Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Matthew
“Who wanted your father dead?” Drake asked, immediately intent on Matthew’s statement, which Matthew was grateful for. If he could focus the others on the man with the grudge against his father, rather than Johanna’s mother, that was for the best.
Zachary still appeared sullen, though his ire had been dampened by cooler heads. Even so, Drake also appeared to be struggling, but he was doing a better job of hiding it. Sebastian was silent, staring at a painting on the wall of a huntsman atop a horse with a dog beside him.
Those three had had good relationships with their fathers, unlike the rest of them.
“His name was Aaron Heywood, and he was a tenant on our estate. His family had been on that land and in their cottage for generations, but there was a year when he was unable to tithe the required amount, and…” Matthew clenched his jaw, turning his head aside.
“You know what my father was like. Threw him and his wife out. I did look for him, for a bit, but not very hard. I had not thought about him until I heard the description of the messenger who collected the second delivery of potions.”
“Well.” Christian cleared his throat, rubbing his hands over his thighs and pointedly not looking at Zachary. “He sounds like a far more likely suspect who might actually know something than some poor person who merely sold the potions with the best of intentions.”
Even though he snorted in derision, Zachary did not look at Christian, either.
“Speaking of suspects, Zachary, did you ever ask your uncle about whether he was the one who suggested that Cornwall invite Nathanial’s father to the hunting lodge?” Christian asked airily, as if it were not a particularly pointed question, especially at this juncture in the conversation.
Unsurprisingly, Zachary bristled in response, sitting up straight as a poker.
“I did. He thinks he might have been, though he admitted it was so long ago he could not remember to be sure, but he knew there was some conversation about it. Apparently, Hereford had boasted of his win, so it was not uncommon knowledge.” Zachary sniffed.
“And my uncle had no reason to want Hereford dead.”
“No more than a common potion maker would have to want any of our fathers dead,” Christian pointed out. “Your uncle is far closer to our father’s deaths by comparison.”
Now, Zachary did turn to glower directly at Christian, who was still not looking at him.
“I, for one, am not going to blame Matthew for wanting to protect his wife or anyone else who has joined his household,” Gregory said stoutly.
“Especially since, as he said, they had no motive to harm any of our fathers and certainly could not have guessed what a sleeping potion might have been used for. And while I might not have cared very much for the demise of my own father, you can be sure that I still want justice for my wife’s father. ”
“Indeed,” Nathanial murmured. “It is hardly any secret that my father’s death was not a hardship on my behalf, but I still want justice for those of you who did grieve.
Not to mention, I would like the security of knowing that nothing more will be coming for me and mine, and until we know who was behind the dastardly plot and why, there is no such assurance. ”
The sound of exhalations echoed around the room as more than one of them sighed. Matthew included. He wanted the assurance for Johanna and any children she might bear as well.
“I am not blaming him for wanting to protect his wife,” Zachary snapped. “Though, in the interest of justice, I might make a different decision.”
“Even if Delilah was your wife and not Lady Annabelle?” Christian retorted, making everyone suck in a breath very much the same way as they had when Zachary had brought up Christian’s father.
Zachary actually rocked back in his chair as if Christian had struck him. Sinclair chittered above his head, the first sound the little monkey had made since the conversation started, and climbed atop it, stroking Zachary’s hair.
Christian closed his eyes and swallowed hard. “I…” His voice trailed off, as if he could not bring himself to actually say anything. Which was quite normal for Christian. Apologies, arguments in general, were not something he usually engaged in.
“We are square,” Zachary muttered, waving his hand at Christian to dismiss the need for any apology, then running it over his face before reaching up to let Sinclair climb onto it.
He brought the monkey to his chest, which now seemed quite sunken in, as he hunched over it, leaning against the wide back of his chair.
“We need to work together,” Drake said firmly, his jaw working with emotion.
“Of course, Matthew cannot tarnish his honor by allowing any of his household to come under suspicion. Nor would it be right or fair to punish anyone for ignorance. We should be grateful we have a new clue. A new name to pursue.”
“That is something at least,” Gregory said, nodding. “I will ask my current steward about this Aaron Heywood. Since he assisted Montblanc in procuring the potions, Montblanc must have known him somehow.”
