Page 54 of Her Lion of a Duke
“I can imagine. I do not know what happened, unfortunately. Nothing like that had happened either here or in London. What did the man want to know?”
“He asked if anyone had ever told me of an intention to harm you or Henry. I, of course, could not name anyone, for I never had any quarrels with the pair of you. I believe someone is trying to find the man who killed Henry.”
Leonard barely stopped himself from sighing in relief. Of course, that was what his cousin would assume.
Once again, Henry overshadowed him, but this time, he was grateful for it.
“That is fine by me. I assume that someone will come to speak with me, eventually, given that I have always been a suspect.”
Renshaw fell quiet. He sat across from him and leaned forward.
“I have never said this to you before,” he said quietly, “and I do not want to argue with you about it, but you should know that if you have done anything to him, I will understand.”
“Of course I did not! I would never have hurt Henry, and though many people are eager to assume the title of Duke, I neverexpected it. I certainly would never have taken it through such dastardly means.”
“No, I know. But if anything did happen, all I am saying is that I understand. It is not as though he was always kind to you. The ton remembers him as a pious gentleman, but you and I knew him better than that. He knew how to anger people when he wanted to.”
Despite everything, Leonard had to admit that his cousin was right. Henry argued with him the night he died, after all, and it was very likely that he did not save his nastier side for him.
“We had an argument,” Leonard confessed, “but I had nothing to do with his death.”
“I do not even think he died. I have always thought that he decided to engage in a duel and won, so he had to flee the country.”
“I like to imagine that, too. I picture him in France, spending his time in the sun with a string of ladies at his feet.”
“It is what any man would want, is it not?”
Leonard nodded in agreement.
He heard a shuffle and turned to find Cecilia standing in the doorway. He expected her to be upset with what he had said—he had not meant it at all—but she was smiling.
“When I find a string of ladies who will take a liking to either of you,” she teased, “I will tell you.”
She joined them, sitting beside him. Time away from Renshaw seemed to have been exactly what she needed, for she looked relaxed and happy in a way that she had not been earlier.
“Your room is ready, Lord Renshaw,” she announced.
“If it is not too much trouble, I would like to be shown there now. I will need to dress for dinner soon.”
Cecilia nodded, and a footman was summoned to take him away. When he was out of earshot, she sighed, tilting her head back and looking up at the ceiling.
“You have done very well thus far,” Leonard praised, in an attempt to soothe her.
“He is not so bad,” she mumbled, closing her eyes. “I have dealt with meaner, drunker, and certainly bigger men.”
Leonard chuckled.
It was true that Renshaw had always looked different from the rest of them, and it had doubtlessly been difficult for him. He was surrounded by large men who were naturally intimidating, and he could never quite seem to catch up to them.
“Let him have a drink, and we will see what you think then,” Leonard joked.
“I shall replace his brandy with colored lemonade. We could also tell him that we have none left, if that could help?”
“Sadly, he knows the manor. He knows how much brandy is kept in the cellar.”
Cecilia groaned softly, but she was still smiling.“I know that I have always told you that I like a challenge, but is all of this necessary? We could have invited your friends, or even your lovely aunt, whom I have heard so much about.”
“Aunt Caroline is a lovely lady, but she has always thought too highly of my cousin. She thinks he is worthy of Royalty, even though he is not the most intelligent, wealthy, or attractive man.”
