The Watchmaker's Daughter (Glass and Steele #1)(65)

"Hear, hear," said one man, as another thumped the table in agreement.

"Do you know of anyone else who traveled overseas about five years ago?" I asked, searching their faces as I spoke, hoping to find a hint of recognition in one of them. Those that met my gaze were blank. Those that did not looked to Abercrombie.

"No," he said.

Several clocks, both within the court room and without, chimed half seven with orchestral rhythm.

I steeled myself. "I don't believe you."

A collective intake of breath echoed around the room. "Miss Steele, have you considered that the watchmaker doesn't want to be found?" Abercrombie asked.

"We've considered that he might be dead, but why wouldn't he want to be found?"

He once again set down his pince nez. "Your employer, Mr. Glass…"

"Yes?"

"What do you know about him?"

"What's your point, Mr. Abercrombie?"

Eddie shook his head and rolled his eyes. No doubt he was congratulating himself on becoming un-engaged to such a difficult woman.

"My point is," Abercrombie said, "Mr. Glass threatened me."

So he did, did he? It was difficult to keep the smile off my lips and out of my voice. "I can't pretend I'm sorry. You accused me of stealing, and whatever you all think of me, I am not a thief."

Several of them shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Eddie no longer met my gaze. Abercrombie merely lifted a hand in dismissal, as if my concerns over his accusation weren't important.

"That incident is not up for discussion," he said.

"I beg to differ. I'd very much like to know why you did it. I could have gone to prison if it hadn't been for Mr. Glass stepping in on my behalf. I am not sorry that he threatened you. Not in the least."

"It wasn't merely his threats." He waved his hand again. "But that's by the by. Water under the bridge. We should all move on."

Dear lord, hold me back from leaping across the table and strangling him. "Mr. Glass saw an injustice occur, and he stepped in to save me. I think that noble. Are you implying something else about his character?"

"I'm merely suggesting that you should be careful with whom you associate, Miss Steele. After he pressured me to drop the accusation, I decided to do some research. What I learned was that your employer," he said with a sneering curl of his top lip, "associates with criminals."

I already knew about his mother's family, but it was a timely reminder nevertheless.

"That's the best case scenario," Abercrombie went on.

"Best case?" I echoed.

"At worst, he is a criminal himself."

Several of the members gasped, including Eddie. I did not. From the smug look on Abercrombie's face, he knew that I'd already suspected Mr. Glass of being the Dark Rider.

"Anyone who's read the newspaper of late will be aware that the American outlaw known as the Dark Rider is here in England," he said. "It's not a big stretch to connect him to Mr. Glass. Indeed, it's not a big stretch to say that the one is also the other."

"You can't say that for certain."

Abercrombie shook his head. "You're naive for your age. Out of respect for your father, I must warn you against men like Mr. Glass."

"Do not bring my father into this," I growled.

"Calm down, India," Eddie said. "Your father was a member in good standing here. No one is deriding him."

"Do shut up, Eddie."

A couple of members smirked, but the man sitting beside Eddie turned to him and said, "Was she always this willful?"

Eddie shook his head. "If I'd known earlier, I would never have asked for her hand."

"And missed out on inheriting my shop?" I snarled.

"It was never your shop to begin with." Eddie's retort was met with a series of nods from the other members.

"Perhaps the watchmaker that Mr. Glass wants to find is also a criminal," Abercrombie said, stroking his oiled moustache. "That might explain why he doesn't want to be found and why no one here can identify him. The Worshipful Company of Watchmakers upholds the very highest of principles. Our members are honorable, decent men and do not associate with outlaws. Consider that, Miss Steele," he said, interrupting my protest. "Consider that the reason it's been so difficult to find the watchmaker is because he's a wanted man. Wanted men associate with other wanted men, and Mr. Glass's visit coincides neatly with that of the Dark Rider. Too neatly, an independent observer would say."

A chill trickled down my spine and raised the hairs on the back of my neck. I wanted to disagree with him, but I could not. I had no evidence of Mr. Glass's innocence and quite a pile suggesting his guilt, from the coincidence of his and the Dark Rider's arrival, to his fighting ability, connection to the Johnsons, and now his threats toward Abercrombie. I swallowed loudly.

"In memory of your father's long-standing membership in the guild," Abercrombie went on, "I will offer you some advice, Miss Steele. Sever ties with Mr. Glass. Tell him you can no longer assist him in his search. Your father would be disappointed to see that you've fallen in with a disreputable crowd."

"But…he's related to Lord Rycroft." My voice sounded weak, pathetic. I didn't believe his association with the Rycroft title mattered, considering he'd only just met them.