Page 27 of Code Name Duchess
“I know it, Your Grace. I know it. And Mr. Bradford made me realize it, too. However, it feels like such a betrayal. Alas, it must be done.”
She shook her head and then turned. Winnie’s eyes followed her movement, and she saw her pick up a small wooden box, carefully adorned with hand-painted pansies. The maid picked up the box and handed it to Seth, who squinted at it.
“Lady Rose entrusted this box to my care. It contains letters from a certain young gentleman.” She glanced at Winnifred, whose heart dropped to her knees. She remembered her earlier suspicion, the one so swiftly dismissed about Rose and Leo’s involvement. Had her suspicion been right after all? Was there something between them? She chastised herself for not having brought up her concern to Seth when it first occurred to her.
“A certain gentleman?” Seth asked.
“Your Grace, perhaps we ought to look through the letters in the privacy of your study. They might provide us with vital clues,” Winnifred suggested, using his title since they were in company. “I have a suspicion from whom they might be.”
Seth’s mouth formed into the shape of an O as he studied her face, but he said nothing. Instead, he gave her a quick nod and then stepped forward in the direction of his study. Winnifred hastened behind him, and when the door closed, he dropped the box on his desk and opened it. The box squeaked, indicating its age. The smell of damp paper filled the air as they peeked inside.
Seth pressed his lips together. The tension in his shoulders was easy to see as he stared down at the box of letters.
Winnifred glanced past Seth into the box, and if she hadn’t already figured who the sender might be, her heart might have skipped a beat. However, since she had already suspected that her brother was the author, it did not surprise her to see his penmanship on the front of each letter.
The name Rose was written in cursive handwriting that was unmistakably Leo’s.
Winnifred knew right away that Seth was uncomfortable going through these and stepped forth.
“This is Leo’s handwriting. Since he is my brother, perhaps I should be the one to look through them.”
Seth shook his head. “I think we both know what this means. I had no idea. No idea at all. See how little I know my sister?”
“I understand you so well. If this were Victoria, I would be just as shocked. It can’t be helped. For now, we must set aside sentimental thoughts and look through these letters so we might find a clue as to what happened.”
She reached for the box and took out a handful of letters. “Do you think these are in order?”
At this, Seth chuckled. “Going through my sister’s things in her chamber has not given you a clue as to her gift of organization? No, I venture to say these are in no order whatsoever. And you are right. We must set aside sentimental thoughts and feelings and do what we have to in order bring them home.”
He reached into the box and took the remaining letters. With his chin, he nodded to the chaise in the corner and the table before it.
“Come, let us sit there and look through them. Maybe if there is some date or something, we can put them in order.”
“If these are all from Leo, I can assure you there will be a date. He’s meticulous about those sorts of things.”
“Of course he is. It comes from the type of business we run. It’s important to keep records. Perhaps Leo’s orderly nature will assist us in finding him.”
They sat side by side, much closer than Winnifred had ever sat by any man. Their legs almost touched, and if the situation had been any different, she might’ve found herself concerned about her reputation. For sitting this close to a gentleman was uncouth. However, she discovered that she did not care. His physical closeness provided her with a strange sense of comfort and security.
They each read through the letters, and by the second one, Winnifred’s suspicions had been confirmed. These were love letters from Leo to Rose.
“I suppose this was what they were being blackmailed over?” She said after a while.
Seth did not reply. His eyes moved gently from side to side as he took in every last word of the letter presently in his hand. He was grinding his teeth, it was evident by the way his jaw moved.
When he was finished with the letter, he put it on his lap and looked at her.
“It was my fault that they were being blackmailed.”
“Your fault? How could it have been your fault? You didn’t even know.”
He handed her his letter. “Read this.”
Winnifred took the letter from his hand and inadvertently touched his fingers. The sudden connection sent a jolt up her arm and into the very core of her being. Every time they touched, even if it was as gently as this, she couldn’t help but allow the little flame within her heart to flicker a little more vibrantly. She thought back to the carriage ride, her hand so gently between his, his lips so close to her she was sure he’d kiss her.
Oh, how she’d wanted him to kiss her—
She shook her head, chasing the thought away. And focused on the letter instead.
