“The new viscount would have sold it if it hadn’t been encumbered. As it is, he will have to be content with selling the contents.” Bancroft sent a sly look at Hurst. “I’m not surprised to find you here, sir. There are many interesting artifacts from ancient Greece, Egypt, Mesopotamia—”

“I know exactly what’s to be sold,” Hurst said drily, his dark blue eyes gleaming with amusement. “I received your letter last week and you were quite thorough in your catalogue, which I greatly appreciated.”

Bancroft chuckled. “I shouldn’t have given you such an advantage, but we’ve worked together so often that I felt it only fair.”

“I am honored,” Mr. Hurst said gravely, swinging his monocle to and fro from one finger. “Just as the Earl of Erroll was honored to receive his copy of the exact same letter.”

Bancroft’s smile froze in place. “M-my lord?”

“And Lord Kildrew, Mr. Bartholomew, and God knows how many others.”

“Oh. I didn’t—That is to say, I never meant anyone to think—”

“Please, there’s no need to explain things to me,” Hurst said in a soothing tone. “You only wished to ensure a good number of bidders, which will be difficult in this godforsaken part of the country. Scotland is so . . . Scottish.”

The banker gave a relieved chuckle. “Yes! That’s it, exactly!” Feeling a sudden warmth at his visitor’s understanding air, Bancroft placed his hand on Mr. Hurst’s arm. “I promise you that if I’d had my way, I would have only notified you, sir.”

Mr. Hurst raised his monocle and eyed the hand upon his arm.

Face aflame, Bancroft quickly removed it.

“Just so.” Mr. Hurst lowered his monocle and tapped it gently on his palm. “It’s a pity your letter came to the attention of so many. While I didn’t allow such an egregious error to discourage me from attending, others weren’t so unaffected.”

Mr. Bancroft tried not to look as crestfallen as he felt. “Indeed, sir?”

“My new brother- in- law, the Earl of Erroll, was adamant that he had better things to do than attend.”

“Oh. Oh, no.”

“Yes, indeed. Lord Yeltstome swore he’d never come to another of your auctions unless dragged there by wild horses, which I thought quite overstated.”

Mr. Bancroft pulled out his damp handkerchief and wiped his even damper brow.

“Kildrew, Bartholomew, Childon, Maccomb, Southerland—all said similar things. I won’t bore you with the details.”

“Thank you,” Bancroft said in a faint voice.

Mr. Hurst pursed his lips. “Now that I think on it, I may be the only buyer attending from London.”

Mr. Bancroft cast a gloomy look at the thick fog that roiled knee- high across the lawn and now broached the terrace. He’d been at this house for two weeks and, other than two hours one glorious afternoon, had yet to see the sun. He didn’t think his spirits could handle the weight of the disappointment that surely awaited him at this afternoon’s sale. “The viscount has been relentless in demanding action, and that pressed me into acting hastily.”