“If the note your father found is to be believed, then an attack would have nothing to do with your actions per se. The danger would have been put into play by your mere birth,” Mr. Kent reasoned. “In other words, you did nothing to cause this, Your Grace.”
“Excellent logic, darling,” his wife said with clear admiration. “I always said that you were the brains of our operation.”
Mr. Kent lifted his brows. “And you, I take it, are the brawn?”
“You have plenty of brawn when it counts,” Tessa said in a flirtatious tone.
Grinning, her husband chucked her under the chin. “Nice try, sprite. We both know little Bart gets his bloodthirsty streak from his mama.”
“Being bloodthirsty has its uses. Now, Knighton,” Tessa said in an imperious tone, “ever since you participated in the rescue of my grandpapa, I’ve been in your debt. It’s time to clean the slate. How may Harry and I assist in safeguarding your lady?”
“We want to help too,” Gabby said in a soft rush. “We cannot just stand by while some villain threatens Fancy, can we, Mr. Garrity?”
“I suppose not, my love.” There was a hint of irony in Mr. Garrity’s voice. “Well, Knighton? What is your plan?”
“I’ve assigned guards to Fancy. She won’t go anywhere unless she’s accompanied by them or me,” Knight said grimly. “I also need to look into her origins. To discover who she is and why someone might wish her harm.”
Icicles prickled over Fancy’s skin. The seriousness of the situation was sinking in. She reached for her champagne glass, once again overflowing with bubbles, and took a fortifying gulp.
“The note and christening gown Her Grace mentioned,” Mr. Garrity said. “Do you have those items in your possession?”
Knight inclined his head. “They don’t offer much in the way of clues, however. The note is written on plain parchment, in an indistinct hand…a woman’s, if I had to guess. I can vouch for the quality of the gown—hand-woven silk of the highest grade—but there’s nothing to signify where it was made. There is a bit of embroidery on the gown, a flower that might bear some significance, but that is the only thing to go on.”
“I would like to have a look at the items,” Tessa said.
“Me too,” Gabby chimed in. “May we call upon you tomorrow, Fancy? Maybe our fresh eyes will yield something new?”
“That would be lovely,” Fancy said tremulously. “Thank you.”
The tapping of a glass signaled that the toasts were about to begin, and for the next little while at least, Fancy was distracted from thoughts of murder and mayhem, her mind on more pleasant things.
27
After the breakfastended and the well-wishers saw the bride and groom off on their wedding trip, a few guests lingered to chat, hosted by the groom’s brother and sister-in-law. Severin took the opportunity to speak with Garrity and Kent whilst their ladies carried on in their own group.
Having known Garrity for years and fought side by side with both men during the rescue of Tessa Kent’s grandfather, Severin respected and trusted their judgement. Kent and Garrity knew the darker side of life just as he did. The three of them might have had territorial disputes and other minor skirmishes, but as men of honor they shared a sacrosanct code: women and children were to be protected.
In the past, when the mates of these men were threatened, they had set aside their differences to help one another. Knight knew they would do the same for him. Especially since their wives had taken a liking to Fancy.
“Her Grace’s origin is the key to all this,” Kent said, his bespectacled gaze thoughtful. “Why would someone want to harm a babe?”
Severin shared his theory. “Perhaps the babe was born out of wedlock, and the parents needed to get rid of her for fear of scandal.”
“True,” Kent allowed, “but why dress the babe in such finery? Why leave the babe in a field and not some place like an orphanage or foundling hospital? And I hate to say this, but if someone wanted to be rid of a babe, they could have done so in a more…permanent fashion.”
Severin nodded starkly. These were questions he’d also mulled over.
“Don’t forget money and revenge as motives.” Shadowy emotion flickered in Garrity’s dark gaze. “In my experience, those are the most common roots of evil.”
“You think someone might have taken the babe out of revenge?” Kent asked.
“Anything is possible,” Garrity said coolly. “It could also be a kidnapping gone wrong. Someone might have taken the babe and perhaps they didn’t receive the ransom they demanded. Or they did, but they didn’t bother returning the babe.”
“Why leave that note?” Kent pondered aloud. “If some bastard was heartless enough to steal an infant, then surely he wouldn’t pen a missive trying to keep the babe safe.”
“You are assuming that the point of the note was to protect the babe. But perhaps the real impetus behind the note was to keep the babe away from London so that she was never found. Which brings us back to revenge as a possible motive.”
Kent stared at his business partner. “Devil and damn, that’s a pessimistic take on the matter.”
