Page 95 of The Lady Glass
Rolland only tightened his grip around her. “I thought you ought to know that I am to marry Lord Caspar’s stepdaughter after all. Not Miss Shields but Miss Dvorak.”
“Another stepdaughter?” Lord Barrack’s head swiveled toward Lord Caspar. “What is this? Since when have you had two stepdaughters? This is the first I have heard this.”
Sighing, Lord Caspar nodded. “It appears so. I haven’t even had a proper introduction, but one seems unnecessary now.”
Rolland gave his father a quick explanation about the relations and how Theresia had been hidden away at a boarding school for years. “I received correspondence from Mrs. Stone confirming Theresia’s presence there.” Theresia raised her brows at that part but let him continue without interruption. “Miss Dvorak returned home of her own accord only to discover Lady Caspar had sold a rare crystal vase that was to be Miss Dvorak’s dowry. She chased the vase to this house party, where we discovered a unique link from the new vase’s owner to our suspectedmurderer.”
Rolland did not miss how Lord Caspar’s jaw tightened and his eye noticeably twitched.
“That’s absurd,” Lady Caspar argued. “I admit I sold her father’s vase. The girl had no potential suitors and no need of it. However, the vase and whatever threat is against Lord Barrack are unconnected.”
“I don’t like what you are insinuating, Captain.” Lord Caspar shifted, the contempt in his voice making it hard to discern whether he was angry or nervous. “Neither my wife nor that vase have any connection to any murder suspect.”
“Mr. Lewis told us everything tonight,” Rolland said, his tone raising in challenge. “Right before he died.”
Theresia stilled, as did everyone else in the room. Would they believe Rolland’s half-truth?
His deep voice layered on more tension. “The vase would bring in a great deal of money, especially if the owner tracked down the treasure related to it, but other investors were needed. And who would be more motivated to invest than a man with deep knowledge of foreign affairs and an agenda of his own?”
Lord Caspar’s hands tightened into fists at his side, and Lady Caspar’s eyes grew wide and round.
His Grace slipped into the room, followed by Lord Cadogen. Rolland turned to them. “Gentlemen, meet Mr. Lewis’s investor.” He pointed to Lord Caspar.
“Utter rubbish!” Lord Caspar’s voice wavered, and he mopped his head with his handkerchief.
“Caspar?” Lord Barrack eyed his friend. “Why on earth would you want to kill me?”
“For France, you idiot!” Lord Caspar fisted his hands again, and his face purpled. Beside him, Lady Caspar gasped.
“For France?” Lord Barrack shook his head.
Lord Caspar’s chest heaved. “Castlereagh saw the wisdom ofFrance joining the conference, but you talked him out of it. The greatest game of all time is underway, and you were too shortsighted to see that your greatest enemy is not just the one right in front of you.”
Lady Caspar took a large step away from her husband while Lord Barrack stepped toward him. “So you were going to kill me for it?”
Lord Caspar snarled. “Sometimes you have to sacrifice a few pawns to beat the enemy.”
Lady Caspar gasped again before the room fell deadly quiet. Theresia leaned closer to Rolland.
Lord Barrack’s voice broke through the silence. “People are not pawns, and they never will be. World peace cannot be bought with money, achieved through murder, or forced through coercion. For many months I have known the importance of our committee uniting, for if we could not make a concord of our opinions, how could we have hope negotiating in Vienna?” Disgust marred his features. “There are no shortcuts to change. It starts here”—he thudded a finger against his chest—“with us.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be personal, Barrack. At the end of the day, this is about who has the most power. It should be us!”
“Not personal?” Lord Barrack’s jaw tightened. His gaze swung to Theresia and Rolland. There was sorrow there. Regret, even. “I asked my son to give up a future of his choosing. I see now you were simply easing your conscience with the union. I cannot believe I did not see you for the man you are. A man without morals.”
At this Lord Caspar dropped his gaze to the floor. “I was assuring a well-connected marriage for your son that would benefit his career.” He met Lord Barrack’s gaze again. “I have England’s future as my priority. You still don’t see that.”
“There is no honor in murder,” Rolland interjected.
Theresia had to close her eyes as the fresh memory of Lewislying still on the floor flashed before her.
The duke stepped forward. “You will be tried in the House of Lords, and I will see you stripped of your title and lands. The profit will be sent to the families of those who were murdered, and the rest will be donated to the Crown.”
Lord Caspar paled when footmen came up on either side of him, taking him by the arms.
Lady Caspar put her fingers to her lips and shook her head.
It was done. Or so Theresia thought. Rolland stepped forward, pulling her with him. “Lady Caspar, your role in this will not be overlooked, starting with your making recompense to your stepdaughter for her lost dowry.”
