“I don’t know,” Blackford said, “but if he comes to Blackford House, he’ll find everything just as Georgia described, including a doctored set of plans. I’m sure the Admiralty can produce that quickly for a good reason. And you’ve given them a good reason.” He gave me one of his happy smiles, the ones I saw when the two of us had done well together. A smile that told me he was pleased. A smile that might someday say he loved me.

Except he couldn’t. He was a duke.

“You’ll let him go?” Sumner asked.

“I don’t expect Stevens to capture him, and he won’t see anyone at Blackford House but Stevens. Even if he gets away, we’ll have what we want. The plans to the warship.”

“And evidence Ken Gattenger is telling the truth,” I added. “Will it be enough to let him out of prison?”

“No. Snelling could double-cross Gattenger as easily as the baron. Without Snelling testifying that Gattenger wasn’t involved and the plans were taken by force, Scotland Yard can still say the prisoner is guilty of treason and murder. I’m sorry.”

I leaned toward Blackford, every muscle tensing. “That’s not fair. There must be a way to prove Ken Gattenger innocent.”

“Possibly we’ll catch Snelling handing off the doctored plans. Possibly the Germans will admit Gattenger had no hand in this. We won’t know what evidence we’ll have until we finish the investigation.” Blackford gave me a reassuring smile. “You’ve done well. Shall we take you back to the bookstore now?”

“Yes. I have a lot to take care of today.” Too much. I was grumbling and didn’t care if the duke heard my temper. Before, I’d always been able to keep one eye on the bookshop as I carried out investigations. I didn’t like the direction this case and my shop were headed.

CHAPTER NINE

I scarcely had time to glance at the receipts for the bookshop before it was time to take a stifling omnibus back to Mayfair. The heat wave seemed to have intensified, baking the horse manure almost as soon as it hit the pavement. If it weren’t so hot, I could have walked the distance in less time. While Emma readied my outfit for the afternoon, I ate a light lunch. After Emma dressed Phyllida and me, we left to call on Lady Peters.

Her Mayfair town house was smaller than ours, but better located on one of the attractive squares that dotted that part of London. She rose to greet us when her butler opened the door to her parlor and announced us. “How lovely. I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”

“We were honored by your invitation,” I answered.

We curtsied to each other and then she had us sit on satin-smooth jewel-green chairs. “Your home has a marvelous view, Lady Peters,” Phyllida said.

“Please, call me Rosamond. Yes, we get a little breeze from the trees in the park, and lately, we’re grateful for every breeze we can find.”

Why was this woman going out of her way to befriend us? “I’m Georgina, and I’m grateful for the invitation, since I know practically no one in the city. And now it sounds as if everyone in polite society will be escaping London.”

“When does the Duke of Blackford intend to leave? Or shouldn’t I ask? I’ve heard you and he are old friends, but I suppose I shouldn’t listen to gossip.”

Good. The story we’d concocted was getting around. “Oh, that isn’t gossip. That’s the truth. We were friendly when we were younger, but we haven’t seen each other in years. I have no idea what Ranleigh’s—I mean, the duke’s—plans are. Did he mention them to you last night?”

“No. He didn’t seem to be able to talk about anything but you. He seems quite smitten.”

“As Sir Henry appears to be with you.”

Rosamond laughed a carefree, tinkling sound. “Sir Henry is in love with half the females in London. One of us serves quite as well as another.”

“Oh, dear. A male coquette.” I smiled broadly, and Phyllida, bless her, tittered.

Lady Peters didn’t. “I shouldn’t speak so dismissively of him. He seems quite interested in you. Particularly since the duke hasn’t frightened him off.”

I shook my head. “Neither has more than a passing interest in me. I’m new here, and that makes me exotic for ten minutes. By the time cooler weather comes in, both of them will be on to other pursuits.”

“And you? What will you do then?”

I’ll be back in my bookshop, if my friends haven’t made too many mistakes like this morning’s. “I’m at Lady Phyllida’s disposal. We might travel a little, see the sights of London, I don’t know. This is all so new.”

“You didn’t grow up here?”

“I sailed to join my father in India as soon as I left the schoolroom. Having not lived in London leaves me at a disadvantage when it comes to polite society. So tell me, why has Lady Bennett taken such a special dislike to me?”

Rosamond Peters smiled, but her eyes narrowed. “I’m sure she hasn’t.”

“You don’t believe that.” I decided to strike a blow for my supposed honesty in not knowing important people in Singapore. “She seems quite upset that I wasn’t the social equal of her sister the viscountess in Singapore.”

She shook her head. “It sounded as if you’d never heard of her family, in whom she’s quite proud.”

I’d managed to check some sources at the bookshop, so now I could speak with authority. “I meant I didn’t move in their circles. We’d never been formally introduced. She should be honored rather than insulted. But beyond that, she doesn’t like me.”

“Lady Bennett has had many conquests in society over the years. Both before and after old Lord Bennett’s death. Perhaps she feels guilty when she sees you because the last time your cousin and Kenneth Gattenger broke their engagement, it was because of her.”

“What?” I thought Phyllida would slide off her satin-slick chair.

“He came to regret it quickly enough and strove to make amends with Clara, but Gattenger and Lady Bennett did have an affair immediately after Lord Bennett died.”

Gattenger and Lady Bennett. I shook my head. “I can’t believe that’s the reason for her animosity. Clara’s gone. It can’t make any difference now.”

Lady Peters smiled. “Being more than a few years older than you, perhaps she fears you’ll attract the attention she wants. Especially as she once made an effort to gain the Duke of Blackford’s eye and failed.”

I was glad to hear he had better taste than that.

Glancing around the room, a painting over the fireplace caught my eye. The woman was definitely Rosamond Peters with a toddler on her lap. “Your son?”

“The current Lord Peters. He’s four years old now and growing quickly. He’s spending the summer with his aunt and uncle and their children at their family estate.” She smiled at the portrait.

“You’re brave to share him with the family after losing your husband.” I didn’t think I could bear being separated from my young children if I ever had any.

“I miss him terribly, but it’s better for him. London is so hot and unhealthy.”

“Did your husband get to know the child? He’s been dead that long, hasn’t he?” Phyllida asked.

Good for you, Phyllida. She was turning into a first-rate investigator.

“Sadly, no. His father died a few months before his birth.”

The parlor door opened and the butler announced Lady Bennett. I glanced at Lady Peters as we all rose and curtsied. Rosamond’s eyes flashed with a strong emotion. By the hard set of her lips, I suspected it was hatred.

Still, she was all graciousness as she invited her guest to come sit with us.