“Now?” Zachary asked, lifting his head.
“Well… I do not see any reason to wait. Perhaps we could all return to Clarence House,” Gregory suggested. “That way you can hear whatever it is my steward has to say, and if there is any information on Heywood, we can take immediate action.”
Which would be good if there; Zachary was clearly chafing at the bit to find something to do—and someone to blame. Matthew wished he had his coin. Wished he had some sort of guidance in what to do or what to say that would help.
If Zachary persisted in his tack against Johanna, it would not only break apart their friendship, if the others took sides it might very well be the end of their entire cadre.
Johanna
The ladies had just sat down in the drawing room of Clarence House when the front door opened again, and masculine voices filled the front hall, making all of them look up. The door between the two areas was open, so they could see the entire group of dukes that had just walked through the door.
“Blast,” Lady Astrid murmured from where she was seated beside Johanna. “So much for privacy.”
As if aware of so many eyes on them, the Duke of Ormonde turned and looked through the door, causing Lady Astrid to bristle in her seat as their gazes clashed before he turned away to let the other dukes know they were not alone. Now all the dukes turned to look into the drawing room.
Johanna immediately sought out Matthew’s face and relaxed when she saw him.
It took her a moment, as he came hurrying into the room to come stand behind the couch where she was sitting, putting his hand on her shoulder, to realize his expression was more strained than joyful.
A frisson of alarm went through her; she had hoped he would be more cheerful.
The other dukes followed him in.
Like Matthew, Nathanial and Gregory immediately made for where their wives were seated.
Sebastian followed Gregory, moving to stand near his friend and sister.
Drake stalked to lean against the fireplace, in a position where he could easily glare at Lady Astrid and she at him.
Christian moved to stand beside Nathanial, between the chairs where Kalina and Rose were seated.
Only the Duke of Grafton hung back, his face like a storm cloud when his dark eyes met hers from across the room.
He hovered by the door, stony-faced and emanating menace despite the tiny monkey seated on his shoulder, clinging to his hair.
Johanna shrank back from his gaze, her heart beginning to pound wildly in her chest at the anger she saw there.
She could see Delilah, sitting poker-straight in the chair to the right of the couch, frowning at the duke in the doorway.
“Cut it out, Zachary,” Matthew snapped, his fingers tightening on Johanna’s shoulders.
“What are you all doing here?” Kalina asked, her voice cool and calm. “Not that we are unhappy to see you. And why is Zachary glaring at Johanna?”
Lady Astrid leaned forward on the couch, so Johanna could only see the back of her red hair, putting herself bodily between the Duke of Grafton and Johanna.
“Well…” Gregory started to say, then coughed, looking over at Matthew and Johanna. “We were meeting to discuss the matter of our fathers—”
“And leaving us out of it again,” Lady Astrid snapped.
Her head whipped around to pin Drake with a glare, though she kept her body where it was, so the Duke of Grafton’s gaze was still obscured if he was trying to look at Johanna.
“I can only imagine whose idea that was. But Johanna has already told us everything.”
Mei patted Johanna’s hand reassuringly as Johanna let out a long, slow breath.
She knew why the Duke of Grafton was glaring at her. Matthew had told them everything as well. And, unlike Matthew, Grafton obviously blamed her and her mother. Tears sparked in her eyes as her throat clogged. She had not meant to cause a division among the group of friends.
Yet what else could she have done?
She’d had to confess.
“Of course she has.” Drake sounded more resigned than anything else. He shook his head. “Well, do not worry, we are handling it.”
“How?” Lady Astrid asked, smiling sweetly. “Where are you beginning your search for Aaron Heywood?”
Something in her voice made all the men look at her, and Drake straightened, his brow furrowing.
“What do you know?” he asked, though it was really more of a demand.
“Know? What could we possibly know?” Lady Astrid looked around at the other ladies, her eyes wide. “We are but mere women. Surely, we could not have anything useful for such all-knowing and powerful men. You do not need us at all.”
Tiffany covered her lips with her hands, but a giggle still escaped her mouth. Drake looked as though he wanted to throw himself across the room and throttle his betrothed, who smiled sweetly at him.
