“Why do you say that?”
“I looked at a few books from the years before Richard died. It appears he sold off an unentailed property to finance Baydon Imports. Raymond Stillworth’s forty-nine percent investment share has been calculated by the value of his work in India to set up their business.”
Lakehurst frowned. “Forty-nine percent! That sounds generous. More generous than would typically be seen between cousins. Where did you discover that?”
“I knew Gwinnie had looked in the account ledger bookcase and you looked all through the desk. I wondered what we might find in other parts of the room.” She rose from her chair and crossed to another bookcase, painted blue to match the drapes, with a cabinet in the lower half.
Curious, Lakehurst followed her.
She pulled the cabinet doors open. Inside were folders of papers, other ledger books, and bunches of correspondence tied up with string.
“From what I can tell, everything in this cabinet is related to his business venture with Raymond. I didn’t dig into everything in here. I am anxious to do so; however, as this does not relate to the Gallaghers’ thefts or Edmund’s inattention to the marquessate finances, I felt this investigation could wait.”
He nodded, thoughts and possibilities racing around in his head. He wondered if Mr. Stillworth knew the Marquess sold property to fund their venture. He leaned down to shut the cabinet for her. “Let’s keep this to ourselves for now,” he suggested.
She looked at him quizzically.
He took her arm to lead her back to the table. “As you say, one mystery at a time, and should Mr. Stillworth learn of these papers, he would most likely want to investigate them, as they are the most import to him.”
“I do feel for Mr. Stillworth. I think Edmund has given him short shrift.”
“On the other hand, Mr. Stillworth has allowed it. I wonder why?”
“You suspect something?”
“I don’t know. Could be my author's imagination,” he said with a deprecating laugh. At the moment, he didn’t wish to focus on some of the ideas flitting through his thoughts.
“Nuncheon, anyone?” Gwinnie asked from the doorway. “Cook has prepared a cold collation for us in the dining parlor. Mrs. Pritchet said it was so we don’t bother the kitchen staff too much. As we will have more people for dinner, they are in a flurry of activity cooking while still cleaning and setting up the kitchen appropriately.”
“Do you know if anyone has addressed the state of the larder yet?” Cassie asked. She smiled, though she shivered dramatically at the thought of all the rats and bugs inside that little room.
“Oh, that was done two days ago by a couple of the men from the village. They are only now putting supplies back in that space. They waited to ensure more vermin didn’t come.” Gwinnie looked at her brother and grinned. “Would you believe Cook has requested a kitchen mouser?”
He laughed. “After all the times she would yell about Oscar invading her domain. I hope Oscar is all right with so many of us away.”
She nodded. “Grandmother will ensure he is. But come on. I am starved, and I have hardly done anything today. Mr. Stillworth is in the dining room before us. I want to make sure he doesn’t consume everything before we get there!”
* * *
“Henry should returnwith your horse this afternoon, Mr. Stillworth,” Lakehurst told him as he sat at the table.
Mr. Stillworth nodded. “Excellent. I’d like to do some riding around the estate. I don’t think I've been all over it. As children, Richard came to our estate more than I came to the castle. Irritated my mother a bit as she grew up in the castle, but her brother was a taciturn, unfriendly sort. Mother said he became that way after his wife died. Loved her apparently and never got over her death shortly after Richard’s birth. He was so distraught over his wife’s death he refused to see Richard until he was a year old, and it became clear Richard resembled him more than his mother. Leastwise, that is what my mother always told me. Odd duck.”
“How did you come to be in business with the Marquess?” Lakehurst asked, thinking about Cassie’s discoveries in the study.
Mr. Stillworth’s eyes took on a faraway look, obviously remembering another time. “It was strange,” he said slowly. “Richard approached me on our birthday.”
“You were born on the same day?” Gwinnie asked.
He laughed as he looked over at her. “Unusual, isn’t it? And my mother and his mother were close schoolgirl friends. My mother often told me she was devastated when Roxanne—Richard’s mother—died.”
Lakehurst saw the confusion on Cassie’s face.
“I wonder why I never knew that?” she mused.
Mr. Stillworth shrugged. “Possibly because we were seldom together when our birthdays came around. Anyway, shortly after our twenty-first birthday, he sought me out. Said he wanted to discuss a potential business venture with me. He was doing coffee trading then but wanted to expand. He saw no reason why China should dominate the tea market, charging whatever they wanted. He suggested I travel to China to see about a trade agreement for tea or, failing that, learn their secrets of tea and spirit away some cuttings for experimental plantings in India.”
“At his expense,” Lakehurst clarified.
