by Amanda Quick
Prudence gave a soft, annoyed exclamation. “Are you aware that you tend to talk to locks the same way you talk to me when we are making love?”
“Naturally. You and a fine, clever lock have much in common. You are both endlessly amusing.”
“Sebastian, sometimes you are impossible.”
“Thank you. I do try.” Sebastian opened the first drawer and surveyed the crammed interior. “Damnation. This is going to take some time.”
Prudence’s new purple cloak drifted against Sebastian’s boots as she leaned closer. “Bloomfield appears to have filed his business papers in a somewhat haphazard fashion.”
“Only to be expected, I suppose. Here, you take this batch.” Sebastian handed her a fistful of papers. “I’ll go through these.” He removed three journals from the drawer.
“What am I to look for?”
“I’m not certain. Anything that makes reference to Ringcross, Oxenham, or Curling would definitely be of interest. Also anything that mentions a large sum of money. Preferably both.”
Prudence glanced up curiously. “I don’t understand.”
“It is very simple, my dear. There are only a handful of motives for murder. Revenge, greed, and madness. I do not believe we are dealing with a madman.”
“We have already decided revenge is a definite possibility.”
“Yes, but the only one around who appears to have a reason for vengeance, aside from our ghost, is Jeremy. If you are right in thinking that he knew nothing about the deaths of Ringcross and Oxenham, then we must examine the third possible motive.”
Lamplight glittered on the lenses of Prudence’s spectacles. “Greed?”
“Precisely.”
“What if we find nothing to indicate that there is such a motive?”
Sebastian opened the first journal. “Then we must reconsider the possibilities of revenge or madness.”
Prudence chewed gently on her lower lip. “What are you going to do if you discover that Jeremy is behind the murders?”
Sebastian ran his finger down a list of figures. “I shall take him aside and give him a very stern lecture.”
Prudence blinked in astonishment. “A lecture on the evils of committing murder?”
“No. A lecture on the evils of leaving behind evidence that can identify him as the killer. If Jeremy is bent on vengeance, he will need to become a bit more efficient and a little less melodramatic about the business.”
Prudence smiled warmly. “Does this mean you have decided you do not wish to see him arrested?”
“I have concluded that it would not be particularly amusing.”
It was after two before Sebastian finally discovered what he had begun to suspect he might find. The familiar surge of satisfaction flashed through his veins. His instincts told him that he had found the key to the puzzle.
“Ah, yes,” he said. “This must be it.”
“What is it?” Prudence put down the pile of old receipts she had been perusing.
Sebastian smiled as he scanned the business agreement he had turned up in the back of the bottom drawer. “A motive that accounts quite nicely for the deaths of Ringcross and Oxenham. It would also account for Bloomfield’s demise, should that occur.”
“Not madness or revenge?”
“No, the simplest of all.” Sebastian refolded the document. “Greed.”
Eighteen
en minutes later Sebastian got into the carriage behind Prudence. He closed the curtains as the vehicle rolled forward. Then he lit the lamp and unfolded the document he had discovered in Bloomfield’s desk.
Prudence sat across from him, huddled deep into her cloak. She watched with keen anticipation as he studied the papers. “Explain it to me at once, Sebastian. I am consumed with curiosity.”
He looked up briefly, frowning in concentration. Then he saw the look in Prudence’s eyes and he smiled. She was enjoying this as much as he was. It struck him again that he had been incredibly fortunate in his choice of brides. No one else except his unusual Prudence would be able to understand how he felt at this moment, let alone share that moment with him.
And she loved him.
“Well, Sebastian? Do not keep me in suspense.”
He returned his attention to the document. “This is a business agreement formed for purposes of making investments in shipping ventures.” He smiled. “The principals of the firm are Ringcross, Oxenham, Bloomfield, and Curling.”
Prudence gave him a quizzical look. “The Princes of Virtue were in business together?”
