The Thief of Hearts by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

Author:Elizabeth Ellen Carter
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2016-11-03T18:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Caro caught a glimpse of gold. At first she thought it might have been a piece of jewellery, but as Tobias turned it, she saw it was nothing of the sort – though it was a ‘ring’ nonetheless.

“A cigar band,” Uncle Walter observed.

“May I take a look?” Caro asked.

She held out her hand and Tobias’s fingers lightly brushed hers as he laid the circle of paper in her palm. She turned it over. The artwork on it was exquisite. In an oval cartouche was an image of a pretty young woman. The colours were vivid red, blues and greens while the woman’s skin colour was delicately rendered and her hair a honey blonde. She brushed a fingertip over the embossed scroll work covered in gold ink.

She had never closely examined a cigar band before but it seemed to her this one must be from a very expensive cigar, and she said so, handing it to Uncle Walter.

His manner was thoughtful as he turned the tiny circle of paper around in his hand. “It looks near new. I don’t think it’s from when the arcade was built, and people collect cigar bands like these. You’re right, my girl – this is from a very expensive cigar. I’ll have my men run down every tobacconist in the city; we might be able to find who sold the box this came in. It’s another lead at least.”

They put the solicitor’s office to rights and locked it up once more. Caro slipped her arm through her uncle’s as they walked along the balcony.

“Thank you for letting me accompany you today. I know mother doesn’t approve, but it’s just—”

“Shhh,” he soothed, patting her arm. “You don’t need to explain anything to me. Estelle just wants what’s best for you. Besides, it’s not all altruism on my part. You really do have a gift for detection and I’m not so proud as to refuse help.”

Uncle Walter paused at the stop of the stairs. Caro looked at him questioningly.

“Just promise me one thing,” he said.

“Of course.”

“Don’t go investigating on your own, will you, love?”

“I promise.” Caro schooled her features into an innocent expression and waited for Tobias to call her on it. He didn’t.

Soon they were out on the street. Uncle Walter hailed a hansom cab and directed the driver to take him to New Scotland Yard. Caro turned to Tobias and inclined her head.

“I suppose this is where we part company, Mr Black. Thank you for not saying anything to my uncle about our previous meeting. You have put me in your debt.”

“You can repay the debt by calling me Tobias.”

Caro smiled. “Then you must call me Caro, all my friends do.”

“I’m glad to be included in their number,” he answered. “Now, shall I call you a cab? Where are you heading?”

“Fitzrovia... I have to visit a friend.”

Tobias nodded and looked out to the street. He raised a hand and whistled sharply. Up ahead, a top-hatted driver acknowledged the hail with a nod and negotiated the steady stream of traffic to reach the kerb.

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