“Yes. I may only have two hours before madame and Ross return.”

“Very good, monsieur. Then I shall endeavor to start a second fire in a different corner around that time.”

“That would do very well.”

Buffon bowed and left. A few minutes passed, then one of the footmen gave out a sharp yell. Footsteps thudded, followed by more yells.

Robert peeked out the doorway as the faint scent of smoke wafted in. The hall was clear except for two footmen who hovered at the end, looking uncertain if they should follow their brethren.

“Bless you, Buffon,” Robert murmured as he slipped out of his room and hurried to the opposite end of the hallway.

CHAPTER 17

A letter from Mary Hurst to her brother Robert as he became an agent selling antiquities for their brother Michael.

Michael told me he was well pleased with how you are handling all of his sales, and that you’ve made him more money than he thought possible. He attributes it to your unique salesmanship. He said he knew there was something good to come of your dandified ways, even if it was to lure your victims (clients) into a false sense of security before you pounced on them with a steep price.

After Michael mentioned that, it dawned on me that you’ve been playing that part your whole life. He’s right; it has served you well.

It took Robert almost half an hour to reach the study without being seen. Footmen were everywhere. If he was caught sneaking about, Ross would increase the number of his men, and it would be impossible to look for anything. It was almost impossible now.

Robert slipped between two large tapestries adorning a wall and consulted his map. One more long hallway and he’d be at the study door. He tucked the map back into his pocket and peeked around the corner just in time to catch sight of two footmen. They were young and obviously bored, for they wandered down the hall without any air of purpose or urgency.

He pressed back against the wall, obscured from sight by a display of shields on one wall, and listened as their footsteps moved away from him and toward the very far end of the hall.

Keep going.

Fortunately, they took his silent advice and the footsteps faded. Robert looked around the corner again and saw their shadows fading away down the conjoining hallway.

Now’s my chance.

He made a quick dash to the huge study door. Luckily it was unlocked; he wouldn’t have to stop to pick it. He slipped inside, closed the door, and pressed his ear to the cool oak panel to ascertain if anyone had seen him and put up an alarm.

All was blissfully silent. But then, he heard the footmen’s voices growing closer and closer. Another set of footsteps joined the first two, and Robert heard the butler’s impatient voice. “I came to make certain you’ve not strayed from your posts.”