyes were icy, and Kate, already feeling as if she was missing something, grew more suspicious. Christian seemed to notice her reaction, even though his eyes never left Freewater’s. He gave a small negative gesture with his hand and she stayed silent.

“The journal was given to me,” Freewater sniffed.

“By the owner?”

“Yes,” he said, but Kate noticed Freewater’s left eye twitch.

“Describe it.”

“Dark brown leather, about a fingernail thick, gold embossed.”

“What name is engraved?”

“Darton.” The name was ripped from Freewater’s throat. Kate thought it sounded vaguely familiar, but couldn’t place it. She watched Christian’s eyes turn hard, and she had a feeling that while she might not be able to place the name, Christian certainly could.

“Hmmm…we haven’t come across a journal of that description so far, have we, Mr. Kaden?”

She shook her head.

“That is why I should be involved as well,” Freewater said.

“We can’t have you involved in the investigation, Mr. Freewater.”

“But—”

“It would compromise the entire process. It’s against Runner’s Code Section Forty-one. Firm statute, that one.”

Kate had no idea what Christian was talking about, and she thought Christian probably didn’t either. He seemed quite capable of making things up on the spot, however.

“I need that journal!”

“We will see if we can’t find your missing journal, Freewater. We will, of course, inform you, should we find it.”

Kate thought that from the look on Christian’s face and the tone of his voice that was very unlikely, but Freewater tersely nodded.

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