Deadly Engagement: A Georgian Historical Mystery (Alec Halsey Crimance) (34 page)

Selina looked smug. “He wouldn’t need to. Not to collect payment.”

Sir Cosmo set down his chocolate mug with an unsteady hand. “You think Ned was blackmailing J-L?”

“He was most interested in J-L’s account books when he forced his presence on me the other night. Couldn’t keep his eyes off them. And now those three ledgers are missing.”

“But to blackmail J-L?” Sir Cosmo shuddered. “It’s not that I don’t doubt Ned capable, after what he did to Jack and his appalling behavior toward Alec this weekend, it’s just that to blackmail J-L… God, Ned must be mad!”

“There is a fine line between fearlessness and madness, Cosmo,” Selina said with a smile. “Besides, J-L could afford the payment. The question is, why did Delvin need the money?”

“What about the other initials mentioned in the ledger? Perhaps this other unknown blackmailer is the one who stole the ledgers?”

Selina took a sip of the sweetened hot chocolate and pulled her silk dressing gown closer about her shoulders. “Then you must presume that we have two blackmailers here in this house.”

“God. I never thought of that!”

“I stand corrected. Three blackmailers. Although, as the third is the recently deceased Mr. Tremarton he hardly counts, does he? You seem certain Delvin shot Simon. Just as he coldly and callously murdered Jack, and all because Tremarton threatened to expose our dear Earl as a fraud with a letter that he did not have and that does not actually exist? But that’s not a very convincing argument is it, Cosmo?”

“It’s as if you don’t believe in the existence of Lady Margaret’s letter,” he replied, a little wounded by her skepticism. “I need not remind you, my dear, that you helped flame that rumor into a house fire.”

“Willingly. But I don’t have to believe such a letter exists to do so.” She smiled mischievously. “I’ll happily spread any scurrilous piece of gossip about Delvin, if it helps tarnish the gloss. The man is not worth his birth right.”

“But that’s just it!” Sir Cosmo argued, his eyes brightening. “Ned isn’t worthy of his birth right because it isn’t his to claim. It’s my belief Jack discovered the truth about Ned and Alec and threatened Ned with exposure. Perhaps Jack was using the letter to counter Delvin’s blackmail of J-L? Jack probably discussed the letter with Tremarton, or showed it to him. He may have given it to the man for safe keeping and then when Jack died Tremarton sought to use the letter for his own ends. He had nothing to loose.”

“Except his life. Stupid man! Cosmo… Have you mentioned any of this to Alec?”

“Discussed it in depth,” was Sir Cosmo’s smug reply. “A’course Alec’s not convinced his mamma would commit to paper something so damning of her character. But I’ll tell you one thing, my dear girl, your Bothwell knows his brother for a fraud.”

Sir Cosmo’s earnestness did not lift Selina’s frown. “If that’s so, then Plantagenet Halsey also knows it, and if he knows it why hasn’t he, the upholder of justice and truth in all manner of causes, seen fit to expose his nephew the Earl as a fraud? And don’t tell me the uncle would keep his tongue between his teeth to avoid a family scandal; he’s no hypocrite.”

Sir Cosmo continued to look smug which only annoyed Selina. “Ah, now here’s where I amaze you, my dear. Plantagenet Halsey considers a man’s achievements in life, what he has himself accomplished, of greater merit than say a mere earldom.”

“Oh, I know that,” Selina said dismissively. “But it doesn’t explain the old man’s unwillingness to right a wrong.”

“Well, there is the fact Alec don’t want to be an earl.”

This had an immediate effect on Selina whose annoyance turned to anger. “How like him to dismiss what is rightfully his because of some ridiculous prejudice instilled in him by that silly old fool!” She threw a cushion at Sir Cosmo who was grinning at her. “I don’t see why you are being horridly gleeful, Cosmo!”

Sir Cosmo chuckled. “Our republican friend’s worth rises and falls with the tide of your feelings, my dear.”

“There is the possibility that Plantagenet Halsey didn’t champion Alec’s cause because he knew all about the Countess of Delvin’s adultery, and although Alec is legally the eldest son he is not his father’s son and thus not entitled to the earldom.”

“Meaning?”

“That Alec may be his mother’s first born but that does not necessarily make him the earl’s first born son. If that is the case, Plantagenet Halsey, in good conscience, could not support Alec’s claim when in truth Delvin is the earl’s rightful heir, despite being the second son. Did you not think of that possibility, Cosmo?”

“No,” Sir Cosmo answered glumly and devoured a breakfast roll in two bites, adding in a forced, disinterested tone, “You mean to have him anyway, though, don’t you?”

