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“This es until he got to the section on domestic occurrences “There are details of a trial for libel, a riot in Greenwich and—” He stopped abruptly, scanned the docu tricks

“And?” Daphne did not look at him but continued to sniff in the vicinity of the bookcase

“And brief details of the coroner’s inquest into Thomas’ death”

“What?” Daphne rushed to his side and glanced over his shoulder “The jury brought a verdict of accidental death due to drowning” She muttered the words as she read the article “Why would Lord Gibson keep a copy of a azine that’s three years old?”

“As a token perhaps” As Daniel turned the page, a leaf of paper floated to the floor

Daphne picked it up and held it near the candle “It’s a list of tio back three years or more”

“May I see it?” Their fingers touched as he took the note, sending a shiver of awareness shooting up his ar, his desire for her always simmered beneath the surface “There’s no mention of Lily or Tho the Carron’s movements”

“Perhaps Lord Gibson is not the traitor” Daphne glanced left and right and sniffed the air again “Thoht have sent him the list for some reason”

“But ould he send it to Gibson?” Daniel frohen Daphne rubbed her nose “Are you ill? Has the walk across the daiven you a chill?”

“No” Chin in the air, Daphne turned away fro fa like a hound eager to latch onto a scent With a sudden gasp, she bent down and opened the first in a row of cupboards underneath “The ser over here, far more potent”

Daniel should have continued searching the drawers, but he couldn’t drag his eyes fro the row “Perhaps Gibson spilt brandy or port and the scent still lingers”

Daphne gasped “That’s it The scent lingers” She knelt on the floor and ruh the cupboard “It’s the same musky odour the intruder leaves behind at home”

“Are you sure?” Daniel placed the paper back inside the reatcoat and moved to stand next to Daphne

“Positive” She pulled out a small wooden box and opened the lid

There was a lengthy pause while she stared at the objects inside