‘That won’t take up much of your time, given the paucity of choice.’
Left alone, Sophia felt resentful about her inadequate wardrobe. It hadn’t seemed that important before. She seldom ventured into society and didn’t make much of an effort to impress when she did. There had never been any need. Maria, on the other hand, had spent extravagantly on her own attire, impressing upon Sophia when she remarked upon the cost that she needed to look her best in order to attract a wealthy husband. Once she had done so, both of their futures would be secure.
‘And look where her obsession has landed us both,’ she said aloud, indulging in a rare moment’s resentment.
Ross sat in silence for several minutes after Sophia had left, hoping his impulsive behaviour had not made her think too badly of him. Blaming her as much as himself for his lapse. She had no business looking so damnably vulnerable.
‘What now?’ Tanner asked, entering the room.
He told his man about Emily’s call upon Sophia.
‘She sounds desperate,’ Tanner responded. ‘Wonder what it is that she hopes to achieve by keeping Sophia away from you. Is she afraid of what she might know, or is it simply a case of jealousy?’ Tanner fell into the chair across from Ross’s. ‘If Maria’s charms had persuaded Andrew to go so far as to consider divorce, then I suppose jealousy would account for her behaviour. Maria attracting Andrew and Sophia having the same effect upon you must seem like history repeating itself to a woman who’s so full of herself. I can quite see why talk of you and Sophia would drive her into a blind rage.’
‘Or there is something more sinister afoot. Either she and Maria had colluded with Andrew to pass Maria’s baby off as Emily’s, just as Maria implied, or else Maria felt slighted when Andrew dropped her the moment he learned of her condition and she retaliated by blackmailing him.’
‘With what?’
‘God only knows.’ Ross threw up his hands. ‘I am merely speculating. Knowing Andrew, there would be something in writing between him and Maria. Some billet-doux expressing his undying devotion. It’s the sort of thing that he would do in the height of passion.’
‘Aye, possibly.’
‘It’s hardly blackmail material though. Men in his situation have dalliances all the time; admittedly not normally with unmarried females but Maria would be blamed for giving way to temptation if the truth came out and she would be ruined. No one would censure Andrew. Anyway, if she was extracting money from him, she wouldn’t arrange for him to be killed and lose her income, would she now?’
‘Unless he refused to pay.’
‘He couldn’t afford to, for one thing, but he’d likely have laughed in her face if she threatened him. Either way, I agree that she’s unlikely to be the killer. I sure as hell hope she isn’t.’ Ross threw back his head and closed his eyes. ‘I think it more likely that Andrew was killed as a result of the unethical fights he was helping to arrange.’ He went on to explain his suspicions regarding Greenacre’s involvement in them, and outlined that man’s attachment to Emily.
‘You refused to believe a word against him when we got back and he couldn’t be found.’
‘Perhaps I was too hasty,’ Ross conceded. ‘It’s just that I recall how devoted Greenacre was to Andrew before I left England. He was fiercely protective of all his interests.’
‘Including his wife, it seems.’
‘Indeed. Anyway, I hadn’t seen him or Andrew for a decade. That’s a long time. Things happen. People change. Loyalties erode. I should have considered that possibility.’
‘You think he’s still alive and arranging the fights for the man Maria saw Andrew arguing with?’
‘I wouldn’t wager against it.’
‘It strikes me that if Andrew was involved in recruiting men to die in a situation they didn’t want to confront, then he deserved the fate he met and you should quit trying to find out what really happened. These people sound desperate and you could finish up with a knife between your shoulder blades an’ all.’
‘Andrew got what he deserved, in other words.’
Tanner shrugged. ‘Perhaps.’
‘But I need to know what happened to him for my own peace of mind. If he was as amoral as it seems, then I would prefer to have it confirmed.’
‘So we try to find Greenacre?’
‘We find Greenacre,’ Ross confirmed. ‘I rather think he’s the key to the entire affair. It could of course be that he’s gone into hiding because he knows why Andrew was killed and is afraid for his own life. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt in that respect.’
