Page 111 of The Meaning of Love
On foot, Derby was a good thirty-five or more miles from the castle, and the way wasn’t at all direct. Even if Richards had already plotted his course and wasn’t having to check his direction, even if he’d left the castle soon after midnight, he couldn’t have reached Derby yet.
In contrast, Julian and his brothers had ridden across country, a very much shorter journey.
They passed the village of Kedleston and continued on. The lane swung almost northeast as it followed the border of the park of Kedleston Hall, the seat of the recently created Earl Howe, one of the Delameres’ aristocratic neighbors. Finally, they reached the bend where the lane swung southeast again, onto a more direct line for Derby, still some miles away.
Ahead, they spied a lonely figure, shoulders drooping as he trudged along. He was carrying a worn traveling bag, which hung from one hand.
Damian drew in a breath as if to call out.
“Quiet,” Julian warned. “No need to be melodramatic.”
Damian huffed, but otherwise kept silent, and Julian urged Argus on, leaving his brothers a few yards behind.
Richards had to have heard the hoofbeats approaching, but he gave no sign; head down, he continued to slog along.
Julian drew level with the weary figure and reined Argus to a walk.
When Richards finally looked up and startled, Julian smiled. “Good morning, Richards.” He glanced pointedly at the stone wall bordering the park on Richards’s other side. “A fine morning, but I’m sure you’re tired after walking all this way. A pity you didn’t remain for breakfast—we could have saved you the journey.”
Still staring, Richards slowed, then his surprise was overtaken by resignation, and he heaved a massive sigh and halted. He looked around as Felix rode up, followed by Damian with the horse they’d brought for Richards on a leading rein.
Dejectedly, Richards sighed again. His shoulders slumped, and he hung his head.
With Felix and Damian, who had Richards in tow, Julian returned to the castle just before noon.
As per the plan he, Felix, and Damian had discussed on their ride down, they’d said very little to Richards. At Julian’s direction, he’d mounted the horse and, not being any sort of horseman, had grimly hung on to the saddle throughout the return journey.
They’d debated the point, but had decided to place Richards in the same cell as the other two men. The cell could hold four at a pinch, and Julian had reasoned that Richards learning how the other two had been treated—meaning well enough—might make him more amenable to what Julian later intended to suggest.
They locked Richards in, then climbed the stairs.
Once they’d stepped into the kitchen corridor and Damian had shut the cellar door, Julian said, “I’m going to have to decide what to do with them soon.”
“Not until we have X by the heels,” Felix said. “They’re our only link to him, and we can’t go on not knowing who he is and not putting a stop to his game.”
Damian agreed, and Julian didn’t argue. He couldn’t. They needed to unearth some clue to X’s identity, which was why he planned to treat Richards rather differently to those they’d previously caught.
When Julian was faced with an impasse, his instinct was to find a way around it.
They came upon Phelps in the front hall.
Before Julian could ask, Phelps informed him, “The countess, the dowager, and Mr. Frederick are in the family parlor, my lord.”
“Thank you, Phelps.” Julian redirected his footsteps in that direction, and Felix and Damian followed. They were all keen to learn what Melissa, aided by their mother and uncle, had uncovered.
Melissa saw them first. “Did you catch him?” She rose and held out her hands in welcome.
Feeling something in his chest loosen, Julian walked forward, took her hands in his, and raised one to his lips and kissed her fingers. “We did.” He released one hand, but settled the other in his grasp as he turned to his mother and uncle. “We came up with him beside Kedleston Hall park.”
His mother and his uncle looked relieved.
“So what has he to say for himself?” Frederick asked as Damian and Felix drew up a pair of chairs.
Urging Melissa to sit again, Julian claimed the spot on the love seat beside her. “I decided not to question him yet. Not only were we on horseback, but having a little time to dwell on his position might help loosen his tongue.” He glanced at Melissa and met her gaze. “Not that I’m expecting to get any more information than what little we’ve already got from Benton.” Unwilling to dwell on that, he asked, “How did your interviews go? What’s your verdict?” He included his mother and uncle with his gaze.
Veronica and Melissa proceeded to describe their encounters with the other recently hired staff. Frederick sat back and left it to the ladies, although Julian noted his uncle agreed with their ultimate declaration.
“So,” Veronica stated, “we’re very confident that none of the other recently employed staff are under the sway of anyone.”
