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“She tried to seduce the duke?”
“Yes. But he was in love with his first wife and everyone knew it.”
“True, but the duke didn’t get into a duel over her as you did.”
“That was years ago. We were barely men at the time.”
Tanner leaned back and nodded. “I’ve seen men hold grudges like this that last lifetimes, my lord. Lambert believes you are the reason his wife is not happy with him.”
Daphne would never have been happy with the second son of a viscount. She’d thought she deserved a title, and her beauty and vanity could buy one for her. Simon frowned. None of this made any sense. “I still don’t understand why Lambert would involve himself with Miss Featherstone then.”
“Perhaps he discovered what I uncovered.”
“What?”
“That you have been in love with her for years.”
Simon frowned. “How did you discover such a thing?”
“It is my job, my lord.”
He must have spoken with Middleton. He was the only one who knew of his feelings for Mia. Damn him. “So this was just vengeance?”
“I honestly don’t know. No one has seen him in over three months. His lovely wife is calling herself a widow already.” Tanner stopped talking as a footman entered with tea.
Once tea was served and the footman gone, Simon spoke. “But Lambert’s description doesn’t exactly match Davies. Lambert’s hair was blond, not brown.”
“It is not that hard to dye hair brown with henna and indigo,” Tanner retorted. “I’ve seen it in my business many times.”
Guilt sliced into him. It was his fault that Mia had been hurt. All over a woman he hadn’t even wanted. “I want him found and questioned.”
“I have men scouring London.”
“I need people here. Miss Featherstone saw him two days ago behind a cottage on my property.”
“Why would he have been there?”
Simon told him of the few items Mia had found behind Mrs. Perkins’s cottage. And of Davies’s reaction when she refused to tell him where she’d found the treasure.
Tanner’s face hardened. “Are you certain she is not involved in this, my lord?”
“Absolutely.” Wasn’t he? “He must have followed her. She ran back to the house and told me what had happened.” Only after she lied about where she’d been. And she had been staying with Simon for over a week so how did Davies follow her?
“Did he hurt her again?”
“No. In fact, he let her escape as if he wanted her to tell me.”
Tanner drank his tea slowly. “Perhaps he did.”
“To draw me out,” Simon replied. If this truly was Lambert and he wanted retaliation for the debacle with Daphne perhaps it all made sense. But why was Davies, Lambert, or whoever it was, so infuriated over the small items Mia had found?
Tanner nodded. “I know of your physical abilities, but can you shoot?”
Simon related his shooting and ability with knives.
“I know you don’t want to be a prisoner in your own home but if he brazenly entered your lands, there is no telling what he might do to get back at you.” Tanner cleared his throat. “And if he knows how you feel about Miss Featherstone, she is also at risk. It is imperative that she not leave this house without you escorting her, my lord. Not even a footman. At this point, I only trust you to protect her.”
“Very well. I shall also make sure I am armed if I leave the house.”
