Romancing the Earl (12 page)

“What is it?” Wade got up from the table.

Elijah turned toward the door. “I’m trying to determine how to suffer this evening without demanding Septon tell me everything he knows regarding my brother and this infernal tapestry.”

Chapter Seven

W
ade put the finishing touches on Elijah’s cravat. “Are you prepared for this evening?”

Elijah surveyed himself in the glass. “If you mean, do I intend to maintain my composure with Septon, the answer is yes. However, if you mean am I ready to demonstrate my social skills as the realm’s newest earl, the answer is also yes. I comported myself quite well at Bassett Manor, didn’t I? I even danced.”

“Yes, that was a sufficient rehearsal.”

Elijah arched a brow at Wade, who knew him better than probably anyone on this earth. “Your faith in me is encouraging.”

“Just making an observation, my lord. I know you aren’t terribly fond of these types of events.”

Elijah brushed a speck of lint from his coat and turned from the glass. “Which makes being an earl rather difficult.”

“Well, at least it’s only one night then we’ll be off for Worcester.”

To find the tapestry. The only reason he planned to find the map first was because it was on the way to Stratton Hall. Elijah hadn’t yet told Miss Bowen about discovering the map’s location because he expected she’d want to leave for Worcester posthaste. And he wanted to talk to Septon first.
 

He’d tell her later. She’d be annoyed with him, but knowing that she was on the path to finding the tapestry ought to ensure her irritation was short-lived.

Did he care that she’d be angry with him?
Yes.
The answer surprised and rattled him. He wasn’t going out of his way to cause her grief. He simply had his own agenda, and it took precedence over hers. But for the first time, he wondered if that was the right course of action. Wait, he’d put her desire for treasure above his brother’s death?

He shook his head, frustrated with himself for letting his emotions—emotions!—get the better of him. They’d go after the tapestry tomorrow, and that was soon enough.

“What will you do once you find the map? You can’t mean to let Miss Bowen and Mrs. Grey take off with it.”

Elijah pivoted to look at Wade. “What do you suggest?”

Wade shrugged. “I wondered if you might want to help her find the treasure. If there are others looking for it and they’re not above killing to find it, I don’t think Grey is going to offer sufficient protection.”

“You met her—she’s larger than you and possesses a fierce demeanor. She looks as if she could hold her own with any one of my regiment.”

Wade’s lips curved into an appreciative smile. “You might be right about that.”

Elijah wondered at Wade’s odd reaction, but didn’t say anything. “Your point is well taken. I do worry over Miss Bowen’s safety, but ultimately it is not my concern.” He said that partially to convince himself. He could very easily take on the role of her protector. Not because Grey wasn’t capable, but because Elijah wanted to be sure Miss Bowen didn’t come to any harm like his brother did. Just thinking of her finding the same end sent a chill down his neck.

“You have no interest in helping her to find this sword? You must admit it’s quite a lure.”

And then there was the sword itself. Was he interested? He wasn’t certain, but he smiled at Wade. “Spoken like a thief.” Wade had been transported for stealing when he’d been just ten and six, and had completed his sentence before becoming Elijah’s batman. “
If
it’s Dyrnwyn, which I can’t believe that it is, it would be a great treasure. I already have plenty of treasures cramming Cosgrove to the brim.”

Wade looked at him as if he were cracked. “None of them are the legendary sword of one of King Arthur’s knights, but I won’t press the matter.”

“I never knew you to be the fanciful sort, Wade.” Elijah turned and left the chamber.

He made his way to the large drawing room at the back of the house. The guests were to gather here before dinner. There were already a good number of people milling about and also spilling onto the terrace to enjoy the pleasant summer evening.
 

Their host, Lord Septon, approached Elijah. He was an angular man of exceptional height, one of only a few people Elijah could look straight in the eye without pitching his gaze down even a fraction.

“Good evening, Lord Norris,” he greeted, extending his hand. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Elijah clasped the man’s hand for a moment and couldn’t help but wonder if he were shaking the hand of a murderer. “Thank you for including me.”

“If I’d known you were ready to accept invitations, I would’ve invited you. I wanted to give you plenty of time to readjust to life in England.”

“Yes, it’s quite different from what I’m used to, particularly the title.”

Septon chuckled. “I can imagine it must be for someone who never planned to inherit. I came into my baronetcy when I was just twenty, but I had at least been prepared for it. If there’s anything I can do to help, I hope you’ll let me know. Your cousin, Lord Norris the antiquary, was a close associate of mine.”

Elijah noted he didn’t say “friend.” Was that because Septon, like everyone else Elijah had met, hadn’t cared for the man? “I understand he was a criminal.” Elijah saw no reason to mince words, and he preferred to get right to the point, especially tonight.

Septon frowned. “Yes, it turned out that he was. I had no idea. It was most disturbing. We shared a common interest in antiquities. I was gravely disappointed to learn he was fleecing money from his district.”

Did Septon’s disdain for Norris’s criminal activities indicate his own nature? Could Elijah deduce the man hadn’t been involved in Matthew’s death? Not yet. “At least reparations were made, though that didn’t leave the earldom in the best financial state. You offered to assist me with the antiquities collection, and I would like to liquidate it.”

The color seeped from Septon’s face. “All of it?”

Elijah nodded. “I’ve no need for it. Or interest, to be honest.”

“My goodness, it’s a veritable museum. In fact, I know that Oxford would love to acquire several items. You should write to Mr. Penn Bowen at the Ashmolean and invite him to visit. I should prefer to see some of those items in a museum instead of someone’s private collection.”
 

