“Neither Mrs. Dove-Lyon nor Titan, but we do not know how long the coat has been hidden away,” Richard cautioned.
“Why did the others not find it previously?” Duncan asked.
“All excellent questions,” Richard assured. “Perhaps Dora or Lady Emma could create a list of what else we must learn.” When Dora did not move, Lady Emma claimed the paper pad and pencil they had used to keep score for the card game. “Let us have a look and then we can determine what else must be revealed.” He unrolled the sheet and removed the silver paper. The coat had been folded neatly, first in half, then quarters, and finally in eights. Richard stepped to the side to permit Duncan a closer look. “Should we send around messages to the others?”
“In a moment,” Duncan said as he reverently touched the light wool coat. “Whoever wore this nearly snuffed out my life,” he said solemnly.
Theodora whimpered, and Lady Emma slid an arm of comfort around her new friend’s waist.
Before more could be said, Mrs. Braylon entered the room unannounced and with some urgency. “There you are, my lord. It is time for your medication,” she ordered, but she stumbled to a halt and caught at her chest when she saw what the package held. Richard knew the woman was among those in the kitchen when he came in from speaking to Titan. “What dreadful piece of trash did that awful man drag into this house? Some people do not know their places. I shall remove it immediately and have it burned. God only knows what diseases could be upon its sleeves.”
Duncan stepped before her. “If you touch that coat, you will know my wrath!”
“My lord, you are overwrought! This evening has gone on long enough for your first journey downstairs!”
“You are my temporary nurse. Not my mother or my wife!” Richard noted how Mrs. Braylon flinched. “Leave my medication on the table,” Duncan growled. “I am an adult and am capable of taking it when I am finished here. You may be excused for the evening, Mrs. Braylon!”
“But, my lord,” the woman argued; yet, Duncan turned his back on her pleas. Instead, he said, “Theodora, would you send a message to Beaufort, Marksman, Thompson, and Hartley. Ask them to join us if they are available. Graham is not in London at this moment.”
With a lift of her chin and a glare of disapproval, Mrs. Braylon left the room.
“Anything I might execute in your behalf, my lord?” Lady Emma asked.
“If you would inform Mr. Fields that my ‘sons’ will be here soon, I would appreciate it. He will know what that means.”
Emma looked to Richard in apparent confusion. “Food, coffee, port. Mr. Fields will understand.”
As she nodded and headed for the room’s main door, following Theodora down the hall, Duncan said, “Burn the coat, indeed. Does not the woman know what happens when a person attempts to burn wool?”
“I do,” Richard said with a smile. “One of my first lessons from you. Wool shrinks from the flame, but does not burn as does other types of cloth, and it has the same strong odor of burning hair. I did not think I would ever not smell that odor. My room had the windows open for a week.”
