pleased when she relaxed and smiled up at him.
“That might be stretching the rules a bit but considering you, my dear,” he watched as Charlotte smiled at Brittany and glared back at him. “I agree. I will accept the fact you’ve shared two dances this evening. Now, you need to convince your parents as I see them approaching. Be pleased, though, they are both wearing smiles, although with my brother I believe his might be forced.”
Samuel glanced over his shoulder to where Lady Wallace looked and understood what she meant. Brittany’s mother appeared pleased, which came as no surprise, while her father not so. He knew if he wished to continue to court her he’d have to think quickly or not only lose her but a chance at studying the Hersey book.
“I’m sorry to make short our evening but I received a report of another attempt to break into the townhouse. As fortune would be with us the guards were able to grab one of the men and like the other isn’t talking,” Eli said calmly.
“Was anything taken, m’ lord?” Samuel asked, as Brittany’s hand tightened on his arm.
“Again, we were lucky. They didn’t get too far into the house before one of your footmen stopped the one man,” he answered.
“Wonderful, then we should go and see what we can learn from him,” Samuel suggested.
“The carriage has already been called for,” Eli uttered, then bowed to his sister and nodded to his nephew.
Samuel turned to Lady Wallace, “It’s been a pleasure as always. You have my assurance no harm will come to your goddaughter,” he declared.
“I have faith in your protection. Now off with you,” she said, sending him and Brittany away with a wave of her bejeweled hand.
A short time later Samuel, with Brittany on his arm, followed the earl and countess into the Bemming townhouse to be met by the butler along with several footmen.
“M’ lords and ladies, I apologize for having to notify you of the attempt. The man in question is in the cellar in a secure room,” John announced, taking capes and coats from them.
“Good. Has Bow Street been sent for?” Eli asked, starting for the stairs to the first floor.
“No, m’ lord. When we secured him I took the liberty to request assistance from Stanley and he sent over an interesting gentleman.”
Samuel smiled knowing who his butler had dispatched.
“Lord Samuel, this man of yours, is he excellent at obtaining the necessary information without direction?” Eli probed.
“Most assuredly, m’ lord,” he answered back, then patted Brittany’s hand which still rested on his arm.
“M’ lord, don’t you think this conversation would best be continued in the family sitting room?” Barbara requested
As they climbed the stairs Samuel started to wonder, two attempts in two days. Could the thieves have been sent by someone for the Hersey book? If that were the case, would the book be safe here or should the earl move it to their country estate. This he needed to broach but not until hearing what Quinn learned from the thief.
Settling Brittany on a light blue divan angled so they would be able to easily converse he noted a worried expression on Lord Eli. He chose to remain standing.
Out of earshot of the ladies Samuel turned to Eli.
“Yes, Bemming?” he chose the more formal to address him.
“Is someone after the Hersey book?” the man asked, softly so not to worry the ladies.
“If I were to hazard a guess I’d agree, but let’s wait until we hear from my man and what he tells us,” Samuel spoke with confidence.
Chapter Nine
“Lord Samuel, I’d suggest the planned drive be postponed? It seems someone waits until we’re out before breaking in. With two failed attempts at night, next they could try coming in the daytime which would be dangerous for us and the household. Since the Hersey tome has recently found a home here, I’m certain they’re after the tome,” Eli said.
“I agree we cancel the excursion. If someone,
“That might be stretching the rules a bit but considering you, my dear,” he watched as Charlotte smiled at Brittany and glared back at him. “I agree. I will accept the fact you’ve shared two dances this evening. Now, you need to convince your parents as I see them approaching. Be pleased, though, they are both wearing smiles, although with my brother I believe his might be forced.”
Samuel glanced over his shoulder to where Lady Wallace looked and understood what she meant. Brittany’s mother appeared pleased, which came as no surprise, while her father not so. He knew if he wished to continue to court her he’d have to think quickly or not only lose her but a chance at studying the Hersey book.
“I’m sorry to make short our evening but I received a report of another attempt to break into the townhouse. As fortune would be with us the guards were able to grab one of the men and like the other isn’t talking,” Eli said calmly.
“Was anything taken, m’ lord?” Samuel asked, as Brittany’s hand tightened on his arm.
“Again, we were lucky. They didn’t get too far into the house before one of your footmen stopped the one man,” he answered.
“Wonderful, then we should go and see what we can learn from him,” Samuel suggested.
“The carriage has already been called for,” Eli uttered, then bowed to his sister and nodded to his nephew.
Samuel turned to Lady Wallace, “It’s been a pleasure as always. You have my assurance no harm will come to your goddaughter,” he declared.
“I have faith in your protection. Now off with you,” she said, sending him and Brittany away with a wave of her bejeweled hand.
A short time later Samuel, with Brittany on his arm, followed the earl and countess into the Bemming townhouse to be met by the butler along with several footmen.
“M’ lords and ladies, I apologize for having to notify you of the attempt. The man in question is in the cellar in a secure room,” John announced, taking capes and coats from them.
“Good. Has Bow Street been sent for?” Eli asked, starting for the stairs to the first floor.
“No, m’ lord. When we secured him I took the liberty to request assistance from Stanley and he sent over an interesting gentleman.”
Samuel smiled knowing who his butler had dispatched.
“Lord Samuel, this man of yours, is he excellent at obtaining the necessary information without direction?” Eli probed.
“Most assuredly, m’ lord,” he answered back, then patted Brittany’s hand which still rested on his arm.
“M’ lord, don’t you think this conversation would best be continued in the family sitting room?” Barbara requested
As they climbed the stairs Samuel started to wonder, two attempts in two days. Could the thieves have been sent by someone for the Hersey book? If that were the case, would the book be safe here or should the earl move it to their country estate. This he needed to broach but not until hearing what Quinn learned from the thief.
Settling Brittany on a light blue divan angled so they would be able to easily converse he noted a worried expression on Lord Eli. He chose to remain standing.
Out of earshot of the ladies Samuel turned to Eli.
“Yes, Bemming?” he chose the more formal to address him.
“Is someone after the Hersey book?” the man asked, softly so not to worry the ladies.
“If I were to hazard a guess I’d agree, but let’s wait until we hear from my man and what he tells us,” Samuel spoke with confidence.
Chapter Nine
“Lord Samuel, I’d suggest the planned drive be postponed? It seems someone waits until we’re out before breaking in. With two failed attempts at night, next they could try coming in the daytime which would be dangerous for us and the household. Since the Hersey tome has recently found a home here, I’m certain they’re after the tome,” Eli said.
“I agree we cancel the excursion. If someone,
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