“Mr. Bowen is Miss Bowen’s brother?” Elijah asked.

“Yes. He’s what I like to call an adventuring antiquary. He travels all over Britain obtaining artifacts.”

That sounded somewhat like what his sister might do. Elijah made a mental note to ask her about that. “I’ll write to him when I return to Cosgrove. I don’t think I’ll have any trouble finding homes for the collection. Indeed, my brother was approached about selling some items.” Elijah was purposely vague in order to gauge Septon’s reaction.

“That’s not surprising, given its value. I know many people were keen to purchase items once Norris died. However, the length of time between his death and when your brother arrived back in England was so great, that I wondered who had actually contacted him, if anyone.”

Elijah gave him an unflinching stare. “Well, you did, of course.”

Septon gave a nod. “I did, and though he responded, he never seemed interested in accepting any of my offers of help or to purchase items.”

That sounded like Matthew. He would’ve been too busy spending money to consider how he might replenish it. “You offered to purchase multiple items? Which ones?”

Septon stroked his chin. “My goodness, the list is terribly long.” He laughed. “When you invite me to Cosgrove, I’ll bring it. I hope you’ll give me first crack—after you speak with Bowen.”

“Of specific interest to me at present is a tapestry. Do you recall offering to purchase that particular item?”
 

Septon’s eyes narrowed slightly. His gaze became more fixed, and his curiosity was clear. “Yes. What of it?”

“In addition to you, there was a pair of men who also demonstrated interest. It’s apparently quite valuable and they wanted it most desperately.” Time to see what Septon was capable of. “In fact, someone tried to steal it. Since these men and you are the only people I know of who offered to purchase it, I find myself wondering if one of you was behind the attempt.”

Septon’s eyes widened briefly and then narrowed again. His gaze darted to the left where a small group of gentlemen stood talking, but Elijah couldn’t determine whether he was looking at one of them. Septon frowned. “I can assure you I did not attempt to steal anything from the Cosgrove collection. I am more than happy to pay for the items I wish to own.”

Elijah sensed the man’s reaction was genuine, but it brought him no closer to solving this mystery. He was about to ask if Septon might know the other men who’d tried to purchase the tapestry, but the question died on his tongue as Miss Bowen entered the drawing room. Dressed in vibrant blue, with her hair swept into an elegant style—had Grey accomplished that? Elijah couldn’t imagine her skills stretching to such feminine achievements—Miss Bowen gleamed like a jewel amidst a pile of rocks.

“Ah, one of my favorite people.” Septon smiled as he greeted her. “Cate, you look lovely. And you’re wearing your favorite pendant, I see.”

Elijah, having followed him, glanced down at the familiar silver necklace kissing her flesh. He envied that piece of metal and its claim on that particular bit of Miss Bowen.

Septon gave Miss Bowen a quick hug and dropped a kiss to her cheek. “I’m so pleased you could come.”

“I’m glad I could be here after all. I see you’ve met Lord Norris.” She looked past Septon and when her gaze met Elijah’s, he tried to ignore the rush of awareness that crested over him again.

“Indeed,” said Septon. “He was telling me he wishes to sell the entire Cosgrove collection. I can’t fathom it.”

“Yes, he told me the same when we met in Wootton Bassett. I am equally shocked. But only think of the opportunity you now have.” She patted his sleeve.

“Too true.” His answering smile was positively gleeful. “To be fair, however, I did recommend he contact your brother first.”

“How magnanimous of you.” She looked toward Elijah. “You ought to know that you’ll garner more if you sell to Septon—his pockets are deeper than Oxford’s or my brother’s.”

“I hope you’ll both join the antiquities discussion after dinner. We’ll be gathering in the front hall.” Septon looked between them. “I see Lady Stratton beckoning me. Please excuse me.” He offered them a warm smile—that might have cooled a degree as he glanced at Elijah—before taking himself off.

Elijah watched him cross the room to an attractive woman of middle age with dark hair. Something about her reminded Elijah of one of the gentlemen in the far corner—in the group Septon had looked at. Elijah cast a surreptitious glance in that direction and again noted the similarity. The gentleman looked to be around Elijah’s age. Perhaps he was her son.

Miss Bowen touched Elijah’s sleeve, drawing his swift and singular attention. “What did you and Septon discuss? We never did strategize how I was to help you with him.”

Elijah motioned for her to follow him to the corner. They stood near a medieval—at least, he guessed it to be of that age—suit of armor.

“He assured me he had nothing to do with the attempted theft of the tapestry. I was asking him about the other men who sought to purchase it when your arrival interrupted us.”

Her brow creased. “My apologies. Although, I daresay you were going to lose him to Lady Stratton anyway. She will always be his first priority.”

Elijah’s ears pricked up like those of a dog on the hunt. Stratton as in Stratton Hall where Dalby, the corrupt footman, was now employed? “Lady Stratton is Septon’s paramour?” At Cate’s slight nod, he continued, “And is there a Lord Stratton?”

“Yes, but he’s not here. He would never set foot in Septon House or anywhere Lord Septon would be.”

Elijah slid a glance toward his host and Lady Stratton. “I take it her husband is aware of their affair?”

“Quite. They’ve been together for years. She left Stratton when I was very young.” Though they spoke in low tones, Miss Bowen leaned closer. “Lest you think I’m a gossip, they are actually my family. Stratton is a cousin of my father’s.”

Elijah’s chest puffed with satisfaction, for he’d been wondering how to gain entrance to Stratton Hall since he was not acquainted with its owner—he hadn’t even known who it was. “Indeed?”