Page 26 of Nature of the Crime
Cassie had also disappeared from the sitting room. Hugh had heard all about her awkward and unexpected show of gratitudelast August, embracing Thornton out of the blue, and in front of several sets of eyes. Perhaps she had not yet given up tormenting herself over it.
“A letter for you, Your Grace,” Mrs. Plimpton said, extending the letter in question toward the duke. He eagerly opened it as he stalked out of the room to read in private. A reply from his wife, no doubt.
Hugh broke the wax seal on his letter from the magistrate. “A fast courier would have delivered this sooner.”
“Iwasthe fast courier. I came on horseback, which is why my knees and thighs are currently slabs of ice, and I also cannot feel my fingers.”
“You’re gripping that whisky well enough,” Hugh said.
Thornton toasted him before sipping.
“What does the letter say?” Audrey asked. He read it quickly, and with disappointment.
“Sir Gabriel found Vaillancourt’s wife. She claims her husband was hired in early September for an inquiry that took him to the Continent. He was to be away for several months. She doesn’t know who hired him, or the nature of his inquiry, but during those months, his letters to her grew more agitated. The client was stretching out the agreed upon payments, changing the terms.” As Hugh passed the letter to Audrey, he suspected why Vaillancourt might have been killed. “He was going to withold his inquiry’s results until the client made good on his promised wages.”
Audrey read in silence, gripping the paper as she turned toward the hearth.
“Sir Gabriel is also looking into the Baron Burton,” Thornton said as the chambermaid returned with tea service. Unlike Cassie had earlier, this young lady simpered at the physician.
Audrey glanced up from the letter. “That might be helpful, but you should know that Lord Burton has just been killed.”
Thornton lowered his whisky, and the tea service rattled as the chambermaid squeaked and pulled back.
“Forgive me, Becky,” Audrey said quickly as she must have realized her blunder. “I shouldn’t have said it so thoughtlessly.”
“He’s been killed?” Becky’s chin quivered with shock.
“It isn’t officially murder yet,” Hugh said. “But it is a suspicious death. There will be an inquest.” From her reaction, he wondered at her connection to the baron. “Did you know him well?”
She shook her head, the lace trimming on her white cap fluttering. “No. He…He was just well known here. In the port, I mean.”
That the baron would have anything to do with a young chambermaid was unlikely. Unless it was for unsavory reasons.
Audrey lowered the letter and took Becky gently by the arm. “Go. I’ll see to the tea. I didn’t intend to give you such a shock.”
The girl set the service down, bobbed a curtsey, and left. Thornton then cleared his throat. “I’ll send an express to Bow Street,” he said, and then, even though he was still likely frozen to the quick, went to fetch his coat and hat.
Alone in the sitting room, Hugh removed his great coat and joined Audrey at the fire. She folded the magistrate’s letter and returned it to him. Deftly, she removed two small items from her dress’s pocket and handed them over as well: a pocket watch and penknife.
“I saw a man,” she whispered.
He slipped the items into his pocket as Audrey explained she’d only seen the back of this man’s head. Hugh raked a hand through his hair, frustrated. “There was nothing familiar about him?”
“Whoever it is, knows me. But no, without seeing his face, I’m afraid not.” She cast a look toward the door before coming closer. She pressed her hands to Hugh’s chest and fiddled withthe buttons on his waistcoat. “The second item, a penknife, showed me Mr. Vaillancourt. He was the one who wrote the note and left it on my hotel pillow.”
Damn. It was what Hugh had presumed. “Vaillancourt was the one who intercepted our letters.”
She closed her eyes and nodded. “I thought he might have done so.” When she opened her eyes again, a question brightened them. Hugh read it clearly.
“They were all among his possessions, and yes—Lord Burton read them.” Her affronted expression mirrored his own outrage. Then again, had he been in the baron’s position, he would have read them as well.
“I must ask…” He lowered his voice. “Did you write anything regarding the truth about the duke? Anything at all?” When she shook her head decisively, he exhaled. “Good. Neither did I. But Burton was convinced that Vaillancourt’s taking our letters incriminates you even further.”
She gave a shrewd frown. “I don’t think it took very much for him to believe me guilty.”
If the private inquiry agent knew about Philip, it stood to reason whoever poisoned him did as well. After all, it was what Vaillancourt’s note had insinuated—that soon, others would learn of the duke’s deception. And yet, it was impossible for Hugh or Audrey to be forthcoming with anyone about this new information. To reveal the truth about Philip would not only destroy Audrey, but it would also impugn the reputation of the duke and his whole family. It would bar Audrey from ever being able to marry again. Already, a cramp of worry formed in his gut whenever that word entered his mind. Not because he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life with Audrey. But because Philip would always be there, right on the other side of their marriage. Abigamousmarriage if Hugh was being painfully honest. And yet, what other choice did they have?
“What does this man want?” Audrey mused aloud.
