AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You should be proud of your sister, Anton. She has uncovered criminal activity and fraud here.” He smirked. “Seems investigating fraud rather runs in the family.”
“Well, I—” Anton rocked back on his heels. “Of course I am damned proud but that does not mean I support this.” He gestured between Luke and Cassie. “I cannot.”
“I am sorry, Anton.” Luke sighed. “Truly. I tried my darndest to resist but I love her too much.”
Cassie eased her brother aside. “I won’t marry that duke, Anton,” she said, her gaze locked onto Luke’s. “I cannot.” Her lips slanted. “I love him too much.”
Anton cursed under his breath.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jane’s eyes widened, her cup held halfway up to her mouth. She set the cup promptly back on the saucer and put it on the lace-covered table in front. “You caught the men responsible?”
Cassie nodded. Thank goodness she could give Jane some answers. Her usually bright eyes were rimmed with shadows and though her hair had been styled into a chignon it was severe, as though she had declined any beautifying elements.
“The man in charge—a Mr. Jameson—would not say a word but his companions told the magistrates everything.”
Mr. Harding twisted slightly, eyeing her over his shoulder. His posture remained stiff, his mouth tugged into a disapproving line. “I hope you are giving Viscount Whitehurst suitable credit for this capture, Lady Cassandra.” He turned fully. “Of course, I had my suspicions. I was in the process of speaking with a private investigator myself. I was not to let my circumstances sway my judgement.” He lifted his chin.
“Did you not hear, Colin? Those men were followingyou. You might well have been harmed had it not been for Cassie figuring out where they were.”
His upper lip curled. “I highly doubt anything as dramatic as you ladies might wish to be would have befallen me.”
“Colin, I do not wish you ill!” Jane protested.
He waved a hand. “I merely mean, you ladies have a taste for the theatrical and I do not share in it. Had those men attempted anything, I should have been able to turn them in myself, and this would have been ended.” He moved over to Jane and offered a thin smile as he leaned over. “You see, dear Cousin, I am more conscientious than you give me credit for. I knew something was odd about the circumstances of Theodore’s death, and I would have unraveled this without interference if you had let me.” He glanced at Cassie. “We are lucky this has not been cause for gossip.”
Jane gave Cassie an apologetic smile.
“Well, I have little time for idle chit chat. If your brother should be so inclined to appraise me of the situation himself, please do ask him to send me word, Lady Cassandra.” He dipped his head, bowing deeper than Cassie might have expected given his rudeness. “Good day, my lady.”
Jane closed her eyes briefly as her cousin stalked out of the room. “I apologize for him. He cannot let himself believe a woman might have uncovered such things, especially one of your rank.”
Cassie chuckled. “Anton knows little so he will have no luck speaking with him.”
“To give him credit, he did think something was odd, but only when he realized the house in Scotland had not gone to him. I do not think he wished to disprove his inheritance but to increase it.” She took up her tea once more and sipped it. “Please, tell me all the details. Have you…have you discovered where Teddy is.”
“No.” Cassie leaned forward and wrapped her fingers over the back of Jane’s hand. “But do not fear. The main thing is, he is alive.”
“How can that be?”
“It seems your brother became involved with these men some years ago, when his debts were great. He paid his debts to them but his position as a Member of Parliament was useful to them. They could persuade him to discourage the use of customs men at the docks. But he refused of course. One man—a Mr. Hayes—said Jameson threatened your safety. It appears Theodore fled in the hopes that if they could not use him, they would have no reason to harm you.”
“Goodness.”
“The only problem we have is we still do not know where he is. Word of the arrests will be in the newspapers before long but who knows if Theodore will get word of it, especially if he is not in London.”
“Do we know who the poor man is who was burned?”
Cassie shook her head. “I imagine some poor wretch who would not be missed. I believe they decided if they could not use your brother to aid them, they would gain financially from him. The house—your house—was to be used as a base for their activities on the coast.”
“My word.” Jane finished her tea in one gulp and let the cup and saucer rest on her lap. “Were the solicitors involved? I am certain Teddy will never let them do business again.”
“It seems they were in ignorance though I wish I could have spoken to them myself. They utterly refused to answer my questions when I tried to confront them. Lord Whitehurst spoke with them and the will appeared to be an excellent forgery. It seems it was switched the night of the supposed night of your brother’s death.” Cassie pressed her lips together.
These men were much better at slipping in unnoticed and she did not wish to be rankled by it but one of the good things that had come out of this, is she had learned to be more cautious. Not to mention to work with her sisters.
Oh yes, and Luke. She smiled to herself. He was something exceedingly good that had come out of this.
