Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
There was not a moment to be lost. They had mere moments to strategize before they dug for more information to reveal the truth about Viscount Thomas Newbridge.
If Newbridge wasn’t the blackguard who was tormenting him, then the true culprit was being given more time to sharpen his knives and plan his strategy.
There was no doubt his attacker wanted him dead, regardless of his identity.
Perry objected greatly to this prospect.
The carriage stopped at Beauregard’s home in Mayfair, Spencer House, a sumptuous Georgian-style townhouse with a brick fa?ade and sandstone quoins in a very desirable location overlooking Grosvenor Square.
While he was in town, Perry decided to take advantage of his brother’s proximity to hatch a plan.
Some strategy to help ferret out the truth about whether Newbridge was holding some longtime grudge against Perry.
The Spencer butler, Cooper, informed him that his brother had already left for the day and was most likely at the club.
Perry decided to pursue his quarry there.
White’s was located close by, on St. James’s Street, and the carriage brought Perry quickly around to the Georgian townhouse.
Casting his gaze up to the bow window that loomed above him on the fa?ade of the building, he noted a few club members gazing down upon the street with drinks in hand.
Some members were known to watch passersby and place ridiculous bets in White’s betting book.
Perry breathed a sigh of relief at the prospect of being able to have a stiff drink.
Knowing someone had a long-standing grudge against him and was attempting to take his life gave one the need to swallow a few measures of Dutch courage to absorb the shock.
One would never imagine from observing Viscount Newbridge that his heart could harbor such hatred.
He was a quiet, unassuming man of average good looks.
The man had even danced with Charlotte at the ball, and she found him quite friendly.
It seemed preposterous to even consider it.
The more he thought about it, the more it seemed unlikely.
Once Perry married, he hadn’t paid any attention to gossips or attending all the social events, so his knowledge of the Newbridge family was limited.
The sound of his boots on the wet cobblestones was reassuring after a long rain.
The streets appeared cleaner after the brief shower, and water dripped from the awnings as he strode into the club.
The doorman recognized Perry immediately and sent him to follow a footman, who brought him to where his brother was sitting with Viscount Witney.
Casting his gaze upward, Beau’s eyes flared momentarily as he spotted him. Perry sat in a black leather club chair next to him and Michael.
“Welcome,” his brother said. “What are you drinking? Do you have any news for us?”
Releasing a breath, Perry let the silence stretch between them. Did he even believe what he was about to say? Could Newbridge truly be such a vile criminal? “I have come into some new information. I believe I have…a new suspect.” He winced at the use of the word.
Beau and Michael leaned in closer.
“Well, do not keep us waiting,” Michael affirmed with a stern look. “Who is the blackguard?”
Huffing, Perry glanced at both men, who were waiting with bated breath. “Viscount Thomas Newbridge.”
Both men burst into laughter at the mention of Perry’s suspect.
Perry scowled, his brows contracting on his forehead. “I fail to see the humor.”
“That poor honey is hardly a threat. He’s as good-natured as he is harmless,” Beau said, trying to catch his breath between chuckles.
Scowling at the two other men, Perry absently pointed to the waiter to request a drink, indicating whatever ruby liquid his brother had been drinking.
“He’s hardly a poor honey if he’s been plotting against me all this time. Apparently, he had designs on Eliza and the earldom before I came into the picture and stole them from him.”
“I suppose that could make sense. The Newbridges would have been well known to your late wife’s family, the Hoods.
Their lands bordered each other. Eliza’s father always prattled on about making the best marriage possible for his daughter.
Newbridge would not have made the cut. They had the land, but from what I hear, they didn’t have the blunt.
Lady Winchester was eager to elevate Eliza’s status in society by aligning their family with yours,” Michael conceded.
“My first wife was very close with her parents,” Perry agreed. “While we were married, Eliza often escaped to visit them at their estate.”
“Perhaps it would be worth a visit to Eliza’s mother, the dowager countess,” Beau suggested.
A heaviness gathered in his stomach. Perry hadn’t kept in touch with his wife’s family.
The years of his unhappy marriage had created a gulf of bitterness between them.
The Hoods believed him partially responsible for their daughter’s death, as though he could have prevented it somehow, or cared for her better.
Eliza’s father passed away soon after his daughter from a fever.
Perry had allowed Eliza’s mother to reside in the home of her choosing to live out her life, having no desire to cast out the woman on the streets.
Lady Hood resided on the country estate where her daughter had been buried, allowing them to remain close.
Having no emotional connection to the property, Perry was glad to give the dowager countess something to comfort her in her mourning.
“Right then, what do we do next? Shall we approach the viscount?” Beau asked, swirling his crystal glass of port.
A waiter arrived, his white-gloved hand placing a similar glass before Perry. With a nod of gratitude, Perry took a long drink.
“I may have some contacts who could provide information. Some people I work with closely. Allow me to question them whether any such information has circulated. It has been many years since you married now, so it is unlikely,” Michael asked, his mouth tight and his expression serious.
“There is also the matter of the missing steward; he could be behind all this as well. My man has not reported back on that yet. We must leave no stone unturned.”
His brows raised, Perry wondered who exactly Michael was involved with, besides being a viscount himself. “Then I shall confront Newbridge?” The idea of waiting to stop the man who was hunting him like an animal goaded him. It was an impossible challenge.
It could also be deadly.
Beauregard brought his closed fist to his mouth as he considered.
“I’m convinced there is more to this. Newbridge is hardly a worthy opponent.
What motive could he possibly have to want you dead?
The man is an innocuous enough fellow. I will search in my records for any debts or unsettled accounts that Father may have left behind.
Perhaps there is someone who would have a grudge against the family in there. ”
Inhaling the warm, rich scent of his liquor, Perry closed his eyes and leaned back into the leather chair.
A weight was lifted from his shoulders as his brother broke through his fog of rage.
The idea was truly preposterous. He would investigate every possible avenue that was presented to him, but the idea that Viscount Newbridge would have a score to settle with him after this long was truly ridiculous.
Especially now that Eliza had been dead for a little over a year.
Doubt eroded his confidence and presented Perry with a new challenge.
If not Thomas, then who?