Free Kathryn Caskie - [Royle Sisters 02] by How to Engage an Earl Page B

moment.” Elizabeth looked back to Laird. “The burglars killed your father?” she asked gently.
    Laird nodded slowly. “He likely surprised them as they were just beginning, for they didn’t take anything of note. Much like, I suspect, the Runners surprised the three of you this night, eh?”
    “More brandy, my lord?” MacTavish asked during the momentary lull in the conversation.
    Laird allowed the butler to fill his crystal with brandy. “When I returned home, after seeing my mother to the Lady Fustian’s musicale, imaginemy astonishment when a Runner headed me to my garden just as Lilywhite was lowering himself down from the rooftop, by means of some contraption.”
    “It was a crate hoist I secured from the West India Docks.” Lady Upperton was beaming. “Well, not exactly a crate hoist, but rather my miniature adaptation of one that might allow for greater vertical mobility.”
    “For burglary . Clearly the four of you, for it seems I must now include you in their number as well, Lady Upperton, spent a goodly amount of time planning this burglary. One might think that the prize would be very dear.”
    Lotharian and other two rakes exchanged convert glances.
    Laird rose from his chair, reached into his coat pocket, and withdrew an ivory blade. “And yet this small letter opener, or page cutter, perhaps, is all that was removed from my home—and that, it seems, from beneath a loosened floorboard in my bedchamber.”
    He realized that the Royle sisters had not seen the blade before. Their eyes were curious, and they jockeyed for a better position to see it.
    Slowly Laird turned the blade over in his hand,again and again, aware that every eye in the parlor was fixed on it. “This leads me to believe the blade has a greater significance than its utility in opening letters or separating book pages.”
    “Might I—” Lotharian crossed to Laird and reached for the ivory blade.
    Laird lifted his brow. “Am I mistaken? I was told that the object was found in your possession, Lord Lotharian. Surely you have seen it.”
    “Well, of course I have. The blade is mine.” Lotharian reached out to take it, but Laird whisked the ivory cutter cleanly from the old man’s reach.
    “Ah, really?” Laird slid the ivory into his pocket again. “Then, pray, my lord, what was etched into the blade?”
    Lotharian raised the back of his bony, reddened hand to his forehead and sighed forlornly. “Alas, I do not recall. I am but an old man. My memory is failing.”
    Miss Anne stepped between Laird and Lotharian. “Enough of this cat-and-mouse game. I told you I would do whatever you asked. Please, just give him back the blade if it is not yours.”
    “I never claimed it was mine.” He watched her face as he slowly grasped the handle of theblade and withdrew it from his pocket. “But it may be yours , Miss Royle.”
    “Mine?”
    Laird took her hand, turned her palm flat, and laid the blade upon it. “Do you see? Oh, there are other letters, and numbers, too, but look just there, near the edge of the handle.”
    Her golden eyes grew wide. Whirling around, Anne hurried to the mantel and held it before the flickering sconce. “R-O-Y-L-E.” Her gaze sought out her sister. “Elizabeth, come and see.”
    Elizabeth rushed to her sister’s side. She took the blade from Anne’s hands and turned it over in the candlelight before pivoting back around to face the congregation. “Why, you are correct, Lord MacLaren. This must have belonged to my father. His name is marked on its edge.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “But why would it be hidden beneath the floorboard in your bedchamber?”
    “I was hoping Lotharian might be able to enlighten us. For it is plain that he knew it was there.” Laird nailed the old man with a steely gaze.
    “On my honor, I did not know it was there.” Lotharian’s piercing gray eyes stared back at Laird.
    “Do you take me for a fool, Lotharian?” Laird took a step toward the man, hoping to