Page 57 of Disguised Desires of a Scarred Duke
Eleanor pressed a hand to her forehead, then cleared her mind and got to work.
First, she quickly went through the dresser drawers while trying to keep them looking undisturbed. Only clothes and extra linens were stored inside.
Next, she checked under every piece of furniture for evidence of stolen jewellery or anything else Mr Phillips might have stolen from Lucy’s guests or home. But nothing was lurking under the bed, the desk, or the few chairs scattered about.
Just when she’d given up hope of proving that Cecil was their thief, Eleanor noticed a small wooden trinket box tucked into the corner of the window ledge behind the long drapes.
“Aha! Mr Phillips, it is with great pleasure that I prove you are a thief and a liar and finally banish you from my life!”
Eleanor grabbed the box and attempted to lift the lid, but it wouldn’t budge. She turned the box around and discovered that it had a small lock, but there was no sign of a key.
After searching the room all over again, she realized that the key to this trinket box was probably hidden in the same place from which the emerald earring fell.
Inside Cecil’s jacket pocket.
Eleanor cursed like a sailor, then smacked a hand over her mouth as if her stepmother had heard.
I need to focus!
She had no choice but to return the box to where she’d found it. Then she would go back downstairs and somehow find the key.
Unfortunately, to get that done, she might have to convince Cecil that she’d forgiven him. In that case, Eleanor would have to pretend to like him again.
Or worse.
Chapter 23
The pub was a dark and dingy little building where William met up with Lucas Filch the next morning. This location was Filch’s choice and easy to get to, so the duke didn’t care. But it felt like a setting where sinister dealings were discussed over chipped pottery full of awful brew.
William dressed as casually as possible for this meeting by borrowing clothes from a footman. He paid the man handsomely for the loan.
He’d heard from his mother that Filch was often dressed like he had a humble income, so William didn’t want to pique the man’s suspicions by outdressing him.
Turns out he needn’t have worried about that.
With their drinks in hand, Filch led William to a table at the back. Much to his shock, William noticed that Filch was dressed impeccably. His clothes were made of fine material and in perfect condition, as if they were brand new. Filch also checked the time on a shiny, gold pocket watch that the duke recognized as a piece made by a very expensive London designer.
“Filch, you know how to make a man feel underdressed! Your fine clothes make me think I’m getting guidance from the right man about working with better-paying clients,” William said, then clinked his mug of beer against Filch’s.
“Ah, Mr Black, you’d be right about that! You’ve got to learn how to make yourself look like the most trustworthy man in the world. Even if you’re not the most trusted man for miles!”
Filch smacked the table and laughed. Every time he opened his mouth, he revealed a broken and jagged front tooth.
William pretended to laugh with him, but his blood ran cold. If he learned somehow that Filch had been stealing from the St Clair family, he would have to stay composed until he could prove it.
“Well, what would you do if a wealthy client notices a …mishapin their books that cannot yet be explained? Would you help the bloody nobleman find his missing coin, or would you have a more clever way of fixing the problem?”
William sat back and waited for Filch to scold him for suggesting any impropriety would ever be acceptable or to boldly reveal that sneaky cleverness goes a long way in the estate agent business.
“There are always ways to fix a client’s problem, Mr Black. But an agent must be very good at managing those problems with complete discretion, of course.” Filch winked, then finished his beer and ordered another.
Though he grinned back at his father’s estate agent, William was already planning the man’s demise. He’d heard enough to feel certain that Filch was the problem that needed to be fixed regarding his family’s finances.
What he would need to do to prove it without a doubt was to compare Filch’s copies of the ledgers to his own.
For that, he would need his mother’s help since Filch couldn’t yet know that the new Duke of Ashbourn was sitting across from him now.
“You’re a shrewd businessman, Filch. I am impressed. But how do you keep clients from looking deeper when they have questions?” William asked.
