his weapon was just another engineering fantasy.” Benedict looked out over the sunny garden. “Rather like da Vinci’s flying machines and his fantastical weapons.”
“But Elijah Foxcroft has designed such a solar engine and storage device?”
“Right. The letter made it plain that Cork believed that it was capable of powering his weapon. He and Foxcroft planned to work together on the project.”
She glanced at the leather case again. “You found Foxcroft, I take it?”
“I did.” Benedict exhaled deeply. “Sadly, he was near death.”
“Good heavens, someone murdered him, too?”
“No. He was ill with cancer. He knew he was dying. He was most anxious that his design for the solar engine and battery not be lost to history. He gave me his notebook.”
“You have it in that case that you are carrying?”
“Right. I will deliver it to my uncle today and then my small role in the Great Game will be concluded—not a moment too soon, as far as I am concerned.”
“I see.” She studied him for a beat. “This is all quite interesting, sir. I understand your need for secrecy on the
Northern Star
.”
“At the time I assumed the less you knew, the safer you would be. It was possible that the Russian agent was also on the ship.”
“How did you know that I wasn’t the agent?”
He looked amused. “You saved my life, if you will recall. It would have been easy enough to let me die there in that alley after I gave you the letter. That was all the proof I required to know that I could trust you.”
Well, what had she expected him to say? she wondered. That hehad looked into her eyes and somehow known that she would never betray him? The man was an engineer, for heaven’s sake. Engineers liked to have proof.
“Well, it is not as if you had a great deal of choice in the matter.”
“No,” Benedict agreed. “There was some risk involved in giving you the letter, but it soon became apparent that you were not an agent for the Russians. Nevertheless, I did not tell you anything more about my objectives because—”
“Because you did not want to take the risk that I might accidentally let something slip out in casual conversation with the other passengers,” she concluded crisply. “I do understand that, sir. You need not belabor the point.”
“I was afraid that if there was an agent on board and if you did say something about the solar cannon or the letter you might be in danger.”
She drummed her fingers on the railing. “Is that why you never bothered to contact me after we parted in New York?”
“I thought it best to keep my intention to visit Foxcroft a secret, as well.” Benedict frowned. “Damn it, Amity, I was attempting to protect you as much as possible.”
She gave him a thin smile. “I can assure you that ignorance is not necessarily bliss. As it happens, I was attacked because of my connection to you and I doubt very much that the Bridegroom is a Russian agent.”
“I am sorry.” Benedict’s jaw hardened. “I seem to be apologizing a lot this morning. In attempting to protect you from a Russian spy I put you squarely in the sights of a monster.”
She relented. “It’s not your fault.”
“On the contrary. It is obvious that if we had not been seen together on board the
Star
, the killer would not have singled you out as prey.”
Amity realized that she was becoming more irritated by the minute. “Mr. Stanbridge, I refuse to let you take responsibility for what happened to me here in London. You were not even in town at the time.”
He ignored her to look toward the kitchen door. “Your housekeeper is trying to gain your attention.”
She turned and saw Mrs. Houston waving from the doorway.
“Mrs. Marsden sent me to tell you that the man from Scotland Yard has arrived,” Mrs. Houston announced.
Eight
P enny was in the small drawing room with Inspector Logan. She was perched gracefully on the sofa. The skirts of her black gown fell in perfect folds around
“But Elijah Foxcroft has designed such a solar engine and storage device?”
“Right. The letter made it plain that Cork believed that it was capable of powering his weapon. He and Foxcroft planned to work together on the project.”
She glanced at the leather case again. “You found Foxcroft, I take it?”
“I did.” Benedict exhaled deeply. “Sadly, he was near death.”
“Good heavens, someone murdered him, too?”
“No. He was ill with cancer. He knew he was dying. He was most anxious that his design for the solar engine and battery not be lost to history. He gave me his notebook.”
“You have it in that case that you are carrying?”
“Right. I will deliver it to my uncle today and then my small role in the Great Game will be concluded—not a moment too soon, as far as I am concerned.”
“I see.” She studied him for a beat. “This is all quite interesting, sir. I understand your need for secrecy on the
Northern Star
.”
“At the time I assumed the less you knew, the safer you would be. It was possible that the Russian agent was also on the ship.”
“How did you know that I wasn’t the agent?”
He looked amused. “You saved my life, if you will recall. It would have been easy enough to let me die there in that alley after I gave you the letter. That was all the proof I required to know that I could trust you.”
Well, what had she expected him to say? she wondered. That hehad looked into her eyes and somehow known that she would never betray him? The man was an engineer, for heaven’s sake. Engineers liked to have proof.
“Well, it is not as if you had a great deal of choice in the matter.”
“No,” Benedict agreed. “There was some risk involved in giving you the letter, but it soon became apparent that you were not an agent for the Russians. Nevertheless, I did not tell you anything more about my objectives because—”
“Because you did not want to take the risk that I might accidentally let something slip out in casual conversation with the other passengers,” she concluded crisply. “I do understand that, sir. You need not belabor the point.”
“I was afraid that if there was an agent on board and if you did say something about the solar cannon or the letter you might be in danger.”
She drummed her fingers on the railing. “Is that why you never bothered to contact me after we parted in New York?”
“I thought it best to keep my intention to visit Foxcroft a secret, as well.” Benedict frowned. “Damn it, Amity, I was attempting to protect you as much as possible.”
She gave him a thin smile. “I can assure you that ignorance is not necessarily bliss. As it happens, I was attacked because of my connection to you and I doubt very much that the Bridegroom is a Russian agent.”
“I am sorry.” Benedict’s jaw hardened. “I seem to be apologizing a lot this morning. In attempting to protect you from a Russian spy I put you squarely in the sights of a monster.”
She relented. “It’s not your fault.”
“On the contrary. It is obvious that if we had not been seen together on board the
Star
, the killer would not have singled you out as prey.”
Amity realized that she was becoming more irritated by the minute. “Mr. Stanbridge, I refuse to let you take responsibility for what happened to me here in London. You were not even in town at the time.”
He ignored her to look toward the kitchen door. “Your housekeeper is trying to gain your attention.”
She turned and saw Mrs. Houston waving from the doorway.
“Mrs. Marsden sent me to tell you that the man from Scotland Yard has arrived,” Mrs. Houston announced.
Eight
P enny was in the small drawing room with Inspector Logan. She was perched gracefully on the sofa. The skirts of her black gown fell in perfect folds around
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