Page 32 of Dead Beside the Thames
Charlie thought to clarify, “And he took his whip with him?”
“Always did,” Duggan said. “Even when he went to parties and dinners and such.”
Charlie glanced at Claudia. “I’m not sure whether it was at White’s that Sedbury dined, but we can check.” He returned his gaze to Duggan. “After he left to go to dinner, did Sedbury return here at any time on Saturday night?”
“Or in the early hours of Sunday morning,” Claudia put in. “And would you have known if he had?”
“I sleep in the nook off the kitchen,” Duggan said, “and with him as a master, it paid to sleep light, so yes, I’d’ve heard him even if he didn’t call me.” He looked at Charlie. “But after he left just before eight o’clock on Saturday evening, he didn’t come home again.” He paused, then added, “I’d take my oath on that.”
Charlie nodded in acceptance.
Claudia stated, “You didn’t worry when he didn’t show up the following day. When I called on Monday afternoon, you didn’t seem bothered that he hadn’t returned.”
“Sometimes, he stayed out all night and late into the next day.” Duggan grimaced. “When Monday dawned and he was still not back, I did start to wonder, but, well, he was the sort of master that raising any dust only to have him turn up wasn’t worth my hide.” He met Claudia’s gaze levelly. “I was just his servant. He didn’t tell me much about his life, just what he wanted me to know.”
Charlie reflected that most gentlemen treated their gentleman’s gentleman with a higher degree of trust, hisrelationship with Garvey being a case in point. Garvey knew a great deal more about Charlie, his hopes, fears, and dreams, than possibly anyone else alive, and that wasn’t in any way unusual. However, accepting that Sedbury hadn’t been the trusting sort, Charlie said, “Going back to the last time you saw him, when he left to dine at some club and then go on to some meeting, did he make any comment at all about when he expected to be back?”
“No. Not a word,” Duggan replied. “But that wasn’t unusual. He came and went as he pleased, of course, and just expected me to be here, to do whatever he needed at the time.”
Claudia stirred. “This meeting he mentioned—did he give you any indication about where it was to be?”
“Or,” Charlie put in, “when or with whom he was meeting?”
Duggan screwed up his features in thought. Plainly reliving the moment in his mind, he offered, “Not as such, but the way he said it—dinner, then a meeting—meant the meeting was after dinner, and he made it sound separate, a different event altogether. Other than that, he said nothing about where or who the meeting was with.” Duggan paused, still lost in memory, then added, “But he was looking forward to it, the meeting. You could tell by the expression on his face. He was in a good mood, expectant like. He looked just like he did whenever he was going to squash someone under his heel.”
Claudia winced.
Noticing it, Duggan said, “Beggin’ your pardon, my lady, but he was like that. He took real pleasure in slamming people down, then grinding them down even more.”
Charlie glanced at Claudia, at her pained expression, then looked at Duggan. “Thank you for speaking with us.”
Duggan shrugged. “He’s gone now, so there doesn’t seem any reason to keep his secrets. But”—he looked at Claudia—“I’m notsure what I should do. Should I go off and look for another place?”
When Claudia looked uncertain herself, Charlie said, “I’d advise you to remain here for the time being and speak with Lord Jonathon and Lord Bryan when they return.”
“Yes.” Claudia regarded Duggan. “Sedbury might be dead, but you were in his employ for quite some years, and it’s likely my brothers or the marquess will have some suggestion of further employment for you. At the very least, they can write you a reference.”
Duggan’s expression lightened, and he nodded. “I’ll wait here for the nonce, then, and see what their lordships say.”
Claudia rose, bringing Duggan and Charlie to their feet. “We’ll be off, then. Thank you for answering our questions, Duggan.”
Duggan bowed, and after bestowing a gracious nod, Claudia led the way to the door.
Charlie followed her down the stairs and out of the house.
On the pavement, he offered his arm, and she took it, then glanced at his face. “Do you think the family should let Duggan go?”
Charlie had been pondering that. “I think,” he replied, “that it would be wise of your father if not your brothers to keep the man on in some capacity, at least until this business is settled.” He met Claudia’s eyes. “And even after that. Who knows what secrets of Sedbury’s Duggan might have been privy to that he might remember later and think to put to good use?”
Her chin firming, Claudia nodded. “So it’s a case of keeping a potential enemy close.”
Charlie tipped his head. “For the moment, at least, but I have to say, he seemed a decent sort.”
Claudia murmured, “Which was arguably more than Sedbury deserved.”
They walked to where the hackney waited. Charlie opened the door, handed Claudia in, and followed.
Once they’d settled on the seat, Claudia directed the driver to take them to Bury Street, which wasn’t far. As the hackney drew away from the curb, Claudia asked, “How much weight do you think we can place on Duggan’s reading of Sedbury’s mood?”
