He understood. Keep quiet around Avery.
“Please continue.” Isabella leaned toward him.
“Yes.” He scrubbed his face. “Then they began discussing how they might gain favor with their boss. Maestro they called him. The long and short of it was that they decided delivering one of the unwed Carrington sisters was their best plan.”
“And you’re just telling us this now?” Bash half yelled from his seat. It filled the carriage, causing Brandon to wince. The man had a point.
He rubbed his eyes, tiredness and fear making him feel stretched thin. “Try to understand. I spent more than a year trying to unravel this mystery. It’s important to all of us that these thieves be rooted out. I was so close, I had to see it through.”
Decadence leaned forward. “You could have sent word.”
“Bash.” Isabella touched her husband’s arm. “We know now, and we’ll make sure they’re safe.”
Brandon sat back in his seat scrubbing his face again. Because he couldn’t shake that feeling that time was running out. Or that he’d failed Emily again…
Emily buttoned her coat as she looked out the large doors that led to the back garden. She’d decided a walkabout with some fresh air would do wonders for the dark mood that had settled over her.
Abigail was right. Being trapped in the house was driving them both mad.
She hadn’t been this jealous of her sisters since she’d been a small girl. Eliza got the best of everything with her forward personality, and Isabella had always collected praise for her steadfast nature.
Abigail had been the sweet, adorable baby, while Emily…she’d been plain old Emily.
Her sisters swore she’d become the most beautiful, but she wasn’t certain. Was that a trait of value? She’d rather be brave, or strong, or incite the passion of men…or perhaps just one man.
And clearly, she’d had far too much time to think.
Because when she wasn’t comparing herself to her sisters, she was dreaming of a man who’d never even told her his real name.
He’d saved her life.
And he’d been shot while protecting her.
But who was to say he wouldn’t have done the same for any of her sisters?
She stopped at the far end of the garden, staring up at the sinking sun in the sky. It had warmed the air in the middle of the day, but now the wind was brisk and cold. Still, it cleared her head and steadied her thoughts.
She needed to find a way to help her sisters. They were attempting to solve a mystery while she sat at home pining. Action would surely make her feel better.
She nodded, though no one was watching. The question was, what to do? And once she’d decided upon that, she’d have to find the strength to enact her plan. Like she had the first day she’d met Dishonor.
Her hair fluttered in the breeze as she considered. She could return home and search the house again. They’d looked a hundred times but it had been months since their last search, and they’d learned so much since then. Perhaps they’d overlooked something that didn’t hold meaning before.
She could go to her father’s solicitor and beg for Dishonor’s address. The man was as steadfast when it came to rules as a man could be, but she could try and persuade him. If she said she had funds that belonged to Dishonor…or a business lead as a partner in Carrington Shipping.
She smiled to herself. This…this was productive. This was good and clearly, she needed to spend more time in fresh air.
And she needed to apply herself to action rather than moping.
She started back for the house, intent upon going inside and writing a note to the solicitor. Surely one of her brothers-in-law would escort her to such a meeting.
But the sound of a breaking stick caught her attention and she froze.
Cocking her head to the side, she listened for another movement. Had it been a small animal? A bird? Still her heart sped up in her chest, a loud thrum filling her ears.
It had sounded…large.
She to