‘Hmm. If that’s true, he will be aware that you have returned and are asking questions. He will know why Andrew asked you to come home as well. Surely he would have sought you out and shared that information, aware that you could protect him, if it was for some reason other than the fights? He can’t remain in hiding forever.’
Ross stretched his arms above his head and yawned. ‘True.’
‘How do we go about finding him then?’ Tanner asked. ‘I assume you have a plan.’
‘I intend to visit Emily.’
‘Alone?’ Tanner chuckled. ‘You’re brave. Presumably there’s something you want me to do.’
‘There is.’
Ross told him and Tanner feigned a put-upon expression.
‘Why do I always have to be the one left out in the cold?’ he asked.
Ross laughed. ‘It’ll cool you down after all the heat you generated with Sophia’s pretty maid.’
‘I was keeping her occupied in accordance with your instructions; precious little thanks I get for it.’
Ross laughed as he stood. ‘Is that what they’re calling it this week. Come on, you can walk to Belinda Cornish’s abode with me and rescue me if I’m inside for more than half an hour.’
‘Blimey, guv’nor, I ain’t that bold.’
Ross chuckled as he shrugged into his greatcoat and the two men left the residence side by side. Tanner had proved his loyalty time without number. He was tough and resourceful and had Ross’s back during the dangerous times in America, twice saving him from vicious attacks. Ross trusted him with his life, which is why he could have made an error of judgement and dismissed Greenacre’s involvement in Andrew’s death too readily. He had compared his own situation with Andrew’s.
Without being told to do so, Tanner melted into the shadows when they neared their destination and Andrew approached the door alone. Upon presenting his card and asking for Emily, the butler showed him into a small salon almost immediately. Emily was in the room alone. He wondered how she had been occupying her time. There was no sign of a book, embroidery or any half-written letters. The lid was closed over the pianoforte keys—and anyway, Emily didn’t play.
‘Ross.’ She looked up and smiled at him, the gesture almost disguising the wariness in her expression. ‘What a lovely surprise.’
She indicated a chair across from hers, which he took. He refused her offer of refreshment and she waved the butler away without bothering to thank him. Small gestures of appreciation when dealing with senior servants who could otherwise make a guest’s life difficult went a long way. It didn’t surprise him to discover that Emily had yet to appreciate the fact. To her, servants would be invisible; there to do her bidding, their feelings inconsequential.
‘To what do I owe the pleasure?’ Emily asked when Ross remained silent, waiting for her to speak first. ‘I hope this is a social call and that we can be friends again.’
‘As you know, I am still attempting to find out why Andrew died,’ Ross replied. ‘I hope you can help me in that regard.’
‘Well, of course I want to know too. I was satisfied that he had been set upon but you appear to think otherwise, and naturally I shall be guided by you.’ She paused and fixed him with a probing look. ‘In all things. You are very clever; Andrew always said that you had all the brains in the family.’
‘He shared his thoughts with you?’
‘Of course. We were man and
wife.’ She laced her fingers nervously in her lap. ‘We had our differences as all couples do, but we also had few secrets from one another.’
‘Is that so?’
‘What is this about, Ross?’ She leaned towards him in a waft of perfume, wearing an expression of wary concern. ‘Clearly you have something on your mind. Something to do with Andrew’s death. Let me help you, my dear.’
‘I am still puzzled by Greenacre’s untimely disappearance.’
Ross watched Emily closely as he spoke and was almost sure that her face paled beneath the layer of tinted foundation that he had never seen her without. It failed to conceal the ravages of time, and Ross much preferred Sophia’s fresh and vibrant beauty that required no help from cosmetics, even if it left the row of freckles decorating her nose exposed. Perhaps especially because of that. He adjured himself not to think of Sophia at that precise moment. He needed to keep his wits about him since Emily had a quick mind, especially when it came to self-preservation.
‘Andrew no longer depended so absolutely upon Greenacre. Not like he once had.’ Emily flapped a hand. ‘I am not sure what happened between them—’
‘In spite of the fact that you claim to have had few secrets from one another?’
