Love's Harbinger Read Free

her aunt continued.
    “He gouged you, too, did he? I wish I could tell you it’s untrue, but it appeared in the Harbinger , so we must take it for gospel. Do you have something to add to the story? I’m collecting the names of the victims for the next issue. You’ll be in good company, Lady Lynne. How much did you lose?”
    Before her aunt could reply, Lady Faith took her courage in hand and set the conversation on its proper course. “We aren’t here to submit our names for publication in the Harbinger , Mr. Delamar. That catastrophe must be avoided by all means. We want to know where you heard this libelous rumor,” she demanded.
    He slowly turned his head to Faith and regarded her for a long moment. When he finally spoke, it was not to answer her question but to get a firmer grip on the identity of his callers. “Lady Faith Mordain—that rings a bell. Ah, now I see! Please allow, me to offer my condolences, ma’am. You are Lord Thomas’s greatest victim. The others have lost only money. You have lost your . . . heart?” His bright, inquisitive eyes seemed to be boring inside her head. “Have you, by any chance, lost money as well?”
    “Certainly not! Lord Thomas has stolen nothing. I must insist on knowing the source of that rumor you published, sir.”
    “I make it a rule never to divulge my sources, ma am. That is an excellent way to dry up the spring. You may be assured the information is accurate. He’s given you the bag, has he? Shabbed off, and the wedding only two weeks away.”
    “You must not print such a thing!” Lady Lynne exclaimed.
    “I shan’t,” he assured her, “till I learn from an unimpeachable source that it’s true. Is it?”
    “No, it is not,” Lady Faith said firmly.
    “Then you know where he is?” Delamar asked sharply. “If you know something that proves Lord Thomas innocent, it would be to his advantage—and your own—to arrange an interview between him and myself. I know he had a partner, a Mr. James Elwood. It’s possible he’s only Elwood’s dupe,” he said doubtfully.
    “Lord Thomas is no one’s dupe!” Faith objected.
    Delamar regarded her thoughtfully. “He is either a dupe or a knave, madam. Take your pick. I should think you, of all people, would be grateful to me for discovering it before you make the mistake of marrying him.”
    “He is nothing of the sort! How dare you libel a gentleman’s character! I insist you write a retraction at once.”
    Delamar listened, unmoved. “I accused him of nothing. Better reread my column; I only report the facts. It is a fact that Lord Thomas Vane and Mr. James Elwood have taken in over two hundred thousand pounds in subscriptions to the Anglo-Gold Investment Company. It is also fact that the company is not registered, and that Lord Thomas has left the city and Mr. Elwood has run to ground—hidden somewhere or other. I can tell you at what discreet, out-of-the-way travel agency Lord Thomas made his travel plans, if you don’t know it already.”
    “Where is it?” Lady Lynne asked eagerly.
    Delamar turned his attention to the older lady. His expression stiffened to uncompromising firmness. “There’s no free ride, ladies. My business isn’t giving information away—I sell or barter it. What can you tell me in exchange for my news?”
    “We haven’t an idea where he is,” Lady Lynne admitted. “He didn’t keep an appointment with Lady Faith this afternoon. He’s missed a few of them lately. I sent my butler over to his flat and learned that he’s flown the coop.”
    Lady Faith was stirred to defend her fiancé. “He’s gone home to his father’s estate. He wasn’t feeling well,” she invented.
    “Can I quote you on that?” Delamar asked.
    “No!”
    Lady Lynne shook her head. “It is all a hum, Mr. Delamar. She has no more idea where he is than you have. It’s true, then; I’ve been swindled.”
    “How much did you subscribe?” Delamar asked.
    “Don’t tell him,” Lady Faith warned her