Page 53 of Crying Wolfe
“I’m sorry to intrude. I was hoping to find Emmaline.”
Picking up Caroline, he held her above his face as she squealed with glee. “I’ve been abandoned tonight, I’m afraid, as Emma and Pru took pity on Emmett and tagged along while Lucy dragged him to a lecture on lepidopterology, poor chap.” Lowering his child, he made a rude noise against her belly, which caused her to squeal with glee. “Butterflies are boring. Aren’t they, darling? Yes, they are. I’d much rather spend an evening with these beauties.”
In reply to her father’s adoration, Caroline sneezed into his open mouth.
Making a face, he set her next to her sister and wiped his features with a handkerchief. “Though I’ll admit the society is a bit less sophisticated and quite likely to start randomly leaking from a myriad of places.”
A yearning, yawning sadness banded around her ribs as she greeted her nieces with sloppy kisses and a stroke of each downy cheek. How blessed Prudence was in her match. Men rarely looked after their own children, leaving it largely to the mother or nannies.
What sort of father would Eli make? Heavy-handed like her own? Or soft-hearted like Morley?
“You’ve not heard from Eli, have you?” she queried with false tranquility. “He was supposed to return from Devon early this afternoon, and I’ve not heard from him yet. I was wondering if I should worry.”
“I thought you’d gone with him to Devon, or I would have looked in on you.” Morley sent her an apologetic look, and she wondered if anyone else had brothers as dear as hers.
“No need. I was feeling under the weather, so it was decided I should stay and rest. I’d not have made good company.”
Morley nodded. “You do seem a bit pale, should I send for a doctor?”
“No, I’m much improved, thank you.”
“I’m surprised Eli wouldn’t stop at home to check on your well-being before taking himself off to Northwalk Hall.” His fair brows drew together in an expression of vague disapproval.
“What is at Northwalk Hall?”
“The antiquities auction, did he not mention?” He looked at her askance.
“I must have forgotten,” she rushed. “I’m not familiar with Northwalk Hall.”
“Well, the auction used to be elsewhere, but the manse was recently lost to a fire, so this year Dorian and Farrah Blackwell have offered to host it in their grand ballroom.”
“I thought you were friends with Blackwell and the Countess Northwalk,” she remembered.
A wry smile quirked at his ever-smooth jaw. “Apparently, several black-market figures will be in attendance, and so a man in my profession is not entirely welcome. Not that I much mind missing it. I’m in no mood for parties what with this wedding looming over us.” Blinking away an errant frustration, he turned to give her his full attention.
“It surprises me Eli would attend an event with such people, given how…strong his feelings are regarding thieves.”
His expression turned rueful as he locked his hands behind his back. “Well, he knows I spent my adolescence as a petty thief and still signed a contract with me. As far as Eli is concerned, business is business, and everyone is a crook. I think he only takes it personally, when it’s personal.”
“So I’ve gathered,” she murmured.
“And this time, it’s personal.”
Her eyes searched his features, unable to cover her surprise. “It is?”
“Surely he’s told you about how the Anatolian Sapphire was stolen from him by his business partner.”
“He mentioned it.”
“Well, rumor has it the gem will be on the premises.” Morley’s mouth suddenly flattened to a grim line. “Now I’m wondering if Eli is there to confront the owner, dispute the provenance, or buy it for a second time at great expense. I hope it’s the latter. Blackwell’s men are notoriously dangerous.” He turned to her, as if remembering he’d spoken out of turn. “Not to worry, though. Eli’s as tough as a buffalo hide and he’s one of the cleverest men I know when he cares to be. I shouldn’t be worried at all.”
Rosaline shook her head, trying not to let her despondency show. Eli would spend an evening with black market figures and notorious gangsters such as Dorian Blackwell, the Black Heart of Ben Moor. And yet, he could not stand her presence long enough for her to truly apologize.
When it came to his list of importance, she was understandably below a famous sapphire the size of a baby’s fist.
“Anything I can do for you?” he offered. “Anything specific you are looking for?”
“No. Just in search of a sister, actually… Female complaints.” She put a hand to her womb, hoping it sold the wrong message.
