‘And you would like Dr Sandys and me to investigate?—’
‘Quietlyinvestigate.’
‘But of course–quietlyinvestigate why your friends were murdered and provide a motive that will shut down the gossipers and keep the Austen name out of the scandal before the month is out?’
Henry nodded. ‘It would be better for us if it was found to be a crime of passion– the servant struck by unrequited love for his mistress or something of that nature. That would be counted as eminently French and romantic and the story would settle there, far from any dealings in the city.’
‘We won’t make anything up to please a client,’ Dora warned. ‘We don’t spread fictions.’
He gave a bark of laughter. ‘Do not be concerned: I have a sister to do that.’
‘I’m sorry– I’m not following you.’
‘Never mind– a family joke.’
Dora was beginning to find him a little annoying. ‘You won’t help our investigation if you continue to talk in this enigmatic fashion. We need to know what you know at the very least.’
Henry got up and replaced his hat, tapping the crown to settle it on his head. ‘Speak to Dr Sandys to see if he agrees to take the case then send the contract for your services. Once that is signed, I will tell you what I know.’
‘Everything?’ asked Dora, accompanying him to the door.
‘Everything,’ he agreed. ‘Good day.’
Chapter Three
Coutts Bank, The Strand
Mr Jefferson, Jacob’s personal banker, closed the ledger.
‘In summary, Dr Sandys, your private funds are in a healthy condition. You’ve not been drawing down on them, I notice.’ The man’s white whiskers bristled with pleasure at this evidence of praiseworthy parsimony. Like the dragon of Norse myth, the banker did not like to see gold leaving his hoard.
Jacob Sandys tapped his fingers on the arms of the visitor’s chair. No expense was spared on the furniture of this office; the chair had Moroccan leather upholstery and the walls oak panelling. Burgundy satin curtains swaggered at the windows. Coutts only dealt with the aristocracy– tradesmen or East India Company Johnnies need not apply. ‘Happily, I’ve been earning money from my investigations.’
‘Ah, yes.’ The sniff was not quite disapproval but approached it. ‘Your brother did mention something of the sort. Will you need funds to invest in your venture? Hesuggested you might consider employing investigators to do the work for you and you might be contemplating standing for a parliamentary seat.’
This had to be the latest plan coming from the viscount to drag his brother back into respectability. Was Arthur really spreading this rumour around town?
‘An interesting idea but not one I am pursuing at this time.’ See, thought Jacob, I can be diplomatic when required and not betray to one of London’s chief gossips that the Sandys brothers do not see eye-to-eye on Jacob’s future.
‘You were left additional properties under the terms of your father’s will,’ said Mr Jefferson, changing the subject.
Jacob’s grief for his father swept through him. He’d received the news when staying at his cottage in the Lakes only three weeks ago, further pain added when he discovered his older brother had not sent for him to attend the deathbed for fear of Dora ‘polluting’ the family seat with her presence. He was still smarting from that double blow.
‘I was. I have not yet had a chance to visit them but my brother’s steward is keeping a weather-eye on them until I have the time. If I need to draw on my investments to repair or improve them, I will in due course let you know.’
‘Naturally. We at Coutts are always ready to help in such matters. I can recommend people who have experience of land management, should that be required.’ The banker seemed happier to be on familiar ground. Estates were something they understood at Coutts.
‘Thank you.’ Jacob stood up to go. ‘What news on the financial markets?’ Gossips had their uses, particularly for anyone with investments in riskier ventures.
Jefferson rose to conduct him to the door. ‘There isn’t much happening over the summer, as you might imagine. There are troublesome delays in the Indiamen coming back to port– storms in the Atlantic, they say at Lloyds.’
Jacob had stakes in some shipping companies. ‘Any losses?’
‘None confirmed. Also, the bank of Austen, Maunde & Tilson is looking a little shaky.’ Jefferson smiled briefly. ‘Happily, it is too small a house to affect the rest of us so no need to ring the alarm bell as yet.’
Jacob frowned. He didn’t personally have dealings with the company, but he knew a brother of one of the partners. ‘In what way is it shaky?’
Jefferson lowered his voice to a conspiratorial tone. ‘Whispers about involvement with the French, that kind of thing.’
