The Duke Is Terrible at Crime

How it begins

Nell Hart recognized the duke by his apology.

Not his face. Not the expensive coat. The apology, delivered to a locked door after he struck his elbow against its handle, had the elaborate sincerity of a man accustomed to being forgiven before anyone knew what he'd done.

She lowered her basket.

"Your Grace."

Adam Bell turned so quickly that the empty violin case beneath his arm knocked over an umbrella stand.

For several seconds, the alley filled with the sound of respectable objects losing their composure.

"Mrs. Hart," he said. "An unexpected pleasure."

"For one of us."

The music rooms had closed an hour earlier. Nell knew because she'd repaired the front-door latch that afternoon and watched the proprietor count her payment twice, as though she might have altered the number while explaining the fault.

Now the town's least discreet aristocrat stood beside the rear entrance with a case, muddy gloves, and absolutely no plausible account of his evening.

"I can explain."

"Excellent. Begin with why you've brought somewhere to put whatever you haven't stolen yet."

Adam looked down at the case. His expression suggested he'd recently considered that detail an example of preparedness.

Rain began falling into the alley. Nell moved her basket beneath the awning. Inside it lay bread, two candles, and a book she'd been promising herself time to read since February.

The duke remained in the rain.

"The violin belonged to my mother," he said.

Nell studied him. Everyone in town knew the broad outline: an old debt, a public quarrel, a family instrument sold by someone who claimed the right. None of that proved the rest.

"Then bring me evidence tomorrow."

"Tomorrow it leaves for the capital."

She looked at the locked door, the fallen umbrellas, and the man who had apparently mistaken urgency for a plan.

"First," Nell said, "you can put those back. Quietly, if that is a skill you possess."

Adam bent to collect the umbrellas.

Nell stayed beneath the awning, annoyed to find herself interested in what he would do next.