Chapter Sixteen
Brighton, England
Felix stood at the drawing room windows with his hands clasped behind his back while waiting for Lord Beckham to make an appearance. It was one of the last interviews he needed to conduct, and quite frankly, he wanted it over with post haste.
Because of the strained relations between him and Caroline’s parents, he advised her to stay at the cottage this afternoon.
They’d both remained abed late into the morning following that soul-binding coupling last night.
And now that he knew she was increasing, the moments in the morning when she felt ill made sense.
So he’d asked that she rest and once he returned from the interview, he would join her and perhaps they could walk the shore again.
The smile she’d given him on his way out had buoyed his mood as he’d set out. She’d also cautioned that she hadn’t yet told her family of her condition. That was fine by him, for he could keep the knowledge close, a dear little secret between just the two of them.
Me, a father. I never thought it possible.
Never during his stint in the military and definitely not while he was with Bow Street had he given thought to having children.
Not even when he’d fancied himself in love the one other time in his life when that woman had broken his heart.
Now, the thought he would have a child in six months filled him with hope such as he’d not know before.
Yet worry tugged in his gut. Was he enough to take care of Caroline, of the babe?
“Major Kourier.”
The sound of the viscount’s voice had Felix turning about. “Lord Beckham.”
“I wasn’t expecting you today. Can I assume you’ve solved the case and we can return to London?” Mild annoyance lay stamped over the older man’s face. “Brighton is well enough, but I have appointments in Town.”
“Right.” Felix flicked his gaze up and down his father-in-law’s form.
From the thinning black hair, to the chin that was much like Caroline’s, to the belly that was going paunchy, his life was forever connected to this man’s through marriage.
“I apologize for not scheduling this meeting, and no, I haven’t solved the case. Yet.”
Lord Beckham rested a shoulder against the fireplace and crossed his arms at his chest. “What the hell do you want, then?”
“I need to ask you a few questions about your relationship with Lord Danforth.” God, this was going to be horrid.
That seemed to take the piss and vinegar out of the viscount. “Very well. Get on with it before my wife comes home.”
“Where is Lady Beckham?”
“Out shopping with Debra. Will meet Andrew for tea after thinking we’ll all return to London in a couple of days.”
“Why don’t you sit down, Beckham.” Felix gestured to a chair that looked comfortable enough. “I’ll wager the subject matter won’t be easy.”
“Ah.” With a huff, the viscount dropped into the chair Felix indicated. “Start your questions, then.”
Felix nodded. “Did you know your wife had Andrew invite Lord Danforth to my wedding, wanted him to object and interrupt the ceremony so he could propose instead?” Best just have it out straightaway.
Shadows went into the viscount’s eyes, but his expression remained impassive.
“I heard snippets of my wife’s conversations about it.
You know how it is with women. Most of them blather on about things I have no interest in, so I’m afraid I didn’t pay much attention.
What Andrew does with his friends is none of my concern either.
Boy needs some sort of freedom at his age. ”
Yes, a young man in his early thirties who had no aspirations except to inherit his father’s coffers and estate. Yet Felix said nothing about that. “It was no secret Lady Beckham wanted Danforth for Caroline.”
The other man nodded. “That is true. She was upset when Caroline announced her engagement to you.” Beckham frowned. “As was I, as a matter of course.”
“Oh, I am well aware of that.” As he jotted down a couple of notes in his book, words flew about his mind for his next question. “How did you personally feel about Danforth? Did you consider him a good man?”
A muscle ticced in the viscount’s jaw. “Not exactly.”
“And why was that?”
Beckham shrugged. “The man had far too many vices for my tastes. Didn’t want my daughter married to a man so that sort.”
“Yet you don’t like me for her either, and I am nothing like Danforth.” It was bad form to drag personal issues into an investigation, but this one stung too deep.
“I stand by my assessment than you are unable to keep my daughter in the manner she’s been accustomed all her life.” Beckham glowered at him. “You don’t work a respectable living, Major. Those are the facts.”
Though heated anger welled through his chest, Felix bit back the urge to reply. “Then why did you not tell your wife her plan for Danforth wasn’t endorsed by you?”
A chuckle sailed from the viscount’s throat. “Have you ever tried to tell Lady Beckham that she can’t do something?”
