Page 48 of Fit for a Duke
‘He will have evidence to use against her if she tried to renege.’ Ezra shook his head. ‘But surely that would implicate him too. No,’ he added, not giving Godfrey a chance to respond. ‘As you just pointed out, Brennan is too damned cunning to implicate himself.’
‘Precisely.’
Ezra tugged at Merlin’s ear when the dog got up and shook himself. ‘Let’s see if we can make any sense out of this farrago.’ He tapped his forefinger against his lips, attempting to arrange his thoughts into methodical order. ‘Salford wants Miss Benton for her fortune and assumed he wouldn’t meet with any opposition.’
‘How hard can it be for a man of his experience and popularity to win the heart of a foolish seventeen-year-old?’
Ezra chuckled. ‘That was his first mistake. He underestimated Miss Benton’s intelligence and overestimated his own charms. Anyway, he would have been confident of success, and once he’d got his hands on her inheritance, she would have served her purpose and be surplus to requirements. I saw him with Lady Walder and he’s completely smitten.’
‘He needs the funds to keep the lady in style.’
Ezra gave a grim nod. ‘That is my assumption.’
‘But now we think that she is in cahoots with Brennan.’ Godfrey fell onto the nearest chair and scratched his head. ‘You’re right, guv’nor, it is complex. You think Brennan is cold enough to marry your mother before you’re…well, cold in your grave and then carry on with Lady Walder?’
‘Nothing that scoundrel does would surprise me,’ Ezra replied scowling. ‘My mother took herself off in her curricle this evening after dinner with just her coachman driving her, as a matter of fact. She could only have gone to keep an assignation with Brennan. As far as I am aware, she only has one lover, and she could meet any other acquaintances in this district during daylight hours in the prescribed fashion. There would be no need for clandestine outings.’
‘Which means Brennan must be in the district somewhere. He probably came down to take temporary lodgings, which is why Lady Walder met him at the Oak.’
‘Possibly.’
‘Barnes is loyal to a fault. It’s no good quizzing him on her grace’s movements and demanding to know where he drove her. He’ll take her secrets to the grave.’
‘There’s more than one way to curtail an ambitious cur. Brennan lives permanently in Surrey but we now assume that he has taken lodgings close by, ready to console my mother when I meet my maker.’
‘I can make enquiries. Find out if any houses in the locality have recently been let.’
‘Do that, and see if Gibson is back. He followed the duchess’s carriage on horseback. He will know where she went.’
‘I’ll do that now and bring some hot water up when I return.’
In shirtsleeves, Ezra sat in his window embrasure, looking out at gardens cast into flickering pools of light by the flambeaux illuminating the terrace beneath him. His mind was occupied with thoughts of Clio. Salford had said something to distress her, he could tell that much simply by the stony set to her features and the obvious effort she was making to control her emotions as she swept past him, barely sparing him a glance as she headed for the stairs.
‘What did he do that frightened you, my love?’ he asked aloud.
And Silas. What game was he playing? It would be unwise, he knew, to underestimate a cousin who disguised a devious character and quick brain behind an obsequious demeanour. A man who would have a great deal to lose if Ezra took a wife and decided to dispense with his services. A man who would most definitely have to give up his comfortable lifestyle if Ezra’s mother chose to marry Brennan. He was bound to be aware of the affair, and by putting his own interests first he might well have seen the value in making himself as indispensable to Brennan as he had to Ezra’s mother.
Ezra felt moody and disgruntled as he awaited Godfrey’s return. His man was gone for a long time but when he finally came back it was with the news that his lady mother had also just returned to the estate.
‘She went to a small manor house about five miles away and stayed for an hour, your grace,’ Godfrey told him. ‘Gibson saw Lord Brennan as plain as day when he came out of the house and helped the duchess into her carriage.’
‘Well then, our next most obvious step is to see whether Lady Walder visits him there. Have Gibson watch her like a hawk, Godfrey. If she leaves the estate for any reason, even in the company of the other ladies when they go on excursions, I want her followed. It would be easy enough for her to slip away on some pretext or other to meet Brennan. I need absolute proof that they are in cahoots.’
‘We’re pretty sure that they must be, given that she stayed at the Oak and entertained him there.’
‘Speaking of the local tavern, take yourself down there in the morning and see if you can find out who owns the property that Brennan has presumably leased.’
‘How will that help us?’
‘Absolutely no idea, but knowledge is power.’
‘Right you are.’ Godfrey poured the water he had brought up with him into the ewer, and Ezra splashed his hands and face with it.
‘I won’t need you anymore tonight,’ he said, once he had dried himself off.
‘It’s still early.’
‘One can have too much of a good thing.’
