As usual, Lady Lavinia recovered first. “Your Grace, I am at a loss as to understand why this has come about?”
Tristan blinked. “Truly, Lady Lavinia, I did not realize you were so lack-witted. You plotted with your husband to remove myself aspaterfamilias, including hiring a ruffian to silence my poor secretary, Mr. Adam Ledger, who I presume had uncovered your scheme. From there, you similarly attempted to drown my duchess and our unborn child by pushing my wife into the Serpentine. Naturally, such unlawful and unsavory behavior would incur consequences.”
“Kendall!” Aubrey recoiled. “Those are most shocking allegations.”
“Truly, Your Grace,” Lady Lavinia agreed, “I do wonder about your mental soundness. I fear I shall have to say something to my parents about your delusional accusations. Perhaps a doctor should be summoned to assess your intellectual fitness.”
Tristan nearly smiled. Their scheming was so transparent now that he understood the depth of their plotting.
“Yes,” he said, voice still emotionless, “Her Majesty expressed a similar sentiment this morning. However, being a woman of sound judgment, Her Majesty immediately changedher opinion as I outlined the evidence and witnesses I have collected of your perfidy, Lady Lavinia. Of course, if you prefer, I would be more than happy to summon the constabulary and accuse you both of attempting to murder my wife, our unborn child, as well as Mr. Adam Ledger. I am content to let a judge and jury decide your fates, if that is your wish.”
Now it was Lady Lavinia’s turn to go deathly white.
Tristan studied his watch again. “You are now down to fifty-five minutes. Every minute that you are here beyond your allotted time, I will reduce Aubrey’s allowance by another half.”
“Y-you can’t do that!” Aubrey shouted.
“I can and I have. I actually wished to discontinue your funds altogether, but my duchess—wet and shivering from her swim in the Serpentine—begged me to reconsider.” This was a small falsehood, but Tristan didn’t care. He speared Lady Lavinia with a sharp look. “So know that every mouthful of food you eat, every bit of coal that keeps you warm, each stitch of clothing on your body comes fromherlargesse and forbearance.”
Lady Lavinia pressed a hand to her waist.
“But . . . b-but where shall we go?” Aubrey asked.
“To Hell, if you wish. I do not care. But rest assured, you are no longer welcome here.” Tristan consulted his watch once more. “Fifty-three minutes and counting. You may want to start packing.”
Turning, he left the room, ignoring their shouts of protest.
In the end, Cousin Aubrey and Lady Lavinia were three minutes late in exiting Gilbert House.
Lady Lavinia’s angry screeching and the elated smiles of Tristan’s staff were a balm to his soul. As was the blessed silence after Fredericks slammed the front door behind them with a muttered, “Good riddance.”
“Thank you, Fredericks.” Tristan nodded.
“I assure Your Grace, it was my pleasure.”
Finally, Tristan permitted himself a broad smile and a low chuckle.
Fredericks followed suit.
“If you need me, Fredericks, I shall be with my duchess.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
And with that, Tristan took the stairs two at a time.
This, he vowed.
Thiswas how he would spend his days—
Cherishing and defending those he loved.
18
The next morning, in keeping with his newfound resolve to assist those he cared for, Tristan determined to hire an investigator to uncover what had happened to Adam Ledger. Knowing now that the man had been toppled into the Thames, surely someone had come to his rescue or, heaven forbid, discovered his body.
Tristan voiced his plans to Isolde.
“I think ye are wise to seek more professional help at this point,” she murmured from where she lay on his chest. “Someone somewhere has to know something about Ledger. Perhaps an investigator could uncover more clues.”
