Page 58 of His Wicked Charm

“I’m afraid it won’t be fast or easy,” Con told her after he’d described their search. “What’s the likeliest room for your brother to hide something?”

“His bedroom?” Vesta shrugged. “He kept things in that box on top of his dresser. And of course there was the little chest of your mother’s things. Virgil was always a secretive boy. I remember he used to hide a cache of sweets behind books in the library. He thought I didn’t know it.” She grinned mischievously. “But of course I did. I just didn’t filch enough that he would notice.”

“No hidden staircases?” Con asked. “Secret rooms? Priest holes?”

“Wouldn’t that be marvelous?” Vesta said wistfully. “If there are, I’ve never found them.”

They were just finishing their tea when there was a cannonade of pounding on the front door. The three of them looked at each other in mystification. A moment later, Ruggins let out an exclamation, followed by a crash, and heavy footsteps thundered down the hall.

“Sir! No! Please allow me to announce you” came the butler’s voice. “Sir, please... You cannot simply barge in.”

“The hell I can’t!”

“But, sir—it’s the middle of tea!”

“Moreland! Damn you, where are you?”

“Isn’t that—” Vesta began, turning toward the others.

“Niles Dearborn,” Con finished grimly, shoving back his chair and standing up.

As Con came around the table, Lilah stood up, as well. “Con...”

“I shan’t break any of your furniture,” Con told her.

“Ha! There you are!” Dearborn charged into the room. “How dare you break in? How dare you steal my key? Give it back at once!”

“Your key!” Con gazed at him in astonishment. Had the man run mad?

“Yes, my key!” The blank looks on everyone’s faces seemed to enrage him further. He shook his fist, his face turning red. “Did you think I wouldn’t know you took it?”

“Mr. Dearborn,” Lilah said pacifically, stepping forward to take his arm. “Come. Sit down and calm yourself.”

“I don’t want to sit down!” Niles jerked his arm from Lilah’s grasp and turned his wrath on her. “Do you have it? Is that it? Did you think to have it all for yourself?”

Con quickly stepped between Lilah and the older man. His eyes bored into Niles as he said in a deadly level tone, “You will not speak that way to Miss Holcutt.”

Niles let out a snort of disgust but moved back. “You’re nothing but a ruffian, no matter how high your father’s title is.” He straightened his waistcoat, making a visible effort to subdue his temper. “I want my key back. You had no right to take it.”

“I didn’t take it.” Con folded his arms. “Are you saying someone stole your key?”

“Of course that’s what I’m saying. Are you daft?”

“No. But I’m inclined to think you are. Why would I take your key?”

“Do you think I’m stupid? First you come around, blustering about kidnapping and Sabrina’s key. Then suddenly you’re here at Barrow House, and the keys are gone. It’s obvious you took them,” Dearborn said scornfully.

“Keys, you said.” Con seized on his word. “There are three keys, aren’t there? And you naturally stole Sabrina’s, so you had two of them.”

“I didn’t steal it. She couldn’t use it.” Dearborn narrowed his eyes. “That’s it, isn’t it? You and your brother want to use the girls’ keys yourselves.”

“Mr. Dearborn.” Lilah stepped up beside Con. “If we wanted to use the keys, we girls would do it ourselves. But we do not have your key.” She spoke the last few words with slow, heavy emphasis.

“Why should I believe you?” Dearborn shot back. “You’re clearly under his spell.” He jerked a thumb at Con. His gaze swung toward Aunt Vesta, who sat watching them raptly. “You!” he sneered. “No doubt you’re the one who told them about it. They wouldn’t have known otherwise.”

“Told them about what?” Vesta pushed up out of her seat. Jaw set, she looked a more imposing figure than usual.

“The Brotherhood! The keys to the Sanctuary!”