Ellie liked him. Liked that he was slow to anger, liked that he had a sense of humor. She liked that Elsmore was trying to manage his situation responsibly, and liked—grudgingly—that he insisted on courtesies. This liking was yet another problem, because an auditor must remain disinterested if she was to be effective.

Not, of course, that she’d do anything about liking him.

“How is it that a woman so closely associated with one of the wealthiest bankers in London, a woman entrusted with more responsibility than many titled men will bear in a lifetime, has intimate knowledge of an embezzler’s trade? I find that very curious.”

The only sounds when Elsmore fell silent were the cat, purring contentedly in his arms, and the rain beating against the windows.

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Mrs. Hatfield took an inordinate amount of time unpinning her bonnet, fussing at her hair, and removing mittens and gloves. Rex ought to leave her to her privacy, but seeing her in her own surroundings outshone the tired charm of rare steak and stale gossip at his club.

“The essence of effective auditing is simply paying attention,” she said, hanging her bonnet on a hook beside the door. “Paying attention to patterns, and to details that contradict those patterns. Clerks, for example, are humble fellows by trade. They thrive on being told exactly which work to do, in what order, with what specific goal. They accept modest wages, but should be paid enough that they need not compromise their honor for their next meal. Any clerk whose behavior does not fit that pattern bears closer scrutiny.”

Why did no one explain this to a peer’s heir, for he would employ many clerks? “So the sullen, tired, restless clerk bears watching?” Fortunately, Rex could think of no one in his employ who fit that description.

The humid weather had dealt Mrs. Hatfield’s severe bun a few blows, turning ruthless order into tendrils, waves, and an errant curl or two. She smoothed her hair over her ears, which did nothing to tame the chaos.

“One watches the surly ones, but the better thief will be too cheerful, too punctual. He will announce to his fellows that he loves his position—which he does—and hopes to spend his entire career seeing the employer’s enterprise thrive—which he also does.”

Well, damn. That described nearly every retainer on every property Rex owned. “How do you tell the difference between the happily loyal and the cheerfully untrustworthy?”

“Careful observation, luck, and determination, Your Grace.”

She unbuttoned her cloak next, and without thinking, Rex drew it from her shoulders, gave it a shake, and hung it on the drying pegs beneath the mantel. A small silver teapot sat in the middle of the mantel, a sketch on either side in plain wooden frames. He wanted to study those drawings, but not when Eleanora could see him doing it.