“Note the names, Your Grace.” Frederick adjusted his spectacles, eyes bright with excitement. “These are the very same gentlemen who later accused Baron Trenton of corruption. Is it not curious that the late duke had nearly invested with them, only to withdraw abruptly?”
Lucas sat straighter. The names were indeed familiar—men whose shadow seemed to linger over his father’s death, though he had never known why.
“That is not all, Your Grace.” Frederick went back to his satchel, making his way back to the desk with the entire thing in his hand. He dug his hand in and pulled out a few crumpled papers that he straightened before handing them to Lucas. “These notes accompanied these documents, Your Grace.”
“I appreciate your careful handling,” Lucas muttered sarcastically.
“My apologies, Your Grace. I came in haste. Still, everything of importance is here. I am attempting to match the notes to the transactions, but one line in particular stands out.” He pointed to a section he had circled.
If Redley does not agree to my demands, I will expose everything. This entire operation ends with me. September 9.
“And if you notice,” Frederick continued, “that date coincides with the withdrawal—only three days apart. What do you suppose this ‘operation’ refers to?”
“I have no notion,” Lucas said curtly.
“Well, it is a riddle I mean to solve,” Frederick declared, planting his hands on his hips, a glint of purpose in his eye. “It suggests the late duke discovered something unsavouryabout the investment and, when his demands went unheeded, withdrew—only to meet his end soon after—”
“Enough.”
Frederick blinked, taken aback. “Have I said something amiss?”
He often did. Usually, Lucas tolerated his lack of tact, but not today. He did not need a reminder of his father’s sudden and violent passing.
Gathering the papers, Lucas thrust them back across the desk. “You seem to be making fine progress, Frederick. I trust you will report back when you have something more substantial.”
“You may depend upon it, Your Grace!” said Frederick, his earlier blunder forgotten as he packed the papers into his satchel.
Lucas barely heard him. Heat prickled behind his temples. The nameRedleyechoed in his mind—Lord Redley, one of his father’s old associates. Lucas had never trusted the man. Now it seemed he had reason not to.
But had his father truly been the innocent party? Had he entered the arrangement unaware of its corruption, or had he simply chosen to abandon it once it turned inconvenient?
He wanted to believe the former. Yet he knew the kind of man his father had been—unyielding, ambitious, and far from gentle. Eric Tremaine had always seemed his opposite: steady, honourable, guided by principle rather than pride. It was little wonder Lucas had once looked to him for counsel.
Still, he had loved his father, in his way. And he wanted—needed—to believe that the late duke of Beaushire had possessed at least a spark of conscience.
“I shall set to work at once, Your Grace!” Frederick announced, swinging his satchel over his shoulder, far too cheerful for the gravity of the subject.
Just as he reached the door, it opened to admit Catherine. Her eyes lit with surprise, and a sly smile touched her lips.
“Mr Wells! How delightful to see you.”
Frederick stiffened. He had met Catherine only a handful of times, and Lucas was convinced he liked her even less than he liked the butler. Catherine, for her part, delighted in teasing him, which Frederick decidedly did not appreciate.
“Miss Beaumont,” he said stiffly.
“Are you leaving already? Had I known you were here, I would have invited you to take tea with Aunt Charlotte and me.”
“Regrettably, Miss Beaumont, I must be going. His Grace has entrusted me with something quite pressing.”
Catherine ignored him entirely and slipped her arm through his, unfazed by his discomfort. “Oh, I am certain it can wait a little longer. Can it not, Your Grace?”
Lucas replaced his spectacles and returned his gaze to the ledger, though concentration was now hopeless. “Catherine, leave Frederick be.”
“I am not bothering him. Am I, Mr Wells?”
“As a matter of fact, you—”
“See?” she interrupted brightly, flashing a grin at Lucas. “He quite enjoys my company—almost as much as I enjoy his. A pity we have already finished tea, but you are always welcome to accompany us on our promenade through Hyde Park.”
