James, Earl of Crofton

by Rebecca Cohen

  Marchent made a series of grunts as a groom helped him mount, and James was sure he was in more pain than he would say, but he wasn’t about to pander to him if he wouldn’t admit something was wrong.

  Once all three were in the saddle, they set off.

  “Lead the way, Mr Dowson,” James said. “You can steer us in the right direction.”

  “I thought a gentle ride out to the north border, my lord. The ground is firm under foot and there is enough to keep us interested.”

  They kept their conversation to the banal until they were far enough from the house and riding through woodland that wasn’t as mature as that on the east side. James turned to Adam now he was content no one had either followed or happened to be close enough to hear them.

  “Let us hear about your visit to the scene where Marchent was attacked. Did you discover anything new?”

  “They weren’t stupid or unlucky enough to leave anything behind that could directly incriminate them,” said Adam, ducking under a branch. “I did find a trail of blood leading to hoof prints heading in the direction of Hertford.”

  Marchent huffed. “We knew that already.”

  “I would think my investigations in Hertford might be of more interest, Your Grace.”

  “Well, spit it out!”

  “There is an individual known for his abilities to, how can I say this, turn items into coins. He owes me a favour or two, so when I pressed him for information, he said he had heard that the one of the men involved was the brother of Lord Crofton’s steward.”

  That would make sense of many things. They had long thought Clement was not capable of being the mastermind behind the misdeeds at Crofton Hall. “The mysterious brother. It is a shame you didn’t get the chance to meet him,” said James.

  “Perhaps I should bring it up with Clement when I talk to him next. To see if he lets slip how his brother might be involved, or to get him involved in such a way that we can apprehend those who are pilfering from Crofton Hall.”

  Marchent pulled on the reins to bring his horse to a halt. “Are any of your other servants likely to be mixed up with the brother? Were any seen to be injured after my encounter?”

  James shrugged. “A number of them might be involved, but none I have seen are injured. Adam?”

  “Nothing obvious, but a couple of men had been sent out to collect provisions when they wouldn’t usually have been selected. So a possibility.” Adam clicked his tongue. “It would be useful to find out when other bandit attacks occurred. And if any of them were after your father had guests at the hall.”

  Another valid point. “I myself have been attacked on my way back to London.”

  “Wasn’t one of those times the Chivalrous Highwayman? Could he be part of this?” asked Marchent.

  Adam answered before James could respond. “No. His ways are very different. From what I have heard, he has his eye on a few favourites at court, and his informants are in London, less so in the provinces.”

  “You seem very sure he’s not involved,” Marchent pressed.

  “If he was, Clement would have been crowing. There is no way he could have kept that juicy detail to himself.”

  James wanted to get the conversation away from Adam’s alter ego. “Let us go back to what we do know. The bandit who attacked Marchent, myself and many others is Clement’s brother. We should concentrate on that and find a way to lure him into the open, or into a carefully planned trap to apprehend him, and preferably his brother as well, then see them hang from a rope.”

  They continued on, falling into silence until they emerged back on the road where Marchent’s carriage had been attacked. Adam dismounted and checked around to confirm they were alone. “I have had some thoughts on the matter.”

  Marchent chuckled as he climbed down from the saddle. “You do surprise me.”

  James followed suit and the three of them tied their horses to a tree. “I knew I could count on you, Adam. Well, don’t keep us waiting.”

  “I know we have yet to check with your mother regarding items missing from the hall, but I believe we should leave something for them to take. Something valuable enough that Clement would want to hand it over personally to his brother. If the timing could be arranged so that someone known to carry precious gems with them would be leaving, I believe it would be a valuable enough proposition to lure the brother.”

  “It won’t be me as prey,” Marchent said gruffly. “It wouldn’t do to have the filth who prowl in the forest think I am an easy target.”

  James understood Marchent’s concern. “I doubt anyone has ever thought you that, and if they did, they won’t from now on.”

  “I don’t think His Grace’s reputation has been damaged by the recent events, and he would be someone I think the bandits would not wish to take on again,” said Adam, giving Marchent a deferential nod.

  “Then who do you have in mind? Because, by the sound of it, you have someone,” said James, and Adam’s answering smile told him he was right.

  “I was thinking that Lady Matilda Carson might be willing to oblige.”

  “Tilly? Are you mad?” James was sure Adam hadn’t thought this through enough.

  “I thought that, as a close friend, she would be willing to help, and her ladyship is someone who would enjoy the drama.”

  “Her father would kill me if anything were to happen to her.”

  “She would be well protected,” pressed Adam. “I would think those of us in pursuit would be in much greater danger.”

  Marchent sniffed and rubbed his chin. “I think she’d play the role well. And as you say, she’d be keen to be involved.”

  James wasn’t convinced, but they could discuss the finer details later. “Let us say she is a possibility and move on for now.”

  “You will need the support of the sheriff,” said Marchent. “But from what you have told me he is complicit in more crime than he solves, and we need to remove him.”

  “That is easier said than done,” said James, not that he was opposed to the idea.