‘I thought Andrew’s relationship with his man to be inconsequential, truth to tell.’
In Ross’s opinion, a person who felt the need to emphasise the truth of their words was generally being dishonest. His suspicions regarding Emily and Greenacre increased exponentially.
‘You haven’t recalled why Andrew was so anxious to have me back in England? On the last occasion when we discussed the matter, you claimed to be ignorant about that as well.’ Ross crossed his legs and fixed her with a mildly condemning look. ‘Perhaps you were not so well acquainted with his business after all.’
She pouted. ‘Perhaps not.’
‘Greenacre. Are you sure that no one at Ravenscroft will know what has become of him?’
‘If he was friendly with other members of the household staff, I wouldn’t be aware. Have you asked Osborne?’ she asked, referring to the family’s butler.
‘Has Greenacre ever disappeared before? It seems out of character in respect of the man I recall.’
Emily shook her head. ‘No, but then my husband hasn’t been murdered before either. This is all so distressing.’
She was becoming agitated for no obvious reason. Ross had been the epitome of politeness and knew that her apparent distress had nothing to do with the reminder of Andrew’s demise. It was highly possible, however, that it had everything to do with the death of her personal ambitions; Maria’s baby and her intention of beguiling Ross, neither of which had come to fruition.
‘Do you think he is still alive?’
‘I have absolutely no idea, and to be honest I haven’t given the matter a passing thought.’
‘Were you and he on congenial terms?’
She elevated her chin. ‘I do not fraternise with servants.’
‘I see.’ Ross allowed another significant pause, during the course of which Emily seemed incapable of looking at him or of sitting completely still, which told Ross a very great deal about her state of mind.
‘That’s a shame. I have always found servants to be a useful source of intelligence. They see everything that goes on.’
‘But will never repeat what they see if they value their positions.’
‘Not in the ordinary way, I’ll grant you.’ Ross moved sideways in his chair and rested one elbow on its back, observing Emily’s profile. ‘But if an employer asks questions, that is altogether another matter. Do you not confide in your maid?’
‘Only in order for her to carry out her duties efficiently. We are not friends. There are boundaries between the social classes for a reason.’
‘Very well, it seems we have hit an impasse.’ Ross paused. ‘I had hoped that you would be able to help me.’
‘Believe me, I want to more than anything. You did the right thing in coming to me.’
‘Did I? Thus far you haven’t told me anything.’
‘You haven’t raised any subjects that we’ve not discussed before. What is it that you think I can tell you on this occasion?’
‘Do you think Greenacre is still alive?’
‘You asked me that a moment ago. Do you expect a different answer? I suspect that he most likely is not. If he were, I am sure he would have come to Ravenscroft and held the fort until your return. We were all at sixes and sevens in our grief, not knowing where to turn. Greenacre could have steadied the ship, and now that you raise the matter, I cannot think of anything other than death or severe illness would have prevented him from so doing. He was fiercely loyal.’
‘And yet you mentioned a moment ago that he and Andrew had argued, and you implied that Greenacre was no longer Andrew’s confidante.’ Ross sent her a challenging look. ‘Which is it?’
‘You are twisting everything I say.’ Emily threw up her hands and her cheeks flooded with colour. ‘I am trying to be helpful by describing my recollections, my sense of Andrew’s state of mind immediately before his death. He was certainly preoccupied, and I had heard raised voices, his and Greenacre’s, coming from his library on one or two occasions, but I have absolutely no idea what they were arguing about.’
‘You are not aware of Greenacre having any family or friends who visited him at Ravenscroft? Or whom he visited on his afternoon off.’
‘No, sorry. As I say—’
‘You don’t involve yourself with the affairs of servants. That’s a pity.’
‘Why are you focusing your attention on Greenacre? He and Andrew might have had their differences, but Greenacre had absolutely no reason to wish Andrew any harm.’
‘Perhaps not, but he might very well know somebody who did.’
‘Yes, I suppose.’ Emily bit her lower lip. ‘Well, if he is dead, we shall never know, but if he has been unwell one supposes that he will surface eventually.’
