A servant brought a platter of golden crispycakes oozing with melted cheese. “Fried goat cheese.”
Nicholas’s grin was so endearing, sheinstantly wished to lean across the table and kiss him. “Youremembered as when I told you how I longed to see an opera.”
“Of course. It will be my delight to see yousavor everything for the first time, and to make-up for all thehardships you’ve experienced.”
She cringed by being singled out. “I don’tknow what to say.”
“I say you, enjoy,” opined Aunt Margaret.Everyone laughed.
Nicholas’s father, sat benignly at the headof his table, the benevolent leader of the family, dispensing charmand affection. He spoke of the days when his wife was alive, wheneveryone was together and no threat loomed over his family. Afteran hour of familial discourse and laughter, the Duke motioned forthe servants to leave.
As soon as the door closed, Aunt Margaretfixed her gaze on Samuel. “Going into your history, I find itfascinating that Alexandra was not murdered nor kidnapped. You andyour wife’s efforts to protect Lady Alexandra Sutherland all theseyears were courageous. May I extend my sympathy to the loss andsacrifice of your wife.”
“You can add my sentiments as well,” saidthe Duke. “Since Alexandra is with us now, we should finish ourdiscussion from last evening about the carriage incident at theopera, and then the occurrence in Deconshire.”
“Now tell me, what new revelations have youcome up with?” Aunt Margaret narrowed her gaze on Nicholas.
Nicholas cut his smoked salmon into neateven pieces. “One of the thugs we captured in Deconshire escapedand the other remains mum. I have turned him over to the magistrateand doubt if he can do any better. The best we can get him for isattempted murder. We must be careful and have full evidence beforewe make allegations against Lady Sutherland and her son. Those menwere too scared to talk.”
“It was Lady Ursula and Willean who put meaboard theSantanas. Isn’t that enough?”
The Duke said, “Nicholas is correct. For usto clearly get Lady Sutherland and Willean we must be more cunning,and work through back doors…and that takes time.”
Aunt Margaret harrumphed. “To think I cameface to face with that dratted woman and her son at Kensington’ssoiree last week. Lady Sutherland puts on such a holier than thoupresence. If I’d known what evil creatures she and her son were, Iwould have…I-I don’t know what I would have done, but it would haveturned out badly, and you’d be fetching me from the magistrate.
“What about the runaway carriage? Was itLady Ursula’s doing?” said Rachel.
Nicholas shook his head and Alexandra’sheart panged for he looked tired. “Nothing. We had runners questionother possible witnesses but it was too dark to identify them.”
Anthony twirled his spoon, reflecting lightacross the table. “Perhaps the carriage incident was planned for anattack on the Rutland family and not on Alexandra.”
Nicholas leaned back in his chair, claspinghis hands behind his head. “Father, we’ve had little time todiscuss affairs. Who else do you consider an enemy of the family?Have you considered Lord Eaton, having his hand in the laboratoryexplosion and our kidnapping?”
Alexandra stroked the pearl ring Nicholashad given her, like a touchstone that helped orient her. Lord Eatonwas the father of the man Nicholas had killed in self-defense.
“Lord Eaton died of a lung ailment, a monthfollowing his son’s death. I understand he’d been sick for sometime and would not have had the stamina to carry out a disciplinedand orchestrated plan.”
Anthony helped himself to more eggs from thesideboard and returned to the table. “Cuthbert Noot had an ax togrind, and was ready to tell us who was the one responsible fortrying to kill Anthony when he was shot dead. The same thinghappened to Percy Devol in Boston. He was ready to kill Abigailwhen he, too, fell to a pistol ball. Whoever is accountable isthorough in covering up any loose ends, and he must haveunrestricted assets to have had Cuthbert Noot and Percy Devolreleased out of Newgate to perform their vengeances.”
Rachel lifted a brow at Alexandra over hertea cup. “Interesting that Lord Cornelius tired of the opera andleft just before the runaway carriage affair.”
Silence filled the room. Alexandra widenedher eyes. Rachel’s plucky spirit bred in the Colonies made her boldenough to comment on a close family friend.
Was Nicholas wary of the Duke of Westbrook’spossible intrigues? He did not indicate his thoughts. She darted aglance to Nicholas’s father. His hand fisted around his fork. Shecouldn’t wait to get Rachel aside and inquire about the Duke ofWestbrook.
Duke Richard smoothed butter over his sweetbread with deliberate strokes. “I’m thinking of Lord Drummond. I’vefiercely opposed his policies in parliament. He stands to lose alot if the war in the Colonies is abandoned. He has many militarycontracts that have made him rich and will continue to do so if thewar proceeds.”
Aunt Margaret stared at the Duke as hecalmly took another bite of black pudding.
Nicholas’s expression remained impassive.“He certainly has the means and motivation. I’d start there,” hesaid.
The Duke brushed a thumb over his chiseledjaw. “Alexandra, per Nicholas’s request, I have taken personalaction on your behalf and have begun my own investigation into yourheritage. Your father, Baron Stephen Sutherland, was a great friendof mine years after our time spent at Cambridge, and I knew you asa baby. When I first saw you, I knew you were a Sutherland for youreyes are unmistakable. Normally estates go to the closest livingmale heir, but in a private conversation with your father, heindicated he was leaving the estate to you upon his death. In noway was the Sutherland fortune to go to Lady Ursula or her son, andI’m sure Baron Sutherland being as thorough as he was, put hiswishes in writing.”
What? He knew herfath— So takenaback, Alexandra opened her mouth, but no words came. Was thistrue?
“You were about one and half years andalready he was thinking of your future.”
The sadness she’d kept long buried roseinside Alexandra. All the senseless murders. “Thank you, YourGrace. I am overwhelmed you knew my father and would take such aninterest on my behalf.”
