The Earl's Secret. Terri Brisbin
“I would never presume to interfere in your business, sir,” she answered, not unhappy that a sharp tone entered her voice then. “If you would excuse me?”
Anna turned then and walked away from them. She held herself to a certain standard of behavior since her carefree, even hoydenish days before her father’s death, and at this moment she felt the very unladylike urge to stamp her feet and screech. Better to retreat and not embarrass herself and Nathaniel. She would discover the truth of the matter from Nathaniel and, if he prevaricated, from Clarinda.
Only a few minutes passed before Nathaniel joined her in his office and Anna attempted to ignore both him and the question burning within her. As though he could sense her disquiet, Nathaniel followed her lead and they were able to clear up a number of outstanding matters related to the improving status of their publication. Finally, her curiosity overtook her control and she blurted out the words she’d fought to keep in.
“Who is Mr. Archer?”
Nathaniel frowned at first and then leaned back in his chair with a resigned air. She watched as his gaze moved to the bottom drawer of his desk and wondered what was contained there and why it drew his attention.
“Mr. Archer is a past acquaintance of mine from my time in London. His appearance here unannounced simply startled me.”
“Startled you? I would describe your reaction to the sight of him in much stronger terms than that.” Anna drummed her fingers on the smooth surface of the desk and met his gaze. “And his business here in Edinburgh?”
Nathaniel ran his fingers through his hair and frowned. “Did he not speak of it during your walk here?”
Evasion.
Nervousness.
Guilt.
She could read all three of those in his gaze and wondered over it. In their years of acquaintance and friendship and in their working relationship, she’d never felt as though he’d been less than honest. Until now.
“We spoke only of the city.”
Nathaniel paused now before answering. She watched as he took in a deep breath, as though trying to calm himself, and then he smiled at her. “Mr. Archer seeks to buy some property here and wants my assistance in the matter.”
“Ah, property here in Edinburgh,” Anna replied. “And will you aid him in his search?”
“I told him that I know more about the countryside between the city and our estates than I do of the city proper, but it did not seem to dissuade him.”
Now this was interesting. From the expression on his face, Nathaniel was not pleased. Had his previous dealings with Mr. Archer been such a negative experience for Nathaniel that he would exaggerate his true knowledge to avoid any future involvements? Apparently he would.
“Then why not simply acquiesce and help him? Surely, you know enough or can direct him through your man-of-business to someone who could assist him? Perhaps protesting too much will draw more of his attention and interest than you seem to want to bear?”
Nathaniel thought on her words and nodded. “Once again, Anna, you display a sense of common wisdom that aids me. It is a splendid idea that could shorten his visit here as well.”
So, Nathaniel wanted Mr. Archer gone? Anna had never seen Nathaniel react so strongly to a situation. Always the one with an innate calmness in the most trying of matters, she puzzled over it. And, although he directed the conversation to other matters, Anna would have to discover more about the mysterious Mr. Archer in her own manner.
“Did you see him?” David asked as he climbed into the hackney.
“I did, my lord.”
David shook his head. “While in Edinburgh, Mr. Archer will do.” He did not want word to spread of his identity and presence here. Nathaniel was the only one who knew at this point and David would keep it that way in order to effectively seek out the man who was presently making his life miserable. At the man’s nod of agreement, he continued. “I am interested in his daily business regimen only. Details of a personal sort are not necessary.”
David did not wish to gather invasive information about Nathan’s life unless it was related to the business he carried on as owner of the Gazette. No need to know if he kept a ladybird or his private activities.
“I understand, sir,” Keys replied. “And the woman?” he asked, nodding in the direction of the Gazette’s office across the street from where they sat. “Should I have someone follow her?”
David glanced over at the door to the office where he’d last seen her, Nate’s form standing between them in a clearly defensive position. With her cheeks aglow from their brisk walk and her dark brown eyes flashing, Miss Fairchild presented a pleasing appearance. He watched as she tried to glance around Nate’s tall form. His cutting tone had quashed her further interest, but he did not doubt for a moment that the intelligence and curiosity he glimpsed in her would not be stopped for long. Smiling, he wondered if Miss Fairchild were even now pestering Nathaniel for information about him, and the thought of it gave him pause.
“Miss Fairchild?” David shook his head. “You need not assign anyone to that task, Keys. Narrow your efforts to Mr. Hobbs-Smith and his secretary.”
Keys looked as though he would ask another question, but the man thought on it and then reached for the carriage’s door. “As you say, sir.”
“Two days, Keys, three at most and then report back to me.”
“It should be a simple thing, sir.”
Keys closed the door and David leaned back against the seat. He was not comforted by the investigator’s confidence. If it had been a simple task, it would have been accomplished by now.
David watched as Keys blended in with those moving along Princes Street and saw him approach a man standing near the storefront of a mercer. After a few whispered words, they both disappeared into the crowds.
Turning back, he stared at the Gazette’s office window, seeing nothing but vague images moving inside. Watching on for another few moments, he reprimanded himself when he realized what he was doing.
He was hoping to see Miss Fairchild there in the window.
Shaking from the distracting thoughts, he was even more dismayed to realize the reason he stopped Keys from considering Miss Fairchild as a subject of the investigation. David reached up and tapped on the roof of the carriage. As the hackney rolled forward and joined the rows of horses, carriages and pedestrians, David shook his head. He knew to a certainty that if she needed to be observed, he had to be the one to follow her.
Bloody hell! This could make a mess of things.
Chapter Six
“No, Becky. Try it like this,” Anna said, demonstrating to one of her students the new letter of the alphabet on a slate with chalk. “Glide your hand up and curve down to the right.” As Becky tried valiantly to imitate the motion, Anna completed the letter for the rest of the class. “Q is always seen with the letter U, so move quickly into it—” she glanced at the group to see which ones picked up on her pun and smiled “—up, down, up and down.”
The ten women in the room gave their full attention to the task she assigned and Anna circled the room, stopping to help and to guide those having difficulty with the formation of the letters. After a few minutes of practice, she smiled. If effort were the only method to judge, each of these women would be a success.
“I don’t think I like this letter, miss,” the youngest one, Mary, called out. “It’s too swirly-like.”
Others joined her in her complaints, but Anna laughed. “Practice this one, girls, for the others to follow promise even more swirls and curls. Do not let frustration over the difficult overwhelm you—we are nearly to the end of the alphabet and your writing improves with each letter.”
Although