Passionately Yours (Hellions of High Street 3) - Page 65
“If I were so idiotic as to put a purloined treasure in my desk, I would deserve to be hung,” he snapped.
The magistrate swallowed hard.
“Well, don’t just stand there.” He shoved the covers down to his waist. “Kindly step into the sitting room while I don my dressing gown—I’ve no intention of flashing the family jewels to strangers, if you don’t mind. Then we shall have a look.”
The man flushed and began to back away.
“And prove you to be the most bumbling magistrate in all of Christendom,” added Alec.
The last words hastened the retreat of all three men.
Smiling grimly, he waited several moments to let them stew in their embarrassment before throwing on his wrapper and joining them in the sitting room.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” Perching a hip on the sideboard, he crossed his arms. “Go ahead and perform your duty—and do it quickly, so that I may return to my slumber.”
“Yes, milord!” The magistrate signaled his companions to approach the desk.
“Careful,” snarled Alec, as they gingerly opened the top drawer. “I shall hold all three of you responsible should anything be damaged.” A deliberate pause. “Aside from the valuable antiquity, of course. That I don’t give a fig about.”
Handling all the papers and sundries as if they were made of the most delicate porcelain, the two men slowly worked their way through each of the drawers, searching methodically to ensure no corner or cranny was left unexamined.
“Nothing,” announced the taller of the two, gently sliding the last drawer back in place.
“Hmmph.” Alec let out a low snort.
The magistrate was now looking even more uncomfortable. “Lord Strathcona…”
He had already decided that the best way to quash any ugly rumors was to remain aggressive. “I suppose you are now going to ask to search the rest of my quarters.”
“I had not—”
“Well, I demand that you do so!” he barked. “I’ll not have my name dragged through the mud because of these false accusations and whispered innuendos.”
“That isn’t necessary, sir.”
“Indeed it is!” shot back Alec.
“Very well.” Heaving a reluctant sigh, the magistrate ordered his men to check around the sitting room, and after a moment of indecision he joined in as well.
The task was performed quickly, whereupon Alec marched them into the bedchamber.
From there it was on to the dressing room.
By now, the magistrate was looking thoroughly mortified, and despite the array of boxes and clothing crowding the space, he hurried his men through a cursory search.
Breathing a silent sigh of relief, Alec followed them back into the sitting room.
“My apologies, milord.” Blotting the sheen of sweat from his brow, the man inclined a small bow. “I hope you understand that duty demanded I pursue the accusation. The truth is, the antiquity has been stolen and the town officials are very anxious to recover it.”
“I wish you luck in doing so,” growled Alec. “But I trust you are satisfied that the culprit is not me.”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“You are, of course, welcome to search the rest of the house,” he offered. “Though I daresay my aunt would not be pleased to have your men ruffling through her unmentionables.”
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The magistrate’s face turned beet red. “No, no, that really won’t be necessary.” His two assistants started toward the corridor. “I can see that our informant was mistaken.”
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