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“It is true. You must respect Lady Elizabeth if you wish for me to marry Lady Irene.” He turned on his heel and walked to the door.
“Well, that is unfortunate!” his grandmother yelled. He would have laughed if he had been in a better mood, and he would have been impressed with how easy it had been to use the truth to defend Elizabeth before his grandmother.
Smith met him outside the morning room with a note. Rhys’ jaw clenched when he read that his presence was required at the port immediately. After dinner last night, Smith had brought him a message from Paxton informing him that a customer’s shipment had arrived, but there was an issue with the goods which were fabrics and spices from the Far East.
Rhys had not gone to the port because he had guests, and he had put off the matter until morning. It would appear that the situation was graver than Paxton had him believe, and he quickly departed for the port. When he arrived, he found Paxton in the hold of the ship that brought Baron Ingram’s goods, and all the crates had been opened.
“What happened?” Rhys asked.
Paxton’s face was drawn. “It would appear that everything has been tampered with, My Lord. I came to inspect the shipment some hours after the ship docked, and I discovered that all the crates were open. That was when I sent you that message. I did not know the extent of the damage until this morning.”
Rhys looked about the hold, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. The fabrics had black stains on them, while the spices had been mixed with something that made the place smell foul.
“Have you questioned the captain and sailors?” Rhys looked into a crate that contained cinnamon and found something that looked like muck inside.
“I did yesterday and this morning, My Lord. They do not appear to know anything. The crates were nailed shut when the ship docked.”
Rhys bent to inspect a bolt of ivory silk. “This seems to be ink,” he guessed.
“I believe it is,” Paxton agreed, “and the spices have muck in them.”
Rhys cursed under his breath and rose. “These are useless now. I must meet with Baron Ingram and inform him about this.”
“Would you like me to accompany you?” Paxton asked.
“No.” Rhys shook his head. “Someone knows something. Begin an investigation immediately. Have the captain and all the sailors watched. No one leaves town until the investigation is over. I also suspect that this incident is related to William’s.”
“Yes, My Lord, I believe that, as well. I will arrange everything and find what connects the two incidents,” Paxton said, and when Rhys nodded, he bowed and climbed up the stairs that led out of the hold.
Rhys walked between the crates, thinking. The person who had done this wanted something from him, and it could be anyone. After all, he was bound to offend someone in the sort of business that he was involved in. However, he had to nip this problem in the bud before it grew. Before it affected his family, especially now that he was going to take a wife.
* * *
“Your grandmother is displeased with you for leaving her to dine alone.”
Rhys looked up and smiled for the first time that day. “She is your grandmother, too, Mayton.”
“Yes, but she is not as fond of me as she is of you.” Mayton came to sit in front of his desk.
“How do you know that?” Rhys leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. He had spent the entire afternoon in his company’s office at the port. He rarely worked there, but the situation had made it necessary.
“She told me this evening after I had taken pity on her and joined her for dinner when I went to the house to look for you.”
“Why were you looking for me?” Rhys asked.
“To tell you that I have invited myself to your house party in the country.” Mayton stood to pour himself some liquor from the table on one side of the office.
“It is not a house party, and why do you wish to join us?” Rhys suspected the reason his cousin wanted to travel to Guildford Castle was to continue his pursuit of Elizabeth.
“Lady Elizabeth,” Mayton replied, raising his glass. “Would you like some whiskey?”
“Please.” Rhys pushed his empty glass toward him. “I do not think Lady Elizabeth is welcoming your suit.” She would not have allowed him to kiss and touch her in his library if she wanted his cousin. At least, that was what he had himself believing. Rhys had not been too concerned about Mayton courting her before, but now it bothered him. The thought of another man touching her disturbed him.
His cousin scoffed. “How did you arrive at that conjecture? I am sure she did not tell you that.”
“I do not see any desire for you in her eyes,” Rhys observed.
Mayton set Rhys’ glass down in front of him and retook his seat. “She might be concealing her desire from the world.” He smiled. “I know how she feels about me, and I am encouraged.”