  “If you have someone who could replace him—a credible man with a pedigree that could be easily sold to the king—then I believe I can arrange for it to come to the King’s ear that the current sheriff needs to be replaced,” said Marchent.

  “Sheriff Walters has already come to the ear of important men in London as someone who is rapidly becoming unworthy of his position,” said Adam. “Whereas Richard Lindon has recently retired to his lands north of Hertford after a not-unsubstantial military career and is in need of something to keep him occupied.”

  “I’ve heard of Lindon; he’d be a worthy sheriff,” said Marchent. He wandered over to a small pile of leaves which had filled the ruts from a cartwheel. “There’s nothing here.”

  Adam came to stand by Marchent. “I suspect that, even if there had been, they’d have come back before anyone else had the chance, to make sure there wasn’t.”

  “Then why bring us out here?”

  “Because no one will overhear us, and I can’t be seen talking to the Duke of Marchent and the Earl of Crofton, unless I have good reason to be,” answered Adam, before remembering to add, “Your Grace.”

  “Ignore Marchent, Adam,” James said, squeezing his shoulder as he walked past. “He can be grumpy when out of his natural environment of a gambling den.”

  “Never a truer word said. And now we appear to be done pretending to investigate, I should return to London, or you may never get rid of the infestation in Crofton Hall.” Marchent gathered his horse and mounted. “I will be back. I will not miss out on being there when those bastards get their comeuppance.”

  Chapter 24

  James watched with annoyance as Adam entered his office and proceeded to collect the pile of paper on a chair and dump it onto the corner of the desk. “Do you mind?” growled James, checking to see what the stack was related to. It was one of many, and James was having trouble keeping up with his correspondence.

  “You need a secretary
. You can barely move for letters. You are making things more complicated for yourself than you need to.”

  “I did that when I took you for a lover.” James pursed his lips. “I can hardly take on someone with everything going on here—perhaps once we have apprehended the villains I can think about it.”

  “What about your father’s secretary?”

  “Oh no, he would not have been suitable. Far too stuffy. I paid him a month’s wages and sent him off to the back end of Norfolk with a letter of recommendation. Much more appropriate position for him.”

  “I am sure I could think of someone local who might be suitable.” Adam prodded another tower. “You can’t wait too much longer or you’ll be smothered by a sea of parchment.”

  “If you are so concerned, you can be my secretary.” James pointed to his desk. “Get this cleared.”

  “I am too busy enduring Clement, but I will provide you with the credentials of someone I trust.” He grinned and licked his lips. “Besides, if I were to clear that desk it would be for me to bend you over it.”

  James was on his feet, the bolt of pure want too hard to ignore, but his desire had no chance to be appeased as his mother sailed through the door without knocking.

  “Oh, apologies, gentlemen. I have just returned and wanted to hear all you have found out so far,” said Anna, oblivious to what she had interrupted.

  Adam stood abruptly at her arrival. “Lady Crofton, welcome home.”

  “Please do not remain standing on my account,” she said, taking a seat.

  James sat back down. “Not at all, Mother. In fact, we were eagerly awaiting your return.”

  Anna looked between James and Adam. She seemed to pause for moment, but continued. “Well, tell all.”

  James briefly recounted the last few days; although, he was less forthcoming on their plan, not wanting to worry her unduly yet. “What we need from you now is to see if you can spot anything that might have gone missing.”

  “The house is full of trinkets and pleasant little things, but I think I would have a feel for something missing. Or know what might be a good temptation to lure out these scoundrels, as you said.”

  As much as he was happy that his mother was eager to help, he did not want to put her at risk. “Do not make it too obvious that you are looking. I want no harm to come to you.”

  “As lady of the house it is my duty to know my home. It will not appear odd for a new widow to gaze longingly at pieces that remind her of a past life.”

  “Neither do I wish you to be upset.”

  She waved away his concerns. “You do not need to mother me, my boy. And I have just the thing to use as bait. My emerald brooch. I can make a comment that I believe I mislaid it while visiting friends, so when it appears, seemingly lost, it would be a mighty asset.”

  “I think that would be a marvellous item to tempt your light-fingered servants, my lady,” said Adam, before James could protest the idea of using one of the presents his father had bought her. “If you would be so kind, I could take it into my possession and then I can leave it in a suitable place at the right time, to make sure the right person has the opportunity to find it.”

  “Or perhaps you could be the one to hand it over?” she said, her eyes bright with intrigue. “You have befriended Clement, and that would give gravitas to where you say your loyalty lies.”

  “A possibility. I will definitely consider it an option as his lordship and I add the details to the plan.”

  Anna beamed, and James couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen her genuine smile. Any thought of trying to persuade her not to use the emerald dissipated; she wanted to be involved, and taking the option away would have left her dejected, which he did not want. “Thank you, Mother. Later, once you have had the chance to rest after your journey, could you somehow find a way to deliver the brooch to Mr Dowson? Perhaps via Remembrance might be a prudent way.”

