<strong>The Kane Country Estates, just outside of Sussex</strong><br/><br/>The coach ground to a halt in front of the brooding manor house as the footman dashed up to help the woman who stepped out. Who pointedly walked right past him without a word to him or the other staff who were waiting for her. She met the eyes of her agent as she walked towards the door and walked in. He turned to the staff and made a 'carry on' gesture before moving after her.<br/><br/>"Mr. Ashbridge, was I not clear in my message? I had no need to meet the staff." She turned and walked into the brooding library without missing a step. "I definitely don't like the fact that the two sons of Lord Hightower were waiting for me at the landing in London. He's wanted the estate for nearly twenty years Reginald. He, his kin, his solicitors, his BLOODY DOGS are not to allowed on the grounds. One of his whelps actually tried to kiss my hand. Any of his folk show up, they are to be run off my land immediate." She opened the hidden cabinet and poured herself three fingers of aged double malt before taking a seat behind the desk. She glowered at the man as she pulled several items from her person. A strange collection of items that included several pistols and a large knife.<br/><br/>"Well Lady Kane.." She cut him off quickly.<br/><br/>"Reginald, who do you work for?" She asked as she pulled a cigar out of another hidden drawer to his surprise. The instructions of what was stored where had been in place for decades, he and the head butler stocking the room themselves in case of the return of a Kane but how did she know where such things were? There hadn't been a Kane in residence in her lifetime.<br/><br/>"You m'lady."<br/><br/>"Then it's Selene or Miss Kane.  I'm an unremitting Yankee. The only reason the gentry here will ever address me as 'Lady' Kane is in the hope of getting into my garters and gaining the keys to the family fortune." He blinked at the vitriolic tone of her voice and bluntness. This was more of a shock than the weaponry she carried about herself. He was used, through the tales of his father and the histories, to having members of the Family carrying weaponry. The Kane family were a discrete little secret in the Gentry, titled for 'acts of gallantry' but never cited for WHAT sort of acts. Quietly paid and made into nobility, they had done great works for Crown and Empire for centuries. Rumor had it that the scion of the line, Solomon Kane, had been a puritan who struck a deal with the returning monarchy in exchange for certain 'somethings'. The problem was the current Kane was an American. And a woman.  He shuffled the cards in his hand as he mulled over how to remove the card from Lord Hightower, and the ones from the sons.<br/><br/>"Of course.. Miss Kane." He put the rest of the messages on her desk, sealed letters over cards and telegrams on bottom. "I honestly don't know how they found out, but I shall talk to the staff and put out that directive. I've contacted the .. persons you asked for. The 'gentleman' at Baker Street said he'd look for your man, I put out a few other discrete enquires to others of a similar ilk. All are known for their discretion. I hired a man to .. negotiate for access to the files at the Yard like you asked. At twice remove as well." He had handled the Kane business in England for years, and his father before him, and was used to doing things of.. dubious nature from time to time, but never had he thought he'd be telling the lady in front of him about them, much less such intense investigations for a scoundrel like Ephraim Waite. She nodded as she picked the cards and started shuffling though them.<br/><br/>"Good, I see that there are few ..events here I won't be able to avoid here." She said as she slit first one card or letter open after another with that massive knife. Tossing them into two piles before diving into the pile of telegraphs. "Did you get the list of who owns the books I sent you?" She asked without looking up as she pulled out a small notebook and made entries on the pages as she read each telegraph in turn.<br/><br/>"Yes Miss Kane. I put the list in your desk, in the upper right hand drawer." She pulled that list and ran a finger down the list, alternating between the list and one pile of cards as she looked.<br/><br/>"Ah, tell me.. is way to get into this estate?" She says as she pulls a card up for him to show the seal.<br/><br/>"I'll make discrete investigation into the possibly Miss." He said as she returned to the pile of correspondence that she had to work though. Clearly the chase for this Waite man would require her attention here for a time, then on to wherever. He bowed politely and withdrew, he had to send messages to the dozen men through the country looking for him along with agents on the continent and throughout the Empire looking for Ephraim Waite. He knew there were at least a dozen telegraphs to send to see if there was any sign meeting her criteria. He pulled the door closed behind him as he left.<br/><br/>Selene leaned back and sucked on her cigar angrily. She had been close in Rome and the evil man had only escaped by a single night. Of course the Monsignor hadn't survived the escape. Only with luck had she survived with a hint of what Waite was looking for now. A lost treatise by a German madman that MIGHT be in this or that indulgent lord's library.