“Ladies.” Christian smiled, his most charming smile, and Johanna felt her own tension ease as he swept his gaze around the room to include everyone…
well, everyone except Rose, who refused to turn to look up at him.
No wonder he was known as the Adonis of the ton.
When he flashed that smile, he must send ladies’ hearts fluttering.
Even she was not entirely unaffected, despite her preference for Matthew’s joyful grin.
“Please, we would be in your debt if you have any information you can share with us.”
“Yes, you will,” Lady Astrid replied tartly, though her words and the tartness were directed at Drake. He crossed his arms over his chest as he continued to glare at his betrothed. “Tiffany?”
“I think I recognize the description of Mr. Heywood,” Tiffany said hesitantly. “There is a man in the stables, at home, who matches it, down to the scar on his face.”
“Our home?”
“Which home?”
Gregory and Sebastian spoke at the same time and then glanced at each other. Tiffany twisted around in her seat to look up at her brother.
“At Somersham Hall.” She looked apologetically at Gregory. “My old home. Father hired him.”
“I… do not know if I have seen him,” Sebastian said, shaking his head.
“Well, you were in London at the time, I believe.” Tiffany faced front again. “And you did not spend as much time on the estate as I did. As far as I know, he is still there. I only noticed him because of the scar on his beard and because he works well with the animals.”
“Well. That is good news,” Sebastian said. “That means we have a place to start. I will leave for the Hall immediately.”
“You cannot. You will miss the Manchester Ball tomorrow,” Tiffany said immediately. “You cannot miss such an important event—and it will cause a great deal of talk if you rush back to the estate for no good reason, especially after… after sending Mother to the countryside.”
“She is right,” Delilah said, breaking into the conversation with her throaty voice.
“There has already been some talk among the ladies about your mother leaving the Season so soon and so suddenly. No one believes it is for her health, by the by. If you do not wish to focus attention on her absence, you cannot miss major events that you were already planning to attend.”
“Could you send for him to come to London?” Kalina asked, looking around.
“No.” Nathanial shook his head. “We are trying not to draw attention to our investigation. If Sebastian sends for him, it would be completely out of character, and it might even cause him to flee. The same with leaving abruptly. He has already been working in your stables for years. He will keep for a while longer until you can leave for a few days without suspicion.”
“Not just you,” Drake said. “One of us should go with you. Zachary, perhaps.”
“You are just trying to get me out of London.” The Duke of Grafton’s voice was harsher than Johanna had ever heard before, without any of its usual elegance.
“If that is what you need to cool your temper, yes.”
“Yes, of course, I am the problem. Not the person who was actually involved in our fathers’ murders. Not the person who provided the murderers with the means to ensure our fathers burned to death.”
Johanna shrank back in her seat as Lady Astrid stood up in front of her, blocking Johanna from Grafton’s view with her skirts. Matthew came round the couch as well, to stand at its side where he could hold Johanna’s hand, glaring at Grafton from over Lady Astrid’s shoulder.
“You are not seriously blaming Johanna,” Rose said, obviously aghast.
“Why? Was it you who provided the sleeping potions?” The sharpness in Grafton’s voice was quick and cutting.
Frozen in her seat, unsure of what to do or say, heart pounding in her chest, Johanna was relieved to see Christian step forward, blocking Rose from Grafton’s view the same way Lady Astrid and Matthew were guarding her.
“You are bang out of line, Zachary,” Christian said sharply. “Again.”
She could hear the soft chitter of the monkey on the man’s shoulder, almost like it was trying to soothe the irate duke.
“I… apologize.” The strain in his voice made Johanna’s heart go out to him. “I am not myself. I need… I need to go. I cannot be here right now. I need to go.”
The pain he felt was clear in his words, and more tears sprang up in Johanna’s eyes in sympathy.
The sound of his footsteps on the marble floor of the hall echoed in the silence of the room. The front door opened and closed. Johanna looked away and caught a glimpse of Delilah’s face, agony in every line of her expression, as she watched her former lover go.
Then the other woman blinked, and her polite social mask descended once again.