Jarrod returned to the topic at hand. "Now that we know what happened to Dunbridge, let's turn our attention to Sussex."
The other Free Fellows nodded.
"Since we've heard nothing, we've no choice but to assume the worst and begin our investigation." Jarrod nodded toward Barclay. "He's our blood brother, but he's your cousin. Find out what's happened to him."
"All right."
He related to Barclay and Courtland the details about the letter from King Joseph of Spain that Gillian had deciphered before Lady Garrison's party, then nodded to Griff. "His Grace will be addressing the men at Whitehall about the need for a permanent training facility for cipherers."
Griff grinned.
Jarrod turned to Alex Courtland. "I won't be able to make the next smuggling run for I've other more pressing personal business at hand."
Courtland nodded.
Jarrod continued, "With Sussex missing and Barclay assigned to find him, we'll need you to make the trip to the coast."
"Jolly good," Courtland agreed.
"Grantham and Lady Grantham will continue their work on the cipher codes."
"What about you?" Barclay asked. Shepherdston usually took a lion's share of the work. Barclay assumed Shepherdston's pressing personal business involved Miss Eckersley for he and Courtland had heard the commotion when Avon, Grantham, and Shepherdston entered the club. And a gentleman did what a gentleman must do in order to preserve a lady's reputation, but Barclay found it odd that Shepherdston had neglected to mention the nature of his pressing business.
"Me?" Jarrod queried.
"What's your assignment?" Courtland asked. Jarrod grinned. "I'm going shopping."
* * *
Chapter Twenty-Nine
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Love knows nothing of order.
— Saint Jerome, c.342-420
The gifts began arriving at Ibbetson's as soon as Sarah returned from Lord and Lady Mayhew's wedding.
She'd been invited to accompany Aunt Etta and Lord Rob to Lord Rob's home for breakfast, but Sarah knew enough about passion and desire to know that three was a crowd when you'd waited twenty years for a wedding and honeymoon.
She had volunteered to return to the hotel and pack up their belongings and Precious and Budgie for the move to Lord Mayhew's home, where she'd be joining them for dinner that evening. She was packing Aunt Etta's black dresses in her portmanteau when the first knock sounded on the door.
She opened it to find a footman standing there.
"I've a delivery for Miss Eckersley."
"I'm Miss Eckersley," she told him. "But are you certain it's not for Lady Dunbridge? I mean, Lady Dunbridge who just married the Earl of Mayhew?"
"No, miss," he answered, handing her a thick cream-colored envelope engraved with the Marquess of Shepherdston's seal.
Her name was written on the front in a thick, bold script. Sarah opened it and read: Please accept this token of my esteem and my sincerest apologies for forgetting our anniversary. Jays.
Sarah was bewildered. She looked up at the footman. "Thank you for bringing it," she said. "And please thank his lordship."
"He told me to tell you to look out the window, miss."
Sarah walked over to the only window that faced the street, pulled back the drapes, and looked down.