He certainly didn’t have it now.
Throughout his skull, occasional zaps of lightning bounced around, a plea from his brain to close his eyes and surrender to sleep. Flashes of light radiated behind his eyelids, and every complaint that Cooper threw at him aggravated the dull, static throbbing in his temples.
“I get it,” Seth grumbled.
“I don’t think you do,” Cooper accused. “We’re a team, I need you to be with me in this. We have seven days left! Winning one round doesn’t mean we’re in the clear. I forbid you from hiding out again. If you’re in your room, you’re sleeping. Any other time you’re with me.”
“You can’t forbid me from doing anything,” Seth snapped, unable to check his tone, “and you can’t order me around.”
“Our contract says otherwise.” Cooper’s lips closed in a firm line.
So that’s how it’s going to be.
“Yes, my lord.”
They stopped in front of a canary colored sitting room and Cooper faced him with hands clenched as if he were fighting the urge to shake him.
“With as much brooding as you’re doing you mayas wellbe a Hollingsworth!” Cooper ignored Seth’s indignant glare. “I know you hate it. The crowds. The manor. Lord Bolderwood, Bishop, theworld.Get over it! Deal with it later. Wehaveto win. You may be free to doas you please, but I have people that depend on me, tenants, staff,” pointedly, he said, “sisters.”
A pang of guilt gnawed at Seth, and his shoulders sagged.
“I know.” Seth met his friend’s stern expression with an apologetic one of his own. “I’ll toe the line from here on.”
“Good.” Cooper huffed and continued walking. “Because I don’t have a steel trap for a mind, and when potential investors have questions, they should be answered in a timely manner.”
Seth tripped over his slippers, recovering with a small skip.
“Investors?
“Mr. Sander’s son—“
“The solicitor?”
“Yes. Well. No. I don’t think he’s a solicitor,” Cooper said. “He might be a scout.”
“What kind of scout?”
“I’m not sure.” Cooper furrowed his brows. Bedchamber doors opened as guests flittered into the hallway, taking in Seth’s state of undress with unmasked revulsion. Cooper lowered his voice. “There’s something odd about him, don’t you think?”
“No, I don’t.” Seth hated when Cooper tried to lead him to conclusions the long way.
“Mr. Hughes wasn’t invited, so why would Lord Bolderwood bring his own solicitor? I believe that Sander’s son is aguest. He sits with us at the table for each meal, butnobodyknows who he is. Half of the people I spoke to didn’t even know he existed. He blends in with the scenery, appearing and disappearing like Caroline.”
Seth considered the day before. The man followed Duke Kendall around, taking notes. Now that he had time to sort through events, he recalled moments where the tan-dressed man seemed to act independently, perhaps taking too much interest in the accompaniments, the telescope especially, but he also asked questionsconcerning the cartridges and was interested in materials and the cost of production, but Seth assumed that was for Lord Bolderwood’s own records.
“Please get to your point.”
“I think he’s here on behalf of the War Department, or perhaps some other manufacturer,” Cooper said. “I want to find out which it is.”
“You shouldn’t read too much into it. We’reallhere on behalf of the War Department. Lord Bolderwood runs it.” Seth rolled his shoulders until he felt apop. His left ankle twinged with pinpricks of pain, having twisted underneath him when Cassandra fell on top of him.Worth it.“The Earl has a wide range of acquaintances and a habit of taking in strays. Who’s to say what his motivations are?”
“I’m going to talk to him,” Cooper said, leaving no room for argument. “You’ll be there when I do.”
“All right.” Seth nodded, not wanting to fracture the fragile truce between them. “I’ll need coffee.”
“We’ll get you an entire pot,” Cooper assured him with a grin. “Maybe even two!”
They stopped in front of Seth’s door and he brought forth the key from his pocket—the one that didn’t have Cassandra’s letter.