He could not have been more wrong.
Having been led through a quiet corridor, banked on either side by clerks busily working at their desks, he was introduced to a wiry man in his sixties. By all accounts, his father’s business partner was most desirous to answer Colin’s questions on all topics. It was clear, right from the start, that Bevins, for that was his name, had been exceedingly fond of the late duke.
Once they were settled in a small but well-kept study, Bevins explained that he was approaching his sixtieth birthday and had slowed his investment portfolio ahead of retiring with his wife. He insisted, however, that he was at Colin’s disposal, reaching into a large set of shelves at the back of the room and presenting him with several files pertaining to Colin’s father.
The man had records of everything, and Colin was more than eager to examine them.
“And this notation here,” Colin asked some time later, turning the ledger so that Bevins could peer at it over his spectacles. “What might this have meant?”
The man squinted at the words that had been scrawled at the edge of a document that seemed at odds with the others.
“Ah, well, that was the duke’s third-party broker,” Bevins said confidently. “I was not involved with that side of things. Your father was adamant that I should concentrate on our moresettled investments as he brought in and speculated on newer, more modern equivalents. I confess I was grateful not to be involved; it all seemed rather speculative.”
Colin allowed his mask to lower before the older man became suspicious. That was not good news. If Bevins had been separate from this‘third party broker,’then his father would have had no guidance or second opinion to consider.
As they ran through some more of the paperwork from recent years, this erroneous broker began to be mentioned more and more. Bevins had not seen anything odd about the late duke taking matters into his own hands, and knowing how insistent his father could be, Colin could well imagine how he had slowly shut Bevins out of things if they had started to go badly.
Increasingly, Colin was beginning to suspect that this broker was the reason his father’s behaviour had begun to change.
“You have been most kind, Bevins,” he said at last, after almost two hours in the man’s company. “You have my sincere thanks.”
The old man stood up. “But… did you discover what you were looking for, your Grace? I fear we have not come to the main reason for your visit.”
“Not at all,” Colin said with a weak smile, “I merely felt it would be useful to understand the extent of the work you had done together.”
“Quite right. Although I must say most of this is well in hand and has been ticking along quite nicely for many years. Nothing has changed since your father’s death, I assure you.”
Colin recognized the implication in that statement and placed a reassuring hand on Bevin’s shoulder. “My Lord, you are not to think I do not trust you implicitly. This is quite another matter, I assure you.”
The wrinkles that were ever present in the man’s face smoothed out a little at that, and he nodded with a broad smile as Colin took his leave.
Returning to his carriage, he felt none the wiser about the state of things, only that every new stone he overturned seemed to suggest an entirely new sort of problem.
“Blast it,” he muttered angrily into the confines of the carriage and instructed his coachman to take him to his club.
As he entered one of the rear salons, he noticed Edward seated before a window and made for him through the other chairs and tables. Edward looked up as he arrived and grinned cheerfully as he always did. He summoned a waiter, asking for more tea, and Colin settled opposite his old friend. Usually, Edward’s presence was a calming one, but Colin was too agitated by this point to be able to focus on anything but his father’s reputation.
“Are you alright, old chap?” Edward asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Colin thanked the waiter as a hot cup of tea was placed in front of him and he watched the steam rise into the air before he began to speak.
“I am concerned. Deeply concerned about my father’s practices before his death.” He kept his voice just above a whisper, and Edward leaned in close in order to hear him.
“What practices?” he asked.
“Strange investments. Things out of character. Can I take you up on your offer? I can have the papers brought to your house tomorrow. We could discuss it next week once you’ve had a chance to review them.”
Edward’s frown deepened. It was rare that his old friend looked grave, but now he seemed just as concerned as Colin felt.
“Of course. Whatever you need. Have you eaten?”
Colin considered that and realized he had not eaten anything since he had broken his fast with his mother.
“No. Nothing since this morning.”
Edward tutted under his breath. “Right, we are going to dinner this evening, here at the club. You look terrible. You must look after yourself, my friend, or I shall do it for you.”
Colin gave him a rueful smile, but it quickly faded as he recalled his conversation with Bevins.
