Page 69 of Her Scandalous Pursuit

“Ah, but then they would have had the instrument but not the ability to use it. We have the ability and the Eye.”

“That’s all you know?”

“Yes. What else would there be?”

“Does it...give you any other ability than seeing the dead?”

“Other abilities? You mean seeing that that young man draws death to him, that you would die because of him?”

“Yes. Or like dreams.”

“I saw him without using the Eye. And dreams... I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I just thought you might have prophetic dreams, as well.”

“No. I’m not an oracle, Thisbe,” Cornelia scoffed.

“Of course not. Grandmother, please show me the Eye again. I wasn’t paying enough attention the other day—I was angry.”

“As well you should be. Imagine that young man trying to worm his way into your affections! It’s a good thing I saw him for what he is.”

“Yes, well, could you get out the Eye for me? I wanted to look through it.”

“I don’t know, dear. I couldn’t use it until my grandmother died. It’s meant only...”

“For the one who carries it. I know. But I was interested in how it worked.”

“Well, you most certainly cannot take it apart to see how it works. Don’t think I don’t remember my cuckoo clock.”

“Grandmother, I was six years old then. I won’t try to take it apart. I only want to examine it.”

“Very well.” The duchess went into her bedroom.

Moments later, Thisbe heard a loud wail, and she ran to her grandmother. “What’s wrong?”

The dowager whirled to face her. “The Eye! They’ve taken it.”

“The twins again? We’ll get it back.”

“No, no, you don’t understand. I put it in the safe.” She pointed to the small square door hanging open halfway up the wall. “Even the Greats couldn’t have gotten into that. The Eye is gone!”

CHAPTER TWENTY

“DESMOND...” THE NAME came from Thisbe in little more than a whisper, the now-familiar pain a storm in her chest.

“That blasted man stole the Eye!” The duchess slammed the safe door shut. “I should have known.”

“So should I,” Thisbe added grimly. Why had it come as a shock that Desmond had betrayed her yet again?

“I shouldn’t have shown it to him,” Cornelia went on bitterly, turning an accusatory gaze at her granddaughter.

“I know, Grandmother. This is my fault. I was too impulsive. After what I’d learned, I should have realized he couldn’t be trusted to even see the thing.” A saving anger shot through Thisbe, fury drowning out all pain and regret. “Don’t worry. I will get it back.”

Thisbe strode down the hall, her mind suddenly clear and hard as glass. The Eye had always been Desmond’s goal. It struck her with great clarity that Desmond had been the one who suggested they hire the twins’ nanny. Katie, his landlord’s sister, presumably Desmond’s friend. A woman who wouldn’t look out of place anywhere in the house, since the twins went all over.

No wonder he’d given up his pretense of affection for Thisbe. He had insinuated an accomplice into the house, someone better placed than he to search for the Eye. Then Thisbe, like a fool, had revealed the Eye’s hiding place to him. He might not know the exact spot, but he was able to narrow down the area Katie would have to search. He could tell her that her charges had found the thing before.

Her fury bubbled even higher at the thought that they might have used Alex and Con to pursue their goal. Well, she’d deal with Katie later. First and foremost, she had to find Desmond and wrest the Eye from him. Katie wouldn’t have kept it; she would have given it to Desmond.