“Nothing has been resolved between us.”

“I would’ve thought his declaration on the balcony resolution enough…?”

Selina turned her face to the window, but not before Sir Cosmo saw her ready blush. He sighed deeply.

“It wounds me but I shall live, my dear. Though don’t expect me to be at your wedding. I shall go into a decline and take the waters at Bath or some such watering hole for the ill and the mentally wounded.”

She laughed but said perfectly seriously, “Well, we can take the waters together because I intend to remain a widow.”

“I can well understand your prejudice against the married state but we’re talking about Alec. Marriage to him would be a wholly different proposition from that of your first.”

“Yes. But for the first time in my life I have my freedom and I cannot contemplate giving it up so soon…”

Sir Cosmo screwed up his mouth and shook his head. “He’ll not understand it, y’know. He may have the reputation in foreign court circles of being a bit of a rake but once wedded he’ll give and expect total devotion; that’s his nature.” He chided her under the chin. “Be careful, my dear. Alec won’t settle for anything less. He has scruples; his uncle’s upbringing I’m afraid. And he won’t take you as his mistress, if that’s you’re thinking. You must play by his rules or you risk losing him… Perhaps, this time forever.”

“Here you are!” Lord Gervais bellowed at Plantagenet Halsey as he entered the breakfast room, the Earl of Delvin two steps behind him. “Be so good as to close the door, my lord,” he said to the Earl and fixed an eye on Sir Cosmo. “You’re here, too, are you, Mahon? Very well. For that I am glad. If this—
gentleman
is unwilling to cooperate perhaps you will!”

Lord Gervais’ very manner instantly put Sir Cosmo off side. He frowned and looked to the Earl, who merely shrugged and took out his snuffbox.

“What do you mean by this intrusion, Gervais?”

“You may very well ask!” said Lord Gervais puffing out his cheeks.

“He is askin’,” the old man quipped and speared a kipper on his plate.

“Uncle, you will not be so snide when you hear what Gervais has to say,” the Earl said quietly.

Plantagenet Halsey ate the kipper. “No? Tell me. You’ve come to arrest me?”

Sir Cosmo reached out a hand to him. “Sir! Please do not even fun about such things.”

“Where is your nephew, sir?” Lord Gervais demanded.

Plantagenet Halsey put down his knife and fork. “Standin’ behind you.”

Lord Gervais’ face fired. Sir Cosmo let out an involuntary laugh. The Earl rolled his eyes.

“Where is Mr. Alec Halsey, if you please?” Lord Gervais said in a voice that was near to breaking.

“How should I know,” the old man shrugged. “He don’t make a habit of tellin’ me his whereabouts. And that’s as it should be.”

“Sir, if you frustrate my efforts in this I will have no choice but to arrest you for complicity! You will answer my question and answer it truthfully!”

“Will I?”

Delvin frowned. “I advise you to answer him, Uncle.”

“And when did I ever take your advice?” Plantagenet Halsey snapped.

Lord Gervais puffed out his cheeks even further. “Sir—”

Sir Cosmo interrupted with a cough into his fist. “May I ask a question?”

All three gentlemen looked at him.

“Why do you wish to know Alec’s whereabouts?”

“Because, Mahon,” said Lord Gervais in a voice that could not hide its note of triumph, “he is wanted for the murder of Simon Tremarton!”

Lord Gervais’ proclamation failed to produce the desired effect. No sooner had the words left his mouth than Plantagenet Halsey laughed in his face. A great belly ache of a laugh it was too, which only deepened the color in the judge’s cheeks. When he had recovered from the initial shock of such an absurd accusation, Sir Cosmo also laughed. His effort was more of a titter, and he did nothing to stifle the absurd sound. Lord Gervais demanded calm. He demanded to be heard, but his audience, bar one, stared at him as if he had gone raving mad. He looked to the Earl for guidance. The Earl was no help to him. He had propped himself in the window and was gazing out on the terrace.

“I fail to see—” stuttered his lordship.

“—how you became a judge!” scoffed Plantagenet Halsey.

Sir Cosmo smiled at the old man and mouthed the word ‘buffoon’ as he took snuff.

“You may think of me what you will, sir,” Lord Gervais said through thinning nostrils. “I have an accusation brought against Alec Halsey for the murder of Simon Tremarton and I mean to see that he is brought to answer the charge.”

“Ballocks! I don’t know why I’m still here listenin’ to this tripe! Accusation by whom? Christ! Alec was nowhere near the gardens when it happened. He was with the rest of us on the terrace and surrounded by half-a-dozen bared breasts I shouldn’t wonder!”