Fair enough. One corner of his mouth lifted in a faint grin. “No, but I am married to her daughter, so I can just imagine how that works.”
For one brief moment, he and the viscount understood each other.
“However, in the spirit of full disclosure, I will tell you I had a different man in mind who would hopefully offer for Caroline before the ceremony ended.”
“Oh?” Felix’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Who?”
“A Mr. Foster. He used to be a Bow Street man like you, but unlike you, he makes a living as an account manager, privately but with enough prodding, I’m sure he could go into banking.
” Beckham was quite pleased with himself if his smug expression was any indication.
“It’s honorable work and will bring in a steady income. ”
A grunt escaped him, but he exerted control to not blurt out a derogatory comment. “I interviewed Mr. Foster a couple of days ago. He never mentioned those plans to me.”
“You weren’t directly connected to them, but he was quite interested in them.”
“Or he was interested in Caroline’s dowry.
” Of which Beckham hadn’t made payment on.
Granted, they’d all been stuck in Brighton, but his man-of-affairs should have met with Felix’s man and taken care of that transfer.
But that was an issue for a different day.
“Why didn’t Mr. Foster object at the ceremony? ”
“Apparently, he has no courage.” Annoyance threaded through the viscount’s voice. “Besides, the news that a Bow Street man was hunting for an investor took precedence.”
“Yet none of that explains the look of dread you had the other day when we interviewed your wife or how your face lost all color when Andrew talked of how he’d lost coin to this so-called investor.”
“I…” The other man’s eyes went a bit wild. “I might have entertained talks with the investor, Mr. Knapp.”
“What?” Shock filtered through Felix’s chest. “Did you or did you not?”
“I did.” Beckham’s face paled.
Despite the tension between them, his chest tightened on the viscount’s behalf. “How much?”
“Five thousand pounds.”
“Dear God,” Felix breathed as his pencil hovered over his notebook.
“Andrew harangued me regardless that he’d done the same. Thank God I didn’t invest everything, but I was furious with Danforth for recommending Mr. Knapp to me.”
“It seems that everyone was furious at this investor fellow, yet he is alive while Danforth is dead.” He narrowed his gaze on his father-in-law. “Were you angry enough to kill Danforth? Did you argue with him and it got out of hand?”
“Hell, no. I hadn’t seen him since the night before our dinner together.”
“Interesting, for he was here in this townhouse that night, playing billiards with Andrew and his friends while drinking until your wife chastised them for making too much noise.” When the viscount remained silent, Felix frowned. “Did you ever meet with Mr. Knapp in person?”
“Actually, no. Danforth served as go between.”
Shock slammed into his chest. “Is it possible that Danforth was Knapp this whole time?”
“I rather doubt it.”
“Yet everyone I’ve talked with has said they don’t know what he looks like.
” Every one of them except Mr. Foster. “Let’s assume that all Knapp’s clients used Danforth as a representative.
Could Danforth have been killed merely as a robbery gone bad?
” A society wedding with many well-heeled guests must have been a large feeding ground for a swindler to prey upon, so to speak.
“If that were so, then where is the stolen coin?” Slight hope flitted across Beckham’s face. “Can we get it back?”
“That remains to be seen. I still need to try and track down this Knapp fellow, but no one knows what he looks like.” But Danforth had. So had Mr. Foster. Was there more of a connection than merely being friends? And where did Foster fit into the trio?
“Well, as much as I’m afraid that those funds are lost, I appreciate your efforts in discovering the truth.” The viscount struggled to his feet. “It’s a terrible business, this murder, and I don’t care for the fact that it’s attached to my family’s name.”
“I’m doing my best to figure it out.” He tucked the notebook and pencil into his interior jacket pocket. “Now, I really should return to Caroline. She’s been exhausted of late, and I want to make certain she’s resting properly.”
“The poor gel is tired from the wedding preparations, but at least she was able to escape her mother’s reach.
” When he laughed at his own joke and Felix didn’t join in, the sound died away.
“I suppose my wife will now turn her attentions doubly onto Debra.” He shook his head.
“Having daughters is one expense after another, Kourier. Pray to God you have sons.”
I don’t truly believe having a daughter is an inconvenience.
“Oh, and before I go, I need a favor from you.”
“What? You are already trying my patience by demanding we stay here.”