Aidan snorted. “Agreed.”
“Before I forget,” said Ellinbourne. He reached into a jacket pocket. “Here is the weapon Lady Blessingame found. We believe it is likely the weapon used, though I should like Merlin to look at it to confirm. It was too clean to have been under that bench long.”
“You say you were with her when she found it?” the Duke asked.
“Yes. She had dropped her bloodied gloves on the ground after she stripped them off. When she decided to go to her room, she bent over to pick up the gloves and her fingers brushed against the gun. She pulled it out. Called it rightly a muff pistol and told Ann she had had one once, and she had used it as well. She said hers had a scrimshaw handle, not this unique gold etching.”
“It is an expensive little toy,” Lake observed, picking the gun up to examine it.
“Yes. So, who here, besides Lady Blessingame and me, would have motivation to shoot Candelstone?”
“You? why you?” Lake asked.
Aidan laughed harshly as he rose from the round table to pick up the packet of letters from where he and Bella had left them. He returned to the table and waved them.
“Because today I learned of Candelstone’s role in turning Lady Blessingame and me from our courtship, and of his encouraging Sir Harry to marry her instead.”
“I remember when you were courting her,” Lake said. “Never heard what happened.”
Aidan grunted. “It’s here,” he said, dropping the packet of letters on the table.
Malmsby drew them close to look at them.
“Candelstone and Sir Harry conspired. You probably are not aware that Lady Blessingame is a talented cryptographer. Candelstone wanted her to work for the War Office and felt I would not allow her to do so. He was most likely correct in that regard. He told Sir Harry to split us apart and encouraged Harry to marry her himself.”
“How did he do that?”
“Harry convinced me that Bella was propositioning other men, that she was no longer a virgin, that she had even propositioned him. Idiot fool that I was, I believed him. I did not trust that the beautiful, charming creature I had would actually want to marry me. If I would have just talked to her, we would have cleared up the issue; however, Harry had been cleverer with the deception for Bella. He forged my signature in the betting books at White’s with a bet I would bed her before the season was done. Made sure Captain Melville saw that bet, as well.”
“Egad, learning this, Lady Blessingame felt betrayed and turned to Sir Harry for solace,” summarized Malmsby, looking up from the letters.
“That is correct.”
“How is it you did not find this out before now?” Ellinbourne asked.
“Lady Blessingame just received that packet of letters yesterday from Sir Harry’s solicitor. Candelstone’s orders, suggestions, and congratulations to Sir Harry are in these letters.”
“Have you read these letters?” Ellinbourne asked.
“I skimmed them. I hope to read them closer tomorrow.”
“You should,” said his brother, who pushed the letters back toward him. He shook his head. “Lord Candelstone’s arrogance is amazing, and we have known the man for what, almost our entire lives?” he reflected.
“Lady Blessingame also told me Candelstone has been in contact with her, demanding she come back to work for him.”
“But isn’t he retired?” Lake asked.
“Officially from the government, yes. But he is now part of a private group that is afraid of terrorists in our country, like those that caused Penderson mill to burn down.”
“The events at the Duchess's house party did not squelch his desire to recruit?” asked Ellinbourne.
“No,” Aidan said, disgusted. “I wish Mother had sent them to the other side of the world, as she has so often threatened.”
“She wouldn’t do that, not really,” Lake said. “Catherine is her favorite, even if she did marry Lord Candelstone.”
“Unfortunately, I agree with you,” Aidan said.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Malmsby said. “I have an idea.”