Sir Cosmo’s eyes went very wide and he slowly shook his head at the old man who squinted at him. Fortunately for them both, Lord Gervais had his back to Sir Cosmo as he said, “He may well have been, yet he must answer to the charge. That is the law, sir.”

“Is it? Well, it’s a damned stupid law! Accusin’ Alec indeed!” The old man fixed a blazing eye on the Earl. “What have you got to say to this, eh?”

The Earl turned his powdered head to look at him. “I? Nothing whatsoever. As Lord Gervais has told you, Second must answer to the charge. If he is innocent, then he merely has to say so. I’m sure there must be half-a-dozen—er—bare breasts who can vouch for his whereabouts. Mayhap even yourself and—Cosmo?” When his uncle looked instantly uncomfortable the Earl smiled slightly. “Can’t, can you, Uncle? A pity. Such an outstanding member of the community as yourself would make an excellent witness for the defense.”

Sir Cosmo blinked. “You can’t be serious, Ned! You can’t really think there is anything in this accusation?”

“I don’t know what to think, Cosmo. Sad, isn’t it?”

“But… But what earthly reason could Alec have for wanting to—” Sir Cosmo stopped himself and unconvincingly went into a coughing fit.

“Yes, Cosmo?” the Earl prompted silkily.

“Who brought this accusation?” demanded Plantagenet Halsey.

“You think it was I?” The Earl looked astonished. “Come, come, Uncle. The last thing I relish is a family scandal.”

“Not unless it is of your own makin’!”

The Earl sneered. “How well you know me.”

“Gentlemen! Gentlemen! If—you—please!” Lord Gervais bellowed. “Now, Mr. Halsey, you will tell me your nephew’s whereabouts.”

“Rot in hell!” exploded the old man and stormed out of the breakfast room, slamming the door.

In the silence that followed, Sir Cosmo snapped shut his snuffbox, slightly inclined his head to the Earl and ignoring the judge followed Plantagenet Halsey out of the room.

Lord Justice Gervais stared helplessly at the Earl.

“I warned you,” Delvin said calmly.

Lord Gervais loosened his neck cloth with the crook of one finger. He had never been treated with such contempt. He was used to respect, respect for his calling if not for his person, and now anger burst through his embarrassment. “Your uncle is a menace to society! I’ve a mind to lock him up!”

The Earl sighed. “Incarcerating an old man don’t solve the problem at hand.”

“The accusation will stick. You’ll see.”

“Will it?” The Earl looked skeptical and leisurely dipped a finger into his snuffbox. “You should’ve arrested Second last night when you had the opportunity.”

“Without the authority to back up the accusation? Do you take me for a fool, my lord? I must await the arrival of the Bow Street Runners.”

Delvin snorted a goodly quantity of snuff. “But will they do what you want?”

“Aye. Men who owe their positions to me. There’ll be no dissent.”

The Earl beamed. “Splendid! You’ve done this sort of thing before I see.”

Lord Gervais eyed him with resentment. “And you know it, my lord.”

The Earl’s smiled widened but the glint in his pale blue eyes was icy. “I’m unlikely to forget a piece of cowardice that has considerably reduced my income.”

“What would you’ve had me do when that gaming hell was merely a cover for a more sinister intent?”

Delvin feigned surprise. “Really, Gervais, you had no idea that the rooms above the apothecary’s shop housed a male brothel?”

“The two floors were leased as a gaming establishment. It was not until information was put before me by a member of the peerage who insisted upon action that I was fully appraised of the real situation.”

“Liar,” Delvin said very low. “For two years you turned a blind eye to the goings-on of a male brothel and was paid handsomely for such selective blindness. And I was proudly shown the ledger by our wealthy and very perverted mutual acquaintance that implicates you and I both.”

Gervais looked uncomfortable. “You can’t really have expected me, a respected judge, to ignore Lord Belsay’s information? I’d have faced ruination; as would have you, my lord. Guilt by association. And you know it for you fought a duel with his lordship over that very thing.”

The Earl looked the pale-faced judge up and down with a sneer. “What would the grandson of a slaughterman know about dueling? Belsay wanted that brothel closed to teach his lover a lesson and because he was smitten with your mealy-mouthed brother-in-law. Do you think I’d have cared a tester had it become public knowledge that my mistress is the kneeling-whore wife of a corrupt judge who puts his hand out for payment from the ill-gotten gains of a male brothel?
More fool you
.”