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“What did happen? Could the Cartwrights not afford to pay the bill?” Daphne Chambers sounded most perturbed Daniel suspected her anxious tone stemmed from embarrassment Her failure to uncover a vital clue for the motive of the theft spoke of incompetence

“The lady has no parents,” Madaht is her real naown”

In this case, patron was just a polite term for lover

“I assureed to cover all the lady’s expenses,” Daniel said not bothering to curb his cynical tone

“Isn’t that what patrons do, Mr Thorpe?” the modiste snapped back

Mrs Chambers frowned “I still don’t understand why you didn’t ives Miss Cartwright a motive Why should it matter so much to me if the lady's patron refused to pay for her dress?”

Daniel stroked his beard while exa the facts There were only two reasons why a entleman had exhausted his funds or his wife discovered his secret and demanded he put an end to it

But why did thethe fact to Mrs Chambers?

“I hear a ossip,” Daniel said, deciding any man anted to please his mistress would simply take the dress and add Madame Fontaine to his list of creditors To his ation “The proble”

As expected, Madalowed berry red, and she squirmed in her chair

“Oh, tell h “Tell ue and wereear to ruin your reputation”

“Hoas I to know Miss Jairl noticed the lilac gown and demanded one similar I told her the bodice was cut far too low for a debutante” Madairl’s sister panders to her every whie, but they insisted on lecturing me on the latest fashions from Paris Tranmere would chase own as his mistress, I said”

Mrs Chambers sucked in a breath “Good Lord, Betsy!”

“So, Lady Tranmere discovered the truth about her beloved husband and forced Lord Tranht's order,” Daniel clarified

“Yes” Madaht caown, but the thief stole the dress the night before she was due to collect it”