“Precisely. This agreement is dated three and a half years ago. They sold stock in the company and invested the money in a series of ventures.”
“What has that got to do with the deaths of Oxenham and Ringcross?”
Sebastian scanned the fine legal handwriting, searching for details. “According to this agreement, if any one of the principals dies, the others would assume his portion of the company.” He looked up. “Following that logic, if three out of the four were to perish, then the last of the four would inherit the company.”
Prudence understood at once. Her eyes widened as she leaped to the obvious conclusion. “Curling.”
“Yes.” Sebastian smiled with cold satisfaction. “Conceivably it could be Bloomfield, but I rather think it has to be Curling. Bloomfield is obviously too disordered in his mind to concoct, let alone carry out, this elaborate scheme.”
“You believe Lord Curling has already killed two of his friends?”
“I think it highly likely. Bloomfield was no doubt next on his list.”
Prudence tapped one gloved finger thoughtfully on the seat beside her. “The first two deaths have raised no questions. Everyone assumed Ringcross’s fall was an accident and that Oxenham’s death was a suicide. It would have been easy to make Bloomfield appear a suicide also. Everyone already considers him mad. Why go to the trouble of trying to implicate Jeremy as the murderer?”
“Because someone might have eventually questioned the convenient deaths of three men who were in business with a fourth,” Sebastian said. “Especially when the fourth became extremely wealthy by taking complete control of the company.”
“So Curling, if he is the one behind the murders, decided to take precautions?”
“That’s the logical assumption. He protected himself by trying to arrange for someone else to appear guilty. He needed to produce a motive for that other person, however.”
“Curling must have discovered that Jeremy was in love with Lillian at one time,” Prudence said. “He realized your cousin had the perfect motive for murdering The Princes of Virtue.”
“He set Bow Street to investigate so that he would appear entirely innocent when it all came to light. Who would suspect the man who had commissioned the investigation?” Sebastian thought about Curling’s behavior the previous night. “Especially when that man has made it increasingly clear that he fears for his own life.”
Prudence tugged her cloak more closely around herself. Her face was shadowed by the hood. “If we’re right in assuming Curling is the killer, then there is another interesting aspect of this investigation to be considered.”
“What is that?”
“We cannot overlook the fact that you were the one who made the inquiries for Whistlecroft. Do you not find it is a rather extraordinary coincidence that the person who conducted the investigation happened upon evidence at the scene of the deaths that implicates a member of his own family?”
Sebastian smiled with slow appreciation. “My dear, there are occasions when I do not know quite which it is that I admire most about you: your cleverness or your passionate response to me in bed.”
“Sebastian.”
“I know, it is a difficult choice. Fortunately for me, I do not have to decide between the two. I am able to enjoy both. Now, then, you are quite correct. We cannot assume that my involvement in this particular investigation was entirely a coincidence.”
“How do you suppose Curling knew about y
our hobby?”
“If he was able to learn of Jeremy’s affection for Lillian, then he must have excellent sources of information.”
Prudence frowned. “But who could have informed him?”
Sebastian shrugged. “Whistlecroft, no doubt. Although why he gave Curling the information defeats me. Whistle-croft has always been even more eager than I to keep my hobby a secret. He prefers to take full credit for the investigations so that he can collect the rewards.”
“Well, I suppose it does not matter how Curling learned of your interest in conducting investigations. The point is he did.” Prudence shook her head in disgust. “He left evidence implicating poor Jeremy at the scenes of the deaths, trusting that you would find it and identify it.”
“Which I did.”
“I cannot imagine what made Curling believe that you would be eager to see Jeremy arrested for murder.”
“Everyone knows I have no love for my relatives,” Sebastian said.
“Yes, but Curling should have realized that when all is said and done, family is family. He should have understood that you would protect Jeremy.”