  She looked so happy. “Very well, darling. Now, I will leave you two gentlemen to the important business I no doubt disturbed.”

  She glided out of the room, lighter of foot than she’d entered.

  “She is a remarkable woman, your mother,” said Adam as the door closed.

  “That she is.” James grinned and stalked towards Adam. “But less talk of my mother. Let us return to the idea you had about my desk.”

  James drained the last of his brandy, having enjoyed a quiet evening in his own company. The last few days had been filled with side conversations and plotting their next step. His mother, having presented him with a long list of items she thought were missing, had taken to her bed early, citing a headache.

  Adam had been busy with Clement, allegedly preparing for the harvest, and he expected he would join him sooner or later. They didn’t spend every night together, but it had become a rarity for James to sleep alone. He was becoming used to having a warm body to fall asleep with and wake up to, but it was beyond that. He could have had a constant stream of different bedfellows and that wouldn’t have given him the same feeling of contentment he had now. That was Adam. There was no mistaking how James felt: he was in love and falling deeper by the day. The only trouble was, Adam might be a keen and enthusiastic lover, but was he as equally enamoured with James as James was with him?

  The subject of his musing slipped into the room. Adam had dark circles under his eyes and a pinched expression that told the tale of his irritability and tiredness without him saying a word. As he sank into a chair, James took pity on him and poured him a brandy.

  “You look like you harvested the east field rather than discussing plans for selling the crops.”

  “Dealing with Clement is an odious task which, if I were doing so for real, would have left an oily stain on my soul no priest could hope to absolve. He speaks solely of profit and money—he is as boring as he is loathsome.”

  “You know I am grateful.”

  “I would not do it for anyone else,” said Adam, with lazy smile. “But I am glad it will not continue forever.”

  That reminded James that he had news he’d not yet had the chance to share with Adam. “You will be further relieved to hear that I have had word from Marchent to expect Sheriff Walters to be summoned to see the Lord Lieutenant, and at the same time, Lindon will be invited to discuss opportunities to support King Charles and the County of Hertfordshire.”

  The tiredness seemed to drain from Adam’s face. “That is good news. We should ensure all aspects of our plan are in place so we can be ready to act.”

  “We will need the new sheriff on our side first,” James said. It was one thing to replace the sheriff, but there was no guarantee he would be willing to help at the level they needed.

  “Yes. I could call upon him, as we have met before and he knew my father well. I would speak to him of my great respect for you and invite him to the hall on your behalf as the new earl.”

  “I thought to ask Marchent to talk him on my behalf before Lindon leaves London after his appointment.”

  Adam sipped his brandy. “His Grace vouchsafing for you in advance of Lindon meeting you will do no harm to your cause. But I do feel he should be a guest here as soon after being made sheriff as possible. It would not trigger concerns with the likes of Clement as it would simply be expected for Lindon to call upon the most important man in the county.”

  James had many thoughts on the bringing in of a new sheriff. “The change will rattle Clement. I am sure he will be unsettled by the loss of his ally. We will need to watch his reactions carefully.”

  “True. However, at the beginning of his tenure, Lindon will be thought of as finding his feet. While he might want to make his mark, he won’t yet have a full understanding of his position. If anything, Clement could consider the change of sheriff as an opportunity to act before the newcomer gets the lie of the land.”

  James nodded. Adam’s logic was sound and, once again, he was grateful Adam was on his side. “Then, as you say, we should be ready to act once Lindon’s support is sec
ured. We are already well prepared. It will just be a matter of executing the plan.”

  Adam leaned forwards. “I have been thinking.”

  “That does not sound promising.”

  “Oh, James, have I ever steered you wrong?”

  “Not yet,” he conceded.

  Adam cocked an eyebrow but continued. “Listen, I have been considering whether I should be there in forest, waiting to ambush the bandits when they try to rob Lady Tilly’s coach.”

  “And?”

  “I think it would be prudent, in case something happens and we are not able to apprehend all we think that are involved, if I not be seen.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “If my presence is noted and not all our suspects are captured, I could claim that I had also been found out and had been locked in at the hall, then subsequently escaped.”

  James knew the idea had merit, but he couldn’t help but be disappointed at the thought Adam would not be there with him to witness the culmination of all they had worked for. “Again, I cannot fault your logic. Although, it would have been my preference to have you at my side.”

  “Oh, I still intend to be there.”

  “But you said….”

  “Adam Dowson will not be seen, but the Chivalrous Highwayman would not miss out on defending one of his favourites at court.”

  “No! That is far too dangerous.” James could not believe he would suggest being so reckless. “The sheriff would arrest you in an instant.”

  “Only if he caught me, and he will be far too busy dealing with the others. I don’t propose to let him know I will be there, but if I am seen, then I could escape with you as my captive and you manage to win your freedom later.”

  “Adam, think carefully on this. I do not wish to put you at risk.”

  “The risk is worth it.”

  James didn’t think Adam had thought this through properly. “No, it is not. You should stay away.”

  “That will not happen. I will not have you in the line of danger without me there to protect you.”