"You, of course." Harriet grinned.
Lady Hardcastle's gaze flitted anxiously back and forth between her husband and son. "I see you two are occupied."
"Quite so," Hardcastle said. "We are going over Gideon's list of suspicious persons."
Harriet's eyes widened. "Suspicious persons?"
Gideon groaned. "I meant to warn you not to say anything about it," he growled to his father.
"What is this about suspicious persons?" Harriet demanded eagerly.
"I am looking for someone who might have organized that ring of thieves who invaded the caves," Gideon explained shortly. "I have reason to believe it is a person who is admitted to the best drawing rooms. That person must also be someone who might have had an opportunity to know about the caverns in the cliffs."
"A fossil collector, perhaps?"
Gideon nodded reluctantly. "Yes. Quite possibly."
"What a brilliant notion. Fossil collectors can be a very unscrupulous lot, as I have told you, my lord." Harriet said. Enthusiasm lit her eyes. "Mayhap I can help. I have made the acquaintance of many collectors here in London and I can think of several who strike me as a bit shady."
Gideon smiled ruefully. "You find the vast majority of your colleagues untrustworthy. I do not think your opinions would help us narrow the list much. Nevertheless, you can give me the names of the members of your Fossils and Antiquities Society. I can compare it to my lists."
"Certainly. I shall work on it as soon as we return from shopping."
Lady Hardcastle glanced at her husband. "Who is on the list thus far?"
"Several people. It is quite a long list," Hardcastle said.
"May I see it?" Lady Hardcastle floated over to the desk.
Harriet followed and peered over her shoulder. "My goodness. How will you ever find the culprit among all those suspicious persons?"
"It will not be easy," Gideon said. "I suggest you and my mother be on your way, madam. My father and I have work to do."
Lady Hardcastle was frowning over the list. "I do not see Bryce Morland's name on here. He was never interested in fossils, as I recall, but he certainly knew the terrain around Upper Biddleton."
Gideon met his mother's questioning gaze. "I have considered the possibility that Morland was behind it. He would certainly have no scruples about turning to theft. But I do not think it was him. In the event it was, we have nothing to worry about. He has left the country."
"Quite true." Lady Hardcastle continued to peruse the list. "What about Clive Rushton? I do not see his name, either. He was an avid collector at one time." She looked at Hardcastle. "As I recall, he was the one who introduced you to the hobby, my dear."
There was an acute silence. Hardcastle shifted uneasily in his chair. "The man was my rector. Hardly the sort to operate a ring of thieves."
Gideon sat down slowly. He gazed thoughtfully at his mother. "I put his name on the list initially, but removed it when I realized he was not showing up on very many of the guest lists of houses that were eventually robbed. That was one of the reasons I removed Morland's name, too. The man I am after is invited into the most exclusive homes of the ton. Rushton and Morland did not move in those circles."
"Heavens, that does not signify," Lady Hardcastle said lightly. "The best homes are filled to the rafters with people on the night of a large soiree or ball. The affair would be counted a failure if everyone did not proclaim the event an absolute crush. It is true one is supposed to present one's invitation at the door, but you know how it is. The front steps and hallways are packed at such times. One could slip past."
"Your mother is right, my lord," Harriet said quickly.
"Why, if one is properly dressed and appears to be in the company of someone else who was invited, it would be simple to slip into a crowded ballroom. Who would notice one extra guest in the crush?"
Gideon drummed his fingers on his desk. "You may have a point."
Hardcastle appeared much struck by the notion. "Damme if they do not. Why, one could even wait until the crowd was at its height and then enter from the garden. No one would notice."
"If that is the case," Gideon said, thinking swiftly, "then Rushton is still a viable candidate. So is Morland. Damnation, so are a great many others."
Hardcastle held up a palm. "There is still the fact that whoever masterminded the ring of thieves had to be very familiar with the caves of Upper Biddleton. That will keep the list from growing too long."
"Yes. I suppose so."
"Feel free to call upon Harriet and myself if you need further guidance in the ways of Society." Lady Hardcastle smiled as she tugged on her gloves. "Come along, Harriet. We must be on our way. I am eager to walk down Oxford Street again. There used to be a little French milliner there who created the most exquisite bonnets."
"Yes, of course," Harriet said politely. Her eyes lingered longingly on the list in front of Gideon. It was obvious she would rather be working on it than going shopping.
"Oh, by the bye," Lady Hardcastle added as she paused briefly at the door, "it is time Harriet gave a soiree. I am helping her plan it. The invitations will be going out this afternoon. Do not make any other plans for next Tuesday evening."
Gideon waited until Harriet and his mother had left the library. Then he met his father's eyes across the desk.
"Harriet may be correct," Gideon said slowly.
"About what?"
"Perhaps I should explain myself and my plans to others more often. I have learned more about my list of suspicious persons this morning than I have managed to come up with on my own during the past several days."
Hardcastle chuckled. "You are not the only one who has learned a few things recently. Now, then, I have another suggestion. What do you say we drop in on a few of my clubs this afternoon? I can renew a few acquaintances, ask some questions and see if I cannot help you shorten this list still further."
"Very well," Gideon said.
He realized that somewhere along the line this morning, he had come to accept the notion of his father as his partner in this venture. It was an unfamiliar sensation, but not an unpleasant one.
There was a murmur of surprise when Gideon and his father walked into the club. Several of the earl's old cronies nodded, clearly pleased to see an old friend after so many years.
Before anyone could approach the pair, however, Applegate and Fry swooped down on them.
"Join us in a glass of port, sirs," Applegate invited jubilantly. He looked at Hardcastle. "We are toasting St. Justin's successful rout of Morland. Expect you have heard about it, Hardcastle. The story is all over Town today. The coward fled to the Continent rather than face your son."
"So I have been told."
"Must say, it puts an entirely new light on all that unpleasantness six years ago," Fry declared. He leaned confidentially toward the earl. "Lady St. Justin has clarified one or two points about those events, you know."
"Has she, indeed?" Hardcastle accepted a glass of port.
"And now this business with Morland more or less proves that all the gossip about the past was completely off the mark," Fry concluded. "St. Justin assuredly ain't no coward and he certainly ain't afraid to fight for a lady's honor. Furthermore, he's proved he's willing to do the right thing when necessary."
"Lady St. Justin has maintained that all along." Applegate shook his head. "You know how it is with gossip. Devilishly nasty stuff."
Two or three other men drifted over to pay their respects to Hardcastle. Then they turned to Gideon.
"Heard about Morland," one of them said. "We are well rid of him. Never quite trusted that man. Had his eye on my daughter last Season. Wanted to get his hands on her inheritance, no doubt. Silly chit thought she was in love with him. Wasn't easy talking her out of it."
"I say," his companion said to Gideon, "my wife tells me you have given your lady a spectacular mare. She's quite envious and wants me to select a new horse for her. Wonder if you'd give me your opinion at the Thursday sale at Tattersall's."