Sebastian arched a brow. “My dear, your naïveté alarms me at times. Curling was far more pragmatic than you in his logic. He knew my opinion of the rest of the Fleetwoods and he had every reason to suspect I would not lift a finger to protect any of them.”
Prudence glowered at him. “Do not tease me anymore about this matter, my lord. You know very well that you would never have let Jeremy hang.”
Sebastian smiled at her. “Your boundless faith in my character never fails to amuse me, my dear.”
Prudence gave him a quelling frown. “What are we going to do now? We cannot prove that Curling is behind the murders. So far all we have accomplished is to remove the evidence against Jeremy before it fell into the hands of the authorities. Next time we might not be so fortunate.”
“I think it is time I had another talk with my cousin,” Sebastian said.
“Right now?”
“I cannot envision a better time,” Sebastian said. “It is nearly three. He will no doubt be at his favorite club.”
“I shall come with you,” Prudence said eagerly.
“You will not come with me,” Sebastian said evenly. “You know damn well that you cannot enter a gentlemen’s club.”
“I am aware of that.” Prudence smiled serenely. “I shall wait in the carriage with you until Jeremy leaves the club.”
“Bloody hell,” Sebastian muttered. But there was no real heat in the words. He was learning to recognize a losing battle when he saw one.
They did not have to wait very long in the fog outside the St. James Street club before Jeremy emerged. Sebastian watched his cousin descend the steps and start toward a waiting hackney. He noted with satisfaction that Jeremy did not appear unsteady in his walk.
Sebastian opened the carriage door just as Jeremy went past. “A word with you, Cousin.”
“What the devil?” Startled, Jeremy looked into the darkened carriage. His glance went from Sebastian to Prudence. “What are you doing here, Lady Angelstone?”
She smiled reassuringly at him. “We wanted to speak with you about a very urgent matter, Mr. Fleetwood. Would you mind joining us?”
Jeremy hesitated, clearly torn between good manners and a distinct distaste for Sebastian’s presence. Good manners won.
“Very well.” He got into the carriage and sat down. “I trust this will not take long. I am on my way home. It’s been a long night and I plan to attend a boxing match in the morning.”
“It concerns Lillian,” Sebastian said quietly. He closed the carriage door.
“Lillian?” Jeremy stared at him as the carriage rumbled forward. “Haven’t you already said enough on that subject?”
“I have recently learned how she died,” Sebastian said. “I thought you should know the truth.”
“I don’t understand. I told you that Lillian drowned.”
Prudence touched Jeremy’s arm. “Listen to Angelstone, Mr. Fleetwood. Your beloved Lillian did not drown. She was driven to her death by four terrible men.”
Jeremy gazed at her in astonishment. “I don’t understand,” he said again.
“Neither did we until tonight.” Sebastian relit the carriage lamp. He leaned back into the corner of the seat and quietly told Jeremy the entire tale, including his own involvement in the investigation.
It was just as well he had brought Prudence along, he reflected when he was finished. Jeremy might not have believed him otherwise. But Prudence’s presence and her air of genuine concern lent credibility to the story. Jeremy looked at her several times for confirmation. Each time Prudence nodded soberly.
“It’s true, Mr. Fleetwood,” she said at last. “All of it. I myself helped question Bloomfield.”
“And Curling is the one who is trying to implicate you in the deaths of Ringcross and Oxenham,” Sebastian added. “He deliberately made certain that I would find the evidence that pointed to you.”
Jeremy’s mouth tightened. “Because he thought that you would seize the opportunity of seeing me arrested for murder.”
“Yes.”
“You say you occasionally involve yourself in investigations such as this?” Jeremy looked at Sebastian.
“Yes.”
“But why in God’s name would you choose to do so?”
Sebastian shrugged. “It amuses me.”
Prudence pushed the hood of her cloak back slightly. “Curling miscalculated badly, of course. He apparently did not realize that as the head of the family, Sebastian would not hesitate to protect you.”
