Read Online Escaping Notice by Amy Corwin - Free Book Online Page B

That’s the lot.”
    “I understand your conclusions.” Gaunt did not claim to agree
with them, Hugh noted. “However, you indicated you have instructed
your lawyer, Mr. Petre, not to inform your family that you
survived. You wish the responsible party to remain in ignorance.
And yet you say you will return to Ormsby to investigate. Do you
seriously expect to enter your house without anyone realizing
you’re alive?”
    “No one will recognize me with this beard. I don’t intend to
shave. They will see what they expect to see.”
    A wry grin quirked Gaunt’s mouth. “But your physique … you are
not an ordinary-sized man, my lord.”
    “I’ll be engaged as a servant. Petre is making the arrangements.
No one looks too closely at a servant, and I have made other plans
to assist with my disguise.”
    “Your other plans don’t involve that attractive young
lady and the boy who were just here, do they?”
    “As a matter of fact, they do,” Hugh replied, trying not to
sound too sheepish. “The young lady lost something at Ormsby that
she wishes to find, and the boy is simply lost. They are to be my
sister and brother.”
    “Safety in numbers?”
    “Anonymity in numbers.”
    “And a bit of adventure for everyone.”
    For some reason, the remark touched off a flare of anger, as if
Gaunt accused him of taking the situation lightly. Hugh did not
find it amusing. His anguish over his brother’s death remained
close to the surface, always waiting to sink him. He could never
forget the moment when he had lost his grip on his brother’s
collar, when he had felt that unbearable lightness, that relief
that he had survived after all ….
    He should have been the one who had died, not Lionel. He had let
his brother go in order to survive.
    What kind of man would do that?
    He pushed the pain down. “Some might consider it an adventure,”
he said in a deliberate, calm voice. “I’m just interested in
discovering the truth, before anyone else is harmed.”
    “Or killed. Yes, I understand. Well, I believe we can come to an
agreement. I’ll contact Mr. Petre about my expenses. I’ll provide
daily accounts of my activities and the costs incurred. Is there a
way for me to contact you at Ormsby?”
    “I’ll be acting as the house steward and expect to arrive there
in two days or so. By that time, I’m sure a few of the residents
will start to wonder where Lord Monnow is. When my cousin, Miss
Leigh, contacts Petre, he’ll suggest that he hire you to find out
what has become of me — a nd Lionel.” He
cleared his throat. “He’ll suggest that you report to the new house
steward — me. Once this occurs, communicating should present no
difficulties.”
    “What if she doesn’t contact Mr. Petre?”
    “She will. What else can she do? He’s our lawyer. That is the
natural course for her to take.”
    “Then let’s hope she performs as expected.”
    Hugh stood, feeling more drained than he thought possible.
    He held out his hand to Gaunt, and was surprised when he said,
“Where are you staying for the night?”
    “The night?”
    “If you intend to remain dead, you can hardly go to one of your
clubs and demand entrance as the late Lord Monnow.”
    “An inn will do.” Why could he not see that it did not
matter?
    “May I offer a room? It’s only for the one night. There’s no
point in trying to find other quarters at this hour. My wife would
be glad of your company at supper as well. We’re dining late
tonight ….” He pulled out a gold watch and flipped it open. “In
fact, I believe we’ll be dining in fifteen minutes. Will that suit
you?”
    “Down to the ground.” He shook Gaunt’s hand again more
vigorously.
    “There’s no need for thanks.” The inquiry agent gestured to the
butler. “It’ll be on your bill.”
    “No doubt,” Hugh replied laconically, following the butler up
the wide staircase.

Chapter Eleven
    “ It
is a more serious thing to leave a good situation than many are
aware of.”