AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Seventeen
Bertram stumbled into his bedchamber, more confused than ever. According to what he could infer from the prisoner’s words, whoever hired him had an intimate knowledge not only of his home, but his schedule as well.
It means it’s someone close to me.
His mind immediately went to Letty but he shook his head as if to ward off the thought.
Why would she save my life if she was the one trying to kill me?
“It doesn’t make sense.” He nodded to himself in confirmation before turning his thoughts to other members of his household and close acquaintances. Letty had said something about footmen when she first brought up the issue of assassination.
Is there someone in the manor who might have been bribed to betray me?
He was quite willing to admit that he did not know all his staff as well as he should. He left most of the hiring decisions to Mrs. Gendry’s capable hands. He had complete trust in her abilities but she was only human.
“How am I to begin to find out who it is?” He sighed before the thought occurred to him.
Letty.
She had intercepted the man as he was preparing to carry out his dastardly deed. She might be able to shed some light on where the man had come from. He looked out of his window. There was just the thinnest sliver of orange in the horizon. The sun would be up, but not for a few hours yet. He slumped down on the bed, knowing he wouldn’t be able to sleep again. He looked down at his hands, surprised to find them shaking.
He drew in a deep and shaky breath, finally admitting to himself that the entire encounter had unsettled him. For a man to attempt to murder him in the battlefield was one thing, but to come into his home, into hisbedchamber…it was a deeply personal kind of violation.
He got to his feet and paced about the room, trying to rid himself of some of the agitation but he felt as if he could not breathe. With a sigh, he whirled around and headed for the door, taking the stairs two at a time and hurrying to his study. He had a bottle of whisky that could keep him company until the rest of the house woke up and a book of poems to lose himself in.
It would have to do.
He settled himself into his chair with a full glass and tried to lose himself in the prose.
* * *
Letty found it difficult to fall asleep. She wanted to be there while they interrogated the prisoner. She was adept at spotting liars and asking the right questions.
I could have been of help!
She turned grumpily onto her back pouting at the ceiling. She would just have to wait for morning to come and then go and see what had transpired. She huffed with annoyance.
If I was a man he would not have sent me away.
She made a growling sound deep in her throat, punched her pillow and turned to the side, still pouting. She was very tempted to just get up and go see what was happening but she knew that would be going too far. If she was to earn the Duke’s trust, then she must listen to him now and then. Closing her eyes resolutely, she tried to get some sleep.
When George flew into the room and jumped on her bed she was relieved. She opened her eyes and smiled.
“Good morning, little caterpillar.”
He scrunched his nose adorably. “I’m not a caterpillar. I’m a Marquess.”
She grinned at him. “Maybe. But you’re also a caterpillar, still young and growing into a most wonderful butterfly.”
George looked even more mystified but she saw the moment that he just decided to go along with it rather than ask questions. “Will you have breakfast with me?”
‘Oh caterpillar, are you sure? That is a big commitment.”
He continued to frown at her in puzzlement. “Yes, of course I’m sure. Why wouldn’t I be? Did you make any cakes?”
“I did. Last night as a matter of fact. They should be nice and cool by now.”
She could see he wanted to jump up and down in joy. It was only Mrs. Haversham clearing her throat that stopped him. He immediately straightened his shoulders, looking more like the Marquess he claimed to be. Letty pushed away her blankets. “Come, give me two minutes to change my clothes and then we shall adjourn to the kitchen.”
