Chapter l170

Chapter 0170

During the banquet, Julian leaned over to me and said, “I have a lead. Be ready tomorrow morning.”

I tried to pry for more information for the rest of the night, but he just smiled vaguely at me or said, “You

will have to wait patiently.”

By the end of the evening, I was ready to shake him until the answers fell out.

“Walk me to my room,” I insisted, but even then, even when we were alone, he was tight–l*pped.

Outside my door, he squeezed my hand and told me, “See you bright and early, Piper.”

Infuriating man.

the man

Even so, true to his word, Julian arrived at 8 o’clock next Fortunately, I was already awake, with the nanny arriving just a few minutes before.

Mark glanced between us. “Prince Julian. I didn’t realize you and Piper had a date planned for today.”

Julian winked at him. “Piper loves my spontaneity.”

I rolled my eyes. “Let’s just go, please.”

Julian lifted his arm, and I hooked mine with his. He led me down the hallway to the stairwell. When we were far enough away from Mark, I hissed at Julian.

“Now can you tell me what the lead is?”

“They’re not a what. They are a who.”

My heart jumped into my throat. He couldn’t mean the woman in black? No, no that wouldn’t make sense, despite how much I wished it to be so. Plus, I didn’t feel the presence of my wolf anywhere. If that woman was here, I’d be able to feel her.

“Then, who is the lead?” I was tired of speculating. Julian enjoyed his games, but I was at wit’s end.

Julian guided me through the mansion and out the back door where a pair of guards stood at attention.

“Williams, Julian said, addressing the guard on the right. The man, Williams, stood straighter, having been named. “With me.”

The two guards looked at each other a moment. Then they nodded, and Williams stepped forward.

Julian continued to lead me further into the gardens, with Williams following behind. When we were out of earshot of anyone else, Julian stopped and guided me to face Wallema

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“Sir,” Williams said stiffly. “Ma’am.”

Julian cleared his throat. “Williams, I’ve been told you were working the night of the Ball, and you remember allowing an unusual woman in through the back door. The woman was wearing a black dress. with feathery sleeves?”

“Yes, sir.” Williams glanced at me and then quickly away.

Julian noticed too. “Did you think this woman was Piper?”

Williams nodded. “Initially, I did. Yes, sir. With everyone in costume, she looked similar…” He cleared his throat. “But then when I tried to greet her, she did not treat me as Miss Piper would.”

“How did she treat you?” Julian asked.

“Like I upset her by speaking with her. She told me to mind my own business, though all I asked was how she was enjoying her evening Williams gave me a small smile. “Miss Piper usually is very kind.”

I returned Williams‘ smile, even as my heart ached. This lead of Julian’s didn’t seem to be panning out. I had a very average appearance – average height, average appearance. For her to look like me wasn’t unusual. Lots of people looked like me.

“Chin up. Piper. This is all good information,” Julian said.

“I have a common face,” I said, revealing only part of my concern.

“Nonsense.” Julian patted my arm. To Williams, he said, “Thank you, you may return to your post.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

“Thank you for your help,” I told him.

He stopped to nod at me, and then continued walking.

When he was gone, I looked to Julian. “This lead doesn’t feel very strong.”

“Where’s your sense of discovery, Piper? Think on it. For Williams to mistake someone else for you. means that she did not look like any of the other candidates.”

I’m still not sure how that helps us,” I said.

Julian tapped a finger to his chin. “We need a guest list.”

Twenty minutes later, Julian and I sat in a sitting room off the parlor, a printed out guest list split between us. I held some pages, Julian held the rest. I didn’t really know what I was looking for, but Julian

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“I know everyone on this list, and none of them could be so easily mistaken for you,” he said.

“Could she have been a guest with someone else?” I asked.

Julian hummed. “Most guests must be declared beforehand for security reasons. I suppose Terry could have sneaked someone in on his own, with his status. I’ll have to ask-

“Mommy!” Elva rushed into the room. She came straight over to me, arms outstretched. I placed my papers aside to pull her into a hug.

Mark came in soon after. “She wanted to see you,” he said as he approached us. “The servants saw you enter here. I hope we aren’t disturbing you.”

“It’s fine.” Holding Elva in my arms, I was able to keep most of my disappointment at bay.

When Mark reached the side of the couch, his gaze caught on the papers. “Is that the guest list from the Second Ball? Is something amiss?”

I looked at Julian. Julian shrugged. “We were simply looking for someone.”

‘Did you find them?” Mark asked.

“You are being very curious, Mark. And though I usually applaud such things, I’m not sure that I have to answer to you. In fact, I’m certain that I do not.”

Mark closed his mouth – until he looked at me.

“Prince Nicholas told me that you were no longer investigating. He seemed adamant that you should not involve yourself with such things.”

“He can say whatever he wants. He may be a prince but he is not in charge of me,” I said. Truly, I did not like upsetting Nicholas, but for this, I had to. To protect Elva, I would face a hundred angry Nicholas’s

“1 will have to tell Prince Nicholas about what I’ve seen here today,” Mark said. He seemed apologetic about it.

“Do what you must.” I wasn’t angry at Mark. He had his duties that he needed to attend to. Likely Prince Nicholas specifically told him to keep an eye on me, to keep me away from anything to do with the underground organization and our investigation of it.

I continued, “Tell him whatever you have to. But know that I will never give up. I will never back down.”

Elva was in danger. Nothing else matter, not Nicholas’s wishes, not even my own well–being.

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Mark frowned. “I will stand just outside the door.”

“Thank you, Mark,” I said, softer.

Elva shifted so that she could sit on my lap. I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind and she

giggled.

“You know, I’m impressed by you, Piper,” Julian said. “Your tenacity for our investigation is formidable, to be able to stand up to our dear Nicholas.”

“You know why I can’t back down,” I said. I k*ssed the top of Elva’s head.

1 do.”

His smile softened a moment, before sharpening into a dagger’s edge. A teasing remark was coming. I knew that as well as I knew to expect my next breath.

“Though I advise caution, Piper. The only person more stubborn than you might just be my brother.”