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“Soon,” Graham agreed. The three of them talked about Mother and Tabetha’s affection for the animal, as well as vivid and colorful descriptions, dissolving the table’s occupants into guffaws.
“I cannot wait to meet this animal. I do not recall Mother having a pet. Gracie sounds like exactly what we need to help us through our mourning,” Graham said.
“I still have two important questions, Graham—well, one question and one statement,” Slade said slowly.
His brother nodded. “Go ahead.”
“I realize you are tired, but it would have been easier if you had told me Wortle was part of Intelligence.”
“You are right. I am so sorry. I did not want to predispose you favorably toward anyone and forgot myself. I should not have been so vague with you, brother,” Graham replied remorsefully. “In my effort to help, I made things more difficult.”
Slade nodded. “I understand—even though the way I found out was embarrassing. It placed us both in a difficult spot. This leads me to my second question. You told me I could trust Dorset.Who is Dorset?”
Graham opened his mouth and closed it. “I can only plead I was not making sense because of the injuries I had suffered. I should have made sure Wortle told you. We have a spy operating with the East India Company. He was told to signal to you if he found evidence the EIC was involved with Father’s death.”
“Does he have red hair?” Slade asked.
“He does. Did you meet him?” Graham asked.
“We did not, but he tried to reach out to us. Now I believe he was telling us the EIC had nothing to do with the accident. I would have been deduced it more easily had you told me who Dorset was, or gave at least a better clue,” Slade said, trying not to laugh. “I want to be upset, but I cannot.”
Graham grinned. “I am truly sorry. I will get word to Dorset that it was my screwup. Just know, he is embedded. He will try to contact you or Latham should things go bad. He will do his best, but he is under orders to get out of there if he thinks he has been discovered.”
“Good to know.” Slade was relieved his brother was on the mend. He regarded his brother and noticed his fatigue. “Graham, we should be going. I promised Mother we would return by dinner. Hurry up and get better, brother. I do not relish wearing your title for even a few days. I have no aspirations to be the duke.” He laughed. “Although there might be a few short-term benefits to it.”
Graham smiled. He was too tired to banter. Slade wondered if his brother might heal better at home. Until they discovered the killer, he needed to stay there. It was one more incentive to uncover the truth.
“Say hello to Lady Bella, when you see her, brother,” Graham said, clapping him on the back. “I am pleased to see you have finally come to your senses with her. The girl went around with moon eyes whenever you visited her parents’ home, or they came to ours.”
“Yes, well, I am trying to find time with her. Maybe tomorrow.” Slade smirked.
The two men said their goodbyes and walked toward the mews, where their horses had been fed, watered, and brushed. As they trotted toward Mayfair, Slade felt the hair on the back of his neck stand. He turned and saw a man with a dark mustache who, while he looked in their direction, did not appear to be looking at Slade or Latham. He was arguing with a street vendor. “What do you make of that, Latham?”
“I have been watching as well,” Latham said. “He does not appear to know your brother is just beyond him. Do you think he is the one?”
“With nothing else to identify him, I am afraid it would be like picking out a stranger and accusing him of something dreadful. I guess, for now, we note him and what he looks like. If we see him again, I will feel more justified in approaching.”
“I agree,” Latham added.
“What did you think when you saw Graham?” Slade asked, wanting his friend’s opinion, yet dreading it at the same time. He did not want to hear anything suggesting his brother might not make it through this.
“He looked weak, but I noticed a glint in his eyes—a fire that had not existed the last time I saw him. I think Graham has a chance of pulling through this. I hope he takes his time before making his self known to others. I agree with him. This could work and flush out the guilty party.” Latham reached down and patted his horse. “The horses have been most accommodating in this slow traffic, especially when they are more used to a hard gallop.”
“I had hoped to ask Lady Bella to ride through Hyde Park with me. She is an excellent horsewoman. But with the weather, I fear it reduces us to a buggy,” Slade said in a tone that sounded more like he was speaking to himself.
Twenty minutes later saw both men walking from the mews to the front of the Hertford townhouse.
“What do you say to a game of billiards, Latham? I think my father’s game room is stocked. After the day we have had, I would welcome some respite.”Especially since I masquerade as duke while my brother pretends to have died. Slade had felt the type of pressure he had felt as a lad when he had lied. It was hard to maintain the falsehood. At least his mother knew of it, so there was no guilt there. He had hoped that Lady Evers would abscond to Brighton, but knowing she was in London added no small amount of stress.
“A game of pool and a whiskey would hit the spot, friend,” Latham agreed. “After dinner, of course. We promised your mother.”
The door to his townhouse opened and Jeffers stepped out. “A footman from Lord Rothmore’s house left an urgent message, Your Grace,” Jeffers said, extending a salver.
Slade took the message and opened it.
Your Grace,
I would like to see you and Lord Latham as soon as possible. Urgent.