‘I cannot convince myself that he has been so unwell that he couldn’t at least get word to Ravenscroft before now. It has been six months since Andrew’s death, after all.’
‘Ah, so you do suspect him of something.’ She looked anxious. ‘Share your thoughts with me, Ross. I might be able to help. Indeed, it is what I want to do more than anything. We would make a formidable team, you and I.’
‘Thank you but I doubt if you will be able to shed any new light on matters, since you keep your distance from servants, and from Andrew as well more often than not. You led more or less separate lives, I think.’
‘We had different priorities. He enjoyed being in London, whereas I remained in Hampshire and devoted myself to our daughters.’
Of course you did.
‘Andrew enjoyed his dalliances,’ Ross remarked after a prolonged pause, ‘and one wonders if his lack of discretion led to a jealous husband taking the ultimate form of revenge. If that is the case he didn’t go about it in a gentlemanly fashion, but one has to wonder.’
‘The Kennard girl,’ Emily said with tiresome predictability, her eyes sparkling with malice. ‘He made a fool of himself over her, even though she was engaged to be married to Lord Purvis.’
‘I cannot imagine Purvis having the backbone to commit murder, if that is what you mean to imply.’
‘You do not make sufficient allowance for the anger a cuckolded man might feel. Unmarried females are not supposed to run riot all over the country with a duke, or anyone else for that matter.’
‘You mistake the matter,’ Ross replied coolly. ‘I have given considerable thought to Purvis’s injured pride. However, he is a gentleman and would have called Andrew out if he required satisfaction.’
‘Well, you should talk to Maria Kennard. Make her tell you what she knows. I am sure there is a very great deal. In fact, Andrew intended to throw her over so she might have got one of the men who clings to her petticoats to take the ultimate form of revenge.’
‘I doubt it very much. Wha
t reason could she possibly give that would persuade a man, no matter how besotted, to murder a duke? I realise you do not like or approve of either of the Kennard sisters, but I don’t think we will find answers in that direction.’ Ross stood, having laid the foundations. ‘Greenacre is still my priority. Good day to you, Emily.’
Emily was on her feet in seconds, her hand on the bell rope. ‘Shall you be about this evening?’ she asked. ‘Miss Courtney’s ball is one of the events of the season.’
‘I haven’t yet decided,’ Ross said evasively.
‘Well, I hope you will show your face and promenade with me. Being in half-mourning, I cannot dance and wouldn’t think of doing so but if we are seen together then the world will see that we are on congenial terms.’
‘Why is that important?’
‘Silly boy,’ she chided. ‘Society thrives on gossip and if you ignore me, as you virtually did when our paths last crossed, then rumours will abound.’
‘Heaven forbid,’ Ross muttered.
Emily laid a hand on his arm, clearly intent upon delaying his departure, but before she could speak, the butler responded to the bell’s summons. Ross followed him from the room and made a point of thanking him as his hat was returned to him, thinking the man might be a useful source of information regarding Emily’s activities since it was clear that he didn’t hold her in high esteem, duchess or no.
‘Good afternoon to you, your grace,’ the butler said, opening the front door and inclining his head deferentially.
Ross stepped smartly away from Emily’s temporary dwelling, aware that she would probably be watching him from the window. For that reason he didn’t even glance in Tanner’s direction but knew he would remain in the shadows, ready to follow Emily’s maid when she was despatched with a message for Greenacre, as Ross was convinced would be the case.
He had spooked Emily, and she would either require reassurance or give Greenacre instructions to quit the capital immediately.
Chapter Fourteen
Sophia entered Lady Courtney’s ballroom in her uncle and aunt’s wake and made her curtsey to their hostess. She wasn’t well acquainted with Miss Courtney, but she could see at a glance that the shy young woman found all the attention daunting. Sophia would have liked to explain to her how she herself managed to survive society’s whirlwind by imagining all the people whom she spoke to as animals. Blake was a wolf, Swinton a wild boar. The duke most definitely a sleek, predatory panther.
A Duke in Turmoil: Dangerous Dukes Vol 9 Page 17