Page 20 of Fit for a Duke
‘The same thought had occurred to me.’ Or would have, Ezra supposed, had a certain siren not done her level best to muddle his thinking. Not that she had to do a great deal to achieve that ambition, other than to be anywhere near him. Dear God, he needed to have a care! He had not forgotten his reason for being here, and couldn’t allow himself that kind of distraction. But then again he had vowed to keep her safe, and a promise was a promise.
‘I suspect Miss Benton’s fortune might be his real objective. He’s probably in financial straits, andtook it as read that she would accept him, based on nothing more than his close relationship with her father and the power of his toxic charm. Those considerations would make crossing my path a risk worth taking. Besides, he would be aware this was her first party and that she is due to come out next season. She’s attractive and wealthy and so he couldn’t risk someone else beating him to the prize, damn his eyes!’
‘And you can’t tell the world what you know about Salford’s conduct without proof, I suppose,’ Godfrey reasoned. ‘He would be within his rights to call you out if you did such a thing.’
Ezra chuckled. ‘He might be dissolute but he’s no fool.’
‘You could start a whispering campaign to discredit him.’
‘I could if I was that underhanded.’ Ezra scowled at his man. ‘You appear to be mistaking Salford’s character for my own.’
‘Just playing devil’s advocate,’ Godfrey replied, unmoved by Ezra’s asperity. ‘All I’m saying is he could just be here for reasons that have nothing to do with his amatory ambitions.’
‘You think he might be responsible for killing off my family members, and has me in his sights now?’ Ezra nodded in response to his own question. ‘The same possibility had occurred to me. It’s just the sort of cowardly behaviour he would engage in, but I cannot think of any reason why he would take such a chance. Killing off dukes tends to be frowned upon, and is likely to draw attention to said duke’s enemies.’
Godfrey rubbed his thumb and forefinger together. ‘Everyone has their price. Salford came without a servant, which implies that he does indeed have pockets to let, so you could well be right about the reasons for his interest in your Miss Benton. Besides, you are his sworn enemy, given that you spoke out against his behaviour on the peninsular, damaging his reputation and his standing in the major general’s eyes.’
‘Even so, killing Richard, who was the duke at the time, and then targeting me,’ Ezra shook his head. ‘That takes courage that no amount of blunt can manufacture, and you and I both know that Salford is basically a coward.’
‘Personally, I still think that snake Silas is responsible for the deaths in your family,’ Godfrey remarked. ‘He comes across as weak and feeble because he is, at least physically. But he has more motivation than anyone to see the male line of the family die out.’
‘Because my dear mother depends upon him? He has made himself indispensable to her. He flatters and clucks around her like a mother hen and she laps it up.’
‘My point precisely.’
‘True, but don’t forget her lover, Brennan. Mother would have no need to hide their relationship if I ceased breathing. Not that she hides it especially well now, but with me out of the way I could see him moving into Wickham Hall before I’m cold in my grave.’
‘Blimey!’ Godfrey blinked. ‘You think Brennan might be wiping you out one by one to get control of the Wickham fortune.’
‘Men have killed for considerably less,’ Ezra replied, pulling his shirt over his head and shrugging out of it. ‘The title would die out, and I assume the crown would reclaim all lands attaching to it, but there would still be a lot left for a profligate like Brennan to squander.’
‘You don’t like him?’
‘I don’t care about him one way or the other. I don’t have anything to do with him, but if he keeps the mater satisfied…’ Ezra sighed. ‘If however I discover that he is behind these unexplained deaths—’
‘Including your father’s? I know you were highly suspicious of his sudden illness.’
‘As were his doctors. He was as healthy as a horse before he got struck down by some mysterious ailment. Most likely poison, although I cannot get them to admit it.’
‘Poison is a woman’s preferred method.’
‘Well, I don’t think mother killed him, although God alone knows he gave her enough reason to. She never showed us boys much affection, nor did she take any interest in our achievements. She is, however, very conscious of her position, which she enjoys. She is cold but not heartless and wouldn’t kill off her sons, thereby bringing it all crashing down. My mother always puts her own comforts first, as well you know.’
‘You’re missing the point. Brennan might have made her promises about the glittering life they could lead together if she was free to take it up. Women can be impressionable, even those who are old enough to know better.’
Ezra shrugged. ‘I had Brennan and Silas in my sights. Now we must add Salford to the mix.’
Godfrey chuckled. ‘Which will give you an excuse to also keep Miss Benton in those sights.’
‘The chit has spirit and interests me for that reason. All the others are deadly dull and predictable, but she bucks the trend. For one so young, it’s refreshing. She knows how to conduct an intelligent conversation as well, which is considerably more than can be said for her admittedly pretty cousin. But she is also almost half my age. I mustn’t lose sight of that fact.’
‘Heaven forbid!’
Ezra sent his man a darkling glance.
‘I got the impression from a few snippets her maid let slip that she’s been left to her own devices with just a governess for company for more or less all of her life. Her father had little time for a daughter. When he wasn’t soldiering, he was busy managing his investments, but at least he left his child well provided for. Did more for her in death than he ever did in life, according to the obliging Daisy, whose lips were loosened after a few glasses of porter.’
‘As long as that’s all you loosened.’
