“Such claims are absurd. It sounds as if they are the ramblings of the guilty attempting to play upon your sympathies,” his father noted.
“It is possible, probable even, but the man seemed quite sure of what he said. Aside from their poaching activities, they struck me as good and honest men.”
“Poachers? Good and honest men? Highly unlikely,” the Duke shook his head in disagreement. “How can you possibly fathom such a notion?”
“Grandfather did,” Frederick answered, moving to take a seat across from his father’s desk.
“Foolishness.”
“Perhaps, but I have seen his wisdom with my own eyes.”
“I assume you are referring to Mr. Smythe?”
“Yes.”
“He indeed is the exception, if ever there was one.”
“Do you believe that the poachers could be behind the threats to Mother?”
“I do not see how.”
“I must admit, Father, I find the timing to be of some question, but as I said, they appeared to be good and honest men. I simply do not understand these threatening letters, or why a family of poachers would lay claim to Mother’s acquittance. Do you not also find the timing to be strange?”
“I must admit that I do, but your Mother is beyond reproach in all things. I will not hear another word about it. She cannot be blamed for the ill behavior of the lower classes.” The Duke waved his hand in the air as if to dismiss the entire notion. “Keep your mother safe. That is all I ask.”
“Of course, Father. I have brought along a soldier, Lt. Buckworth, to aid in just that end.”
“That is good. We will bring this foolishness to an end, and all will go back to the way it should be.”
“Yes, Father.” Frederick could tell that the entire ordeal had taken its toll upon his father. The Duke lacked his usual sure manner, and his eyes were darkened from lack of sleep. “I will see to it. Are you aware of any further threats?”
“No, not as of yet.”
“That is good.”
“For now.”
The Duke became lost in his own reverie, and Frederick left him to his thoughts. He returned to his mother’s room to explain his swift departure, but found her incommunicative, and so left her to her thoughts.
How am I to protect her if she will not speak the truth of the matter? Or perhaps I am being unkind in doubting her word?
Frederick felt torn between loyalty to his Mother and a need to know the truth. He feared it might be time to broach the subject with his grandfather’s household, beginning with Mr. Hanson.
Frederick passed Lt. Buckworth in the hall. “There is a matter of some urgency with which I must entrust to your discretion, lieutenant.”
“Yes, My Lord?” Lt. Buckworth stopped in his stride and raised his brow in question.
“Perhaps it is better discussed in the privacy of the out of doors,” Frederick suggested and gestured towards the stairs. The lieutenant nodded his head in agreement and the two men left the manor house. They walked down to the stables and leaned over the side of the dry stacked stone fence where the horses grazed. Frederick pulled the threatening notes from his vest pocket and handed them to the soldier. He detailed what little he knew about the situation and his mother’s reaction to it all.
“My foremost concern is her safety. I feel we would be best served in finding the perpetrator of these threats, but without Mother’s cooperation, I do not even know where to begin.”
“The poachers we apprehended mentioned the Duchess, did they not, My Lord?” Lt. Buckworth looked uncomfortable asking the question, as though the mere mention of it would bring offense.
“That they did. She claims not to know anything of it,” Frederick replied, shrugging his shoulders in an effort to put the soldier at ease on the topic. “I can sense your hesitancy to say what you are thinking, but I assure you there is no need. As I am entrusting this delicate family matter to you, lieutenant, you must feel free to voice your thoughts without concern for my feelings on the matter.”
“As you wish, My Lord. I do not think it a coincidence that both the letters and the poachers have concerned your mother, but I cannot fathom what the connection might be from these letters alone. As you have already interviewed the staff here at Chescrown, I agree with your thoughts on doing the same at Pentford. Do you think to entrust Mr. Hanson with the job, or shall I return on your behalf?”
“Nay, I need you here to aid in protecting my family. I would also like for you to look into the new footman, Owen Greeves.”
