His uncle held up a hand to stop him. “Precisely why I intend to give it.” He leaned forward over his desk and met Derek’s gaze firmly. “If something has happened to Lady Heloise, the situation will only be worse if Miss Prendergast is present when such information is discovered.”
“I don’t even want to consider that possibility, sir.”
“Nor do I, but it is a possibility. Admittedly a dismal one, but a possibility nonetheless. Here’s what I’m going to suggest.” He paused thoughtfully. “First, I am pleased that you have taken on the task of protecting your great-aunt and her cohorts. There is nothing in this world more important than family and a family’s good name.”
Derek nodded.
“Secondly, I have a fair number of influential connections as well as more money than even you can spend in a lifetime. I can afford to send out a small army of investigators to track down a missing traveler in a swift and efficient manner. Men who are well trained and know what they’re doing.”
It was indeed a generous offer. “Still, sir, it is my problem.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t your objective to find Lady Heloise as quickly as possible so as to appease Miss Prendergast, thereby avoiding destroying an old lady’s good name?”
As well as keep her out of prison. “Yes, sir.”
“And shouldn’t you employ every means at your disposal to do so?”
“Yes, of course, but—”
“And am I not offering assistance that might help you do just that?”
“Nonetheless, sir, this is my responsibility.”
“Good God, you’re stubborn.” Uncle Edward grinned. “But then, so am I. Here’s my proposal. Travel as planned with Miss Prendergast to Paris and keep her there. The longer she’s out of London, the less likely she is to cause problems for Lady Blodgett. You did say she had contacted the police?”
Derek nodded.
“You will restrict your search to the confines of Paris. I will hire trained investigators to proceed with the utmost haste in searching elsewhere.”
Derek drew his brows together. “Regardless of my lack of training, you do realize there is every possibility that I will find Lady Heloise.”
“If she is alive and well, there is indeed. And we will hope for that. Do not mistake my words, Derek. You are an intelligent man, and my offer is not due to any lack of confidence in you. Rather, I want to help. Besides, I have always been fond of a good mystery.” The older man’s eyes twinkled in a way Derek could not recall having seen in a long time. In recent years, whenever they talked, the look in his uncle’s eyes tended toward irritation. “I don’t know if you’re aware of it, but I am quite fond of detective novels and stories of mystery. And, as much as I hate to admit it, all these responsibilities I am currently training you for tend not to be terribly exciting. After a while, one does long for a taste of adventure.”
“Determining the whereabouts of an elderly lady does not strike me as a significant adventure, sir.”
“One takes what one can get, my boy. I’d accompany you if I could but that’s impossible at the moment. Still, the idea of managing a search like this, being the mastermind behind it, if you will, sounds rather like an adventure.”
“Mastermind?” Derek’s brow rose.
“Excellent word. It denotes power, perception, a fine intellect and perhaps a touch of wickedness.” His uncle grinned. “Give me a week. Better yet—a fortnight.”
His uncle was right. If his purpose was to find Lady Heloise as quickly as possible, he would be an idiot to turn down help.
“Why not a month?” he said blithely.
“Excellent.” Uncle Edward beamed.
“I wasn’t serious.” Derek glared. “How am I to keep Miss Prendergast in Paris for a month?”
“Come now, Derek—it’s Paris.” Uncle Edward settled back in his chair and considered him thoughtfully. “You can’t have forgotten the charms of Paris. You’ve been there in recent years. I know. I paid for it.”
“Well, yes, but—”
“Aside from the fact that the entire world is flocking to the Paris Exposition, Paris itself has always had a certain charm—part utter elegance, part ancient history and part Bohemian decadence.”
“Decadence will not appeal to Miss Prendergast.”
“She’s a woman, isn’t she?”
“One would think.” Nonetheless it was hard to picture the very disapproving India Prendergast in Paris.
“And you are a man with a rather significant reputation when it comes to women.”
Derek started to deny it, but what was the point?
“Between your charms and those of the City of Light, I can’t imagine you can’t come up with dozens of ways to delay Miss Prendergast.”
“But an entire month in Paris...” Derek shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s possible.”
“It may not take a month for either of us to find Lady Heloise. I shall telegraph you to keep you apprised of my progress.” The earl chuckled. “I think it sounds like fun.”
“Fun?” Derek snorted. “You haven’t met Miss Prendergast.”
His uncle waved off the comment. “She’s simply an obstacle tossed in your way to make things more interesting.”
“Good God, Uncle Edward, this is not a game.”
“You’re right, of course.” Uncle Edward had the grace to look chagrined. “Why don’t we just call it a test?”
“A test?” Derek stared.
“Or would you rather make it a wager?” A wicked gleam shone in Uncle Edward’s eyes.
“A wager,” Derek said slowly. He’d always loved a good wager. Still, his uncle wanted him to mend his wild ways. As much as he wanted to agree, the thought occurred to him that perhaps this was the test. “I’m not sure that’s wise, Uncle.”
The earl snorted back a laugh. “Bloody hell, man, I never intended to break your spirit. An interesting wager between two honorable men is not objectionable.”
“Given what’s at stake, I’m not sure a wager is appropriate.”
“Perhaps.” His uncle shrugged. “Then we are back to a test. Succeed in keeping Miss Prendergast occupied while I use my resources to learn what happened to her cousin. And then avoid dragging your great-aunt’s name through the mud, as well as evade any legal problems that might arise from all this—” Uncle Edward was apparently even more perceptive than Derek realized “—and it will prove to me that you do indeed have what it takes to handle my affairs after I’m gone. Any idiot can inherit a title and a fortune, Derek, but managing property, finances and, more important, people takes experience, skill and instinct.”
“And if I pass this test of yours?”
“Then I shall withdraw the threat of leaving you penniless.” Uncle Edward grinned.
Derek stared at the older man. “I’m not quite sure I believe you.”
“Wise of you.” His uncle chuckled. “Show me that you can manage a situation as fraught with disaster as this one and you have my word. You will inherit everything you deserve.”
“Everything I deserve?” Derek was fairly certain his uncle’s phrasing left something to be desired. “Who decides what I deserve?”
Uncle Edward laughed. “Excellent catch, my boy.” He