Page 74 of The Duke's Mysterious Lover
Both of them had worked together to put themselves in danger…forhim. Kit had faced her father forhim. And now they were trusting him enough not to even try to catch a glimpse into the reason they’d come this far.
Thorne lowered himself to his knees beside the safe and opened the dark lantern just enough to be able to see the stacks of documents and folios in the safe.
It should have been overwhelming, but truthfully, Thorne didn’t care. Aye, he wanted it all, but for tonight’s mission, he neededanypiece of information he could find that he didn’t already know. Anything which couldn’t have come from Blackrose’s agents or nieces…something only Blackrose and his brother knew…
Thorne’s eye landed on a folio labeledLaunder. He reached for it.
The Greede-Ahl Mine was located in the intimidating western mountains of the American continent, and Thorne recognized it from a stock certificate Blackrose had “gifted” Fawkes when he’d cut the man loose. Fawkes had never cashed it, and staring down at the neat columns of numbers before him, Thorne was glad he hadn’t.
The mine was a scam, completely false. Blackrose was using the cover company as a way to route money from others—wasthat blackmail? Was he blackmailing still? Thorne flipped through several pages.
Aye, here was a list of names and amounts listed, in Bonkinbone’s handwriting. One caught his eye.
Stanley, 100 guineas Dec 1, for L. Mary’s vices.
Stanley, as in Edward Stanley, the Earl of Derby and former Prime Minister? His wife, Lady Mary, was considered one of Society’s grand hostesses. What vices was she guilty of that forced her husband to pay blackmail to Blackrose?
Thorne flipped back to the neat columns of numbers. Aye, there was a hundred guineas entered into the ledger in December, and previously in September, June and March. The poor bastard was funding the “Greede Mine” as his blackmail, which the Stoughton brothers had completely made up.
Excellent.
This was exactly what Thorne needed.
He carefully replaced the folio as he’d found it, and randomly pulled out a few others, hoping for more inspiration—or at least damning evidence. The mine scheme and blackmailing a former Prime Minister—good Lord, how high did the rot go?—would be enough, but just in case, he’d spend a few minutes…
What was this?
Thorne’s hand hovered over a folio withPastorinoscrawled across the front. He glanced over his shoulder at Kit. She was dutifully listening at the door.
Did Thorne have the right to spy on her family’s business?
He was here to incriminate Blackrose. This would help.
With a deep breath, he opened the Pastorino folio.
Newspaper clippings were folded neatly, each a focus on one of Gloria Pastorino's successes. They were accompanied by photographs of the beautiful singer in various triumphant roles. As the clippings worked backward in time, the articlesbecame shorter, with fewer photographs. It was clear Blackrose had kept tabs on his past lover.
The only reference to the daughter he’d abandoned was a ledger after the clippings, with a neat tally of receipts. For eighteen years, every January and June, the man had sent money to Gloria. The payments had stopped about five years ago which, assuming Kit was twenty-three, would be about the time she reached her majority.
Hateful as he was, the bastard had sent money to his one-time lover to raise his child. At least he was honorable enough to manage that.
But then Thorne flipped the ledger and felt his heart drop into his stomach.
Blackrose hadn’t sent his lover guilt money.
Swallowing, Thorne fought to keep his hand from shaking as he reached for the single piece of paper, the last thing in the folio.
A certificate of marriage.
Dated twenty-four years ago, in New York, America.
Between one William Stoughton and Gloria Pastorino.
Blackrose hadn’t been sending money to his lover to raise his bastard. He’d been sending money to hiswife.
His wife and hisheir.
Chapter 15
