Behind the director’s shoulder, Amelia Bennett grimaced, but Kat didn’t say a word.
“And I do appreciate you coming, Director,” Hale said, his mask firmly back in place. “As the chairman of the board of the Magi Miracle Network I assure you that I would know if something were amiss with the egg. And until ten minutes ago my cell was working perfectly. I would know if…”
But Hale trailed off when he saw the newspaper that Amelia had pulled from her oversized handbag.
Even from across the room, Kat could read the headline: MISSING MAGI IS NO MIRACLE.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hale,” Amelia told him.
She wasn’t talking about the egg, Kat knew. It was no more missing than it had been a moment before. No, Agent Bennett was talking about the headline.
“This was in this morning’s paper. We wanted to inform you and his lordship in person.”
Hale glanced at the paper but didn’t read the article. Kat knew he didn’t have to. He just tossed it—at the earl or at the fire, Kat couldn’t really tell which.
“How?” the word sounded almost like a growl. Hale’s hands fisted at his sides.
“It seems this man posed as an art expert and made off with the egg,” Agent Hoyt was saying. “Do you know him?”
Kat couldn’t bring herself to look at the sketch. She already knew what the thief looked like.
“I don’t believe it,” Hale said.
“Oh, believe it.” Hoyt slid the sketch back into the pocket of his coat. “I’m only sorry the likeness isn’t more specific. The best we can tell is that the man is tall with dark hair. Unfortunately, that matches a large portion of the men in Britain, but witnesses tell us a man of this description was seen with the charity’s director, and that is no coincidence. The charity is in on it, Mr. Hale.” The director lingered on the Mr., a slightly mocking sound.
“That’s preposterous,” Hale ground out.
“Is it?” the director asked. “What do you know of your new director, Mr. Hale? Perhaps you saw a pretty face and long red hair and didn’t bother to run a background check?”
Kat knew that Elizabeth Evans was a good person. An honest person. A woman who had taken one look at Kat’s handsome father and believed whatever words came out of his mouth. She was human, in other words. And far too decent for the likes of them. It wasn’t often that Kat met innocent people, after all. Maybe because she learned at a young age that they’re almost always the ones who get hurt.
“Well, then I want her head!” the earl roared. “I trusted them…” He looked at Hale. “I trusted you with a priceless…” He turned to the Interpol agents, his face almost red with fury. “You’ve got to get to the bottom of this. Now!”
Agent Hoyt began to rise. “That’s exactly what we intend to do, my lord.”
“Then go!” he snapped as if it wasn’t the middle of the night and the middle of the storm and they weren’t all in the middle-of-nowhere near the Scottish border.
“I want my egg back and I don’t care what it takes!”
“You were willing to give the egg away ten minutes ago,” the dowager pointed out, perhaps because she was the only person in the room who might possibly outrank him.
“I didn’t want to give it away! I… He made me do it.” The earl pointed across the room to where his man of business stood, a glass of scotch in his hand. “He said it could save the estate. He said I had to do it, but that was before I knew that it was being handed over to crooks and incompetents!” the earl snapped. “I want it back. Bring me my egg back.”
“But my lord.” The attorney was crossing the room, almost slithering, like a snake. “Perhaps this isn’t the time to discuss your particular situation.” Allaway cut a glance at the room full of guests. And gossips, Kat thought as the man let his gaze linger on the dowager who wasn’t missing a word. “You wanted to liquidate your non-entailed assets.”
“That was before I met my new countess.” The earl looked up at Gabrielle’s mother like a lovesick puppy.
“But my lord, you know the crown will have its share, and estate taxes are significant! A charitable donation of this size—”
“You think I care about estate taxes!” the earl roared like a man who intended to live forever. “You said I had to do it, so I did it. Now I want my egg back, Allaway. Bring me back my egg!”
Kat could feel Hale’s gaze upon her, and she could practically read his mind, but before either of them could say anything—do anything—a resounding crack filled the air.
“Look out!” Hale yelled, grabbing Lady Georgette around the waist and pushing her toward the wall, placing his body over hers as wind gushed and ice blew and shards of broken glass sliced through the air like buckshot.
It took a moment for the group to realize that a giant tree was lying in the center of the room, pieces of the ancient window scattered all around.
“Is everyone okay?” Kat shouted, and people nodded, too stunned to speak.
Hamish and Angus rushed through the doors and tried to pull the heavy draperies and block the worst of the wind, but the lights picked that moment to flicker.
And fade.
And Kat knew they wouldn’t be coming on again.
In the light of the fire, Amelia Bennett looked more beautiful and stronger than ever. “No one is going anywhere tonight.”