‘The family?’
‘Your brother and his wife and Lord and Lady Davenport. The staff were all carefully chosen for their loyalty and discretion, I assure you.’
Wolf frowned.
‘I do not doubt it, ma’am, but I would rather you had not dragged Alex and his new wife into this.’
‘They are Arrandales and will wish to be involved. Do not worry, your secrets are safe enough, my boy.’
‘I do not doubt it, but it comes hard to trust so many people, when I have been accustomed to fending for myself.’ He looked up, one brow raised. ‘The two fellows scything the lawns as I rode in. They looked useful fellows to have with one in a fight.’
He saw the familiar glint in those faded eyes. ‘Your brother sent them, lest Sir Charles Urmston should turn up, although there has been no sign of him as yet.’ She paused. ‘They might also buy you a little extra time to make your escape, should it be necessary.’
‘You have not discovered the Sawston diamonds, then?’
‘No. I have had the house turned out of doors, but my people have found nothing.’
‘Did Richard tell you to pay special attention to the dresser’s room?’
‘He and Phyllida are going over it. I presume they have found nothing or they would have come down by now.’
‘What?’ Wolfgang exploded. ‘They are here?’
‘They arrived last evening, although they have sent little James off to Brookthorn with his nurse.’
‘Thank heaven they have shown some sense!’ declared Wolf. ‘I do not want the family interfering in my affairs any further.’
‘I think you must accustom yourself to it, Wolfgang. These days Arrandales stick together. You should think yourself fortunate that Ellen Tatham, Phyllida’s stepdaughter, is touring the Lakes with her old teacher at present or she would have been here, too, and she would set us all by the ears.’
‘Even you, Sophia?’
Lady Hune allowed herself a faint smile. ‘Even me. However, I think you should prepare yourself to see the Davenports here tomorrow. And theyarebringing the children with them.’
Wolf clapped a hand over his mouth, as if to hold back even more explosions, not so much of wrath as consternation.
‘Send them an express,’ he said at last. ‘They should not come.’
‘Do you not wish to meet your daughter?’
‘Yes, very much, but I want to meet her as a free man. I do not want her to see me arrested and dragged off in chains.’
‘Do you think that is likely?’
He nodded. ‘If I delay here too long. Urmston will make sure Arrandale is searched, once the trail to Dover goes cold. If the necklace is not found within a day or two, then I must give up my plans to see little Florence and leave the country.’
‘If that is the case then naturally you must go, but you may be sure we shall continue the search.’
‘Thank you, ma’am, I—’
He broke off as the door opened and a cheerful, musical voice floated across the room.
‘Go away, Croft, we will announce ourselves.’
‘Cassandra!’ The words had hardly left his mouth before a petite dark-haired beauty threw her arms about him. ‘What the—the deuce are you doing here?’ he demanded, frowning over her head at Raoul Doulevant, who had followed her into the room. Raoul merely lifted his shoulders in a very Gallic shrug.
‘My wife, she thought we should support you.’
‘You knew I was coming here?’
