Page 31 of Masquerading with the Duke
Jared thought for a moment. He’d probably see neither his brother nor Equinox and the carriage again if he acquiesced. He gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Oh for God’s sake Arthur, stay here if you must, just don’t expect me to look after you. You must take this place as you find it. I can’t guarantee the state of the guest chambers. The house is still being brought up to scratch and the beds are likely not aired.’
‘I shall manage.’
‘And you will have to amuse yourself this evening. I have an engagement.’
‘Socialising already?’ There was a note of censure in Arthur’s voice.
‘I dine with the Duke of Winchester.’
‘Winchester?’ Arthur’s expression turned both wary and gratified. ‘You don’t waste any time. I hear the duke is selective in his invitations.’
‘Well then, my reputation that so concerns you clearly passes muster in the duke’s eyes.’
Jared rang the bell and when Gregson answered it, he gave instructions for a chamber to be prepared for his brother. He then took himself off to his library, leaving Arthur to the remainder of the wine and his own devices. Slumped in a chair behind his desk with Thor at his side, he endeavoured to rein in his anger and reason the matter through. Redrow and Arthur had joined forces in an effort to discredit him. But why? Well, Redrow’s reasons were obvious enough. The search for the mole had heated up and Redrow needed to divert attention away from himself. But what did Arthur hope to gain from it? He was right to suggest that the family’s reputation meant a great deal to him. Would he really risk what he had worked so hard to re-establish after their father’s fall from grace just for the sake of a modest handout from Redrow? Was he really that desperate or was be being blackmailed into doing Redrow’s dirty work?
Jared rang the bell twice, summoning Ramsay.
‘Your brother’s here,’ Ramsay said as he walked through the library door. ‘He didn’t waste much time.’
Jared indicated a chair, which Ramsay took. He listened, his scowl deepening as Jared outlined the particulars of Arthur’s inept attempt to extract money from him.
‘He knows you well enough to realise that you won’t cave in to blackmail,’ Ramsay said reflectively. ‘He also knows that there ain’t much love lost between the two of you, so it can’t be a sudden onset of brotherly affection that brought him scurrying down here.’ Jared blew air through his lips. ‘Nah, he’s up to something and he’s being a damn sight cleverer than you’re giving him credit for. Desperate people can be cunning and manipulative.’
‘I think he’s trying to scare me into turning tail and running,’ Jared said slowly. ‘And France is my second home. I feel comfortable amongst the French so it’s the obvious place for me to go.’
‘Leaving your assets in this country unattended?’ Jared nodded. ‘But that won’t serve, since you ain’t the traitor. Word of mouth wouldn’t be enough to drive you out. Your brother knows you better than that.’
‘It would be easy enough for someone with Redrow’s influence in governmental circles to leave oblique clues that lead indirectly to me.’ Jared restlessly tapped the fingers of one hand on the surface of his desk. ‘Once there’s a little fuel, speculation will fan the flames and Redrow can sit back and watch the inferno.’
Ramsay pursed his lips. ‘It’s a bit nebulous.’
‘Redrow and Arthur are both desperate men, albeit for different reasons.’
Jared went on to tell Ramsay about Martina’s problems with Redrow.
‘Blimey, what a scoundrel!’ Ramsay scratched his head. ‘Can’t you force Redrow to back off, just by threatening to reveal what you know about his disreputable behaviour.’
‘Not without revealing Martina’s secret. She hasn’t told anyone else.’
Ramsay’s face came alight with interest. ‘But she didn’t hesitate to confide in you, a relative stranger. Good looking, is she?’
‘Oh for God’s sake, Ramsay, grow up!’
‘Well, it ain’t like you to get all sentimental about a slip of a girl barely out the schoolroom.’ Ramsay grinned. ‘Martina, is it? Very informal.’
Jared allowed Ramsay to run on despite his rebuke; he would anyway, with no encouragement required. Jared dwelt upon Ramsay’s suggestion. It was impossible, of course, but he did raise a valid point in that both he and Martina now had justifiable reasons to want revenge upon Redrow. Jared failed to see why he should continue to be allowed to strut about the area, making it entirely possible for his path to cross with Martina’s when he was a pathetic excuse for a man who exploited vulnerable females—as well as being a potential enemy of the state. In his anger, Jared didn’t know which crime was worse.
There must be a way that Jared could expose his machinations, clear all suspicion clouding his own name and make it safe for Martina to venture out without fear of encountering the man. But how? He glanced at the clock. Time had got away from him. Speculation would have to wait. He needed to change before driving himself in his new curricle to Winchester Park.
Half an hour later he presented himself in his drawing room and found Arthur making inroads into a second bottle of his burgundy.
‘Very dashing,’ Arthur said, slurring his words as he glanced up at Jared.
‘I shall see you in the morning, before you leave,’ Jared replied pointedly.
‘Nothing like making a cove feel welcome.’
‘You are not welcome,’ Jared replied. ‘You are here under sufferance. My stable lad has checked your conveyance and can find little wrong with it apart from age and poor maintenance. But he agrees that you’ve driven your horses too hard. A night’s rest will help them recover, and you can be on your way before breakfast. I shan’t need a coat,’ he said in a normal voice to Ramsay, who awaited him in the hallway. ‘If Arthur goes out,’ he added, lowering his voice again, ‘follow him.’ Ramsay was very good at making himself invisible and although Arthur knew him by sight, Jared was confident that he wouldn’t allow himself to be seen. ‘I suspect he won’t go anywhere. He’s already half in his cups and it will be tomorrow when he meets Redrow in order to report back to him. I just need to know when and where, so that there can be no further doubt. If you overhear what they talk about, I should be abidingly grateful.’
