Slade quickly paid for the books and joined his valet on the sidewalk. Talbert had picked up the clothing he had ordered for Slade. Luckily, his size had not changed in some time, so Talbert had only hastily measured him before deciding the tailor could use what he had on file. New cravats, linen shirts, boots, breeches, and waistcoats filled the boxes being loaded into their carriage. It made him feel self-conscious. “Are you ready, Talbert?”
“Yes, my lord. I believe your wardrobe is suitably refreshed,” the smaller man quipped. “I found these gloves just before you came out of the bookstore. I believe one of the young ladies dropped them.” He handed the gloves to Lord Drake.
Slade raised his brows. He recognized the gloves and acknowledged them with a quick nod. “I believe they belong to Lady Bella. I had planned to visit her brother and I can return them.” Slade smiled. It provided the perfect excuse to see her later. “I need to meet with a few people before the end of the day, so I will leave you to return home with your purchases.” He handed the small brown book packages. “Place these packages on my dresser. I shall take care of them when I return,” he added before walking across the street towards the stables.
“I can have your horse brought around,” his valet offered.
“No. But thank you. The fresh air will do me good.” His house was shrouded in darkness and gloom since his father’s death. His brother was still gravely injured and had asked Slade to visit Wortle’s office before he left.
“Very good, my lord.”
Slade didn’t turn to watch the carriage carrying his valet and his purchases depart. Instead, he turned up a side street and opened the door to a narrow brick building. Facing a long flight of stairs, he took them two at a time until he stepped off on the third floor and opened a small brown door.
A burly man sat just inside the door and nodded him in. “He’s in the back, my lord.”
The man is smart,he thought, heading down a dark corridor. Before he got home, Slade also planned to find out more about a certain woman in Brighton. If something happened to his brother, God forbid,hehad no intention of offering for her. And if his brother survived . . . he could decide. But Slade wanted more information.There must be a connection to Graham, but what is it?
Three
Wortle handed Slade a written message from his brother. “My lord, please read this and then dispose of the note,” the man said cryptically, passing a folded and sealed note to him.
“How is it you . . .?” Slade stopped as realization hit him. “Ah. You work with my brother in Intelligence.”
The man nodded. “I do, and I know you are one to be trusted, as was your father. I also work for your father’s solicitor, as I represented when we met. With this situation, it has been . . . helpful.”
“You are looking into this accident, I am assuming,” Slade started.
“You assume correctly,” the short man acknowledged, moving his glasses further up on his nose. “The circumstances of your father’s death are disturbing, and we will find the person responsible. He was a fine man, as is your brother.”
“If you are not already looking into her, I should think that Lady Evers should be investigated . . . as a matter of course. She has not taken the potentially fatal injuries of her affianced the way one would have thought, and I am wondering if she has found other diversions.” Slade did not want to smear her name, but the attention she had paid to his brother had been minimal. And the crying . . . well, he had seen more sincerity from strangers.
“I will pass along your request. I cannot guarantee . . .”
“See it is done,” Slade said more forcefully, cutting the man’s words off. “My brother lies at death’s door, and I want to know more about the woman he pledged to marry. It seems if you cannot do it as part of your . . . association with my brother, you can hire a runner to find it out for me. I will pay for the information.”
“Very well, my lord. I will hire suitable investigators for you,” the man said, capitulating to Slade’s request.
“If that is all, I will take my leave.” Slade touched the brim of his hat and turned to leave.
“My lord. I apologize for not answering you directly. Sometimes, even though we have been told to trust, we find we must satisfy our curiosity. I am convinced that your request has merit. I shall deliver a report on her shortly,” Wortle offered.
“So, youhavehad her investigated.Good,” Slade countered, feeling both irritation and satisfaction at the same time.
“We are investigating many of the duke’s associates and your brother’s connections,” Wortle admitted coyly.
“I should like to hear the results as soon as possible. A shot was deliberately fired, according to the guard on the route. My father’s death was no accident.” Slade tensed.
“Were there any recent hires taken on the trip? I would ask your brother, but he had been away until shortly before the trip,” Wortle said, arching a brow.
“Good idea. I will have to get back to you on that. We have been very pleased with the stability of our staff, but occasionally, Father has made changes. I shall return the information in a day.” Slade had not thought of that. He looked at the missive in his hand and turned it over and opened it. Now was as good a place to read it as any.
Slade,
All may not be as it seems, and very few will know the truth. CW will be helpful. Trust him. My life depends on you.
Ever your brother,
Graham