“I beg your pardon, Lady Angelstone,” Jeremy said tightly, “but I find that as difficult to believe as Curling obviously does.”
“Nonsense,” Prudence said. “I told you the other day that there is no question of where Sebastian’s ultimate loyalty lies.”
Sebastian regarded her with a hooded gaze. “There is no necessity to go into that right now, madam.”
Jeremy glanced at him and then looked back at Prudence. “Did those four men really abuse my poor Lillian and drive her to her death?”
Prudence nodded sadly. “I do not think there is any question about it. But we will never be able to prove it.”
Jeremy’s eyes narrowed. “I do not care whether or not you can prove it, Lady Angelstone, as long as you are certain of the facts.”
“As certain as we can be.” Prudence looked at Sebastian. “Is that not right, sir?”
“I believe Bloomfield’s tale.” Sebastian watched as Jeremy’s gloved hand curled into a fist. “But I think it will be possible to get confirmation.”
Jeremy’s head turned swiftly toward him. “From whom?”
“From Curling himself,” Sebastian said slowly. He met Jeremy’s eyes. “I suggest that you and I talk to him.”
Jeremy hesitated, searching Sebastian’s face. Then he jerked his chin up abruptly. “By God, yes.”
“It is obviously time to make our plans.” Prudence glanced expectantly at Sebastian. “What shall we do first?”
“First, my dear, Jeremy and I are going to take you home.”
“Oh, no, my lord, you cannot leave me out of this.”
Jeremy frowned. “You cannot possibly come with us, Lady Angelstone. This is men’s business. Isn’t that right, Angelstone?”
“Yes,” Sebastian said, surprised by the vehemence in Jeremy’s voice. “Quite right.”
He braced himself as Prudence opened her mouth to argue. This time he would stand his ground, he told himself.
But to his astonishment, she closed her mouth again without saying a word.
It was nearly four in the morning before Sebastian finally found himself alone in the carriage with Jeremy. They were headed for Curling’s house. Prudence had maintained her unaccustomed silence all the way home, where Sebastian had quickly escorted her inside and sent her upstairs to bed. He knew she would be waiting up for explanations when he got home.
>
“I shall challenge Curling, of course,” Jeremy burst out as soon as the carriage was in motion.
“Will you?”
“It is all I can do to avenge poor Lillian. When I think of what she must have gone through that night, my blood boils.”
“Risking your neck in a duel will not bring her back,” Sebastian said softly.
Jeremy’s eyes glittered. “I intend to kill him.”
“Are you a creditable shot?”
“I have practiced for some time at Manton’s gallery.”
Sebastian smiled faintly. “Is your mama aware of your interest in the sport?”
Jeremy shifted uncomfortably. “No, ’course not. She wouldn’t approve.”
Sebastian listened to the clatter of the horses’ hooves on the paving stones. “Tell me, Cousin, have you ever actually engaged in a duel?”
“Well, no, but I’m certain I can hit my target.”
“Putting a bullet in a man who is aiming a pistol at your heart is not quite the same as putting a bullet in a target at Manton’s,” Sebastian said quietly. “It requires ice, not fire, in one’s veins. You are too hot-blooded for dueling.”
Jeremy scowled at him. “There are rumors that you have fought one or two duels in your time”
Sebastian gave him a bland look. “Dueling is illegal.”
Jeremy’s eyes slid awkwardly away from Sebastian’s face. “Yes, sir, I know.” He cleared his throat, “You are accounted something of a legend, sir, as I’m certain you are well aware. You are a man of the world. I would greatly appreciate it if you would give me some hints on the subject of conducting a duel.”
“Your mama would not approve.”
“Hang my mama.” Jeremy’s eyes were suddenly fierce. “It’s none of her affair. I have to do this for Lillian. Don’t you understand? I loved her.”
Jeremy meant every word, Sebastian thought. He made his own decision. “Very well. If it comes to a duel, I shall act as one of your seconds.”