Page 30 of Marigold and the Marquess
“Cool that hot head of yours, Leo. And rest assured, we are going to stop you if you attempt to hunt for him on your own. This is for your own good. Your anger is out of control. Will you kill us too?” She recognized the voice of Daisy’s husband, Gabriel. He had been awarded the earldom of Blackthorne for his wartime valor.
She knew Leo had tremendous respect for him.
Still, the tension was so thick, one could cut it with a knife.
Ian spoke up next. “We are on the task, Leo. Now that you have given us your report and told us what you believe happened, we have opened a covert investigation. But you have to give us time to–”
“Time?” Leo said, his anger barely leashed. “I spent four years in a dark pit because of that traitorous bastard. Starved, beaten, left to freeze in the winter. Not a glimpse of sunshine. Put through hell. Four years of my life destroyed. Gone. I gave you three names. The traitor has to be one of them.”
“And we are retracing each of their steps,” said Graelem Dayne, her cousin Laurel’s husband, who held the title of Baron Moray. She easily recognized him by his Scottish brogue. “We are working as fast as we can. Ye canno’ expect results in a month when the traitor has had four years to cover his tracks.”
John and Sophie Farthingale had five daughters, Rose, Laurel, Daisy, and the twins, Lily and Daffodil who everyone called Dillie. Had they all married agents of the Crown? Or was ferreting out traitors something all peers took on as their duty?
What she had overheard now explained Leo’s reaction in the Hall of Dragons.Dear heaven.He had spent four years in a dungeon.
Starved, beaten, and left to die.
No wonder he needed windows and light.
“Include me in the investigation,” Leo said. “It will move along faster. I led that royal delegation. I ought to be the one to question the men who were with me when we were ambushed in the Carpathian mountains. I’ll know immediately if any of them are lying.”
Ian crossed to a cabinet, which must be where he stocked his port and brandy, for she heard the clink of glasses as he asked, “Anyone care for a drink?”
No. No. No.
Marigold knew she would never get out of here if they settled in for a round of drinks. How was she to escape? They would notice immediately if she opened a window and attempted to climb out of it.
“We’ve given you their original reports, Leo,” Ian said. “Read through those again. Read them as many times as necessary. That will be immensely helpful.”
“Don’t patronize me, Ian.”
“I am not at all. Only you would know if anything in their statements did not ring true. But as for dealing with these men face to face? You are a lit fuse heading toward a powder keg. Any of us would feel the same had we gone through what you endured. I understand what you are feeling. But it changes nothing. We cannot let you near any of these men yet. You are too angry, and I will not have you beating the truth out of them. First of all, the real villain is not likely to give over the information you seek.”
“And,” Graelem added, “it is more likely one of the innocent men will confess just to make ye stop beating him.”
“Not that I blame you for wanting to go at the traitor,” Ian continued. “As I said, I would feel the same were I in your situation. But we must play this with finesse. No one can know we are investigating anything. We cannot risk tipping off the guilty party when we have no idea which one of the three he is.”
“Assuming he is any of those three,” Graelem added. “None of these men strike me as masterminds. Someone else could be pulling the strings. Perhaps there is something larger going on that we are not aware. Who knows what else this traitor has managed to sabotage? Or what government secrets he has revealed to his foreign contacts.”
Gabriel sank into one of the leather chairs and took the drink offered by Ian. “Right now, we are contacting all of those who rode with you on the pretext of gathering commemorative stories on behalf of His Majesty for the ceremony investing you as a Knight of the Order of the Thistle.”
Leo snorted. “Do you really believe any of them will fall for that ruse?”
“Yes,” Ian said, handing Leo his glass. “First of all, it is no ruse that you are being given the knighthood. The king has announced it himself. It is the highest honor a man can receive and you have earned it. Putting together a commemorative tribute is routine and should not raise any eyebrows. So leave Beldon, Cummings, and Denby to us.”
Beldon?
Marigold’s heart leaped into her throat.
As in the Lord Beldon who was presently wooing her? No wonder his professions of admiration had felt fake. He wasn’t really interested in her. But could he possibly be pretending because Leo was her neighbor? Courting her would provide the perfect cover for his spending time on Chipping Way.
She would mention it to Ian.
He would probably be furious with her for listening in on their conversation, but how was she to blame? If the conversation was so sensitive, should they not have given the library a cursory search before blabbing about this traitor?
She debated whether to pop her head out right now, but decided against it because Leo was there and already agitated. He would be furious and perhaps never forgive her if she showed herself.
It was best to simply wait it out.
