“It’s the same in the bedchamber,” Bostock said solemnly.
“Everything is ruined.” Daphne’s high-pitched tone conveyed her distress. “The landlord will expect me to replace anything that’s damaged. I’ll have to work day and night for months.”
Daniel put his hand on her arm. “You have no need to worry about money.”
She smiled at him albeit weakly. “I suppose we could make a list of repairs as we tidy up. But where on earth shall we start?”
“I’m sure I can repair the sofa and cushions,” Betsy said.
“And a nail and hammer should right the picture frames,” Bostock added.
Daphne turned to them. “You’re both very kind.”
“As you’ve not apprehended the man responsible,” Daniel said, “I assume neither of you were here when it happened.”
Bostock shook his head. “We went to an inn for supper.” Guilt flashed across his face. “You never said anything about staying indoors.”
Daniel raised a hand to ease his friend’s fears. “I am simply trying to establish what time this occurred. Someone must have been watc
hing the house.”
The person hired to monitor their movements must have sat outside for hours. Such a determined effort spoke of desperation.
“How long were you gone?” Daniel asked.
Bostock glanced at the modiste and shrugged. “More than an hour. Two at most.”
Lord Gibson’s house was but a ten-minute walk. There would have been plenty of time for him to enter the shop, search the rooms and leave unnoticed. Daniel made a mental note to speak to the pawnbroker. The man had an eye for detail and monitored all the comings and goings on the street.
“And I trust your rooms were untouched?” Daniel directed his question to Miss Betsy.
Betsy nodded.
“It is no surprise that I am the target,” Daphne said with an air of despondency. With a vacant stare and down-turned mouth, she appeared so different from the vibrant woman he’d witnessed at Elton Park.
“I promise you this will all be over soon.” The anger in his voice was evident. Not since the death of his mother, had he felt so damn helpless. “Come the morning I shall expend time and energy finding the person responsible.”
Betsy cleared her throat. “Why don’t I go downstairs and make some tea?” She looked up at Bostock. “Come on, Mr Bostock, you can help me. Let us leave them to their work, and then we can help with the repairs.”
Betsy took Bostock by the hand, but he waited for Daniel’s nod of approval before placing the candle holder on the small dining table and leaving the room.
“Oh, Daniel,” Daphne said with a weary sigh once they were alone. “Will this nightmare ever end?”
He pulled her into an embrace, caressed her back, stroked her hair, whispered words of comfort. When she looked up at him, the sorrow in her eyes tore at his heart. He tried to kiss her worries away but the intense passion they shared only sought to distract them from the work that lay ahead.
With some reluctance, Daniel dragged his lips from hers. “If we have any hope of solving this case, we must do our utmost to focus. One kiss and all sense and logic abandon me.”
She smiled though her eyes were red, a little watery. “When I’m with you I find it hard to concentrate too.” She sucked in a determined breath and squared her shoulders. “But we are nothing if not professional, and so let us pay closer attention. Let us put every ounce of strength we have into solving this quickly.”
“Agreed.” Daniel was relieved to see her smile again. “What is your opinion of what happened here?”
Daphne stepped back and scanned the room. “This is the work of the traitor made to look like a robbery,” she said confidently.
“And how do you know?”
“Because a thief would not slash the seat of a sofa. A thief wouldn’t rip apart cushions. In my professional opinion, the traitor is looking for the evidence Thomas mentioned.” She put her finger to her lips and tapped gently. “I can only assume that he knows we are working together. That he fears we are close to discovering his identity and so is searching for the only thing he believes is proof of his duplicity.”
“Then we are of the same opinion,” he said, his chest swelling with admiration, pride, and love for the woman standing before him. “Now I want you to think carefully. If such a piece of evidence exists where would Thomas have hidden it?”