“Anything else you know of the man, Aaran?” Duncan asked.
“No, sir, not even a name, which is odd,” Graham said. “The fact that no one is talking openly says this change is a major one. All this cannot be happening at the same time without some coordination. Perhaps this man is to pull all the strings together. Mayhap, he is to be the puppet master of some sort of revolution.”
“I require everyone to be asking questions,” Duncan ordered. “Orson, I want you to speak to Sir Hunter and apply for more details on what was being discussed in this meeting. Also, find out anything you can about Bellingham’s presence in Parliament’s halls today. Why did no one notice him prior to this act against Perceval? Also, inquire of when Bellingham willbe placed on trial. I imagine it will be quick, for the government will want the man punished publicly so as to quash other such attempts, as well as any thoughts of a rebellion.
“All of you must listen to every snippet. We must learn all we may of Bellingham’s history. His business interests. Family. Associates, and the like. Undoubtedly, a large portion of the populace will not be happy with his execution, which will be in a matter of days, unless the government means to ride his mutilated body through town as they have done in the past or leave it on a gibbet, both serving as warnings to the people as a whole. We must be a step ahead of any groups thinking to take advantage of this situation to promote their own causes.”
“Yes, sir,” they all chorused as they stood.
Alexander led his brothers from the house, again feeling he had let his family down. Why could each of the others contribute to such an important matter, but he had not even known of the assassination until he had reached Duncan Place? The attack had not occurred until well after five in the late afternoon. It had been nearly eight when the message arrived from Duncan to come to Duncan Place. Alexander had eaten at home and had purposely avoided his club, so he was unaware of the nature of the situation when he walked into Duncan’s study.
Earlier in the day, after today’s session in the House of Lords, he had met with a man who had promised Alexander word of what happened to Madelyn Dutton after she had been left in Honduras, but, again, the investigation had ended with nothing new to report.
“It has been nearly five years since anything significant has been discovered, and even then, the trail of information proved broken,” he murmured as he climbed into his carriage. “Home!” he told his footman. “My brothers may follow Duncan’s orders,” he announced to the empty carriage. “Personally, I have tired of being told my search for my mother is futile. I have tired ofdropping everything to respond to Duncan’s bidding. Why can I not marry where I want? Spend my fortune where I choose? If I wish to woo someone other than Lady Theodora Duncan, why may I not?” Though Alexander believed dearly in his right to marry elsewhere, he knew his heart had long been set on Theodora. “If Dora had a different father, my decision would be infinitely easier.”
Once at home, despite feeling less than worthy for not joining the others in search of information important to the country’s security, Alexander accepted his miserable state and set himself the task of nursing his incompetence with a decanter of some of the very best brandy available from the Continent.
“Papa,” Theodora saidsoftly as she tapped on her father’s door.
“Come,” her father responded, but in obvious distraction.
“Do you have time for me now, sir? I know today has been quite chaotic,” she asked as she cracked the door far enough for him to view her from his place behind the desk.
As always, her dear father raised his head to present her with a smile. “I am simply reading the various accounts of Spencer Perceval’s death. The majority of the London newsprints seem to tell the same story. I am searching for that one detail that is different. Where someone has made it his business to know the truth.”
“I assume this will cause a great uproar in Britain. Will you be called upon to search out other conspirators?” she asked tentatively.
“We are always searching for other conspirators,” he said as he extended a hand to her as she came closer. “You should not worry about your old Papa, my girl.”
Theodora bent to kiss his forehead. “I have worried over you every day since I was old enough to understand how you meant to prove a Scotsman could be equally as loyal to United Kingdom as an Englishman.”
“That long?” he said with a smile. “Pull that chair closer and keep me company. I have been on my feet for hours. Such is why I am sitting, rather than pacing,” he said as if he was sharing a secret, “and how is my lovely daughter, a Scottish miss who outshines all of the English girls making their debuts this Season.”
“You may be prejudiced, kind sir,” Dora said as she reclaimed his hand. She had been so frightened she would lose him when he had been shot. Theodora had not left his room for more than a week. Even after Mrs. Braylon had been hired to tend Dora’s father, Theodora had remained, often kneeling in prayer beside his bed.
“I am always prejudiced when it comes to the best daughter for which a man might wish,” he countered.
“I am your ‘only’ daughter,” she said softly, as if her words would settle their familiar argument. After a long pause, she asked, “What had Alexander so testy when he left this evening? He did not pause even long enough to bid me a ‘good night.’”
“Alexander evidently thought himself the only one with nothing to contribute to this evening’s conversation, though I suspect the truth lies more in his receiving another dead-end report regarding his mother and sister. He traditionally becomes quite moody when he knows another failure. He had no idea of Perceval’s assassination until we began discussing the event. He became excessively quiet and was the first out the door. Mr. Fields said he heard the others deciding on where they would call in for the various evening entertainments, but Alexander gave orders for Dutton Hall.”
“Meaning Alexander will drink too much brandy this evening,” Theodora said with a deep sigh of resignation.
“Are you confident your heart is set on the lad, Dora?” her father asked.
“I have always thought so,” Theodora admitted, “but I shall not have him shamed into choosing me.” She swallowed hard. “Promise you will not remind Alexander of your expectations along those lines. Permit him to remain in the role of your ‘son,’ for he requires a family. He may never learn of his mother’s and sister’s fates, but he will be able to say he did all he could to recover them. I shall set my mind on taking another in affection, if such is what is required for Alexander to know happiness.”
