Page 61 of A Duke for Adela
“More deeply involved than you,” Syd added, giving Ambrose’s brother a marvelously indignant stare. “In fact, what good are you for anything other than providing the muscle?”
Ambrose could not suppress his laughter, for his brother looked utterly stunned. In truth, having grown up in a family of men, they had no idea how to deal with ladies. Their mother had passed away when they were young and their father had taken on the role of both parents.
Obviously, it was not quite the same.
Dr. Farthingale, who had come out of the examination room behind Octavian, was also laughing. “Captain Thorne, I learned early on not to fight that current. One must adapt when living in a household full of women. Do not believe the nonsense about men being king of their castle. It is completely untrue. Yes, they will love you and treat you like a king. But never forget that you are not the ruler of that kingdom. Nor should you ever wish to rule your home like a potentate. Women are the heart and soul of the family, and it is only by leaving them in charge that you will find happiness. This is because they are far more loving, competent, and observant than we are.”
Ambrose did not feel quite so bad about caving to Adela’s every whim now that he had heard the wise doctor give his speech. Apparently, capitulating was something most men did. In truth, he did not see the harm in having the ladies come along. They did not seem happy in their homes, the three of them misfits who had found each other and become more like sisters than friends.
The sun was still bright in the sky and the afternoon had warmed by the time they walked out of the doctor’s infirmary. Gory, Syd, Julius, and Octavian marched ahead of them. Octavian helped Gory in first and then scooped Syd up in his arms.
“Eek! What are you doing?” she cried as he settled her onto the seat as though she weighed no more than a feather.
“I am the muscle, am I not?” he snapped back. “And you are the weak, helpless female.”
Ambrose was not sure if Octavian liked Syd or not. But one thing for certain, he was not indifferent to her.
Good, he did not like being the only man in the family whose composure was in a roil over a woman. It was especially satisfying to see Octavian mystified because out of the three brothers, he was always the most cynical about women and ever so sure of himself. “Let’s make a quick stop at the Huntsford Academy along the way,” Ambrose said, settling onto the leather bench beside his brother.
“Why?” Octavian muttered.
“On the off chance something else turned up during our absence. It won’t take us long and it is on the way.”
“Is this your idea or are you once again indulging Adela and her wayward friends?”
Now Octavian was just getting thorny.
“The decision has been made and I am sticking to it.” Ambrose wasn’t having any of his brother’s grumbling. “You can switch with Julius and ride up top with the driver, if all you are going to do is argue about it.”
The Huntsford Academy staff were just closing up the main exhibit halls when they arrived.
Ambrose merely intended to ask them a few, quick questions and resume their ride to Mr. Barrow’s office, but Adela and Gory immediately hopped out after him. “What are you doing?” he asked, trying to hold back his exasperation.
“Now that the museum is closed, we ought to conduct a search,” Adela said.
Ambrose crossed his arms over his chest, hoping to convey how heartily he disapproved of the suggestion. There was not a chance Runyon had dropped the book somewhere in there today. In fact, he doubted Runyon had ever stepped foot back in his museum after accidentally stealing the book last week. “Why?”
“Is the reason not obvious? We caught that bounder with the bank notes in your lecture hall. Why would he be there, tucking the bag under his chair, if not to make the exchange? What I don’t understand is why none of us caught sight of Runyon. He must have attended the lecture or been lurking somewhere close by.”
“To see the mayhem he would stir?” Ambrose pursed his lips. “Doubtful. None of this smells right to me.”
Adela studied his expression. “What do you mean?”
“We keep mentioning Runyon, but where was he in all this? Not in the lecture hall or even the exhibition halls because the Bow Street runners would have been on his trail. And that man you caught…everything feels wrong about him, too.”
“Oh, Ambrose, do you think Runyon was merely toying with us today? Purposely sending us off on a wild goose chase?”
He nodded. “It is a distinct possibility. Why would he have that man leave bank notes totaling one thousand pounds on the floor beneath his seat in a crowded lecture hall and then simply walk out empty-handed?”
Gory nodded. “Yes, he was not even looking around for that book. It was as though he had no intention of retrieving it.”
“It is likely he was merely instructed to drop the package beneath his seat and walk out.” Ambrose ran hand through his hair. “We need more information from that man in the magistrate’s custody. I think he was hired to play a game designed to vex you, Adela.”
“It seems to have worked,” Julius remarked, also having hopped down from the carriage to join them. “You are concentrating all your attention here instead of where he must have actually hidden the book.”
Ambrose nodded. “I would not be surprised if those bank notes proved to be forgeries and the man turned out to be working for Runyon and not some mysterious buyer.”
Adela’s mouth gaped open. “That would be dastardly, indeed. Why would that slimy lizard go to all the trouble? Merely to taunt us? All the more reason to search here. He may have had that man plant something nasty to harm visitors and cause you trouble.”
